CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – First-year program Oklahoma City University captured the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals women’s wrestling championship on Sunday at the UNI Dome.
The second-ranked Stars defeated top-ranked Cumberlands (Ky.) 22-18 in the final dual. OCU also beat third-ranked Missouri Valley 34-5 in the semifinals Sunday.
OCU avenged a 24-19 loss to Cumberlands on Nov. 10 at Abe Lemons Arena in the first women’s college wrestling dual in Oklahoma ever. OCU also hosts the Women’s College Wrestling National Championships at Abe Lemons Arena on March 15.
“They’re national champions,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “It takes some teams five or six years before they wrestle like this. We have really made a statement. We’re excited.”
Ashley Sword of OCU was named outstanding wrestler of the event. Sword, a junior from West Palm Beach, Fla., is the ranked second in the nation at 67 kilograms.
“That was huge,” Randall said.
Sword defeated Nena Garcia of Cumberlands 7-0, 5-1 in the championship dual.
Nicole Woody got the Stars rolling with a 0-7, 2-1, 5-1 victory over Melissa Girard, the top-ranked individual in the nation at 44 kilos.
Ashley Hudson also posted a 4-0, 4-0 upset of Sandy Do. Do was ranked second at 55 kilos, while Hudson entered at fifth.
Lacey Novinska picked up a key pin at 82 kilos, winning by fall over Christen Paysse 2-3, 3:27.
The Stars wrestle next in the Guelph Invitational on Jan. 20 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
OKLAHOMA CITY 22
CUMBERLANDS 18
44: Nicole Woody, OCU, def. Melissa Girard, 0-7, 2-1, 5-1
48: Jackie Stiles, UC, def. Stephanie Waters, 2-0, 6-0
51: Jessica Medina, UC, def. Erica Torres, 2-1, 4-0
55: Ashley Hudson, OCU, def. Sandy Do, 4-0, 4-0
59: Samantha Phillips, OCU, def. Breisja Macera, 0-5, 2-1,1-0
63: Briana Conway, OCU, def. Lauren Knight, 2-0, 2-4,1-1
67: Ashley Sword, OCU, def. Nena Garcia, 7-0, 5-1
72: Sherolynn Eppinger, UC, def. Melissa Simmons, 5-3, 8-0
82: Lacey Novinska, OCU, def. Christen Paysse, 2-3, 3:27
95: Theresa Fennell, UC, def. Carrie Clark, 1:48