Menlo claims three champs to edge out Simon Fraser for WCWA team title

ATLANTA – Menlo College became the seventh team in history to win a women’s college national team title, surpassing Simon Fraser in the final round of action at the WCWA National Championships on Saturday at the Cobb County Civic Center.

Menlo started the night with a pair of champions as freshmen Alledia Martinez and Gracie Figueroa wrapped up impressive tournaments at 109 and 116 pounds, respectively.

Martinez, a 2015 Cadet World silver medalist and a 2016 Cadet World bronze medalist, went up 9-0 on three-time age-group World Team member McKayla Campbell of Campbellsville before sticking the Tiger in 3:59.

At 116 pounds, 2016 Cadet World bronze winner Figueroa shut out McKendree’s Felicity Taylor with a 7-0 decision in a battle of true freshman.

Also winning gold for the Oaks was Solin Piearcy, who knocked off top-ranked Nicole Joseph of King in the 136-pound title to clinch the team title for Menlo, pushing the squad past Simon Fraser.

Piearcy led, 1-1, on criteria at the break. Quickly into the second period, Piearcy scored on a takedown and rolled right into four leg laces to cap off an 11-1 technical fall.

Entering the tournament with five all-time WCWA champions, Menlo increased its total to eight this weekend.

McKendree earned it first WCWA individual champions in program history, winning two titles on Saturday.

At 155 pounds, 2018 U23 World bronze medalist Alex Glaude defeated Menlo’s Iman Kazem with a 6-2 decision, becoming the first national champion for McKendree.

The Bearcats capped off the night with a win at 191 pounds as senior Destane Garrick put up 10 points against Emmanuel freshman Kaylee Seabolt in a wild back-and-forth match that got the entire crowd on its feet. Garrick won the bout 10-5.

Also earning its first national champion was Lakeland University, a first-year program that saw freshman Jayden Laurent win the gold at 143 pounds. Laurent, a 2018 Junior World Team member, dominated Felicity Bryant from Emmanuel in a 12-1 tech fall in the finals.

There was one repeat champion this year with two-time Senior National Team member Dominique Parrish from Simon Fraser won the crown for the second year in a row at 123 pounds.

In a rematch of last year’s 123-pound final, Parrish defeated teammate and two-time age-group World Team member Alex Hedrick in a 7-2 battle. At the tournament’s conclusion, Parrish, a senior, was recognized as the WCWA Wrestler of the Year.

Winning the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler award was Abby Nette of Emmanuel, who was a 2018 U23 World Team member. Nette rattled off four techs and a fall en route to the 130-pound title.

In the gold-medal bout, Nette breezed past two-time Junior World Team member Brenda Reyna from McKendree, 12-2.

Junior World bronze medalist Asia Ray from Wayland Baptist was put to the test for the first time this weekend, taking on Angelina Gomez of Emmanuel, who held the match to a decision.

Ray emerged from the battle with a 4-2 win for her first title.

At 170 pounds, Dymond Guilford won the crown for Missouri Baptist, defeating Kiera Gabaldon from Warner Pacific with a deadly lace for a 10-0 tech fall.

Rounding out the top-five in the team race was Simon Fraser in second with 195 points, McKendree in third with 189, Emmanuel in fourth with 167.5 points and King in fifth with 128.5 points.

2019 WCWA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 8-9

Team results (top 10)
1. Menlo – 199.5
2. Simon Fraser – 195
3. McKendree – 189
4. Emmanuel – 167.5
5. King – 128.5
6. Campbellsville – 118
7. Oklahoma City – 115.5
8. Wayland Baptist – 115
9. Cumberlands – 89.5
10. Jamestown – 84.5

Final results
101 pounds
1st - Asia Ray (Wayland Baptist) dec. Angelina Gomez (Emmanuel), 4-2
3rd - Nina Pham (Wayland Baptist) TF Hiba Salem (Menlo), 10-0
5th - Ivy Navarro (Southwestern Oregon CC) dec. Junnette Caldera (Jamestown), 6-3
7th - Alexia Seal (Simon Fraser) TF Jaclyn Mcnichols (King), 10-0

109 pounds
1st - Alleida Martinez (Menlo) fall McKayla Campbell (Campbellsville)
3rd - Ciara Mccrae (Simon Fraser) fall Kateri Rowell (Grays Harbor), 2:00
5th - Vanessa Ramirez (McKendree) fall Raven Guidry (Oklahoma City), 1:02
7th - Maria Reyes (Big Bend CC) dec. Brianna Ribucan-leong (Lyon College), 10-8

116 pounds
1st - Gracie Figueroa (Menlo) dec. Felicity Taylor (McKendree), 7-0
3rd - Jathiya Isaac (Wayland Baptist) TF Cassidy Jasperson (Oklahoma City), 13-2
5th - Theresa Rankin (McKendree) fall Yurie Yoneoka (Providence), 1:28
7th - Kasey Baynon (Emmanuel) TF Madison Angelito (Cumberlands), 12-2

123 pounds
1st - Dominique Parrish (Simon Fraser) dec. Alex Hedrick (Simon Fraser), 7-2
3rd - Macy Higa (Eastern Oregon) TF Koral Sugiyama (Campbellsville), 10-0
5th - Dajan Treder (Providence) dec. Tiana Jackson (Menlo College), 6-5
7th - Cheyenne Sisenstein (King) fall Sierra Brown Ton (Colorado Mesa), 5:15

130 pounds
1st - Abby Nette (Emmanuel) TF Brenda Reyna (McKendree), 12-2
3rd - Lauren Mason (Simon Fraser) won by injury default over Andribeth Rivera (Campbellsville)
5th - Allison Petix (King) dec. Cara Romeike (Jamestown), 7-0
7th - Alyssa Aceval (King) dec. Amanda Alvarado (Wayland Baptist), 9-2

136 pounds
1st - Solin Piearcy (Menlo) TF Nicole Joseph (King), 11-1
3rd - Alexis Porter (McKendree) dec. Kayla Marano (Emmanuel), 10-5
5th - Jenna Garcia (Simon Fraser) fall Bridgette Duty (Cumberlands), 2:13
7th - Destiny Lyng (Oklahoma City) fall Abnelis Yambo (Brewton-Parker), 4:04

143 pounds
1st - Jayden Laurent (Lakeland) TF Felicity Bryant (Emmanuel), 12-1
3rd - Ashlynn Ortega (King) dec. Margaret Douma (Oklahoma City), 7-2
5th - Sienna Ramirez (Southern Oregon) fall Anna Luciano (King), 0:38
7th - Sara Brinkac (Simon Fraser) dec. Angela Peralta (Menlo), 7-4

155 pounds
1st - Alexandria Glaude (McKendree) dec. Iman Kazem (Menlo), 6-2
3rd - Alyvia Fiske (Simon Fraser) fall Hannah Gladden (Emmanuel), 4:55
5th - Anna Naylor (Cumberlands) fall Jasmine Bailey (McKendree), 4:06
7th - Joye Levendusky (McKendree) fall Myranda Velazquez (Jamestown), 3:41

170 pounds
1st - Dymond Guilford (Missouri Baptist) TF Kiera Gabaldon (Warner Pacific), 10-0
3rd - Mariah Harris (Campbellsville) dec. Precious Bell (Menlo), 3-2
5th - Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist) fall Korinahe Bullock (McKendree), 0:38
7th - Stephanie Pantoja (Life) fall Nia Crosdale (King), 4:56

191 pounds
1st - Destane Garrick (McKendree) dec. Kaylee Seabolt (Emmanuel), 10-5
3rd - Serena Woldring (Simon Fraser) dec. Chi Chi Nwankwo (Oklahoma City), 6-2
5th - Agatha Andrews (Jamestown) fall Jesse Kirby (Cumberlands), 2:51
7th - Alexandra Castillo (Campbellsville) fall Sara Aguilar (Menlo College), 4:33