FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The top-ranked and NWCA National Duals defending champion King University women's wrestling team showed they are primed to repeat on the first day of the NWCA National Duals on Friday. The Tornado defeated eighth-ranked Missouri Baptist University 45-1 in Friday's quarterfinals, setting up a semifinals match against #4 McKendree University.
King gained the early advantage, taking wins by forfeit at both 101 and 109 pounds. Haley Augello then stretched the King lead to 14-0 with an 11-0 technical fall win over Marylou Martinez at 116 pounds. Hanna Grisewood kept the momentum going at 123 pounds with a 2-0 win over Montana Drum before King really got going.
Sarah Hildebrandt, Forrest Molinari and Amanda Hendey followed with three straight wins by fall. At 130 pounds, Hildebrandt topped Bree Rapoza in 1:24 and Molinari defeated Erika Mahalca in 1:39. Hendey capped the run with a win in 1:23 over Sarah Bolinger at 143 pounds.
Lorrie Ramos then earned a 6-2 win over Cheyenne Youngblood at 155 pounds before the Tornado took the final two wins by forfeit to make the final score 45-1.
With the win, the top-ranked Tornado advance to the semifinals to face fourth-ranked McKendree on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m., in the semifinals. The finals are scheduled for 4:30 p.m., Saturday evening.
