Albrecht Claims Heart 155-Championship, Wildcats Qualify Five for Nationals

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – Kaylynn Albrecht earned her second straight all-conference finish, coming out on top of the 155-pound bracket to lead a Baker women's wrestling team that finished fifth at the Heart of America Conference Women's Wrestling Championships on Saturday in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

The Wildcats totaled 86.5 points to finish in a top five that saw Grand View (191.5) win the team title, followed by Iowa Wesleyan (148.5), Central Methodist (136) and Missouri Valley (92). Waldorf (67.5) and William Penn (50.5) finished behind BU in sixth and seventh.

After placing third and being named Heart Newcomer of the Year at last year's event, Albrecht won three straight matches to collect her individual championship. She wrestled to a 9-0 decision against Central Methodist's Caitlyn Davis, who was tabbed Heart Co-Freshman of the Year. A 2021-22 national runner-up, Albrecht also punches her ticket to the NAIA National Championships for the second consecutive season.

Abbie Jones picked up back-to-back pins to place third at 136 pounds and add 17 points to Baker's team total. It was an all-BU placement match at 136 with Jones facing teammate Mariam Shariq, who went 2-2 on her day to finish in fourth.

At 116 pounds, Katherine Heath went 3-1 in her matches with a big 13-7 decision win over CMU's Hannah Hall to finish with third-place honors, following up her silver-medal performance from last year.

In the 130-pound division, Olivia Branson pinned her opponent in the third round of the consolation bracket before going on to finish fifth and securing a spot in the NAIA Championships.

Kylie Hernandez (101) and Kylee Slyter (109) each finished in the top six of their respective brackets with Hernandez using a tech fall to advance to a placement match and finish fourth while Slyter placed sixth at 109 pounds.

Overall, five Wildcats qualified for the NAIA National Championship with Albrecht (155), Branson (130), Heath (116), Jones (136) and Kylie Robledo (116) all earning spots in the national tournament.

Baker will head to the NAIA National Championships on March 10-11, held at Harold Newman Arena in Jamestown, N.D.

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