It was a busy weekend for Iowa’s female wrestlers as they traveled to Oklahoma City to compete in the Asics Women’s University Nationals and the USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Nationals.
Senior Level and College Women:
Asics Women’s University Nationals, Oklahoma City University, March 25th-26th
There were five wrestlers in collegiate programs from Iowa, as well as Iowa’s Waldorf College (Forest City) who traveled to Oklahoma City to compete in the Asics Women’s University Nationals Friday and Saturday. The champion and runner up from each weight class in this tournament qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, April 8-10 in Iowa City.
Megan Black of Batavia, ranked #2 at 123 pounds in the WCWA rankings (February 13th) and #12 at 58kg (127.9 pounds) in the Takedown Wrestling Senior Women’s Rankings (March 1st), went 4-1 wrestling for McKendree University (Lebanon, IL) at the 58kg weight class. Black opened the tournament with a pair of 10-0 tech falls over Destany Delacruz of Wayland Baptist (Plainview, TX) and fellow Iowan, Anna Poyner of Missouri Valley College (Marshall, MO) followed by a loss by fall to #1 ranked, Becka Leathers of Oklahoma City University (OCU). On the consolation side, Megan picked up a forfeit against Iowan, Lauren Louive of the University of Cumberlands (Williamsburg, KY) followed by a 13-3 tech fall over #3 ranked, Dominique Parrish of Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, BC) in the 3rd place match. As the runner-up national champion at the 2016 WCWA Nationals, Black has already qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in April.
Megan Black competing at 58kg at the University Women’s Nationals (Photo Courtesy of Holly Watters)
Anna Poyner of New Hartford, went 1-2 for the weekend wrestling for Missouri Valley in the 58kg weight class. Poyner started with a bye in round one followed by a 0-10 tech fall loss to fellow Iowan Megan Black of McKendree. On the consolation side, Poyner beat fellow MoVal wrestler, Sabrina Salazar by 10-0 tech fall before losing to Areana Villaescusa of ARMY (WCAP) by 12-1 tech fall.
Lauren Louive of Massilon, Ohio (currently residing in Iowa), ranked #8 at 63kg in the USA Wrestling Senior rankings (December 2nd) went 3-3 for the weekend wrestling for the University of Cumberlands in the 58kg weight class. Louive started the tournament with a 10-0 tech fall over Sabrina Salazar of MoVal, followed by a 0-10 tech fall loss to Dominique Parrish of Simon Fraser. On the consolation side, Louive picked up two 10-0 tech falls over Destany Delacruz of Wayland Baptist and Erika Mihalca of Missouri Baptist University (St. Louis, MO), before forfeiting to fellow Iowan Megan Black followed by a forfeit to Areana Villaescusa. Despite the final two forfeits, Louive still placed 6th in the tournament.
Lauren Louive competing at 58kg at the University Women’s Nationals (Photo Courtesy of Holly Watters)
Cassy Herkelman of Cedar Falls, ranked #7 at 136 pounds in the WCWA rankings, went 2-2 for the weekend wrestling for McKendree in the 63kg (138.75 pound) weight class. Herkelman started the tournament with a bye followed by a loss by pin to #4 ranked (63kg-USA Wrestling Senior rankings), Shai Mason of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. On the consolation side, Herkelman had another bye followed by a 10-0 tech fall over Cara Romeike (Coppell High School) and a pin over Marki Simmons (Missouri Baptist) before losing by 6-8 decision to #3 ranked, 143-pounder and McKendree teammate, Olivia Seppinni.
Jasmine Bailey of Iowa City, went 0-2 for the weekend wrestling for McKendree in the 69kg (152.1 pound) weight class. Bailey began the tournament with a bye followed by a 0-10 tech fall loss to Julia Salata of the New York Athletic Club who is currently ranked #4 at 63kg in the USA Wrestling Senior rankings and #3 at 69kg in the Takedown Wrestling Senior Women’s Rankings. On the consolation side, Bailey lost a 1-5 decision to Hannah Gladden of Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, KY).
WALDORF COLLEGE:
Rachael Coleck of Spokane, Washington went 0-2 for the weekend in the 60kg (132.3 pound) weight class. Coleck started the tournament with a bye followed by a 6-10 loss to Carla Ponce of OCU. On the consolation side, Coleck received another bye followed by a 1-11 tech fall loss to Arian Carpio of Sunkist Kids who is currently ranked #9 at 58kg in the Takedown Wrestling Senior Women’s Rankings.
Abigail Flores of Frisco, Texas went 0-2 for the weekend in the 69kg weight class. Flores started with a 2-9 loss to #8 ranked, 143-pounder Marina Briceno of Wayland Baptist followed by a loss by fall to Yvonne Galindo of OCU.
The college and senior women have the US Senior Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier in Cedar Falls, April 2-3 where the top two finishers in each weight class will qualify for the trials.
3-time Junior Freestyle All-American, Sharice Schnell of Denver is currently the only Iowan signed up for the last chance qualifier.
High School Girls:
USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Nationals, Oklahoma City University, March 24th-26th
There were 8 Iowans who competed at the USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Nationals at the Cadet and Junior levels.
Cadet:
Felicity Taylor of South Winneshiek went 4-1 to take 3rd place and All American status in the 108 pound weight class. Taylor picked up two pins and a major decision along with a single loss before going into her 3rd place match. The final match went into 4 overtime periods with Taylor winning the ultimate tie-breaker. Taylor also earned All-American status in Fargo last July with a 5th place finish in the 101 pound Cadet Freestyle division.
Felicity Taylor competing in the 105 pound weight class at the USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Nationals (Photo Courtesy of Holly Watters)
Tateum Park of Davenport went 2-2 for the weekend picking up a fall and a decision at 115 pounds.
Dominique Mosier of Oxford went 0-2 for the tournament at 143 pounds.
Junior:
Felicity Taylor went 6-2 to take 7th place and All American status in the 105 pound weight class. Taylor picked up three pins, a major decision and a decision along with two losses by decision before going into her 7th place match where she again won in triple overtime.
Alanah Vetterick of Norwalk went 4-1 to take 2nd and All American status in the 121 pound weight class. Vetterick pinned #1 seeded Arlette Orozco on her way to the finals and her runner-up national champion finish. Vetterick is a returning 2-time Cadet runner-up.
Alanah Vetterick competing in the 121 pound weight class at the USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Nationals (Photo Courtesy of Holly Watters)
Dominique Mosier went 0-2 for the tournament at 139 pounds.
Ciana Sonberg of Charles City went 5-2 with three falls to take 5th and All American status in the 139 pound weight class. Sonberg is a returning 2-time Cadet Folkstyle National Champion and Junior All American.
Ciana Sonberg (left) competing in the 139 pound weight class at the USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Nationals (Photo Courtesy of Holly Watters)
Nicole Watters of Ankeny went 5-2 for the weekend in the 148 pound weight class and fell one win short of All-American status.
Rachel Watters of Ankeny went 5-0 for the weekend picking up two falls and three decisions in the 159 pound weight class to claim her second Junior National Folkstyle Championship. Watters is a Cadet and Junior Freestyle National champion, current Junior World Team member and is ranked #6 in the Takedown Wrestling Senior Women’s Rankings and #8 in the USA Wrestling Senior Women’s Freestyle Rankings. Watters will also be competing in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in April at 69kg.
Rachel Watters competing in the 159 pound weight class at the USA Wrestling Girls Folkstyle Nationals (Photo Courtesy of Holly Watters)
Melinda Collins of Tipton went 0-2 for the weekend at 198 pounds.
Youth:
Although these updates have primarily been focused on athletes at the high school level and above, it is important to note that there were also some outstanding Folkstyle Nationals accomplishments this weekend at the youth level .
The following Iowans were All Americans:
National Champions:
Alyia Abbott
Reanah Utterback
Ella Schmit
Jayden Bentley
Kiara McGee
2nd Place:
Abigail Meyrer
Sydney Park
5th Place:
Lexi Hennick
7th Place:
Morgan Griffin
We will continue to provide updates throughout the spring and summer on the following tournaments:
Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier (April 2-3-Cedar Falls, IA)
U.S. Olympic Team Trails (April 8-10-Iowa City, IA)
USA Wrestling Lady Lincoln Women’s National Freestyle Duals (April 15-Tinley Park, IL)
UWW Body Bar Freestyle Nationals (May 20-22-Irving, TX)
USA Wrestling ASICS/Vaughan Junior & Cadet National Championships (July 16-23-Fargo, ND).
Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @watters_ia and @FEWTeamIowa.
Know of high school, college or senior women’s wrestling info that was missed? Email me at: matt@femaleelitewrestling.org.
Interested in the benefits of wrestling at any age level? Contact Charlotte Bailey of Female Elite Wrestling (FEW) at: coach@femaleelitewrestling.org to find out more.