RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The Bethany College women's wrestling team competed at the Rio Grande Tri-Match where they defeated the host University of Rio Grande (Ohio) by a score of 31-16 and defeated Midway (Ky.) University by a score of 36-13 at Newt Oliver Arena.

Bethany (3-1) earned their first tri-match sweep of the year despite falling to an early deficit against Rio Grande (1-1) in the first dual. However, the Bison won six of the last seven matches and followed it up with another dominant performance by taking seven of ten matches from Midway (0-2). 

The Red Storm started the night off with three straight victories including winning a last-second decision in the 110 match as freshman Ashley Campbell (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane) earned the first point of the night for the Bison, but after that it would be the Green and White who held Rio Grande to one point for the remaining seven matches.

Freshman Taelor Rae Busch (Omaha, Neb./Mercy) was the first victor of the night for Bethany after earning her fifth win by fall this season. A forfeit victory and a 1:31 fall by freshman 138-pounder Ari Tyson (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) put the Bison on top with a 16-13 lead in the dual. 

After a major decision by Rio Grande, freshman Chase Marie Ryan (Quakertown, Pa.) had a big second period in the 160-pound match to win by decision and a quick 30 second pin by sophomore Trinity Barrus (Hysham, Mont.) clinched the road victory for Bethany.

Against the Eagles, Campbell got her revenge with a fall just under a minute to even the score for Bethany at five apiece while Busch stayed aggressive with yet another fall victory.

After winning by forfeit against the Red Storm, freshman Rose Mary Dodd (Lake Elsinore, Calif./Temescal Canyon) had her first chance to get a win for the Bison and did so by earning a commanding win by fall in the 131 match. Dodd's win was sandwiched between two other forfeit victories for freshman Malia Tocco (Philo, Calif./Mendocino ) and Tyson to put Bethany up 25-5.

Midway won the last two matches that were held by decision in the 145 match and by fall in the 160 match with the dual being wrapped up with a free five points for both Barrus and freshman MyJanniea Baptist (Los Angeles, Calif./Lawndale) to secure the sweep thanks to two Eagles forfeits. 

The Bison are back in action on Wednesday, November 12 as they travel to Altoona, Pennsylvania to take on Penn State University-Altoona in a dual meet at 6 p.m. in the Steven A. Adler Athletic Complex.