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Van Dusen, Hendey lead California to team title at Junior Nationals Women's Duals

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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling

California's Alexia Moreno scores a takedown in the Junior Nationals Women's Duals win over Texas on Wednesday night. John Sachs photo.

FARGO, N.D. - Marcie Van Dusen experienced her share of success as an Olympian and World Team member in women's freestyle wrestling.

Now she's shifting her focus to developing wrestlers as a top young coach.

Van Dusen's impact is being seen already as she led a strong team from California to the championship at the Junior Nationals Women's Duals on Wednesday night at the FargoDome.

California earned the title after earning a 29-26 win over a tough Texas team in the final dual.

"It was a tough day for us" said Van Dusen, the head coach at Menlo (Calif.) College. "We lost two wrestlers (because of injuries) in the early rounds. All our girls had to bump up a weight class. But we talked to them and they were committed to do it and wanted to win. They bumped it up and really came together as a team."

California standout Amanda Hendey, second in the U.S. Senior Open this year, led the way by pinning a pair of Junior Nationals champions.

Hendey won a Junior Nationals title at 130 pounds on Tuesday. She pinned fellow Junior Nationals champions Rosemary Flores of New York and Hannah Moon of Washington in the dual-meet competition.

Flores moved up to 130 to face Hendey after winning the 125 Junior Nationals title. Hendey moved up a weight class to battle Moon, who won Junior Nationals at 139.

"Every time we dual, we pull together and we support each other" Hendey said. "We do chants together. It really pumps us up to go out there and win. Our team is young this year and we did really well considering that. I was very proud of them."

California has now won this event in four of the six years it has been contested. Texas won the other two titles.

California A defeated Washington 29-26 in the second dual of the championship round. Texas A downed Washington 29-22 in the first dual of the championship round.

Texas led 24-22 over Washington entering the final match at 198 pounds. Junior Nationals champion Miriam Moreno recorded a pin at 198 to clinch the win.

Texas received a key win in the dual when Ana McAleavey knocked off Moon 1-1, 0-2, 2-2 at 139. McAleavey placed fifth in the Junior Nationals competition at 130 on Tuesday before moving up a class to upset Moon on Wednesday.

The Junior Women's Duals returned to Fargo this year after a one-year absence.

CALIFORNIA A 29, TEXAS A 26
97 - Lilian Salinas (California A) dec. Michelle Guerrero (Texas A), 8-0, 6-3
105 - Cheyenne Kemp (Texas A) dec. Jonna Rose Palma (California A), 4-0, 4-0
112 - Jasmine Yanez (California A) pinned Haley Moreno (Texas A), 8-0, 0:35
117 - Alex Gomez (California A) pinned Miranda Bennett-England (Texas A), 5-0, 0:33
121 - Michelle Lomas (Texas A) pinned Siobhan Esquerra (California A), 3-0, 0:22
125 - Brazel Marquez (California A) dec. Christina Machado (Texas A), 0-4, 6-0, 3-1
130 - Alexia Moreno (California A) dec. Ana McAleavey (Texas A), 2-1, 3-0
139 - Amanda Hendey (California A) pinned Allison Alvarez (Texas A), 0:32
148 - Natalia Hinojo (Texas A) pinned Monica Ramirez (California A), 1:47
159 - Haley Kinney (California A) pinned Valerie Rosales (Texas A), 3-0, 1:58
172 - Ashley Miles (Texas A) pinned Juiliana Triplet (California A), 0-7, 0:56
198 - Kierra Boyce (Texas A) won by forfeit

CALIFORNIA A 29, WASHINGTON 26
97 - Lilian Salinas (California A) dec. Sabrina Handlon (Washington), 5-1, 2-0
105 - Lauren Richardson (Washington) dec. Jasmine Yanez (California A), 8-0, 6-0
112 - Rachel Archer (Washington) pinned Jonna Rose Palma (California A), 5-4, 1-1, 0:44
117 - Alex Gomez (California A) pinned Taylor Graham (Washington), 3-1, 1:23
121 - Chelsea Reynosa (Washington) pinned Siobhan Esquerra (California A), 2-0, 0:44
125 - Brazel Marquez (California A) pinned Sadie Boyle (Washington), 1:31
130 - Alexia Moreno (California A) dec. Jennifer Anderson (Washington), 5-0, 5-4
139 - Amanda Hendey (California A) pinned Hannah Moon (Washington), 6-0, 1:43
148 - Stephanie Simon (Washington) pinned Monica Ramirez (California A), 3-0, 0:27
159 - Haley Kinney (California A) dec. Brandae Grein (Washington), 3-0, 2-0
172 - Juiliana Triplet (California A) pinned Alanna Alegria (Washington), 0:42
198 - Jessie Vitartas (Washington) won by forfeit

TEXAS A 29, WASHINGTON 22
97 - Michelle Guerrero (Texas A) pinned Sabrina Handlon (Washington), 7-3, 1:56
105 - Lauren Richardson (Washington) dec. Cheyenne Kemp (Texas A), 10-0, 7-0
112 - Rachel Archer (Washington) pinned Haley Moreno (Texas A), 1-7, 7-4, 0:37
117 - Miranda Bennett-England (Texas A) dec. Taylor Graham (Washington), 5-0,1-0
121 - Chelsea Reynosa (Washington) dec. Michelle Lomas (Texas A), 5-0, 5-2
125 - Jennifer Anderson (Washington) pinned Christina Machado (Texas A), 4-3, 0:23
130 - Allison Alvarez (Texas A) pinned Sadie Boyle (Washington), 1:18
139 - Ana McAleavey (Texas A) dec. Hannah Moon (Washington), 1-1, 0-2, 2-2
148 - Stephanie Simon (Washington) dec. Natalia Hinojo (Texas A), 1-4, 1-0, 1-0
159 - Valerie Rosales (Texas A) dec. Brandae Grein (Washington), 3-0, 1-0
172 - Ashley Miles (Texas A) dec. Alanna Alegria (Washington), 6-0, 2-0
198 - Miriam Moreno (Texas A) pinned Jessie Vitartas (Washington), 7-0, 0:32

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

105 POUNDS
Hanna Grisewood (New York), 5-0
Lauren Richardson (Washington), 4-0

112 POUNDS
Anna Divins (California), 5-0
Rachel Archer (Washington), 4-0
Alex Gomez (California), 5-0

121 POUNDS
Samantha Ortiz (California), 5-0
Brazel Marquez (California), 5-0
Chelsea Reynosa (Washington), 4-0

125 POUNDS
Alexia Moreno (California), 5-0

130 POUNDS
Amanda Hendey (California), 5-0

139 POUNDS
Cheyenne Youngblood (California), 5-0

148 POUNDS
Mary Westman (New York), 5-0
Kuuleilani Lankford (Hawaii), 5-0
Demi Strub (Indiana), 4-0
Hanna Hall (Michigan), 4-0

159 POUNDS
Haley Kinney (California), 5-0
Julia Salata (Michigan), 4-0

198 POUNDS
Libby Petrie (Hawaii), 5-0

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