ADRIAN, Michigan - November 10, 2024 - Hiram finished up two full days of competition on Sunday in Adrian, MI, with Kylee Bentley and Mallory Chunat both earning fifth-place finishes at the Adrian Invitational after the team competed hard in the Adrian Duals on Saturday.

Adrian Duals Recap

Hiram lost each of its five duals in the first event of the weekend on Saturday, but the team fought hard and picked up multiple wins against premier competition. That opposition included West Liberty and Gannon, who both tied for No. 25 in the NWCA national rankings, a list that includes Division I programs.

In the opening dual against Siena Heights, Lexi Doerflinger (103 lbs) won by fall (0:36) and Chunat (138 lbs) won by fall (2:01). The two victories, in addition to a pair of forfeits, fell just short in a 28-21 loss.

Doerflinger stayed in a groove against West Liberty, beating Jeulenea Khang by technical fall (10-0) to improve to 2-0. Bentley (110 lbs) beat Nila Bland by fall (1:02) and DeJonae Rivers (131 lbs) won over Jillian Timberlake by fall (1:22), but West Liberty won each of the last five bouts to hold on for a 30-19 win.

Hiram earned its lone point against a tough opponent in Gannon thanks to a highly competitive bout in the 138-lb class between Chunat and Kallah Zacherl. Chunat eventually lost by decision, 9-8, but still walked away with a lot to be proud of in the third dual of the day.

Doerflinger got back in the win column against Frostburg State, beating Faith Day by technical fall (14-4). Bentley won by fall (1:17) for the second time, while first-year Emma Bowers (110 lbs) earned her first collegiate victory over Aurora Walters by decision (10-5).

Chunat highlighted the final match of the day, beating Adrian's Samantha Bultron by technical fall (12-1).

Adrian Invitational Recap

Bentley and Chunat both placed fifth for their respective weight classes thanks to a pair of 3-2 records in the tournament-style event of the weekend. The performances put an exclamation mark on a day that included 31 total teams.

Bentley won by fall against Northern Michigan (0:44), by fall over Sacred Heart (0:44) and by medical forfeit over Tiffin. With a 3-1 record up to that point, Bentley was placed in the consolation semifinals, where she lost to Lauren Nguyen of Sacred Heart by fall (0:48).

Chunat nearly found her way into the finals of the 138-lb bracket, winning by decision against Schreiner University (8-4) and by technical fall against Indiana Tech (10-0). She lost in the semifinals to Gannon's Kallah Zacherl by fall (1:28), but later won the fifth-place match against another wrestler from Schreiner by fall (2:22).

Bowers picked up a win by fall against Carthage College's Rebecca Di Silvestro by fall (3:40) and Doerflinger won by fall against Lock Haven's Summer Batts (1:03) to round out the team's victories in the invitational.

What's Next

Hiram will stay on its weekly schedule and hit the mats again next Sunday with a trip to Albion, MI for the Albion Invite at 9 a.m.