Waldorf battles in Missouri Valley Open
By Matt Oliver
MARSHALL, Mo. – The Waldorf College women’s wrestling team didn’t back down from tough competition while battling in Saturday’s Missouri Valley College Open.
“We had some solid performances this weekend and a few other ones that were really on the verge of it,” Waldorf coach Tyreece Gilder said.
Senior Sonya Legate (191 pounds), redshirt freshman Rachael Coleck (130) and sophomore Maciel Ramirez (116) led the Warriors as they each won two of four matches in the tournament.
Wayland Baptist University’s Kierra Boyce, who’s ranked No. 4 at 191 in the latest Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) poll, edged Legate (10-6) behind a 3-0 decision in the opening round.
Legate rebounded with back-to-back wins after receiving a consolation-round bye. She was dominant, earning a 10-0 technical fall over Taylor-Jean Allen from the Viking Wrestling Club. Legate followed with a fall over Missouri Valley College’s Anissa Abrego in 3 minutes, 52 seconds. She came up short, losing a 12-4 decision to the University of Jamestown’s Renee Samano in a fourth-round consolation bout.
“Sonya had some close matches with some of the top girls in the country,” Gilder said. “She’s close to breaking through.”
Oklahoma City University’s Daniela Flores won by fall over Coleck (11-10) in 1:27 during an opening-round matchup. Coleck locked up a 7-0 decision over Lindenwood University’s Brittany Lopez and handled University of the Cumberlands’ Esmeralda Garcia in a 12-1 technical fall. McKendree University’s Alexia Ward slipped past Coleck in a 5-2 decision.
“Rachael put together some good matches as well,” Gilder said. “She’s really starting to open up and get to her offensive attacks.”
Ramirez (6-9) was defeated in the first round, losing a 10-0 technical fall to Justine Seeley, who was wrestling unattached. Starting the consolation rounds on the winning track, Ramirez pinned Jennifer Bonilla of the Spartan Wrestling Club in 2:57 and won by injury default over Menlo College’s Caitlyn Macanas. Competing for the Spartan Wrestling Club, Isabella Silva took a 6-0 decision from Ramirez in a third-round consolation match.
Sophomores Rose Heurtelou (109), Bailey McLaughlin (136), freshmen Daisy Velazquez (130), Cherydan James (143) and Harmony Maitland (170) also competed for the Warriors and ended the tournament with 0-2 records.
Midland University’s Kyla Aruda and Campbellsville University’s Maria Ramos each scored falls over Heurtelou (6-10).
King University’s top-ranked Jessica Kee put together a 10-0 technical fall over McLaughlin (2-15). Following a consolation-round bye, McLaughlin was pinned by McKendree’s Diana Nevarez.
Ward earned a 10-0 technical fall over Velazquez (1-7). Jamestown’s Carissa Chavez escaped, fending off Velazquez in a 12-10 decision.
James (4-6) received an opening-round bye before losing by fall to McKendree’s fourth-ranked Alexis Porter. Following a second-round consolation bye, James was pinned by Jamestown’s Marlie Gillis in 2:58.
Maitland (1-7) earned a first-round bye and lost by fall to Cumberlands’ ninth-ranked Courteny Tompkins by fall in 2:06. After a second-round consolation bye, Matiland’s day ended as she came up on the wrong end of a 7-0 decision against King’s Torey Barrett.
Waldorf (3-5) faces Midland and Jamestown in next Friday’s dual meets at Fremont, Nebraska.