STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Elmhurst University women's wrestling team opened its season with a strong showing at the Pointer Women's Open, highlighted by podium finishes from Viola Pianetto, Claire Crouch, Anjali Gonzalez, and Veronica Cosio. The Bluejays showcased depth across several weight classes, combining for multiple pins and technical falls against a deep regional field.
At 138 pounds, Pianetto led the way with a runner-up finish after a dominant run through the early rounds. She opened the day with three straight technical fall victories over opponents from Manchester (11-0), Augustana (13-2), and Illinois Wesleyan (11-0) before falling in a close 7-4 decision to Wartburg's Aubrie Pehrson in the championship match. Pianetto's performance earned 17.5 team points, the highest total for any Elmhurst competitor.
In the 103-pound division, freshman Claire Crouch also placed second, earning 14.0 team points. After a first-round bye, Crouch pinned Dubuque's Grace Murphy in 1:38 to advance to the finals, where she dropped a hard-fought 12-1 technical fall to Chloe Sheffield of Wartburg.
At 207 pounds, Anjali Gonzalez battled through a competitive bracket to secure a fourth-place finish, contributing 13.5 team points. Gonzalez advanced with a bye and a 1:34 pin over Augustana's Aislan Leetch before falling in the semifinals. She rebounded with another first-period pin (1:48) against North Central's Mackenzie Conklin in the consolation semifinal, ultimately taking fourth after a loss in the third-place bout.
Veronica Cosio added a fifth-place finish at 110 pounds, tallying 8.5 team points. Cosio opened the day with a 10-10 decision win over Aurora's Sharon Moreno, later securing her placement with a 14-4 technical fall victory—also over Moreno—in the fifth-place match.
Other Bluejay competitors included Valentina Fantoni (117 lbs., 6th place, 9.0 team points), who posted two technical falls and a decision win, and Clara Rice (160 lbs., 2.5 points), who advanced with a forfeit victory. Kendall Smithearned two pins at 124 pounds to contribute 5.5 points, while Juliana Lefort added 5.0 points at 180 pounds with two falls in the consolation rounds.
Also competing for Elmhurst were Zeel Mody (110), Jala Singleton (117), Nyima Outlaw (131), Lauren Garcia and Viola Pianetto (138), Katherine McElhose (145), Lily Avalos (160), and Mallory Matuga (180), who each gained valuable early-season experience against top regional talent.
The Bluejays will return to the mat next November 14th as they continue their fall slate of competition, looking to build on their early-season momentum in North Manchester, IN at 4:00 PM
