OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City University Stars began their quest for the 2010 national title on Saturday at Abe Lemons Arena.
The three-school meet featured two OCU Black wins. The Stars won 49-0 over Wayland Baptist (Texas) and 37-8 over Cumberlands (Ky.). The OCU Blue team lost 25-17 to Cumberlands but came back to win 37-6 against Wayland Baptist. The Stars had 16 combined pins between the Black and Blue squads.
“For an opening dual we wrestled very well,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “We have seven seniors on the team, and the overall maturity of our team and program really showed today.”
Michaela Hutchison and Brittany Delgado, defending Women's College Wrestling Association champions, recorded two pins apiece on the day. Ashley Hudson, Kristie Davis and Melissa Simmons also garnered two pins, and Nicole Woody contributed two technical falls to OCU's high-scoring efforts.
OCU opened the day by blanking Wayland Baptist 49-0. The Stars had seven of the eight wrestled matches end with a pin. This dual marks Wayland Baptist's first collegiate competition for the newcomer to women's wrestling.
“For a first year program, Coach Johnny Cobb put together a pretty good team, and they'll develop into a really good program with all their freshmen,” Randall said of the Wayland Baptist team. “Wayland Baptist is a part of the Sooner Athletic Conference, and hopefully there will be others in our conference that will start men's and women's wrestling.”
The wrestling continued as the OCU Blue team held a tightly contested battle with Cumberlands (Ky.). The Stars won three consecutive matches to keep the dual close despite two Stars' forfeits at 44 and 48 kilograms. Karra Stratton wrestled up a class at 90 kilograms, and managed the three-period win over Lakia Henderson to cut the final tally to 25-17 in favor of Cumberlands.
OCU Blue came roaring back in their second session, defeating Wayland Baptist 37-6. Four Stars recorded falls, with Brittney Roberts and Audrey Morehouse pinning their opponents in the first period. Brittany Goebel and Kirsten Strickler also netted tap outs by Wayland Baptist.
OCU finished off the afternoon of competition against Cumberlands, and came away with the 37-8 victory. Only one match extended to the third period against the Stars, and OCU finished the afternoon with three consecutive pins by Davis, Simmons and Delgado.
These dual wins, while early in the season, are important in setting the tone, but Randall recognizes there are always opportunities to improve and grow.
“We still have to work on things but if we continue to progress this way, we'll be there in the end,” Randall said. “It's always important to win at the end, not just at the beginning.”
The Stars continue their drive for another national championship next Saturday with duals against Jamestown (N.D.), Missouri Valley and Wayland Baptist (Texas). The action begins at noon at Abe Lemons Arena.
OKLAHOMA CITY 49
WAYLAND BAPTIST 0
44: Brianna Rahall, OCU, by forfeit (OCU leads 5-0)
48: Nicole Woody, OCU, tech fall Ofelia Valdez 8-0, 8-0 (OCU leads 9-0)
51: Joey Miller, OCU, by forfeit (OCU leads14-0)
55: Michaela Hutchison, OCU, pinned Nalley Carrillo, 9-0, 2:35 (OCU leads 19-0)
59: Ashley Hudson, OCU, pinned Jeneshia Woods, 7-0, 2:48 (OCU leads 24-0)
63: Tessa Plana, OCU, pinned Adrianna Rivas, 0:42 (OCU leads 29-0)
67: Amberle Montgomery, OCU, pinned Tarah Brewer, 1:11 (OCU leads 34-0)
72: Kristie Davis, OCU, pinned Lorraine Herrera, 6-0, 2:34 (OCU leads 39-0)
80: Melissa Simmons, OCU, pinned Chelsie McMillion, 1:02 (OCU leads 44-0)
90: Brittany Delgado, OCU, pinned Gloria Guerra, 1:19 (OCU wins 49-0)
OKLAHOMA CITY 37
CUMBERLANDS 8
44: Brianna Rahall, OCU, dec. Opelia Felipe, 2-1, 2-0 (OCU leads 3-1)
48: Nicole Woody, OCU, tech fall Casandra Devlin, 6-0, 6-0 (OCU leads 7-1)
51: Gabrielle Henry, CU, dec. Joey Miller 3-1, 0-1, 2-1 (OCU leads 8-4)
55: Michaela Hutchison, OCU, pinned Milagros Zamora, 1:21 (OCU leads 13-4)
59: Ashley Hudson, OCU, pinned Kerstin Harmon, 6-0, 1:29 (OCU leads 18-4)
63: Cianah Hee, CU, dec. Tessa Plana 2-1, 1-0 (OCU leads 19-7)
67: Amberle Montgomery, OCU, dec. Katy Yoder, 3-0, 4-1 (OCU leads 22-8)
72: Kristie Davis, OCU, pinned Megan Agajanian, 7-0, 3:07 (OCU leads 27-8)
80: Melissa Simmons, OCU, pinned Syndey Nelson, 0-1, 3:46 (OCU leads 32-8)
90: Brittany Delgado, OCU, pinned Lakia Henderson, 4-0, 2:25 (OCU wins 37-8)
CUMBERLANDS 25
OKLAHOMA CITY BLUE 17
44: Opelia Felipe, CU, by forfeit (CU leads 5-0)
48:Cassandra Devlin, CU, by forfeit (CU leads 10-0)
51: Gabrielle Henry, CU, tech fall Madelynn McIlwain, 6-0, 7-0 (CU leads 14-0)
55: Kristen Strickler, OCU, dec. Milagros Zamora, 6-1, 6-6 (CU leads 15-3)
59: Audrey Morehouse, OCU, dec. Kerstin Harmon, 1-0, 2-1 (CU leads 16-6)
63: Sheila McCabe, OCU, dec. Cianah Hee, 0-1, 3-3, 4-0 (CU leads 17-9)
67: Katy Yoder, CU, dec. Samantha Phillips, 1-1, 0-0, 2-0, 4-0 (CU leads 20-10)
72: Brittany Goebel, OCU, dec. Megan Agajanian, 3-1, 3-0 (CU leads 21-13)
80: Syndey Nelson, CU, dec. Brittney Roberts 0-1, 2-1, 3-0 (CU leads 24-14)
90: Karra Stratton, OCU, dec. Lakia Henderson, 0-3, 4-0, 2-0 (CU wins 25-17)
OKLAHOMA CITY BLUE 37
WAYLAND BAPTIST 6
44: Void
48: Ofelia Valdez, WBU, by forfeit (WBU leads 5-0)
51: Madelynn McIlwain, OCU, by forfeit (tied 5-5)
55: Kirsten Strickler, OCU, pinned Nalley Carrillo, 6-0, 3:05 (OCU leads 10-5)
59: Natasha Umemoto, OCU, tech fall Jeneshia Woods, 7-0, 6-0 (OCU leads 14-5)
63: Audrey Morehouse, OCU, pinned Adrianna Rivas, 1:29 (OCU leads 19-5)
67: Sheila McCabe, OCU by forfeit (OCU leads 24-5)
72: Brittany Goebel, OCU, pinned Lorraine Herrera, 6-1, 3:15 (OCU leads 29-5)
80: Brittney Roberts, OCU, pinned Chelsie McMillion, 1:05 (OCU leads 34-5)
90: Karra Stratton, OCU, dec. Gloria Guerra, 2-0, 2-3, 1-0 (OCU wins 37-6)
CUMBERLANDS 44
WAYLAND BAPTIST 1
44: Opelia Felipe, CU, by forfeit (CU leads 5-0)
48: Cassandra Devlin, CU, pinned Ofelia Valdez, 1-3, 5-0, 4:31 (CU leads 10-0)
51: Gabrielle Henry, CU, by forfeit (CU leads 15-0)
55: Milagros Zamora, CU, pinned Nalley Carrillo, 0-1, 4-0, 4:56 (CU leads 20-0)
59: Kerstin Harmon, CU, pinned Jeneshia Woods, 1:21 (CU leads 25-0)
63: Cianah Hee, CU, dec. Adrianna Rivas, 2-0, 2-1 (CU leads 28-1)
67: Katy Yoder, CU, by forfeit (CU leads 33-1)
72: Megan Agajanian, CU, dec. Lorraine Herrera, 2-0, 7-0 (CU leads 36-1)
80: Syndey Nelson, CU, pinned Chelsie McMillion, 1:38 (CU leads 41-1)
90: Lakia Henderson, CU, dec. Gloria Guerra, 1-0, 2-0 (CU wins 44-1)
