ELMIRA, N.Y. - The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women's wrestling team had a strong showing on the opening day of the NCAA Women's Wrestling Region I Tournament, hosted by Elmira College on Saturday, February 21. Five Gothic Knights advanced to day two, highlighted by three wrestlers earning spots in third-place bouts and two set to compete for fifth place.

Competing at 103 pounds, freshman Marielys Lugo Fernandez (Bronx, N.Y./Mott Hall Bronx) (10-15) posted a 2-2 record. She opened the tournament with a dominant 50-second fall before suffering a quarterfinal setback due to injury. Lugo Fernandez responded with a 12-2 technical fall in 1:41 in the consolation bracket before concluding her tournament run in the third round.

At 110 pounds, senior Dyanne Pelaez (8-11) battled to a 3-2 finish on day one and will wrestle for fifth place on Sunday. She began her day with a 10-0 technical fall in 1:50, added a 1:36 pin in the consolation bracket, and secured a 12-3 decision to advance.

Sophomore Hailey Beck (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape Regional) (10-12) went 1-2 at 117 pounds. After earning a first-round bye, she dropped her quarterfinal match but answered with a narrow 9-8 decision in the consolation bracket before being eliminated in the third round.

At 124 pounds, sophomore Nuria Kojic (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) (22-13) finished 2-2. She needed just 43 seconds to secure a pin in her opening match and later added a 1:16 fall in the consolation bracket. Her day concluded in round three of wrestlebacks.

Sophomore Mackenzie Finn (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) (3-6) competed at 131 pounds and finished 0-2.

Wrestling at 138 pounds in her regional debut, freshman Natalie Lozano (Bronx, N.Y./Herbert H. Lehman) (11-13) recorded a 2-2 mark. She opened with a three-minute pin and later added a 53-second fall in the consolation bracket before her tournament run ended in the third round.

Junior Gabrielle Miller (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) (12-5) advanced to the third-place match at 145 pounds. After receiving a first-round bye, she earned a 4:40 pin in the quarterfinals. Following a semifinal loss, Miller rebounded with a 9-6 decision in the consolation semifinals to secure a podium opportunity.

At 160 pounds, rookie Tehana Savory (Queens, N.Y./Brooklyn Technical) (20-10) will also wrestle for third place. She opened with back-to-back pins in 1:00 and 1:44 before falling in the semifinals. Savory responded with a 3:41 pin in the consolation semifinals to advance.

Junior Fabiana Josa (Southampton, Pa./International Christian School) (19-16) put together a 3-1 performance at 180 pounds to reach the third-place bout. She recorded a 51-second pin and a 13-1 technical fall to begin her day, then bounced back from a semifinal loss with a 6-0 decision in the consolation semifinals.

At 207 pounds, freshman Izabella Luna (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) (8-10) advanced to the fifth-place match. After dropping her quarterfinal bout, she tallied consecutive pins in 2:16 and 1:38 to move into the consolation semifinals.

The Gothic Knights return to the mat on Sunday, February 22, for day two of regional competition, with five wrestlers still in contention for podium finishes.