Takedown Report

Upstart Lindsey Wilson Women’s Wrestling Ready To Take On The Nation

Lindsey Wilson’s women’s wrestling team will test the NAIA’s best during its inaugural season.
The Lindsey Wilson women’s wrestling program is ready to launch. And head coach Devane Dodgens couldn’t be more excited. 
The Columbia, Kentucky-based college competes in the Mid-South Conference and will take on the NAIA’s best. Dodgens has built a team capable of cracking the top 10 in year one.
The Blue Raiders have a few high-profile transfers and top high-school talent to get things started. It took eight months for Dodgens to build a roster of 40 wrestlers — but he wants more.  “Having a first-year women’s wrestling program is a transformative experience,” Dodgens said. “The opportunity to build something from the ground up with support can help build a winning culture and attitude for our ladies and the team. “We want to be the hardest working, best conditioned, most professional, unselfish, toughest, meanest, and funniest team in the NAIA. My vision is to see the program grow to 50-60 ladies who all want to have an enjoyable college experience. As a team, we want to grow as a family.”
Dodgens coached the men’s and women’s teams at Brewton-Parker before assuming the head women’s role at Lindsey Wilson. He was a two-time All-American at Life University, finishing seventh at the 2015 NAIA Championships and third in 2017. 
Leidaly Rivera and India Page are returning NAIA All-Americans,  and Josselinne Campos, Brielle Bibla, Alesandra Burgos, and Sierra Hartfelder are college national qualifiers. Add a handful of nationally ranked high school girls and this team could make some noise. “We want to be in the top five at some point like a lot of great teams in our conference are,” Dodgens said. “We want to bring back national titles and a bunch of All-American honors. As a first-year program, we have to remember two words: temper expectations. We are good on paper but that doesn’t mean anything when we toe the line. We will get what we ultimately work for. “This group is exciting and has a balanced group of youth mixed in with veterans. I am excited to work with such an outstanding group of ladies.”
117 Pounds
Kamilah Brooks, FR — TDR’s Olivia Neal Award winner
— 2024 North Carolina state champion
— 4x state placer
— Ranked 28 in the nation … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/12880074-upstart-lindsey-wilson-womens-wrestling-ready-to-take-on-the-nation

October 15, 2024 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | athletics, naia, sports, wrestling