BETHANY, W.Va. - The Bethany College women's wrestling team competed at the Bethany Bison Duals where they defeated the University of Mount Union (Ohio) and Hiram (Ohio) College on Joe Kurey Memorial Court inside Hummel Fieldhouse.

Bethany (12-5) comes off a strong showing at the NWCA National Dual Championships as they took on two experienced teams in front of the home crowd for the first home Tri-Meet in program history. 

The Bison got out to an early lead over Mount Union (9-3) thanks to a forfeit at 103, a pin by freshman Ashley Campbell (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane) against the Purple Raiders' 110-pounder, and an 11-0 tech fall by freshman 124-pounder Taelor Rae Busch (Omaha, Neb./Mercy). Mount Union went on to take the next three matches, but the Green and White were able to salvage a point in each of the 124 and 131 matches bringing the score to 16-13 in favor of Bethany.

Freshman 145-pounder Ari Tyson (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) then made quick work of Ilani Jones-Wallace with a fall under a minute in the first period to put the Bison on the verge of a dual victory. However, Mount's 160-pounder Emily Hanrahan, who is ranked No. 3 in Region 4, secured a 10-0 tech fall to set up a must-win match at 180. 

Mount Union's Lori Grimes looked like she would give the Purple Raiders the lead in the dual by getting out to a dominant 8-0 lead, but she was going against one of the best 180-pound wrestlers in the country. Sophomore Trinity Barrus (Hysham, Mont.) pulled off a few reversals and secured the pin to give the Bison the win as Hummel Fieldhouse exploded into cheers.

Next up was a strong but short-handed Hiram (8-15) as Bethany took a 15-0 lead thanks to three forfeit victories before Natalie Rodriguez-Romero (Perris, Calif./Citrus Hill) and Rose Mary Dodd (Lake Elsinore, Calif./Temescal Canyon) earned their first wins of the day with each earning a pin. 

Following a forfeit and victories by Tyson, sophomore Shanielah Kirk (Milwaukee, Wis./Martin Luther), and Barrus, the Bison had the chance to earn the perfect 50-0 sweep in the heavyweight match. Unfortunately, the Terriers got their first win of the day in the 207-match, but freshman Peyton Gauss (Pemberton, N.J.) ended the day with a 10-0 tech fall victory in an exhibition match.

The Bison are back in action on Sunday, January 18 as they travel to Alliance, Ohio to compete at the Purple Raider Open hosted by the University of Mount Union (Ohio) at 9:30 a.m. in Timken Gymnasium.