KENOSHA, Wis. — The Carthage College women's wrestling team turned in a series of strong individual performances on Sunday, finishing fourth with 80.5 points at the Carthage Classic inside the Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center Fieldhouse. The Firebirds earned top-seven placements in multiple weight classes.


Leading the way at 160 pounds, Ella Harpold delivered a standout performance with four victories, including an 8-0 fall against the Michigan Club Wrestling Team and a 2-1 fall over Elmhurst. Harpold closed her day with an 11-4 decision against Rio Grande to secure third place.

At 145 pounds, Abigail Jutrzonka pushed deep into her bracket with three wins, collecting a 2-1 fall against Wisconsin-Stevens Point, a 4-0 fall over the women's wrestling club of Purdue, and a 3-3 decision against another opponent from Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She finished fourth overall.

Also competing at 160 pounds, Josie Hosea opened her day with a 3-0 fall in 4:05 over Wisconsin-Stevens Point before earning a seventh-place finish with a tech fall against the Michigan wrestling club. 

In the 103-pound bracket, Kirsten Cortez recorded a strong run to fifth place, highlighted by a 6-2 fall over Elmhurst and a 10-0 technical fall against Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She later secured fifth with a 12-0 fall over Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Teammate Crystal Gutierrez, also at 103, collected a 4-0 fall against Wisconsin-Oshkosh and closed with a forfeit win to finish seventh.

At 124 pounds, Alaina Hollendoner battled back after an early setback, earning a 12-1 technical fall over MSOE and posting falls of 8-2 against Elmhurst and 8-4 against an unattached opponent on her way to fifth place.

In the 131-pound bracket, Alexis Hozeska added a win with a 6-0 fall over Wisconsin-Stevens Point before placing sixth.

Competing at 138 pounds, Basil Kiracofe advanced with a victory by decision over Eureka.

At 145 pounds, Sierra Pienkowski produced three falls—2-0 over Elmhurst, 2-0 over Elmhurst again, and 4-0 against Wisconsin-Oshkosh—finishing just outside placement.

Carthage also received a strong effort from 207-pound entrant Jasmin Ocampo, who opened with three straight falls: 4-0 over North Central (Ill.), 3-2 over Lakeland, and 4-0 over Eureka. She took second after a 2-1 decision loss to Wisconsin-Stevens Point.


"I'm super proud of the girls- the dots are connecting, the attitude and grit was there and I really see them maturing as the season goes on. We still have work to do but we're snowballing in the right direction."


Carthage will be back in action next Sunday, December 14, participating in the Terrier Round Robin hosted by Hiram, which starts at 12 p.m. EST. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.