Stars set to contend for national title

OCU competes in Cumberlands Duals this weekend

Oklahoma City University returns a bevy of all-Americans paired with a highly-touted recruiting class to field a contender for the Women's College Wrestling Association championship.
OCU brings back defending national champion Cody Pfau among six returning all-Americans to lead the push for the national crown. The Stars will wrestle for the title at their own Abe Lemons Arena on Feb. 11-13.
The Stars picked up third place in the WCWA Championships behind two national champions and nine all-Americans as well as second place in the NWCA National Duals last season. In duals, OCU went 19-3.
OCU opens the season in the Cumberlands Duals on Friday and Saturday in Williamsburg, Ky.
"We have a shot to win the national championship," OCU coach Archie Randall said. "It's at home, which is critically important. It's going to be rough picking our top 12 point-getters. We'll see how the young girls take to the grind. We're never out of the running. Hopefully we make up those points."
Pfau, a junior from Parachute, Colo., captured the 109-pound title and went 34-1 in 2014-15. Pfau added outstanding wrestler in the University Nationals in May. She has elevated herself to fourth on the Olympic ladder.
"We don't see anyone challenging her with the exception of one girl," Randall said.
Shelby Morrison posted a fourth-place national finish at 116. Morrison, a senior from Amarillo, Texas, compiled a 35-9 record as a junior.
"We think she has a shot to be national champion," Randall said.
Rachel Young aims to return to all-American status after notching sixth place at 136 as a sophomore. Young, a senior from Whitehall, Ohio, had a 27-12 record last season.
Taking a closer look at the Stars:

109

Training alongside Pfau will be Cassidy Jasperson, a sophomore from League City, Texas, whose record was 18-8 last season. "We think she will knock people out," Randall said of Jasperson's national-tournament hopes. "She is a quality athlete. She has matured."

116

Beyond Morrison will be a pair of freshmen, Marizza Birrueta and Europa Cabada. Birrueta, from Grandview, Wash., took the 51-kilogram title in the Body Bar Junior Nationals in May. Randall on Birrueta: "She's legit."
Cabada became a two-time Texas state finalist competing for El Paso Coronado (Texas). "We're pretty loaded," Randall said about the 116-pounders. "We have three who could match up with anybody."

123

Rachel Archer, a junior from Winlock, Wash., owned a 30-13 record last season. "She is an excellent athlete and an excellent student," Randall said.
Becka Leathers arrives at OCU as the top recruit in the nation. Leathers, a freshman from Choctaw, Okla., gained extensive experience as a junior wrestler, competing twice on the U.S. Junior World Team, taking bronze in the Cadet World Championships and winning the Junior Folkstyle 125-pound title. Randall said, "She's legit. She is really an outstanding young woman academically and athletically."
Other OCU freshmen slated for this weight are Taylor Ivey and Daishea Jaime. Ivey, from Greenview, Ill., finished fourth in the Junior Folkstyle Championships, while Jaime, from Pomona, Calif., took runner-up in that tournament.

130

Carla Ponce, a junior from El Paso, Texas picked up a seventh-place national showing and a 28-18 record last season. Natalia Hinojo will push the returning all-American. Hinojo, a junior from El Paso, Texas, went 12-5 as a sophomore. "Either one will be successful," Randall said.
Others at this weight are freshmen Daniela Flores, from El Paso, Texas, and Haley Huerta, from Centralia, Wash.

136

After Young, Heiley Garcia turned in an all-American performance by finishing sixth at 143. Garcia, a junior from Carrolton, Texas, has been competitive with Young. "Both are really the same," said Randall.
"We don't know who's going to win."

143

Margaret Douma has the edge in experience over youngsters Rachael Butler and Ilania Keju. Douma, a sophomore from Napa, Calif., went 18-17 as a freshman. Butler, a freshman from Pleasanton, Calif., uses her judo experience to her advantage and had a runner-up finish in the Junior Folkstyle Nationals. Keju, a freshman from Houston, represents the Marshall Islands in international competition.
Three-time all-American Kayla Aggio, a senior from Rohnert Park, Calif., will redshirt.

155

Yvonne Galindo, a junior from El Paso, Texas, took eighth at 155 in the WCWA Championships and went 26-11 last season. Randall on Galindo: "She had an outstanding national tournament."
Alyssa Hernandez, a freshman from Union City, Calif., aims to push Galindo.

170

Tatiana Vazquez, a sophomore from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., expects to compete at 170 pounds for the Stars. Jackie Quinones, a freshman from El Monte, Calif., could be at 170 or 191. "She is one of the most athletic I've seen at that weight," Randall said.

191

Monica Mason, a freshman from Marion, N.Y., provides another top athlete at these weights. "She is super athletic and the real deal," Randall said.

Oklahoma City enters 2015-16 ranked third in the WCWA. The Stars will look to add to its four national championships won in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 with its talented young cast. OCU has finished as national runner-up in 2008, 2013 and 2014.
"Team chemistry is really good," Randall said. "We're very young. They're really talented and focused. They're all great kids."

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Players Mentioned

Kayla Aggio: 143; 5' 5"; Senior

Rachel Archer: 123; 5' 4"; Junior

Margaret Douma: 143; 5' 3"; Sophomore

Yvonne Galindo: 155; 5' 2"; Junior

Heiley Garcia: 136; 5' 1"; Junior

Natalia Hinojo: 130; 5' 1"; Junior

Cassidy Jasperson: 116; 5' 2"; Sophomore

Shelby Morrison: 116; 5' 5"; Senior

Cody Pfau: 109; 5' 4"; Junior

Carla Ponce: 130; 5' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Kayla Aggio
: 5' 5"; Senior
: 143

Rachel Archer
: 5' 4"; Junior
: 123

Margaret Douma
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: 143

Yvonne Galindo
: 5' 2"; Junior
: 155

Heiley Garcia
: 5' 1"; Junior
: 136

Natalia Hinojo
: 5' 1"; Junior
: 130

Cassidy Jasperson
: 5' 2"; Sophomore
: 116

Shelby Morrison
: 5' 5"; Senior
: 116

Cody Pfau
: 5' 4"; Junior
: 109

Carla Ponce
: 5' 2"; Junior
: 130