Lady Flames wrestlers challenge NCAA, NAIA opponents in Patriot Duals

Friday, December 5

Williamsburg, KY

9:00 AM

Liberty University Club Sports

University of the Cumberlands

Aurora Pennington wins match in Pennsylvania

Senior 121-pound wrestler Aurora Pennington walks off a winner after her Nov. 23 match in the Warrior Duals at East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University.

Lady Flames wrestlers challenge NCAA, NAIA opponents in Patriot Duals

12/11/2025 6:15:00 PM | Women's Wrestling

Liberty won three out of eight team matches at this past weekend’s dual meet tournament at the University of the Cumberlands.

Liberty University's women's wrestling team wrestled eight dual matches over two days at the University of the Cumberlands' Patriot Duals Dec. 5-6 in Williamsburg, Ky., where it finished 3-5 and placed 11th out of 13 NAIA, NCAA Division III, and NCWA programs.

The Lady Flames were led by sophomore June Welch (5-4) and senior Aurora Pennington (3-2) who posted winning records over the weekend. Junior Amanda Walker (4-5), freshman Julia Malou Silva (2-6), freshman Emma Bond (1-2), and senior Chloe Rowland (1-9) also posted individual wins.

As a team, Liberty won its first dual match over Lourdes (Ohio) University, 25-15, sparked by pins at 124 pounds by Pennington over Aaliyah Lee in 4 minutes, 20 seconds, 131 pounds by Welch over Madalaine Smith in 2:35, and 138 pounds by Walker over Adelynn England in 1:00.

The euphoria from that match victory was short-lived, however, as Life (Ga.) University's Black team defeated the Lady Flames, 43-5, in the ensuing bout before Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) University pulled out a 25-19 triumph on consecutive pins at 138, 145, and 160 pounds, starting with Calista Gibson's back-and-forth battle with Walker resulting in a fall at the 5:56 mark.

The tournament's first day ended with Liberty falling to Montreat (N.C.) University, 36-12, and being topped by the host University of the Cumberlands, 44-4. Then on Saturday, the Lady Flames got out to a slow start, falling to Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) University, 47-1, before they recovered in time to pay back Lincoln Memorial, 24-21, on first-period pins by Silva at 117 pounds and Welch at 131, a technical fall by Walker at 138 and forfeit win by sophomore Faith Kiefer at 180.

Liberty then proceeded to complete its sweep of Lourdes, winning 26-18 on pins by Welch and Walker and forfeit wins by Bond, Silva, and Kiefer, before dropping a 34-15 decision to Rochester (N.Y.) Christian University.

Complete results are available online.

The Lady Flames will next be in action for the Mid-Atlantic Conference Championships set for March 14 in the Tolsma Indoor Track Center, a qualifier for the March 26-28 NCWA Grand Nationals near Shreveport, La.