Blue Hawk women's wrestling heads into a busy December stretch with a road dual at Hastings College on Thursday, December 4th, followed by the women's division of the Conner Oppenheim Open on Friday, December 5th, in Crete, Neb. Dickinson State enters the weekend ranked twentieth in the latest NAIA poll and sixth in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. DSU again brings a roster that features multiple nationally and conference ranked athletes while continuing to lean on a young core that is gaining experience every week.

Although nationally ranked lightweights Jenna Gerhardt and Jazmine Turner will not compete this weekend, their recent climb in the rankings highlights the depth that is developing within the program. Gerhardt holds the eleventh spot at 110 in the NAIA rankings while Turner is seventh at 117, with teammate Larhae Whaley sitting seventeenth at the same weight. At the top of the DSU lineup remains returning national champion Jumoke Adekoye, ranked second in the country at 131 pounds and first in the HAAC.

THURSDAY: HASTINGS COLLEGE DUAL

Dickinson State at Hastings College
Thursday, December 4 – 5:00 p.m. (MST)

The Blue Hawks open the trip with a marquee dual against Hastings College, a program that has quickly risen under sixth year head coach Cara Romeike. Hastings is sixteenth in the latest NAIA team poll and has established itself near the top of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, finishing first in the KCAC in 2024 and second in the GPAC during its first season in the league.

Romeike's Broncos feature five nationally ranked individuals:

• 131 – Larissa Kaz, ranked seventh

• 138 – Reagen Gallaway, ranked third

• 145 – Emma Stice, ranked twelfth

• 180 – Mandy Perez, ranked eighteenth

• 207 – Taylor Rickley, ranked tenth

Key Blue Hawk Weights

Even with Gerhardt and Turner out of the lineup this weekend, Dickinson State has several athletes poised to test Hastings' ranked wrestlers.

• 131 pounds – Jumoke Adekoye
  Adekoye, the defending NAIA national champion. A potential meeting between Adekoye and Hastings' Larissa Kaz would be one of the premier bouts of the night if the lineups align.

• 131 pounds – Makenzie Shaw
  Shaw is eighth in the HAAC at 131 and continues to gain valuable mat time. Her ability to score bonus points or secure key dual wins adds important depth at this weight.

• 145 pounds – Savannah Brehm
  Brehm is ranked ninth in the HAAC at 145. With Hastings' Emma Stice ranked nationally at the same weight, this class could swing important team points and provide a good measuring stick for Brehm against national level opposition.

• 160 pounds – Hayla Hoffman
  Hoffman enters the dual ranked tenth in the HAAC at 160. Her conference ranking reflects steady progress and she will look to continue that trend against a Hastings lineup that features multiple strong upperweights.

• 180 pounds – Bridgette Price
  Price holds the sixth spot in the HAAC at 180. A potential matchup with Hastings' Mandy Perez, ranked eighteenth nationally and second in the GPAC, offers another chance for a Blue Hawk to battle a nationally recognized opponent.

• 207 pounds – Isabella Urias
  Urias is sixth in the HAAC at 207 and continues to grow into the heavyweight role for DSU. Facing Hastings' tenth ranked Taylor Rickley would provide valuable experience.

Dual Outlook

Hastings brings a lineup with high level experience. For DSU, the dual provides:

• A midseason test for Adekoye and the upperweights against nationally ranked opponents.

• Opportunities for athletes like Brehm, Hoffman, Price and Urias to close the gap on conference and national contenders.

• A final tune up in a dual format before a long day of tournament wrestling at the Conner Oppenheim Open.

FRIDAY: WOMEN'S CONNER OPPENHEIM OPEN

Conner Oppenheim Open – Women's Division
Friday, December 5 – 8:00 a.m. (MST)

The Women's Conner Oppenheim Open brings the deepest women's fields on the early season schedule. The tournament, is currently slated to feature twenty eight teams, with the possibility of more additions as entries finalize.

The field includes a blend of NAIA powerhouses, strong regional programs, junior colleges and prep teams. Among the schools scheduled to compete are:

• Nationally ranked NAIA teams and perennial contenders such as Grand View, William Penn, University of Providence, Doane, Texas Wesleyan, Central Methodist, Missouri Valley, Wayland Baptist and Hastings.

Across the ten weights the tournament will showcase many of the wrestlers found throughout the latest NAIA individual rankings.

Opportunities for the Blue Hawks

For Dickinson State, the Conner Oppenheim Open serves several purposes.

• National Measurement: With Adekoye ranked second nationally at 131 and multiple DSU athletes holding HAAC rankings, Friday will provide direct comparison to some of the best wrestlers in the country. Brackets that include opponents from schools like Grand View, William Penn, Providence, Doane and Texas Wesleyan will closely resemble a national tournament preview.

• Depth Evaluation: Without Gerhardt and Turner in action, the Blue Hawks will lean on athletes such as Whaley, Shaw, Brehm, Hoffman, Price and Urias to log significant match volume.

• Conference Preparation: Many of the attending teams share conference or regional ties with DSU. Matchups against opponents from the HAAC such as Central Methodist, Missouri Valley, Grand View, William Penn, and Baker will provide valuable film and scouting information heading toward the second half of the season.

BLUE HAWKS OUTLOOK

Dickinson State continues to build momentum in year three. A top twenty national ranking, four current NAIA ranked individuals and ten conference ranked athletes reflect the growth of the program and the competitive schedule that the Blue Hawks are embracing.

The dual with Hastings followed by the Conner Oppenheim Open represents a key checkpoint for this young roster. Two days in Nebraska will test depth, resilience and the ability to make adjustments from one match to the next.

If the Blue Hawks can bring consistent energy, attack their positions and capitalize on the chance to wrestle some of the best competition in the NAIA, the weekend will provide another important step toward championship progress.