Sunday, November 6
East Stroudsburg, Pa.
10:00 AM
Sacred Heart
at
East Stroudsburg Open
No. 13 Pioneers Start Season at ESU Open
11/5/2022 11:44:00 AM | Women's Wrestling
Three Pioneers ranked in individual weight classes.
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A year ago, the Sacred Heart University women's wrestling team was going into uncharted waters during its inaugural season. On Sunday, head coach Paulina Biega's squad kicks off year two at the East Stroudsburg Open.
This season the Pioneers will not be able to sneak up on anyone as they start the year ranked 13th in the NWCA polls. Sacred Heart's three returning All-Americans – Madison Sandquist, Temi Sanusi and Jacklyn Smith – are all ranked in their weight class to open the season.
The highest ranking goes to Sandquist who checks in number four at 143 pounds. SHU is in a unique position as Sanusi is also ranked at 143 points with a number eight ranking. Smith comes into the season sixth at 170 pounds.
Sandquist, a native of Humble, Texas, capped her rookie season with a third-place finish at the NCWWC Championship. She was second at the East Stroudsburg Open in her collegiate debut on her way to a team-best 29 victories.
After a spot in the regional finals, Smith took eighth at 170 points during nationals. The Bridgeport, Conn. native had 14 victories with over half of her wins coming from pins. Also finishing eighth at nationals was Sanusi. From Houston, Texas, she posted 15 victories last season and won all four of her dual matches.
Last season SHU gave away several dual meets because it had to forfeit weight classes, but that won't be the case this season as Biega has a full team for year two. Bolstering the lineup will be junior Cara Broadus, who finished second at 2019 USA Wrestling Women's Freestyle Nationals.
Rookie Elleahana Anderson, from Woodbridge, Va., was a state champion her final season. Also claiming a state championship was Nohea Moniz, from Waipahu, Hawaii, at 112 pounds. At 128 pounds, Frisco, Texas native Belen Rios advanced to the state championship match her last season.
After the ESU Open, SHU travels to the Adrian Open and Missouri Valley College Open. The first home meet is December 11 against Tiffin and Western New England. The regional championship is set for February 18 at Gannon University while the NCWWC competition is March 3-4 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
This season the Pioneers will not be able to sneak up on anyone as they start the year ranked 13th in the NWCA polls. Sacred Heart's three returning All-Americans – Madison Sandquist, Temi Sanusi and Jacklyn Smith – are all ranked in their weight class to open the season.
The highest ranking goes to Sandquist who checks in number four at 143 pounds. SHU is in a unique position as Sanusi is also ranked at 143 points with a number eight ranking. Smith comes into the season sixth at 170 pounds.
Sandquist, a native of Humble, Texas, capped her rookie season with a third-place finish at the NCWWC Championship. She was second at the East Stroudsburg Open in her collegiate debut on her way to a team-best 29 victories.
After a spot in the regional finals, Smith took eighth at 170 points during nationals. The Bridgeport, Conn. native had 14 victories with over half of her wins coming from pins. Also finishing eighth at nationals was Sanusi. From Houston, Texas, she posted 15 victories last season and won all four of her dual matches.
Last season SHU gave away several dual meets because it had to forfeit weight classes, but that won't be the case this season as Biega has a full team for year two. Bolstering the lineup will be junior Cara Broadus, who finished second at 2019 USA Wrestling Women's Freestyle Nationals.
Rookie Elleahana Anderson, from Woodbridge, Va., was a state champion her final season. Also claiming a state championship was Nohea Moniz, from Waipahu, Hawaii, at 112 pounds. At 128 pounds, Frisco, Texas native Belen Rios advanced to the state championship match her last season.
After the ESU Open, SHU travels to the Adrian Open and Missouri Valley College Open. The first home meet is December 11 against Tiffin and Western New England. The regional championship is set for February 18 at Gannon University while the NCWWC competition is March 3-4 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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