TIFFIN, Ohio – The Davenport University women's wrestling team opened its season on Saturday at the Tiffin Open, showcasing several strong performances and match wins across multiple weight classes.
Ahead of the meet, first-year head coach Dominic Damon emphasized his focus on building a positive and connected culture within the program.
"My main goals this year are to instill a strong and collaborative team culture and to make the sport more fun. Culture is the foundation of a team and it has to be strong for the program to be successful. And wrestling is such a grueling sport that finding fun in all aspects from training on the mat, weight lifting, day to day lifestyle, and competition is essential for maintaining motivation throughout a season and a career."
Damon's approach was evident throughout the opening weekend, as the Panthers displayed energy, teamwork, and growth in their first competition of the season.
Top Performers:
- Ava Niedzielski (138 lbs) – Recorded two wins by fall, including a 1:05 pin in her opening consolation match and another in 2:32 to advance to the third round.
- Olivia Root (131 lbs) – Opened with a 1:19 fall over Mount Union's Ali Singleton before advancing into the second round of the championship bracket.
- Faith Burgess (131 lbs) – Earned a dominant 10-0 technical fall over teammate Olivia Root in consolation action to move into the third round.
Additional Action:
- Lilyan Buyze (124 lbs) competed through two rounds, facing tough competition from Alma and Indiana Tech.
- Fevin Coleman (180 lbs) advanced into consolation action after an opening-round bye before falling by pin in her second match.
The Panthers will return to action Nov. 8 at the Adrian Invitational in Adrian, Michigan, as the women's wrestling team continues its early-season schedule.
