With best wishes and a prayer, Alexis “Lexi” Janiak was sent off by Aurora University AU) students, faculty and staff members Wednesday, March 1 to the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship.
The event was held March 3-4 at Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Janiak finished in second place following a 9-0 defeat at the hands of Cameron Guerin of McKendree University (Ill.).
An Aurora University freshman from Plainfield South High School, Janiak was ranked No. 1 in the 130-pound class with a 21-3 season record.
She is the first Aurora woman wrestler to qualify for a national wrestling championship tournament.
Coach Justin Pearch accompanied Janiak.
James Hamad, AU vice president for athletics, emceed the informal send off at Alumni Hall lobby.
After remarks by Hamad and coach Pearch, University chaplain Dimitri Willis led the gathering in a prayer.
Attendees included Aurora women and men wrestlers who displayed posters with comments that included “Let’s go Lexi,” “Janiak the maniac” and “L.J. the killa.”
—Al Benson