EAST STROUDSBURG, PA – Delaware State women's wrestling opened its 2026-27 season with a second-place finish at the ESU Open, placing behind Lehigh University after sending 16 competitors to the tournament.
The Hornets crowned three individual champions as
Deionna Borders (207 pounds),
Louise Juitt (145 pounds) and
Willow White (138 pounds) captured titles in their respective weight classes. Six Delaware State wrestlers reached the championship finals, with
Icart Galumette (117 pounds),
Ariah Mervilus (110 pounds) and
Haylie Briscoe (160 pounds) earning runner-up finishes.
Five additional Hornets secured podium finishes.
Sophia Slaughter took third at 124 pounds, while
Azariyah Johnson finished fourth at 180 pounds.
Sydney Branch (103 pounds) and
Irelynn Laurin (160 pounds) placed fifth, and
Elena Carter finished sixth at 145 pounds.
The second-place showing marks a considerable jump from last year's ESU Open, where Delaware State finished eighth out of 32 teams with three placewinners. Juitt and Galumette were the returning podium finishers from that competition, having each placed third in 2025.
Delaware State returns to action November 7-8 at the Throwdown on the Yorktown in Charleston, South Carolina.
