Returning champions Velte, Nelson to battle in 63 kg finals at Women’s University Nationals in Oklahoma City
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Returning champion Kayla Miracle of the Sunkist Kids is in control in her 60 kg bout against Cheyenne Bates of Wayland Baptist.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The gold-medal finals have set for the Women’s University Nationals at the Cox Convention Center for Saturday night.
At 63 kg/138.75 lbs., there will be two returning champions battling for the title, Mallory Velte of Titan Mercury WC and Maya Nelson of Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Last year, Velte was the 63 kg champion, while Nelson won the title at 60 kg.
In a wild battle of past age-group World medalists, Nelson edged Teshya Alo of the Titan Mercury WC 9-6 in the semifinals. In the second period, with the bout tied 4-4, Alo scored two points on an exposure, and Nelson challenge the call unsuccessfully to trail 7-4. Nelson quickly scored a takedown to make it 7-6. In the closing seconds, Nelson was awarded a spin behind takedown to take an 8-7 lead. Alo challenged the call, which was denied, giving Nelson one additional point for a 9-7 win.
Nelson was a 2016 Junior World bronze medalist. Alo was a 2014 Cadet World champion.
“(Coach) Terry Steiner says you are not always going to have the perfect opening. I have to make up my own openings and make her move, because she has great position. She is a great wrestler. You have to get her out of position or you have to make her move. In practice, we have that you are down by four and there is a minute left. Then you have 30 seconds left. I knew I could score. I had no doubt in my mind I could score,” said Nelson.
Velte was dominant in her semifinals, earning a 10-0 technical fall over Desiree Zavala of Southern Oregon, 10-0.
Two other returning champions reached the finals with semifinal victories, Kayla Miracle of Campbellsville Univ./Sunkist Kids at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Victoria Francis of Titan Mercury WC at 75 kg/165 lbs.
Miracle, who was the University Nationals champion at 58 kg/128 lbs. last year, will compete in the finals against Koral Sugiyama, her teammate at Campbellsville University.
Francis, who was second at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, will battle 2015 University Nationals champion Julia Salata of the New York AC in the finals. Salata was a 2016 University Nationals runner-up.
Joining Salata as returning runners-up who have advanced to the finals again this year are Cody Pfau of the Titan Mercury WC at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Amy Fearnside of the Titan Mercury WC at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. and Becka Leathers (Titan Mercury WC) at 58 kg/128 lbs.
There will be an all-McKendree University final at 55 kg/121 lbs., as Megan Black will battle teammate Gabrielle Weyhrich for the gold medal. Black defeated Tamara Tillman of Missouri Baptist WC in the semifinals, 6-5, while Weyhrich scored an 11-0 technical fall over Madelynn McIlwain of Southern Oregon.
There will be an all-McKendree University final at 55 kg/121 lbs., as Megan Black will battle teammate Gabrielle Weyhrich for the gold medal. Black defeated Tamara Tillman of Missouri Baptist WC in the semifinals, 6-5, while Weyhrich scored an 11-0 technical fall over Madelynn McIlwain of Southern Oregon.
The championship finals will begin at 7:00 p.m. tonight, with live coverage by FloWrestling.
The top two finishers in each weight class earn a spot at the U.S. Women’s World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., April 28-29.
WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY NATIONALS
At Oklahoma City, Okla., March 25
Finals pairings
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Cody Pfau (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Sarah Allen (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
53 kg/116.5 lbs. - Amy Fearnside (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Cassidy Jasperson (Aries WC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Megan Black (McKendree Univ.) vs. Gabrielle Weyhrich (McKendree Univ.)
58 kg/128 lbs. - Becka Leathers (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Dominique Parrish (SVWA)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Kayla Miracle (Campbellsville Univ.) vs. Koral Sugiyama (Campbellsville Univ.)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Mallory Velte (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Maya Nelson (Sunkist Kids)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Niauni Hill (Lindenwood Belleville) vs. Alexandria Glaude (McKendree Univ.)
75 kg/163 lbs. - Julia Salata (NYAC) vs. Victoria Francis (Titan Mercury WC)
Semifinal results
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Cody Pfau (Titan Mercury WC) pin Brittnee Cook (Choker WC), 1:45
Sarah Allen (Univ. of the Cumberlands) dec. Kateri Rowell (Choker WC), 13-11
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Amy Fearnside (Titan Mercury WC) tech fall Tayler Resuriz (McKendree Univ.), 10-0
Cassidy Jasperson (Aries WC) dec. Kimberly Straub (Lindenwood Belleville), 7-2
55 kg/121 lbs.
Megan Black (McKendree Univ.) dec. Tamara Tillman (Missouri Baptist WC), 6-5
Gabrielle Weyhrich (McKendree Univ.) tech fall Madelynn McIlwain (SOU), 11-0
58 kg/128 lbs.
Becka Leathers (Titan Mercury WC) tech fall Alexia Ward (McKendree Univ.), 15-2
Dominique Parrish (SVWA) tech fall Marizza Birrveta (Aries WC), 12-1
60 kg/132 lbs.
Kayla Miracle (Campbellsville Univ.) dec. Arian Carpio (Sunkist Kids), 4-0
Koral Sugiyama (Campbellsville Univ.) tech. fall Chloe Spencer (Choker WC), 10-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Mallory Velte (Titan Mercury WC) tech fall Desiree Zavala (SOU), 10-0
Maya Nelson (Sunkist Kids) dec. Teshya Alo (Titan Mercury WC), 9-7
69 kg/152 lbs.
Niauni Hill (Lindenwood Belleville) tech fall Andrea Sennett (McKendree Univ.), 10-0
Alexandria Glaude (McKendree Univ.) dec. Maggie Douma (Aries WC), 4-2
75 kg/163 lbs.
Julia Salata (NYAC) tech fall Nahiela Magee (Bearcat WC), 10-0
Victoria Francis (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist Univ.), 10-6
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The gold-medal finals have set for the Women’s University Nationals at the Cox Convention Center for Saturday night.
At 63 kg/138.75 lbs., there will be two returning champions battling for the title, Mallory Velte of Titan Mercury WC and Maya Nelson of Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Last year, Velte was the 63 kg champion, while Nelson won the title at 60 kg.
In a wild battle of past age-group World medalists, Nelson edged Teshya Alo of the Titan Mercury WC 9-6 in the semifinals. In the second period, with the bout tied 4-4, Alo scored two points on an exposure, and Nelson challenge the call unsuccessfully to trail 7-4. Nelson quickly scored a takedown to make it 7-6. In the closing seconds, Nelson was awarded a spin behind takedown to take an 8-7 lead. Alo challenged the call, which was denied, giving Nelson one additional point for a 9-7 win.
Nelson was a 2016 Junior World bronze medalist. Alo was a 2014 Cadet World champion.
“(Coach) Terry Steiner says you are not always going to have the perfect opening. I have to make up my own openings and make her move, because she has great position. She is a great wrestler. You have to get her out of position or you have to make her move. In practice, we have that you are down by four and there is a minute left. Then you have 30 seconds left. I knew I could score. I had no doubt in my mind I could score,” said Nelson.
Velte was dominant in her semifinals, earning a 10-0 technical fall over Desiree Zavala of Southern Oregon, 10-0.
Two other returning champions reached the finals with semifinal victories, Kayla Miracle of Campbellsville Univ./Sunkist Kids at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Victoria Francis of Titan Mercury WC at 75 kg/165 lbs.
Miracle, who was the University Nationals champion at 58 kg/128 lbs. last year, will compete in the finals against Koral Sugiyama, her teammate at Campbellsville University.
Francis, who was second at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, will battle 2015 University Nationals champion Julia Salata of the New York AC in the finals. Salata was a 2016 University Nationals runner-up.
Joining Salata as returning runners-up who have advanced to the finals again this year are Cody Pfau of the Titan Mercury WC at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Amy Fearnside of the Titan Mercury WC at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. and Becka Leathers (Titan Mercury WC) at 58 kg/128 lbs.
There will be an all-McKendree University final at 55 kg/121 lbs., as Megan Black will battle teammate Gabrielle Weyhrich for the gold medal. Black defeated Tamara Tillman of Missouri Baptist WC in the semifinals, 6-5, while Weyhrich scored an 11-0 technical fall over Madelynn McIlwain of Southern Oregon.
There will be an all-McKendree University final at 55 kg/121 lbs., as Megan Black will battle teammate Gabrielle Weyhrich for the gold medal. Black defeated Tamara Tillman of Missouri Baptist WC in the semifinals, 6-5, while Weyhrich scored an 11-0 technical fall over Madelynn McIlwain of Southern Oregon.
The championship finals will begin at 7:00 p.m. tonight, with live coverage by FloWrestling.
The top two finishers in each weight class earn a spot at the U.S. Women’s World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., April 28-29.
WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY NATIONALS
At Oklahoma City, Okla., March 25
Finals pairings
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Cody Pfau (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Sarah Allen (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
53 kg/116.5 lbs. - Amy Fearnside (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Cassidy Jasperson (Aries WC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Megan Black (McKendree Univ.) vs. Gabrielle Weyhrich (McKendree Univ.)
58 kg/128 lbs. - Becka Leathers (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Dominique Parrish (SVWA)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Kayla Miracle (Campbellsville Univ.) vs. Koral Sugiyama (Campbellsville Univ.)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Mallory Velte (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Maya Nelson (Sunkist Kids)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Niauni Hill (Lindenwood Belleville) vs. Alexandria Glaude (McKendree Univ.)
75 kg/163 lbs. - Julia Salata (NYAC) vs. Victoria Francis (Titan Mercury WC)
Semifinal results
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Cody Pfau (Titan Mercury WC) pin Brittnee Cook (Choker WC), 1:45
Sarah Allen (Univ. of the Cumberlands) dec. Kateri Rowell (Choker WC), 13-11
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Amy Fearnside (Titan Mercury WC) tech fall Tayler Resuriz (McKendree Univ.), 10-0
Cassidy Jasperson (Aries WC) dec. Kimberly Straub (Lindenwood Belleville), 7-2
55 kg/121 lbs.
Megan Black (McKendree Univ.) dec. Tamara Tillman (Missouri Baptist WC), 6-5
Gabrielle Weyhrich (McKendree Univ.) tech fall Madelynn McIlwain (SOU), 11-0
58 kg/128 lbs.
Becka Leathers (Titan Mercury WC) tech fall Alexia Ward (McKendree Univ.), 15-2
Dominique Parrish (SVWA) tech fall Marizza Birrveta (Aries WC), 12-1
60 kg/132 lbs.
Kayla Miracle (Campbellsville Univ.) dec. Arian Carpio (Sunkist Kids), 4-0
Koral Sugiyama (Campbellsville Univ.) tech. fall Chloe Spencer (Choker WC), 10-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Mallory Velte (Titan Mercury WC) tech fall Desiree Zavala (SOU), 10-0
Maya Nelson (Sunkist Kids) dec. Teshya Alo (Titan Mercury WC), 9-7
69 kg/152 lbs.
Niauni Hill (Lindenwood Belleville) tech fall Andrea Sennett (McKendree Univ.), 10-0
Alexandria Glaude (McKendree Univ.) dec. Maggie Douma (Aries WC), 4-2
75 kg/163 lbs.
Julia Salata (NYAC) tech fall Nahiela Magee (Bearcat WC), 10-0
Victoria Francis (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist Univ.), 10-6
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