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March 29, 2024 5:12 am

Arnold earns All-American honors at NCWWC Nationals

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – For the first time in program history, the Trojans earned All-American status in women’s wrestling after freshman Jada Arnold reached the podium with an eighth-place finish at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships in the 191-weight class.

In its inaugural season as a program, Mount Olive qualified three individuals for the national event and placed 23rd in a field of 30 teams competing. The Trojans boasted a 7-3 record during the regular season in dual matches while achieving the ultimate goal of earning All-American honors on the national stage.

Arnold registered a 4-3 overall record at the two-day event, including three straight wins in the consolation bracket to reach the podium. She was also one of seven wrestlers to total three pins while registering the falls in the least amount of time. On Saturday, Arnold made quick work of Shola Casen of East Stroudsburg with a 10-0 technical fall in the first round before dropping into the consolation bracket after being defeated via fall by Katja Osteen of Simon Fraser. She answered back with three straight wins by pinfall, including round four versus Rewa Chababo of the University of the Ozarks, which sealed her All-American status following a fall in just 16 seconds. On Sunday, Arnold would eventually finish eighth in the 191-weight class and bring history back to Mount Olive.

Freshmen Isabel Rodriguez and Skyelar Smith each made their first appearances at nationals but dropped out of the competition following consecutive losses.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics