Brendlinger sisters among champs in Elementary & Middle School divisions at Girls Folkstyle Nationals
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by Jason Bryant
Kayla Brendlinger had a busy weekend. So did her father Ron.
The Slippery Rock, Pa., resident picked up one of the four qualifying berths for the Youth Olympic Games qualifier, won the Junior Division of the Girls Folkstyle Nationals and cheered on younger sisters Kelsey and Kandice as they both won championships in the Middle School & Elementary Divisions in Oklahoma City last weekend.
Ron, a former wrestler and coach at Slippery Rock University, watched with approval as his three daughters became the first to win three Girls Folkstyle National championships in one event since the inception of the tournament three years ago.
Kandice, wrestling in the Elementary Division at 65-67 pounds, pinned Olathe's Sara Wallace in 26 seconds to earn the gold medal. It was the second championship in a row, as she claimed the 63-pound championship last year.
The win paved the way for Kelsey to pick up the third folkstyle title and fourth overall for the family. Kelsey, wrestling in the Middle School Division at 110 pounds, beat Kansas' Brooke Oleson in two bouts to make it a perfect weekend for the trio of girls from Pennsylvania.
The Brendlinger's weren't the only last name to appear atop the podium more than once. Teniya and Teshya Alo of Hawaii won championships. Teniya won the Elementary Division at 61-64 pounds, while Teshya won the Middle School Division at 89 pounds.
The elder Alo beat returning champion Katie Agey of Iowa by fall in the finals to capture the championship. Last year's Elementary Division champion, Gabrielle Garcia of California finished third at the weight.
Minnesota's Emily Shilson repeated as a champion in the Elementary Division. Last year, she won at 50 pounds and last weekend, she walked away with the championship in the 53-54 pound bracket, picking up three falls, two coming in under 38 seconds.
Two 2009 champions fell short in their bids to repeat.
In the Elementary Division, Merijah Morales of Team Puma won the championship at 46-49 pounds, beating returing champion Olivia Shore of Shore Things 6-1 during the round robin.
Skylar Grote of Blairstown Wrestling Club won the championship in the Middle School Division, defeating returning champion Julia Long of Wyoming 9-1 in the finals at 96 pounds.
Elementary Division Champions
35: Lillie Diaz (Liberal Wrestling Club)
45: Samara Chavez (Wesley Wrestling)
49: Merijah Morales (Team Puma)
50-54: Whitney Quandt (Valley Center Kids Club)
53-54: Emily Shilson (Minnesota)
60: Autumn Grangel (Parlier Wrestling)
63: Mace Kilty (Stratford)
64: Teniya Alo (Hawaii)
67: Kandice Brendlinger (Pennsylvania)
71: McKinna Faulkenberry (Predator WC)
76: Hailey Schiermeyer (Independent)
81: Lyric Gonsalves (Kansas Krusaders)
85: Brittany Bredemann (Stratford)
90: Ashlynn Ortega (Steel City WC)
96: Adelyhda Perez (Uvalde WC)
105: Allison Barthel (Semper Fi)
125: Kaylee Omland (Minnesota)
163: Marisa DeMattia (Frisco Bombers)
Middle School Division Champions
75: Devyn Johnson (Minnesota)
89: Teshya Alo (Hawaii)
96: Skylar Grote (Blairstown WC)
103: Cassandra Herkelman (Iowa)
110: Kelsey Brendlinger (Pennsylvania)
118: Becka Leathers (Ironman)
126: Cassandra Wickett (Glenrock WC)
125: Virginia Burkett (Bridger Valley Bruins)
145: Quincy Rayls (Kansas Krusaders)
155: Cierra Davey (Iowa)
155+: Brandy Lowe (Rossville WC)
The Slippery Rock, Pa., resident picked up one of the four qualifying berths for the Youth Olympic Games qualifier, won the Junior Division of the Girls Folkstyle Nationals and cheered on younger sisters Kelsey and Kandice as they both won championships in the Middle School & Elementary Divisions in Oklahoma City last weekend.
Ron, a former wrestler and coach at Slippery Rock University, watched with approval as his three daughters became the first to win three Girls Folkstyle National championships in one event since the inception of the tournament three years ago.
Kandice, wrestling in the Elementary Division at 65-67 pounds, pinned Olathe's Sara Wallace in 26 seconds to earn the gold medal. It was the second championship in a row, as she claimed the 63-pound championship last year.
The win paved the way for Kelsey to pick up the third folkstyle title and fourth overall for the family. Kelsey, wrestling in the Middle School Division at 110 pounds, beat Kansas' Brooke Oleson in two bouts to make it a perfect weekend for the trio of girls from Pennsylvania.
The Brendlinger's weren't the only last name to appear atop the podium more than once. Teniya and Teshya Alo of Hawaii won championships. Teniya won the Elementary Division at 61-64 pounds, while Teshya won the Middle School Division at 89 pounds.
The elder Alo beat returning champion Katie Agey of Iowa by fall in the finals to capture the championship. Last year's Elementary Division champion, Gabrielle Garcia of California finished third at the weight.
Minnesota's Emily Shilson repeated as a champion in the Elementary Division. Last year, she won at 50 pounds and last weekend, she walked away with the championship in the 53-54 pound bracket, picking up three falls, two coming in under 38 seconds.
Two 2009 champions fell short in their bids to repeat.
In the Elementary Division, Merijah Morales of Team Puma won the championship at 46-49 pounds, beating returing champion Olivia Shore of Shore Things 6-1 during the round robin.
Skylar Grote of Blairstown Wrestling Club won the championship in the Middle School Division, defeating returning champion Julia Long of Wyoming 9-1 in the finals at 96 pounds.
Elementary Division Champions
35: Lillie Diaz (Liberal Wrestling Club)
45: Samara Chavez (Wesley Wrestling)
49: Merijah Morales (Team Puma)
50-54: Whitney Quandt (Valley Center Kids Club)
53-54: Emily Shilson (Minnesota)
60: Autumn Grangel (Parlier Wrestling)
63: Mace Kilty (Stratford)
64: Teniya Alo (Hawaii)
67: Kandice Brendlinger (Pennsylvania)
71: McKinna Faulkenberry (Predator WC)
76: Hailey Schiermeyer (Independent)
81: Lyric Gonsalves (Kansas Krusaders)
85: Brittany Bredemann (Stratford)
90: Ashlynn Ortega (Steel City WC)
96: Adelyhda Perez (Uvalde WC)
105: Allison Barthel (Semper Fi)
125: Kaylee Omland (Minnesota)
163: Marisa DeMattia (Frisco Bombers)
Middle School Division Champions
75: Devyn Johnson (Minnesota)
89: Teshya Alo (Hawaii)
96: Skylar Grote (Blairstown WC)
103: Cassandra Herkelman (Iowa)
110: Kelsey Brendlinger (Pennsylvania)
118: Becka Leathers (Ironman)
126: Cassandra Wickett (Glenrock WC)
125: Virginia Burkett (Bridger Valley Bruins)
145: Quincy Rayls (Kansas Krusaders)
155: Cierra Davey (Iowa)
155+: Brandy Lowe (Rossville WC)
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