Mortimer, Baker, Martinez claim Senior Nationals titles in women’s freestyle

FORT WORTH, Texas – The championship finals in the three lightest women’s Olympic freestyle weight classes at the Senior Nationals were held on Saturday night. All three winners claimed their first Senior Nationals individual title.

Powering to the 50 kg finals was No. 4 seed Sage Mortimer, who came from behind to edge her former teammate, No. 6 seed Samara Chavez, 12-10. Chavez dominated the start of the match, getting a 7-0 lead. Mortimer came back with a passion, to trail Chavez 10-9 late in the bout. On the buzzer, Mortimer scored a takedown for an 11-10 win. Chavez challenged and was denied making it a 12-10 final.

Mortimer and Chavez were teammates at King, but Mortimer has transferred to the new program at Grand Valley State. Mortimer won another wild 12-10 bout over Chavez at the Bill Farrell Memorial earlier this fall.  

Claiming her first Senior national title was No. 7 seed Vayle-Rae Baker, who knocked off No. 1 seed Katie Gomez, 5-2 at 53 kg. Baker jumped to a 3-0 lead, scoring a takedown and getting a shot clock point in the first period. A counter exposure in the second period stretched the lead to 5-0. A late Gomez takedown was not enough to close the gap.

Taking the title at 57 kg was Amanda Martinez, the No. 2 seed, who stopped top seed Alex Hedrick, 4-1. Martinez led 1-0 at the break, when Hedrick was unable to score on the shot clock. Early in the second, Martinez was not able to score on a shot clock and the bout was tied 1-1. Martinez scored the only takedown of the match to take a 3-1 lead. In the closing seconds, Hedrick’s corner challenged a move and was denied, making it 4-1.

The top five finishers in each weight class have earned a berth in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling at Penn State, April 19-20.

The women’s freestyle competition concludes on Sunday with the completion of the  three remaining women’s weight classes, 62 kg, 68 kg and 76 kg. On Saturday, semifinals were held in these weight classes. On Sunday, the consolation rounds will be held at 10:00 a.m. CT, alongside all six men’s freestyle weight classes. The final three women’s freestyle finals, and all six men’s freestyle finals, are set for 1:00 p.m. CT,

All of the action is live on FloWrestling. https://flosports.link/3uqzaJr

SENIOR NATIONALS

At Fort Worth, Texas, December 15

Women’s freestyle results

50 kg

1^st - Sage Mortimer (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) dec. Samara Chavez (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 12-10

3^rd – Kendra Ryan (Cardinal Wrestling Club) dec. Kaelani Shufeldt (California), 4-4

5^th – Mia Palumbo (Illinois) forfeit Erin Golston (New York Athletic Club)

7^th – Nina Pham (Army WCAP) forfeit Aleeah Gould (Army WCAP)

53 kg

1^st - Vayle Baker (West Point Wrestling Club) dec. Katie Gomez (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 5-2

3^rd – Haley Augello (Izzy Style Wrestling) dec. Areana Villaescusa (Army WCAP), 3-2

5^th – Sydney Petzinger (Cardinal Wrestling Club) dec. Ella Jauregui (California), 12-5

7^th – Clare Booe (Wyoming Seminary Wrestling Club) inj. dft. Lauren Mason (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club), 0:00

57 kg

1st- Amanda Martinez (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) dec. Alexandra Hedrick (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club), 4-1

3^rd – Shelby Moore (Bearcat Wrestling Club) inj. dft. Cristelle Rodriguez (Tiger Wrestling Club), 0:00

5^th – Cameron Guerin (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) pin Virginia Foard (Wyoming Seminary Wrestling Club), 3:34

7^th – Carolina Moreno (Arizona) inj. dft. Bridgette Duty (Army WCAP), 0:00