INDIANOLA, Iowa – Rebecca Strong earned a first-place finish at the Luther Hill Invitational on Sunday afternoon, as the Lindenwood women's wrestling team opened the 2026-27 season with several strong performances.

Strong went 4-0 in the 160 lb. division, using a pair of tech falls and a pin (1:52) in the semifinals to reach the championship match, where she defeated Fort Hayes State's Kiley Dillow (TF 12-1) to claim the crown.

Sienna Caruso and Megan Valdez joined Strong on the podium with top three finishes at 103. Caruso won three consecutive matches – including back-to-back pins in the quarterfinals and semifinals – to reach the championship bout before falling by technical fall to Iowa's Madison Nieuwenhuis.

After losing her opening round matchup, Valdez reeled off three consecutive wins – including a pair of pins – in the consolation bracket before a dominant win in the third-place match over Quincy's Abigail Mendoza (TF 10-0).

Meanwhile, Kamauri Fowler turned in an impressive collegiate debut, advancing to the championship round of the 207 bracket with a tech fall (4:38) and a pair of wins by decision before coming just short of gold against Autumn Calvert of Simpson.

In total, 16 Lindenwood wrestlers placed at the event.

Next Up
Lindenwood heads to Marshall on Friday, November 13^th to compete at the Missouri Valley Open. The event is scheduled to get underway at 9:00 a.m. at Burns Athletic Center.