FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. — The New Jersey City University women's wrestling team, ranked #13 nationally in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's (NWCA) most recent NCAA Women's Rankings, sent five of its grapplers down to Georgia on Sunday, Jan. 22, for the Robert Horton Open, hosted by Emmanuel College. NJCU's wrestlers saw a multitude of success, led once again by the #5-ranked 123-pounder in the nation, junior co-captain Naomi Henry (Brooklyn, N.Y./Wingate) — the third-year Gothic Knight went a perfect 4-0 on the day and claimed the first-place title in her weight class. Additionally, sophomore Izabella Frezzo (East Rutherford, N.J./Becton Regional) posted a 3-1 record at 109 pounds and placed third in her respective weight class.

Henry got things started with a bye in the first round and then took on Michaiah Allen of Montreat College in the Round of 16 — she pinned her foe in 2:16 to advance to the quarterfinal round. There she defeated Robbie Ann Pungal of the University of Alberta via a 12-0 technical fall. Moving on to the semifinal round, Henry faced arguably her toughest opponent of the day in the #7 nationally-ranked 123-pounder, Melanie Mendoza of #2/1 King University. Henry grinded out a 4-1 decision to advance to the championship match, where she subsequently took down Catherine Bertrand of #7/6 Presbyterian College via a 6-2 decision to claim the 123-pound title. She has placed at least third (and first twice) in the four tournaments she has competed in this season.

At 109 pounds, the Gothic Knights were, as mentioned, represented by Frezzo, who ultimately placed third in the weight class — she has earned a top-four finish in all three tournaments she has competed in this season. Frezzo began with a 6-1 decision win in the quarterfinal round of Kelsey Bilz of Campbellsville University to advance to the semifinal round. After a high-scoring 16-12 loss there, Frezzo moved over to the consolation side of the bracket and immediately won by fall (4:14) over Chloe Carver of Montreat. Finally, in the third-place match, Frezzo won again by fall (6:00) over Miranda DiBenedetto, who was competing unattached.

Three other grapplers competed for Jersey City on the day, including freshman 101-pounder Dyanne Pelaez (Fords, N.J./Woodbridge). The rookie had one of her strongest days as a collegian wrestler, posting a 2-2 mark and just missing out on a chance for third — she finished as a consolation semifinalist, one win away from the third-place match. After a tough loss in the quarterfinal round, she immediately bounced back with a 10-6 decision victory in the consolation bracket over Alex Uribe of the University of the Cumberlands, advancing to the consolation quarterfinal round. There she collected her first-career technical fall win after defeating Alexis Wilder of Campbellsville, 15-5. Pelaez ultimately fell in the consolation semis via a fall.

Sophomore 136-pounder Kayla Zeppetelli (Little Ferry, N.J./Ridgefield Park) also had a strong day, going 2-2 and added two more wins by fall for a team-leading seven on the season. She began with a pin (0:34) over Hannah Wecer of Montreat in the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals, Zeppetelli matched up with the #3-ranked 136-pounder in the nation, Paige Wehrmeister of Presbyterian, and fell via a 10-0 tech fall. She immediately followed up with a win by fall (0:46) over Lauren Ellis of the hosting Lions to advance to the Consolation Quarterfinal round where she unfortunately had to bow out with an injury default early in the second period to Shani Tyson of Life University.

Up Next:
NJCU returns to the mat two Sundays from now on Feb. 5 for its 2022-23 home finale at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) as Elmira College comes to Jersey City, N.J. Action is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. and the match also serves as the program's first-ever Senior Day.