#17 Women's Wrestling 10/3/2014 9:11:00 AM

Stars push for 2015 national championship

OCU returns 10 all-Americans for 2014-15

Demi Strub looks to become a four-time all-American.

Oklahoma City University's seniors helped capture the Stars' last Women's College Wrestling Association championship as freshmen. Since then, OCU has finished as national runner-up twice, falling short by seven points in 2013 and two last year.
OCU returns four seniors who ramrodded the Stars' 2012 national title run with all-American finishes. Those four in particular – Brieana Delgado, Heather O'Connor, Demi Strub and Emily Webster – thirst to raise the national championship banner again.
In 2013-14, the Stars took national runner-up, third place in the NWCA National Duals and went 10-2 in duals. OCU boasted of 14 all-Americans. The Stars open the 2014-15 season in the Midland Duals on Friday in Fremont, Neb.
"The goal is to be national champions," OCU coach Archie Randall said. "The seniors were on a national championship team, and they're working hard to get back to that."
All four aim to become four-time all-Americans, of which OCU has produced eight in its program history.
Delgado, a senior from Fountain Inn, Calif., grabbed fourth place at 123 pounds last year to become a three-time all-American. Delgado owns a 67-35 record with 25 falls in her OCU career. She had a third-place showing in the University World Championships in July.
O'Connor, a senior from Napa, Calif., turned in a fourth-place finish at 191 in 2014. She has a 62-32 ledger and 24 pins as a Star.
Strub, a senior from Guilford, Ind., posted a fourth-place showing at 155 last year. Strub has gone 65-31 with 23 falls at OCU.
Webster, a senior from Sedalia, Mo., won her third consecutive 101-pound national crown. She remains unbeaten against college competition in her career.
More about the Stars:

101

Harley Ibarra and Stephanie Martinez will vie for mat time beyond Webster. Martinez, a sophomore from El Paso, Texas, went 5-5 with a fall in limited action last season. Ibarra, a freshman from El Paso, Texas, finished third place in the Texas state tournament with all-city acclaim.

109

Cody Pfau earned all-American status after taking fourth at 109 as a freshman. Pfau, a sophomore from Parachute, Colo., posted an 18-1 record with eight pins, going unbeaten against 109-pound competition last season. She took 105-pound runner-up in the University Nationals and the Body Bar Junior Nationals title.
A pair of sophomores from Fort Worth, Texas, Shilo Barrett and Haley Moreno, will aim to push Pfau.

116

Shelby Morrison finished seventh with all-American honors at 116 in 2013-14. Morrison, a junior from Amarillo, Texas, went 20-5 with six falls. "She is making strides," Randall said.
Esthefania Jimenez, a senior from Lubbock, Texas, provides a veteran presence, while Cassidy Jasperson, a freshman from League City, Texas, brings high expectations.
"She is one of our top incoming recruits," Randall said of Jasperson. "She will challenge Shelby. She has aspirations to be in the Olympics."

123

Tanalei Louis fell short of the all-American rounds after being knocked out of the national tournament by Delgado. Louis, a sophomore from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, had an 11-9 record as a freshman. She finished third in the Body Bar Junior Nationals.
Rachel Archer will pose a threat to opponents at this weight. Archer, a sophomore from Winlock, Wash., compiled a 14-6 record last season. She had a fifth-place finish at 121 pounds in the University Nationals. Randall said, "She had a great summer. She will be competitive."
Cara Romeike joins OCU as a touted recruit. Romeike, a freshman from Coppell, Texas, made all-American in the Las Vegas/ASICS U.S. Open in the spring. Randall on Romeike: "She is solid. We expect great things from her and for her to push the others."

130

Beyond Delgado, Carla Ponce returns after going 11-9 last season. Ponce, a sophomore from El Paso, Texas, pushed for all-American honors, but was eliminated by a teammate. Ponce will be the backup to Delgado because all-American and 130-pound runner-up Rachel McFarland will redshirt this season.

136

OCU sends out Rachel Young, who was sixth at 136 pounds. Young, a junior from Whitehall, Ohio, produced an 11-11 record and five falls en route to all-American accolades. "She has done a really good job," Randall said of Young.
The Stars' other returner at 136 is Natalia Hinojo, a sophomore from El Paso, Texas, who was 7-5 last season. OCU added Margaret Douma, a freshman from Napa, Calif., who was a two-time finalist in the California Interscholastic Federation championships. "We have a lot of hope for her," Randall said of Douma. "She works hard. Great things will happen for her by December. She will challenge people."

143

Kayla Aggio headlines OCU's 143-pounders after taking runner-up at 155 in the WCWA Championships. She went 8-8 with four falls last season. Aggio, a junior from Rohnert, Calif., continued her momentum by winning the 148-pound title in the Body Bar Junior Nationals and making the Junior World Team. "She is focused and improved," Randall said of Aggio. "She improved on the mental aspects of wrestling."
Yvonne Galindo, a sophomore from El Paso, Texas, is expected to show improvement over her 6-7 record last season. Heiley Garcia, a sophomore from Carrollton, Texas, made the Junior National Team with her runner-up finish in the Body Bar Junior Nationals. Garcia finished 10-10 last season. "She had an incredible summer," Randall said of Garcia.

155

This weight will be secure with Aggio, a two-time all-American, and Strub, a three-time all-American.

170

Sherese Thomas took fourth place at 170 in the national tournament, going 16-6 with six falls. Thomas has expanded her skills after entering the program raw. "She is working harder than I've ever seen her work," Randall said of Thomas.
Tatiana Vazquez, a sophomore from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., should grow as a wrestler competing against Thomas in practice.

191

O'Connor finished as national runner-up as a junior. "Her goal is to be a national champion," Randall said.

Randall expects the Stars to be better prepared for the WCWA Championships this season. Randall has set up a schedule to have the Stars more seasoned come national tournament time.
"We didn't get enough mat time," Randall said of last season. "We're trying diligently to do that so they can be successful."

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