LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Flamingo Casino was busy on Wednesday, as the hotel and resort hosted the 2025 Desert Duals for men's and women's wrestling.  VU women's squad took on four teams today but dropped all four matches, though with at least four weights open for every competition, and five in three of the duals, the Lions entered down at least 20 points off the hop.
 
What Happened?  The Lions mustered 10 points but Colorado Mesa secured 40 for the dual victory.  VU won bouts in the encounter, as Loretta Lopez (117 pounds) took Rachel Jones to the mat in the first period and pinned her for five team points.  Lily Avalos (131 pounds) did the same to Thalla Vogelsang despite Vogelsang leading 12-9 in the first period.  Avalos had a pair of four-point moves but Volgelsang made multipe takedowns to lead, but Avalos sniffed an opportunity with around 40 seconds remaining and completed the pin to get the second VU win of the meeting.  Elena Ramirez (124 pounds), Charlize Jewell (160 pounds), and Abbie Hock (180 pounds) were all pinned in their matchups.
 
SNOW 35  VU 15
The trio of Lopez, Avalos, and Ramirez picked up wins against Snow College, with Lopez pinning Sophia Kerr in the first period, while Rameriz picked up a 12-2 technical fall win over Emily Pasillias.  Avalos made her second pin of the day against Lucia Lucio in quick fashion to round out the individual victories for the Blue and Gold.  Jewell was pinned in her bout but Hock grabbed a point in her tussle, and although she dropped the fight 12-1, she gave VU a point in the dual because she got on the scoreboard.
 
UTAH TECH 37   VU 12
Lopez pinned Kawai Molina in the first period and Avalos secured a 15-4 technical fall decision over Kylee Knudsen to keep their perfect day going.  Rameriz went the distance against Abigall Pray, but Rameriz did most of the damage in the first, scoring seven unanswered points to lead 7-0 at the turn.  One more takedown in the second helped Rameriz win 9-3.  Marina Hernandez went in at 160 pounds but Katie Law scored four points before making a pin.  Mariz Soliman came on the mat at 180 pounds but was pinned by Gabriella Morino.
 
ARIZONA CHRISTIAN 27   VU 19
The Lions had only four weight classes open against ACU and Alexis Garza opened the dual with a 6-5 win over Makayla Lopez at 101 pounds.  The pair were tied at 2-2 after one frame but Garza made a four-point move in the second to notch the win.  One more win came to Lopez, who defeated Kayla McNatt 13-7, while Rameriz rolled Catalina Brown 10-0 and Avalos swiftly dispatched her opponent, Yaretzi Lopez, 12-0.  Kylee Wohlwend was pinned at 160 pounds, but then came a big moment for Hock, who netted her first collegiate win with a pin of Jazmin Shelton.
 
What was Said?  "No better way to shake off finals week than four incredibly tough dual meets.  We can't wait to get back from Christmas break," relayed Head Coach Joe Evano.
 
What's Next?  VU goes to ACU for a dual against the Firestorm and Westcliff on January 10.