OKLAHOMA CITY – Amanda Hendey of Beaumont, Calif., has signed a letter of intent to wrestle collegiately at Oklahoma City University. Hendey is the first women's wrestling recruit to sign for the 2011-12 season.
Hendey will make the trek from the West Coast to wrestle for the Stars after a successful high school career in California. She is Beaumont's first ever state champion in the school's 100-year history in any sport or gender after winning first place as a junior at 126 pounds.
OCU coach Archie Randall is enthused about this early signing to his two-time defending Women's College Wrestling Association and three-time defending NWCA National Duals champion Stars.
“Her decision to sign this early to OCU is an indication of what she wants in her future: a great education and a chance to wrestle for the top women's program in the nation,” Randall said. “Amanda Hendey is one of the top seniors in the nation. The opportunity to have her in our program next year can only be a plus. We feel that she will make an immediate impact to our team.”
Hendey, a four-time all-American, is currently ranked first in the state and fourth nationally by USGWA at 124 pounds. Hendey is also third by the USWW freestyle rankings at 132 after winning the USAW girls high school folkstyle state championships. She took second in the USAW girls folkstyle national championships and the Body Bar women's freestyle national championships as a junior.
She has become a two-time all-stater and a three-time all-region selection.
The Stars compete next against Wayland Baptist (Texas) at 6 p.m. Thursday in Plainview, Texas.
