ATHERTON, Calif. - The Evergreen State College Geoducks experienced a tremendous Sunday at the CCC Women's Wrestling Championships presented by U.S. Bank at Menlo College. The championship marked many victories for the college, including not only the first wrestler in program history to stand on the podium, but the first Native student athlete to do so as well! Nizhoni Tallman placed 3rd in the 109 weight class, and is heading to nationals with three qualifying teammates. The youngest wrestler on the team to qualify for nationals, Ellabelle Taylor, made her mark on the competition, placing 4th in the 116 weight class. Local Olympia legend, Erica Grant, was the first wrestler from Evergreen to qualify for nationals, and is the only state placer so far to have graduated from Olympia High School's womens wrestling program. Erica placed 5th in the 130 weight class. Three-time state champion "Jasmine" Flor Parker Borrero, had the best performance on the team, winning with two pins, placing 3rd on the podium in the 155 weight class. Evergreen is the only 4-year public university in Washington State with a women's wrestling program. Even though wrestling at Evergreen is still in its infancy, the team's performance at the championships forever cements its place in history!

Head Coach Fan Zhang celebrated the team's success, "Evergreen has thrilled the wrestling community today. It's amazing to see a first-year program send 4 qualifiers to nationals. We're the only 4-year public university in Washington to have a wrestling program. Washington wrestlers make Washington proud!"