Women’s Wrestling: Oklahoma City University Wins Third-Straight WCWA Title

Nicole Woody at 44 kilograms (97 pounds), Ashley Hudson at 59 (130), Kristie Davis at 67 (147) and Brittany Delgado at 80 (176) became national champions for OCU. Michaela Hutchison finished as runner-up at 55 (121). Hudson took home the outstanding wrestler of the tournament award.

Stars taking third place were Kristi Garr at 48 (105), Joey Miller at 51 (112), Sheila McCabe at 59 (130), Tessa Plana at 63 (138), Brittney Roberts at 67 and Melissa Simmons at 72 (158). McCabe, a senior from El Cajon, Calif., took third for the second year in a row.

Finishing fifth place were Amberle Montgomery at 63 and Karon Scott at 90 (200). Scott, a senior from Austin, Texas, finished her OCU career as a three-time all-American. Scott finished as a 95-kilo finalist as a freshman and third place as a sophomore.

“This was amazing,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “The girls did a great job. They closed hard. We won matches over people we lost to earlier. We struggled, but they pushed hard.”

Hudson and Woody became OCU’s first four-time WCWA all-Americans. Hudson finished fourth at 55 as a freshman, runner-up at 55 as a sophomore, then third at 59 as a junior. Woody was runner-up at 48 as a freshman, third at 48 as a sophomore, then runner-up at 44 last season.

Hudson defeated Cianah Hee of Cumberlands (Ky.) 1-0, 3-1 for the 59-kilogram championship. Hudson secured her title with a two-point takedown to go up 3-0 in the second period. Hudson avenged a loss to Hee in the NWCA National Duals.

A senior from Wildwood, Mo., Hudson made the championship finals by winning 4-3, 4-1 over Tanya Kusse of Lindenwood (Mo.).

Hudson’s first two matches of the day ended as technical falls before she won 5-1, 4-0 over Haylee Childs of King in the quarterfinals.

“I’ve gotten every place,” Hudson said. “It was always a sad feeling at the end of the year. It’s awesome now.”

Randall said, “Ashley had a great year. She was upset by Hee at the NWCAs, but she dominated tonight.”

Woody captured the championship 6-0, 7-0 over Daphne-Ann Hodgson of Simon Fraser. Woody notched two two-point takedowns in the first period and three two-point moves in the second.

A senior from Gambrills, Md., Woody advanced to the 44-kilo final with a 7-0, 6-0 victory over Michiko Araki of Simon Fraser. Araki turned Woody during the second period, but failed to score points on Woody. Woody scored to finish the technical fall and end the bout.

Woody’s 5-0, 6-0 win over Breanna Gedeon of Lindenwood advanced her past the quarterfinals.

To prepare for the WCWA Championships, Woody cut weight from her normal 48 kilos (105 pounds).

“It was the hardest part of the tournament,” Woody said. “It’s about time.”

Randall said, “Nicole Woody finally reached her goal of being a national champion. She was focused, and she went down a weight class.”

Davis overwhelmed Christen Paysse of Cumberlands 6-0, 6-0 for the 67-kilo championship. Davis ended the match by technical fall with 1:32 to go in the second period.

A junior from Mustang, Okla., Davis made the 67 final with two pins and a technical fall. Davis pinned Jenna McLatchy of Simon Fraser 48 seconds into the second period after winning the first 6-0.

Davis aims to make a push for the 2012 Olympics. Davis turned 32 on Jan. 24. She has three daughters – Kayla, Bryleigh and Lilly — and is married to OCU assistant coach Link Davis.

Davis’ title follows two years away from the mat having her third daughter and recovering from injury. She started rounding into shape during the summer during international competition.

“It was a nice way to end the season,” Kristie Davis said. “It’s been a long journey. OCU is a good place for me to be. It’s been tremendous.”

Davis added WCWA champion to her nine Women’s World Championships medals.

“Of all the medals she’s won, this was important to her because it’s a team thing,” Randall said. “She was worried that she wouldn’t win it. She won this for the team.”

Delgado finished as 80-kilogram national champion after pinning Leya-Justi Luafalemana of Jamestown (N.D.) at the 1:04 mark in the second period.

A junior from Fountain Inn, S.C., Delgado pinned her way into the final. She picked up a fall in 1:20 over Lisa Tinney of Cumberlands, then finished up her semifinal match with Chelsey Fleming of Jamestown in 37 seconds.

“It’s great,” Delgado said. “My freshman year has made me appreciate these past two years. I ended up having surgery at the end of the year after I wrestled injured. That pushes me now.”

A two-time champion, Delgado switched to 95 and won the national title last season.

“From where she was as a freshman, she has become an outstanding wrestler,” Randall said.

Helen Maroulis of Simon Fraser took the 55-kilo title with a 7-1, 1-2, 2-1 victory over Hutchison. In the third third period, Hutchison took two shots and finished her second attempt with a one-point takedown with 38 seconds left. Maroulis answered with two one-point takedowns.

A junior from Soldotna, Alaska, Hutchison rolled to two pins to start her day. Hutchison nearly had a third pin before settling for a 7-0, 3-1 semifinals victory over Shauna Isbell of Lindenwood.

Stars recognized for classroom performance

OCU garnered the WCWA scholar team award with a 3.10 cumulative grade-point average.

Three Stars picked up academic awards – McCabe, Plana and Audrey Morehouse. To earn the academic award, each wrestler maintained a 3.5 GPA. McCabe has a 4.0 GPA.

Team Scoring:
1. Oklahoma City, 117; 2. Simon Fraser (British Columbia) 96; 3. Cumberlands (Ky.), 66; 4. King (Tenn.), 57; 5. Jamestown (N.D.), 40; 6. Lindenwood (Mo.), 30; 7. Missouri Valley, 22; 8. Menlo (Calif.), 16; 9. Missouri Baptist, 16; 10. Northern Michigan, 12; 11. Yakima Valley (Wash.), 3.

Championship Finals
44 (97): Nicole Woody, Oklahoma City, tech. fall Daphne-Ann Hodgson, Simon Fraser, 6-0, 7-0
48 (105): Victoria Anthony, Simon Fraser, pinned Emily Martin, King, 1:29
51 (112): Gabrielle Henry, Cumberlands, dec. Sluberski Carlene, Northern Michigan, 3-0, 3-2
55 (121): Helen Maroulis, Simon Fraser, dec. Michaela Hutchison, Oklahoma City, 7-1, 1-2, 2-1
59 (130): Ashley Hudson, Oklahoma City, dec. Cianah Hee, Cumberlands, 1-0, 3-1
63 (138): Danielle Lappage, Simon Fraser, dec. Alli Ragan, King, 5-0, 9-2
67 (147): Kristie Davis, Oklahoma City, tech. fall Christen Paysse, Cumberlands, 6-0, 6-0
72 (158): Mei Ling Keiki, Missouri Baptist, dec. Kendra Lewis, Lindenwood, 5-0, 4-0
80 (176): Brittany Delgado, Oklahoma City pinned Leya-Justi Luafalemana, Jamestown, 4-0, 1:04
90 (200): Marina Lambert, King, pinned Hilary Greening, Simon Fraser, 1:46

Third Place
44 (97): Opelia Felipe, Cumberlands, dec. Shannon Constantine, King, 6-0, 0-4, 3-1
48 (105): Kristi Garr, Oklahoma City, dec. Sherylyn Sabado, Menlo, 1-1, 1-0
51 (112): Joey Miller, Oklahoma City, pinned Natalie Rutt, Jamestown, 1:28
55 (121): Shauna Isbell, Lindenwood, dec. Rachel Pike, Missouri Valley, 2-0, 2-0
59 (130): Sheila McCabe, Oklahoma City, pinned Laura Gordon, Simon Fraser, 6-0, 1:48
63 (138): Tessa Plana, Oklahoma City, pinned Lauren Louive, Cumberlands, 2:22
67 (147): Brittney Roberts, Oklahoma City, dec. Michelle Quiles, Jamestown, 2-0, 1-0
72 (158): Melissa Simmons, Oklahoma City, pinned Justina DiStasio, Simon Fraser, 6-0, 1:18
80 (176): Brittany Caoile, Menlo, pinned Venus Barron, Missouri Valley, 1-0, 1:38
90 (200): Jamie Moore, Jamestown pinned Lakia Henderson, Cumberlands, 1-0, 1:54

Fifth Place
44 (97): Michiko Araki, Simon Fraser, pinned Brianna Gedeon, Lindenwood, 1:36
48 (105): Michelle Canete, Jamestown, dec. Britney Heatherly, Missouri Valley, 2-1, 1-0
51 (112): Tessa Ma, Simon Fraser, dec. Chloe Ivanoff, Simon Fraser, 1-0, 1-1
55 (121): Hanna Martin, King, dec. Kayla Bartosch, King, 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
59 (130): Haylee Childs, King, pinned Tanya Kusse, Lindenwood, 2-4, 1:28
63 (138): Amberle Montgomery, Oklahoma City, dec. Stephanie Geltmacher, Yakima Valley, 2-1, 5-1
67 (147): Jenna McLatchy, Simon Fraser, pinned Brittany David, Lindenwood, 5-6, 5-0, 1:31
72 (158): Brittany Jones, Missouri Valley, dec. Taylor Dick, Simon Fraser, 3-0, 2-0
80 (176): Chelsey Fleming, Jamestown, pinned Lisa Tinney, Cumberlands, 0-4, 0:58
90 (200): Karon Scott, Oklahoma City, dec. Amanda Athon, Jamestown, 0-3, 1-0, 3-0