Oklahoma City University intends to build on its national championship season from 2008-09 and repeat as WCWA national champion and NWCA dual champion.
The Stars return three national champions from a year ago and one from two years ago back from injury. OCU also will have 10 of its 14 all-Americans returning to seek more accolades.
OCU begins the season with duals Saturday at Abe Lemons Arena. The Stars face Jamestown (N.D.) at 10 a.m., Jamestown Black at 11 a.m., Cumberlands (Ky.) White at noon then Cumberlands, the national runner-up last season, at 1 p.m.
“We are projected to be No. 1,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “We are returning most of our lineup, and among the freshmen, there's a good talent pool with five all-Americans. We're going to be pretty solid. We want to repeat as national champions and dual champions.”
Michaela Hutchison, Tessa Plana and Stefenie Shaw each won the national title at their respective weights.
Hutchison, a sophomore from Soldotna, Alaska, captured the 55-kilogram national crown and went 34-3. Late in the season, she filled in on the OCU men's team. Hutchison trained with the U.S. Senior World Championship team with an eye towards joining them someday.
Plana, a sophomore from Coppell, Texas, went 23-11 with the 63-kilo title. Plana has added to her skills in the off-season.
Shaw, a sophomore from Waterford, Conn., has recovered from an injury that shortened her national-title season where she went 13-1. Shaw will face competition from within the room to push her towards another title at 67.
Melissa Simmons, a sophomore from Ridgefield, Wash., appears completely healthy after sitting out last season due to injury. Simmons won the 72-kilo crown in 2008.
A weight-by-weight look at the Stars:
44 (97 pounds)
Stephanie Waters, a junior from Joliet, Ill., may be favored to win the national title after being a two-time all-American. Sarah Rowen, a sophomore from Vancouver, Wash., became an all-American last year. Taylor Busboom, a freshman from Spring, Texas, has potential to push both Waters and Rowen.
48 (105)
Joey Miller, a sophomore from Woodward, Okla., advanced to the national-title bout last season. Nicole Woody, a junior from Gambrills, Md., has become a two-time all-American. The two will duke it out for this weight. “This weight will be an ongoing battle,” Randall said. “We could use one of them and move them up a weight.”
51 (112)
Na'Tasha Umemoto, a freshman from Portland, Ore., has built anticipation for this season with her off-season workouts. Randall said, “We project her to be a national champion. She has worked hard to get where she is. She's a team leader. She's legit.”
Logan Rich, a freshman from Rockport, Maine, could provide competition. Randall: “She is very talented. She will push 'Moto.”
55 (121)
The Stars added Kirsten Strickler, a freshman from Frisco, Texas, and Sara Alpar, a freshman from Amarillo, Texas, to provide depth past Hutchison. “She is tough and really good,” Randall said of Alpar. “Strickler is powerful and explosive. She had so many five-point throws in workouts.”
59 (130)
Ashley Hudson, a junior from Wildwood, Mo., will seek the national title at 59 after finishing as runner-up to teammate Hutchison. Emma Johnson, a junior from Lawrence, Kan., has spent the off-season improving her strength. Audrey Morehouse, a freshman from Moreno Valley, Calif., is a heralded recruit who finished as national finalist on the junior level.
63 (138)
Samantha Phillips, a junior from Manteca, Calif., finished as all-American in 2008. She could unseat Plana at this weight. “She splits her competitions with Plana in the room,” Randall said. “It is even.”
67 (147)
Sheila McCabe, a junior from El Cajon, Calif., will push Shaw for this spot if not the national title. “It will be a battle for this spot with Stefanie Shaw the returning national champion and Sheila McCabe capable of becoming an all-American,” Randall said. “One of them could move.”
Brittany Roberts, a freshman from Spring, Texas, was a talented find. “She is big and athletic,” Randall said. “We wanted her because it is hard to find good wrestlers at this weight.”
72 (158)
Beyond Simmons, Kristie Davis, a freshman from Albany, N.Y., will attempt to come back from injury and would be an instant contender for the national title.
82 (181)
Brittany Delgado, a sophomore from Simpsonville, S.C., could aim for an Olympic push someday.
95 (209)
Karon Scott, a junior from Austin, Texas, has gained valuable experience in becoming a two-time all-American.
The wrestling competition in the Olympics has expanded to include three additional weights to bring the total to seven. That has increased the intensity in the OCU training room.
“That has changed the mentality and have inspired our wrestlers,” Randall said. “We have women wrestling harder. They've been preparing themselves by wrestling internationally. We could have three or four wrestlers on the Olympic team in 2012.”
