MARSHALL, Mo. – Oklahoma City University captured the national championship in convincing fashion in the WCWA Women's College Wrestling Championships on Saturday at the Burns Athletic Center.
Michaela Hutchison at 55 kilograms, Tessa Plana at 63 and Stefenie Shaw at 67 won individual crowns as the top-ranked Stars outscored runner-up Cumberlands (Ky.) 117-86. Five other individuals finished as runner-up as 16 Stars made all-American.
OCU halted Cumberlands' run of three national championships in a row. The Stars finished as runner-up to Cumberlands last season.
Hutchison, Plana and Shaw plus finalists Joey Miller (48) and Lacey Novinska (72) qualified for the U.S. team in the World Team Trials.
“We wanted to make sure no one had a chance to get close,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “We destroyed people. We hammered people. The girls worked hard all year long. It's a great accomplishment for a second-year program. We have become the power in women's wrestling.”
Hutchison, a freshman from Soldotna, Alaska, beat teammate Ashley Hudson by decision 2-0, 3-0 in the 55-kilo title bout. Hutchison won two matches by fall and another by technical fall. Hutchison and Hudson were No. 1 and 2 respectively at their weight in the rankings.
Plana, a freshman from Coppell, Texas, upended top-ranked Danielle Lappage of Simon Fraser (British Columbia) 0-1, 1-1, 5-3 for the 63 national title. Plana, third-ranked at 63, also knocked off second-ranked Paige Rife of Cumberlands in the semifinals.
Shaw, a sophomore from Waterford, Conn., beat third-ranked Stacie Anaka of Simon Fraser 0-1, 1-0, 2-0 in the title bout. Shaw was the top-ranked individual at 67.
“Stefenie wrestled a really technically sound match in the final,” Randall said. “Her opponent had a size advantage. It was close. We won the tiebreaker in the clinch. She got her and took her to her back.”
Novinska, a senior from Fennimore, Wis., became a four-time all-American. Other finalists from OCU were Lene Wood at 44 and LeAnn Barney at 51.
OCU's other all-Americans were: Brittany Delgado (third place at 82 kilograms), Firen Gassman (third, 59), Rene Mitchell (fifth, 44), Mia Provence (51, sixth), Sara Rowen (sixth, 44), Karon Scott (fourth, 95), Stephanie Waters (third, 44), Nicole Woody (third, 48).
“You have to have support from administration and girls who believe in themselves to accomplish this,” Randall said. “Our assistant coach Link Davis is a big reason we're successful. He's very good at what he does.
“They're all freshmen and sophomores. We have them all coming back. We're going to be really tough.”
Bout-by-bout results
WCWA Championships
At Marshall, Mo.
Team Standings
1. Oklahoma City, 117; 2. Cumberlands, Ky., 86; 3. Simon Fraser, British Columbia, 73; 4. Jamestown, N.D., 46; 5. Menlo, Calif., 42; 6. Missouri Valley, 24; 7. Missouri Baptist, 19; 8. Lindenwood, Mo., 5.
Championship Finals
44: Ashley Shannon, Cumberlands, dec. Lene Wood, OCU, 1-0, 4-0
48: Ashley McKilligan, Simon Fraser, pinned Joey Miller, OCU, 2-4, 1:19
51: Katherine Fulp-Allen, Menlo, dec. LeAnn Barney, OCU, 1-1, 0-2, 1-1
55: Michaela Hutchison, OCU, dec. Ashley Hudson, OCU, 2-0, 3-0
59: Tani Adler, Jamestown, dec. Jenny Germany, M. Valley, 1-2, 2-1, 2-0
63: Tessa Plana, OCU, dec. Danielle Lappage, S. Fraser, 0-1, 1-1, 5-3
67: Stefenie Shaw, OCU, dec. Stacie Anaka, S. Fraser, 0-1, 1-0, 2-0
72: Taylor Dick, S. Fraser, dec. Lacey Novinska, OCU, 1-2, 2-1, 2-0
82: Hillary Greening, S. Fraser, dec. Desiree Memea, M. Baptist, 4-1, 3-1
95: Lakia Henderson, Cumberlands, dec. Amy Havens, M. Valley, 5-1, 2-1
