Leavenworth, Kan.— Spire women's wrestling would also close out their season on the national stage with determination and steady growth, showing how far the program has come since its inception during the 2017-18 competition season. Battling it out against tough opponents' night after night, the (RV) USM women continued to build confidence and represent their school with pride. As their season came to a poignant end, marking both progress and the close of a hard-fought journey.

The expectations from veteran wrestlers such as Alexsys Jacquez, Amelia Frounfelter, and Rachel Dismuke set a strong foundation for future success in newcomers such as Destiny Jones, Holly Thacher, Ka'aulani Hew-Len, and Gwen Musser just to name a few, and raised the standard for all Spire women's wrestlers to come.

The landscape of women's collegiate wrestling is rapidly changing and evolving, seeing growth on a global scale. What was once a niche activity has evolved into one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. with the pipeline from high schools fueling this boom as 46+ states now sanctioning women's wrestling. In 2018 when the NAIA introduced women's wrestling solely as an invitational sport, there were nearly 21,000 participants nationwide.

Today that number has tripled. Coach Kearney and staff is extremely proud that the NAIA was an early adopter and helped set the stage for the NCAA to follow suit. The NAIA was the first collegiate governing body to officially sanction women's wrestling, setting the stage for what would be a high-intensity, high-demand, successful program such as the one head coach Chuck Kearney, Gabriel Blough, Riley Jaramillo, and Raeann Bromert have developed at the University of Saint Mary.

Big things were expected this year from coach Kearney's roster top to bottom. Three-time NAIA All-American, Alexsys Jacquez would answer that call with another dominant year under her already impressive resume. Earning All-American honors in college wrestling is one of the sport's highest distinctions, reserved for those who prove themselves on the biggest stage. Wrestlers must battle through the nation's toughest competition and secure a top-eight finish at the national championships—an achievement that reflects elite skill, relentless preparation, and unwavering toughness. Being named an All-American is more than a title; it's a testament to an athlete's grit, discipline, and ability to rise when it matters most.

With this being said, it's with great pride that the Spire women's wrestlers added Skylur Lewis to their list of All-Americans this season and with Jacquez earning that title for the third time, this marked the second time in three years that the USM women's program has had multiple athletes earn this achievement.

Alexsys finished her year in the 103lb. weight class ranked No. 4 in the nation and continuing to be a standout for the Spire women. Jacquez would be named KCAC/SAC Women's Wrestler of the Week during the Week of February 2^nd, climbed up the national rankings all season long, and took home 3^rd overall in the KCAC/SAC Conference Championships. To cap off her junior season, Alexsys would be named NAIA Women's Wrestling All-American for the third straight year as she took home 4^th place on the national stage—earning the honor of All-American in every season of collegiate competition is a feat very few will ever get to experience.

Standout Destiny Jones would leave it all on the mat this season for the Spires, finishing her opening collegiate campaign in style at the 4^th annual NAIA Women's Wrestling National Tournament. Her name would be a permanent fixture on the national rankings on The Open Mat this year, never leaving the top twenty women's wrestlers in all of NAIA and ended this year claiming the No. 9 spot. Destiny would rack up several resume builders this year, being named KCAC/SAC Women's Wrestler of the Week during the week of November 3^rd, placing 4^th overall in the KCAC/SAC Conference Championships in a stacked 103lb. weight class, and earning the stature as one of the top freshmen in the nation. Destiny would go head-to-head with teammate Jacquez in the blood round at the national tournament in what was a win or go home grit match between the newcomer and All-American. Jones would fall in a final tally of 13-2, ending her inaugural season.

Redshirt freshman Skylur Lewis made her presence known in the conference this season in her first full year of collegiate wrestling. Skylur would wrap up her season in the 138lb. weight class and added to the total of ranked Spires as Lewis was another fixture on the nations top twenty, coming in at the No. 8 spot in the nation. She would tackle a battle at the KCAC/SAC Conference Championships and walk away victorious, taking home 3^rd place to send herself to the NAIA Women's Wrestling National Tournament. Not only is that highly impressive on its own, but Skylur wouldn't stop there. She made the most of her appearance on the big stage, giving every last drop and finishing in the top eight to rightfully earn the honor of NAIA All-American.

Spire women's wrestling has seen meaningful contributions from every corner of the roster this season, with athletes new and returning stepping up in big moments and demonstrating the depth and unity of the program. That collective effort has been a key driver of USM's success and continued growth.

The Spires are excited to return our strong nucleus of women's wrestlers as the USM women will retain their roster and begin preparing the new wave of Spire wrestlers what it means to be a part of a program known for producing champions while emphasizing character development the way Coach Kearney does. The future has never been brighter for Spires women's wrestling.