PRINCETON, N.J. - Freshman Kendall Moe (Cicero, Ind.) made an immediate mark in her collegiate debut on Sunday, placing third at 117 pounds to highlight the Norwich University women's wrestling team's season-opening performance at the Princeton Open.
Competing in its first event of the program's second varsity season, Norwich entered 15 wrestlers across a deep open field that featured competitors representing 24 different teams and entries. The Cadets shared the brackets with wrestlers from programs including Army West Point, Columbia University, Brown University, Rutgers University, Lock Haven University, Presbyterian College, and several other established collegiate programs.
Moe emerged as Norwich's top finisher, putting together a 4-1 day at 117 pounds while advancing all the way to the podium.
After receiving an opening-round bye, Moe earned her first collegiate victory with a 9-5 decision over unattached Taina McGowan in the Round of 16. She followed with a commanding 11-0 technical superiority victory over Lock Haven's Journie Rodriguez in the quarterfinals to advance into the championship semifinals.
Army West Point's Clare Booe halted Moe's championship-side run with a fall in the semifinal, but the Norwich rookie responded.
Moe met McGowan for a second time in the consolation bracket and earned a fall at 3:58 to advance to the third-place bout. She then closed her debut by edging Presbyterian's Jenna Anderson, 5-4, to secure third place at 117 pounds.
Norwich received several other victories throughout the afternoon.
Senior Gianna Silva (Monroe, Conn.) collected two wins at 124 pounds. Silva opened with a 12-2 technical superiority victory over Army West Point's Lorelai Megery before later defeating Ursinus College's Sofia DeRosa, 14-2, in the consolation bracket.
Freshman Kaylani Lyons (Sacaton, Ariz.) also posted two victories at 160 pounds. Lyons needed just 49 seconds to pin Cedar Crest's Symarah Drey in her opening contested bout before later earning another first-period fall in consolation action.
Sophomore Brooke Davis (Lyndonville, Vt.) turned in one of Norwich's busiest afternoons at 180 pounds, finishing with three victories.
Davis opened her tournament by pinning Lock Haven's Kendall Wagner in 1:02 before advancing with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Albright's Macy Dehaan. After dropping her quarterfinal against Blair Academy's Olivia Georges, Davis rebounded in the consolation bracket with a 1:25 fall over Columbia's Audrey Pounds before her run came to an end against Ursinus College's Jurelys Peguero del Rosario.
Junior Abbigale Williams (Andover, Vt.) picked up a victory at 160 pounds, pinning Albright's Molly Winters in just 45 seconds during consolation action.
Senior Ana Lemler (Bourbon, Ind.) also reached the win column at 180 pounds, earning a 9-5 decision over Felician University's Jada Akins in the Round of 16.
The season-opening event also provided several Norwich newcomers with their first collegiate competition. Freshmen Adiella Reyes (San Antonio, Texas), Molly Crabtree (Blacklick, Ohio), Sophia Griffith (Pinehurst, N.C.), Katarina Franchi (APO, Armed Forces Pacific), Addison Wolver (Erie, Colo.), Andre'a Kirkpatrick (Belleville, Ill.), and Kaitie Wheeler (Stanwood, Wash.) all saw action, while sophomore Nalani Portela-Bailey (Cibolo, Texas) also represented the Cadets.
The Princeton Open marked Norwich's first competition since completing the inaugural varsity season in program history and offered the Cadets an immediate test against a field spanning NCAA Division I, II, and III programs as the 2026-27 campaign got underway.
NORWICH VICTORIES:
- Freshman Kendall Moe (Cicero, Ind.) – 117 pounds
- 3rd place, 4-1
- def. Taina McGowan (Unattached), 9-5
- def. Journie Rodriguez (Lock Haven), 11-0 technical superiority
- def. Taina McGowan (Unattached), fall, 3:58
- def. Jenna Anderson (Presbyterian), 5-4
- Senior Gianna Silva (Monroe, Conn.) – 124 pounds
- def. Lorelai Megery (Army West Point), 12-2 technical superiority
- def. Sofia DeRosa (Ursinus), 14-2 technical superiority
- Freshman Kaylani Lyons (Sacaton, Ariz.) – 160 pounds
- def. Symarah Drey (Cedar Crest), fall, 0:49
- def. Katarina Franchi (Norwich), fall, 0:47
- Junior Abbigale Williams (Andover, Vt.) – 160 pounds
- def. Molly Winters (Albright), fall, 0:45
- Sophomore Brooke Davis (Lyndonville, Vt.) – 180 pounds
- def. Kendall Wagner (Lock Haven), fall, 1:02
- def. Macy Dehaan (Albright), 10-0 technical superiority
- def. Audrey Pounds (Columbia), fall, 1:25
- Senior Ana Lemler (Bourbon, Ind.) – 180 pounds
- def. Jada Akins (Felician), 9-5
Norwich will now turn its attention to its home debut on Saturday, Nov. 7, when the Cadets welcome Western New England University and the University of Bridgeport to Andrews Hall for a 1:00 p.m. competition.
The Cadets will face a quick turnaround following their home opener, traveling to New England College on Sunday, Nov. 8, for their second competition of the weekend.
