EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — The New Jersey City University women's wrestling team, ranked #10 in the Nation in the preseason National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) rankings, officially kicked off its 2022-23 season today, Sunday, Nov. 6, at the third annual ESU Open, hosted by East Stroudsburg University. The Gothic Knights placed ninth overall out of 16 teams on the day, led by podium finishes from 2021-22 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship (NCWWC) Qualifiers sophomore Izabella Frezzo (East Rutherford, N.J./Becton Regional) and junior co-captain Naomi Henry (Brooklyn, N.Y./Wingate).

As mentioned, 16 teams competed at the ESU Open on Sunday, and with a pair of podium finishes, Jersey City nabbed ninth place despite missing two-time All-American junior co-captain Sandy Guerrero (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) from the lineup at 191 pounds. However, the Gothic Knights were represented well today as Frezzo picked up a second-place finish at 116 pounds, while Henry took home third place in her collegiate debut at 123 pounds — she competed solely at 130 pounds during her first two seasons.

Making her collegiate debut was freshman 101-pounder Dyanne Pelaez (Fords, N.J./Woodbridge) — the first-ever in that weight class in program history. Additionally, returning to the mat after competing only five times last season due to injury was junior 116-pounder Bella Serrano (Belmar, N.J./Manasquan). Both competed twice today. Another freshman making her collegiate debut was 123-pounder Somaia Elokda (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne). She fell in the round of 16, but then picked up the first victory of her career in a tight match to start off the consolation bracket. Tied 8-8 with only 12 seconds remaining, the rookie managed the win by fall over her opponent from Hiram College. Her day came to a close in the second consolation round.

Sophomore 136-pounder Kayla Zeppetelli (Little Ferry, N.J./Ridgefield Park) had a great day for the Gothic Knights after a short 2021-22 campaign due to injury, going 2-2. She entered the tournament ranked third in the weight class seeding and started off with a win by fall early in the second period of her Round of 16 match, already leading 11-3 at the time. Then, after getting pinned in the championship quarterfinals, Zeppetelli earned another win by fall late in the first period of the second round of consolation competition over the fourth-seeded grappler from ESU. Her day came to a close in the consolation semifinals via a pin.

Finally we come to Frezzo and Henry
Frezzo entered the day as the top overall seed at 116 pounds. She started off with a bye in the Round of 32 before earning a 10-0 technical fall shutout in the Round of 16. Frezzo then cruised through the quarterfinals with an 11-0 technical fall before picking up yet another win by technical fall in the semifinals. Frezzo entered 2022-23 as the fifth-ranked 109-pound wrestler in the Nation and ranked second overall in that same weight class is Samara Chavez of King University. The pair squared off today in the 116-pound championship match, with Chavez edging out Frezzo, 12-1.

Henry entered the day as the #3 seed at 123 pounds and kicked off competition with a win by fall midway through the first period of the Round of 16. She then took just over a minute to secure a technical fall, 10-0, in the quarterfinals. Henry matched up with #2 seed Vayla Baker of King University — ranked #5 in the nation at 123 pounds by the NWCA — in the semifinal round and the two battled through two full rounds and an 11-7 decision in favor of Baker. Henry rebounded nicely in the next match, however, taking down Melanie Mendoza — ranked #4 in the nation — also of King in the third place match via a 5-2 decision.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return to action next Sunday, Nov. 13, in Adrian, Mich., for the Adrian College Open.