INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The No. 11-ranked Wartburg College women's wrestling team put together a strong opening day at the NCAA Region V Championships, advancing multiple wrestlers through the championship bracket and positioning itself firmly in the team race.

After day one, the Knights sit in second place with 73 team points, trailing the University of Iowa's 85.

At 103 pounds, Chloe Sheffield opened the tournament with a bye before earning a 10-0 technical fall over Simpson's Emaline Hicks in the quarterfinals. Sheffield advances to the semifinals, where she will face top-seeded Valarie Solorio of Iowa.

Afftynn Stusse turned in one of the day's most dominant performances at 110 pounds, recording back-to-back technical falls in championship action. Stusse needed just over three minutes combined to defeat opponents from Wisconsin–Oshkosh and Wisconsin–Stevens Point and will meet third-seeded Sarah Zimmerman of Simpson in the semifinals.

Gable Hemann followed suit at 117 pounds, cruising to two technical falls against wrestlers from Cornell College and Wisconsin–Stevens Point. Hemann will take on Brianna Gonzalez of Iowa in semifinal action.

At 124 pounds, Sophie Bowers rebounded after a quarterfinal loss with an impressive showing in the consolation bracket, earning a 34-second technical fall over Luther's Nina Yankey. Bowers will continue consolation action against Dubuque's Bree Swenson.

Kenzie Childers was nearly untouchable at 131 pounds, securing a pair of falls over opponents from Central College and Upper Iowa in under five minutes total. Childers advances to face third-seeded Madeline Barton of Quincy.

Kylie Rule matched that momentum at 138 pounds, recording two quick falls—both in under 1:15—to move through the championship bracket. Rule will square off with Augustana's Aine Moffit in a two-versus-three semifinal matchup.

Aniyah Kelly opened her day at 145 pounds with a 26-second pin before adding a shutout decision in the quarterfinals. Kelly will face Simpson's Annelise Obermark in the semifinals.

At 160 pounds, May Prado received a first-round bye and followed with a fall at 2:41 over Augsburg's Alaina Franco in the quarterfinals. Prado advances to a semifinal matchup with top-seeded Kennedy Blades of Iowa.

Rounding out the lineup, Rewa Chababo delivered a standout performance at 207 pounds, pinning her opening-round opponent in just 19 seconds before earning a 10-0 technical fall in the quarterfinals. Chababo will meet third-seeded Savannah Sistad of Simpson in the semifinals.
 
UP NEXT
Championship action resumes tomorrow with semifinal and placement matches. In each weight class, the top three finishers will earn automatic qualification to the 2026 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships, slated for March 6–7 at Xtream Arena. The national tournament will mark the first official NCAA-sponsored championship for women's wrestling, featuring 10 weight classes and 180 total competitors across Divisions I, II, and III.
 
REGION V TEAM SCORES THROUGH DAY ONE
Iowa – 85
Wartburg – 73
Simpson – 60
Quincy – 55
Dubuque – 37.5
Augustana – 36.5
Wisc. Stevens Point – 27
Augsburg – 16.5
Carthage – 16.5
Wisc. Oshkosh – 15.5
Buena Vista – 10
Cornell – 8.5
Luther – 8.5
Central – 6
Upper Iowa – 5.5
 
REGION V INDIVIDUAL SEEDING
103: Chloe Sheffield (4)
110: Afftynn Stusse (2)
117: Gable Hemann (3)
124: Sophie Bowers (3)
131: Kenzie Childers (2)
138: Kylie Rule (3)
145: Aniyah Kelly (3)
160: May Prado (4)
180: Erika Peterson (12)
207: Rewa Chababo (2)
 
RESULTS – DAY ONE
103
Champ. Round 1 - Chloe Sheffield (Wartburg) 20-3 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Chloe Sheffield (Wartburg) 20-3 won by tech fall over Emaline Hicks (Simpson) 21-7 (TF-1.5 2:35 (10-0))

110
Champ. Round 1 - Afftynn Stusse (Wartburg) 23-3 won by tech fall over Myra Bair (Wisconsin - Oshkosh) 7-21 (TF-1.5 1:18 (10-0))
Quarterfinal - Afftynn Stusse (Wartburg) 23-3 won by tech fall over Briana Martinez (Wisconsin Stevens Point) 13-15 (TF-1.5 1:42 (10-0))

117
Champ. Round 1 - Gable Hemann (Wartburg) 22-6 won by tech fall over Cheyenne Mulford (Cornell College) 18-20 (TF-1.5 0:22 (10-0))
Quarterfinal - Gable Hemann (Wartburg) 22-6 won by tech fall over Margaret Gillmore (Wisconsin Stevens Point) 20-11 (TF-1.5 3:31 (10-0))

124
Champ. Round 1 - Sophie Bowers (Wartburg) 27-8 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Mya Delleree (Wisconsin - Oshkosh) 20-14 won by fall over Sophie Bowers (Wartburg) 27-8 (Fall 3:00)
Cons. Round 2 - Sophie Bowers (Wartburg) 27-8 won by tech fall over Nina Yankey (Luther) 2-20 (TF-1.5 0:34 (11-0))

131
Champ. Round 1 - Mackenzie Childers (Wartburg) 19-4 won by fall over Julia Kanne (Central College) 6-14 (Fall 2:24)
Quarterfinal - Mackenzie Childers (Wartburg) 19-4 won by fall over Kylee Shoop (Upper Iowa) 22-11 (Fall 1:58)

138
Champ. Round 1 - Kylie Rule (Wartburg) 21-4 won by fall over Kelsey Cruz (Augsburg University) 10-10 (Fall 0:50)
Quarterfinal - Kylie Rule (Wartburg) 21-4 won by fall over Savannah Freifeld (Buena Vista) 26-14 (Fall 1:12)

145
Champ. Round 1 - Aniyah Kelly (Wartburg) 20-6 won by fall over Cameron Halbur (Central College) 0-16 (Fall 0:26)
Quarterfinal - Aniyah Kelly (Wartburg) 20-6 won by decision over Tatum Levendahl (Dubuque) 10-9 (Dec 5-0)

160
Champ. Round 1 - May Prado (Wartburg) 20-10 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - May Prado (Wartburg) 20-10 won by fall over Alaina Franco (Augsburg University) 10-8 (Fall 2:41)

180
Champ. Round 1 - Merin Yates (Dubuque) 15-8 won by tech fall over Erika Peterson (Wartburg) 4-14 (TF-1.5 3:12 (12-1))
Cons. Round 1 - Erika Peterson (Wartburg) 4-14 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Kylie Miller (Luther) 19-12 won by tech fall over Erika Peterson (Wartburg) 4-14 (TF-1.5 5:57 (10-0))

207
Champ. Round 1 - Rewa Chababo (Wartburg) 22-2 won by fall over Natalie Gratschmayr (Wisconsin - Oshkosh) 2-20 (Fall 0:19)
Quarterfinal - Rewa Chababo (Wartburg) 22-2 won by tech fall over Sonia Ramos (Augsburg University) 4-15 (TF-1.5 1:10 (10-0))