KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Friends University Falcons competed at the KCAC Championship meet this weekend in Kansas City, Mo. and came home with two NAIA qualifiers.

In the 180-pound division, No. 20-ranked Bailee Nelson earned her second career NAIA National Championship berth with a strong second place finish. Nelson defeated Rebekah Koolstra (Saint Mary) by fall in the quarterfinal match and then knocked off No. 11-ranked Kaylee Davis (Ottawa) with a pinfall in the first minute to advance to the championship match.  She then fell by an 8-4 decision to Ottawa's No. 15-ranked Siara Arrington in the title bout.

Despite being tripped up in the third-place match of the 138-pound class, Gianna Moreno, a 2024 NAIA All-American, was selected as a wild card to make her third consecutive NAIA National Championship appearance.

Other notable results for the Falcons was a second-place result by Heidi Schultz in the 145-pound division. Schultz won an 11-8 decision over Allison King (Saint Mary) before losing a tight decision to No. 20-ranked Ann Meiman (Jamestown) in the first-place match.

Top three finishes for the Falcons also included Trinity Motter (103 pounds) and Anissa Robinson (110 pounds).

Nelson and Moreno will now gear up to compete at the NAIA National Championships on Mar. 14-15 at nearby Park City, Kan.