RUTHERFORD, NJ—Following a dominant performance at the NCAA Regional Tournament, the nationally-ranked Felician University’s women’s wrestling team prepares to take center stage at the NCAA Women’s Wrestling National Championship, March 6-7 in Iowa.  

“These girls have believed in the program, some when it wasn’t even a program yet as it is only our second year, but they have trusted in the process and put in the time, work, dedication, and sacrifices needed to become successful in the sport,” said head coach Fred Santaite.  

The Golden Falcons placed fourth at the Regional Tournament and qualified five wrestlers for the National Championship. The five nationally-ranked qualifiers—junior Theresa Zeppetelli, from Little Ferry, NJ; freshman Christina Borgmann, from Palm Coast, FL; freshman Emily Doolittle, from Cape Coral, FL; freshman Lina Rodriguez, from Norwalk, CT; and junior Talisha Lewis, from Bayonne, NJ—will travel to Iowa for the NCAA Women’s Wrestling National Championship. 

 “All of us on the coaching staff are very proud of them,” coach Santaite added. “But their goals aren’t met yet. It is a tremendous accomplishment to qualify for the national tournament, especially now that it is now sanctioned by the NCAA.” 

And it’s evident just how big an accomplishment this is as coach Santaite explained, “The number of qualifiers for nationals is just 18 per weight class, so these girls that qualified are among the top 18 best wrestlers in the country out of about 125 teams that compete. The NCAA athletes in women’s wrestling also compete against all NCAA Division 1, 2, and 3 programs. The competition level is high with some of the athletes in these brackets already achieving senior-level Olympic and World medals.”  

We can’t all make it to Iowa, but we’ll be cheering on the Golden Falcons from afar. Got get ‘em, ladies!