OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University women's wrestling has inked a stellar incoming class to carry on the program's winning tradition after earning its third consecutive Women's College Wrestling Association title and fourth straight NWCA National Duals crown.
The Stars, who graduated six seniors, have reloaded with some of the top recruits from across the nation, both near and far.
“We're excited to keep our momentum with the women we recruited,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “We graduated six athletes, and these girls we are bringing in are the quality athletes that we need to continue our success.”
Shadiya Howell, a four-time Pennsylvania girls state champion, travels to OCU by way of Ligonier, Pa. Howell posted an all-American season in 2010, including a USGWA national title at 112 pounds. The captain of the high school boys team as a senior, Howell began wrestling when she was 4.
Gina-Bella Aolele Mata'afa, of Lahainaluna, Hawaii, ends her high school career as a three-time Maui Interscholastic League champion and four-time state medalist. She is currently ranked sixth in the nation by the USGWA. She went 19-1 in competition as a senior in the heavyweight classification, up from her traditional 175-pound weight. Over the span of her four-year high school career, Mata'afa wrestled to a 112-9 record.
Heather O'Conner comes to OCU from Napa, Calif. The 165-pound wrestler is a two-sport star in northern California. In her senior season, O'Connor was 25-5 with 20 pins with a fourth-place finish in state and sixth in nationals. She earned most valuable wrestler of the Oakland tournament. O'Connor's junior season was highlighted by a 22-7 record and fourth-place finish in state. She is ranked ninth at 165 pounds by the USGWA. She was an all-league defensive water polo player.
Jennifer Page, from Sacramento, Calif., comes to OCU after compiling 55 career varsity wins in her high school wrestling career. She placed seventh at senior nationals in 2010 and was the 2009 folkstyle nationals champion. Page earned all-city and all-American honors wrestling with male competition.
OCU signee Tozhia Possemato, from Hancock, N.Y., took first at the USGWA state tournament at 103 pounds. She placed third at the USGWA sectionals, and fifth in nationals. Possemato is ranked ninth in the nation and finished her high school career with a 30-9 senior campaign. Along with a successful wrestling career, Possemato is an all-state field hockey player.
Allene Somera, from Kailua, Hawaii, has a combined 29-2 record in two high school seasons and went 10-0 as a senior. She was a district and conference champion in 2010. Somera took fourth at state and second at junior nationals. She was named a Fargo all-American and took fourth in the Body Bar junior tournament at 44 kg and second in the Cadet 47 kg classification. Somera is currently 10th at 98 pounds by the USGWA rankings.
Signee Emily Webster, from Sedalia, Mo., is a two-time junior freestyle nationals champion at 95 pounds. She was a two-time high school state qualifier and conference champion in 2009 while wrestling her male competition. Webster earned Asics first-team all-American honors for her efforts on the mat.
Stephanie Geltmacher and Amber Rodriguez transfer in to join the Stars from Yakima Valley (Wash.). The pair helped Yakima Valley to its third-consecutive National Collegiate Women's Wrestling championship. Geltmacher earned a first-place finish at the 2011 NCWW duels and came in sixth at the WCWA championships. She grabbed the NCWW title at 139 pounds after finishing the 2011 season with a 21-3 record. Rodriguez, from Sunnyside, Wash., wrestled her way to third at the NCWW duels at 130 pounds. She was freestyle state champion at 130 pounds as a senior in high school and took third at nationals to garner all-American status.
Esthefania Jimenez and Sheyenne Walker come to OCU from neighboring states. Jimenez joins the Stars from Lubbock, Texas and Walker travels across the border from Bentonville, Ark.
These recruits join Briena Delgado, Amanda Hendey and Demi Strub in the incoming class of signees for the Stars.
Members of the OCU squad are participating in Body Bar Nationals May 13-14 before the USA World Team trials June 9-11 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
