CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Making their first trip to the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships, the D'Youville University women's wrestling team had five wrestlers compete on the national stage.
 
In the 136-pound weight class, Madison Wellen (East Berlin, Pa.) started the day with a fall over Livier Duban of Texas Woman's University in two minutes. Moving onto the second round, Wellen was defeated by Holly Beaudoin of Colorado Mesa University by fall in 1:28.
 
Keeping her day going in the consolation bracket, Wellen earned the fall over Sabrina Sedor of Western New England University by fall in 2:50. Wellens day ended in the consolation third round, falling to Amor Tuttle of Wisconsin Stevens Point in 1:34.
 
Saniyah Ward (The Colony, Texas) was the other D'Youville wrestler earning a victory on the day, coming in the 143-pound weight class. In the first round, Ward was bested by Maddie Kubicki of Presbyterian College by a 10-0 tech. fall. Moving on in the consolation bracket, Ward received a bye in the first round. In the second round, Ward got the best of Brinley Green of the University of Sioux Falls by a 5-2 decision victory. Ward's day ended in the consolation third round against Alissa Caltagirone of Northern Michigan University via fall in 2:39.
 
Wellen and Ward, along with the other national qualifiers in Alessandra Elliott (Staten Island, N.Y.), Elizabeth Stricklin (San Antonio, Texas), and Riley Wentlent (Cheekotwaga, N.Y.), will look to continue to be the nucleus of young Saints team going into the 2024-25 season.