Emory & Henry Wrestling Shows Grit Despite Falling Short at Trojan Duals
The Emory & Henry College Women’s Wrestling Team fought hard at the Mount Olive Trojan Duals on Sunday, competing in four fierce matches against tough competition. While the Wasps didn’t secure any team victories, their determination shone brightly as freshmen Rihana Carson and Molly Keller each achieved standout performances, racking up multiple wins.
Allen Proves to Be First Hurdle
Allen opened the day with a strong lead thanks to several unfilled weight classes, putting Emory & Henry in a 30-0 hole right from the start. However, the Wasps refused to back down. Sophomore Molly Keller (Fairlawn, Va.) started the scoring for Emory & Henry, pinning her opponent at 145 pounds in a quick 2:08. Freshman Alex Costello (Johnson City, Tenn.) followed suit, securing a pin at 138 pounds after 5:45. Rihana Carson (Roanoke, Va.) capped off the round for the Wasps with a decisive 14-4 victory by technical superiority in 4:18.
Newberry Presents Tough Challenge
The duel against Newberry proved to be an even closer contest. Starting with a 10-0 Newberry advantage due to unfilled weight classes, the match saw four double forfeits where neither team fielded a wrestler.
Undeterred, Costello continued her winning streak, pinning her opponent in a mere 14 seconds at 138 pounds. Carson dominated her match at 160 pounds, securing a victory in just 1:44. Keller kept the momentum going, winning by technical superiority, 10-0, in 1:51 at 145 pounds.
Greensboro Match Highlights Resilience
The Greensboro match followed a similar pattern, with Greensboro starting with a 15-5 lead due to unfilled weight classes and four double forfeits. Unexpectedly, Carson made quick work of her opponent, securing a pin in a blistering 14 seconds at 160 pounds.
Keller continued her perfect day with a second win by technical superiority, this time grabbing a 16-5 victory in 5:50, demonstrating her skill and dominance on the mat.
## Host Trojans Secure Decisive Win
The final match against Mount Olive saw the host Trojans jump out on top with an immediate 40-0 lead. The Trojans won eight matches by forfeit, but Keller persisted, refusing to let the team’s spirits falter. She closed out her impressive day with a pin at 145 pounds, securing her fourth victory.
## Looking Ahead
Despite the team losses, the Trojan Duals offered valuable experience and highlighted the immense potential within the Emory & Henry roster. The Wasps will now turn their focus to the upcoming Wasps Open, hosted at E&H’s John Rutledge King Center on Friday.
The event is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m., giving the team a chance to showcase their talents in a home setting. With the steady progress and unwavering determination displayed at the Trojan Duals, the Emory & Henry Women’s Wrestling Team is poised for a strong finish to their fall season.
What are the Emory & Henry women’s wrestling team’s main focuses for improvement moving forward?
## Emory & Henry Wrestling Shows Grit
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re joined by Coach [Insert Coach Name] of the Emory & Henry College Wrestling Team. Coach, thanks for being here.
**Coach:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** The women’s wrestling team competed hard at the Mount Olive Trojan Duals this past weekend. Although the team didn’t secure any wins, there were some standout individual performances. Can you tell us more about those?
**Coach:** Absolutely. Our freshmen really showed up this weekend. Rihana Carson and Molly Keller both had incredible performances, racking up multiple wins. Rihana, in particular, dominated her matches, showcasing some really impressive technical skills.
[ [1](https://www.gowasps.com/sports/wrest/2024-25/releases/20241208yklkcb) ]
**Host:** That’s fantastic to hear! It sounds like the future is bright for the Wasps. What were some of the challenges the team faced at the Trojan Duals?
**Coach:** We had some tough matchups, particularly against Allen and Newberry. We struggled with some unfilled weight classes, which put us at a disadvantage right from the start. However, despite those challenges, our wrestlers never gave up. They fought hard in every match, demonstrating real grit and determination. [ [1](https://www.gowasps.com/sports/wrest/2024-25/releases/20241208yklkcb) ]
**Host:** It sounds like a valuable learning experience for the team. What are you focusing on as you move forward?
**Coach:** We’re going to focus on continuing to build upon the individual successes we saw this weekend and developing our team strategy. We’re going to address our weaknesses and work on filling those open weight classes. This team has heart and potential, and I’m confident we’ll see continued improvement throughout the season.
**Host:** Excellent. Thank you so much for your time, Coach [Insert Coach Name]. We look forward to seeing what the Emory & Henry Women’s Wrestling Team accomplishes this season.
**Coach:** You’re welcome. GO WASPS!
