ST. LOUIS – The 12^th-ranked Missouri Baptist University women's wrestling program hosted and took third place in the second-ever Missouri Women's Collegiate State Tournament. With seven teams participating from across the state along with nearby Quincy University (Ill.), the Spartans amassed 151 points finishing behind Lindenwood, ranked ninth in the NCAA, and 12^th-ranked Central Methodist, who took first and second, respectively. Five MBU wrestlers were in the top three of their weight classes, with two earning individual titles.

Sophomore Josette Partney was the first of the Spartans to claim an individual title. Wrestling in the 143-pound weight class, she secured a quick pin against her first opponent in 1:57. Partney's next match went by even faster, with another pin in only 40 seconds. Her final matchup of the event was against Lindenwood's Kelly Escamilla. The sophomore took the lead 8-4 in the first period, and less than a minute into the second, she pinned her opponent, securing first place.

In the 170-pound weight class, Anastasia Hardin was the other Spartan to take first place. After beating out her first opponent in a tech fall victory, 10-0, her next opponent posed more of a challenge for the sophomore but still won by decision, 8-2. It was a close match in the first period in the finals as Hardin trailed 1-0. However, in the second period, Hardin kicked things into gear, securing herself six points and ultimately winning by decision, 6-1.

Alyssa Quezaire, Juliana Diaz, and Tiyahna Askew were the other wrestlers in the top three in the tournament, each taking second place.

Though there was less competition in the 109-pound weight class, that doesn't mean it was any less challenging for freshman Alyssa Quezaire. She beat her first opponent by tech fall 10-0 and faced off against a formidable Lindenwood opponent, McKenzie Gilreath. Unfortunately, after securing the lone two points in the first period, Quezaire lost to Gilreath by decision 6-6 in the second.

Juliana Diaz started the tournament with a bye in the first round and went on to face fellow Spartan Reese Compton in the second. Diaz got the best of Compton, securing a win via tech fall, 10-0. The final was a close match, but the Orlando, Fla. native wasn't able to pull away with the win, losing by fall at 5:16 and walking away with a second-place finish.

At 136 pounds, Tiyahna Askew had a bye in the first round, taking her into the semifinals. In Askew's next match, she claimed a victory over Westminster's Lila Eckert. After the junior earned a quick 6 points in the first period, Eckert was injured, and Askew won by default. Her the final round, the Lawrenceville, Ga. native put up quite the fight, taking her opponent to the very end. Her opponent came out on top, and Askew lost by decision 14-7.

Other Spartans participating in the tournament included Reese Compton and Riley White, who secured fourth-place finishes. In addition, Dymeria Guillory and Ki'Esha Cathey took fifth place, and Lindsay Mills and Derriona Johnson took sixth.

Next up for the Spartans is the Brewton Parker College Duals on Dec 10 in Mount Bernon, Ga.