FORT HAYS, Kan. – A partial contingent of the Chadron State women's wrestling team competed Sunday at the Bob Smith Women's Open hosted by Fort Hays State University and performed well, with three out of five participating Eagle wrestlers placing.

Freshman Rylee Balcazar led the way with a second-place finish at the 110-pound weight class. The Fort Lupton, Colorado native stormed through the bracket with a 24-second pin in the first round, an 11-0 tech fall win in the second round and another pin in the semi before coming up short to Fort Hays State's Isabella Cross in the final. 

Junior Britley Lopez, the only non-freshman of the five competing Eagles, placed fourth at 103 pounds. Lopez suffered a loss to Fort Hays State's Hannah Selle in her first match, but rallied through the consolation bracket, earning two wins by fall sandwiched around a narrow 7-6 decision win. That earned a rematch with Selle in the third-place match, but the Fort Hays wrestler pinned Lopez for the second time on the day.

Chadron State's final placer was another freshman as Arvada, Colorado's Sicily Frates, who took home sixth place in the 180-pound weight class. Frates's tournament included a head-to-head win over an RMAC opponent as she defeated Adams State's Abigail Wold by fall in just 50 seconds. 

Freshman Trona Bates, who went 1-2, and Maddox Gellhausen, who went 0-2, both competed at 124 pounds and were the other two Eagles to compete in Fort Hays. 

Chadron State women's wrestling will compete at home for the first time this upcoming weekend. The Eagles will host the Chadron State duals on Friday, December 6, with CSC competing against Minot State, Jamestown, Texas Woman's and Simon Fraser. The Eagles will also host the Chadron State College Open on Saturday, December 7.