LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The top-ranked King University women's wrestling team advanced to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals championship with a semifinal win over fourth-ranked McKendree University. The Tornado won seven bouts, including both No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups to take the dual 31-14.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #1 King 31, #4 McKendree 14
LOCATION: Kentucky Expo Center; Louisville, Ky.
RECORDS: King 3-0; McKendree 4-4
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The dual started with three straight ranked matchups as the Tornado earned wins in the first two at 101 and 109 pounds.
- Second-ranked Jessica Corredor earned a 3-2 win top-ranked Lizette Rodriguez in the first match, giving King a 3-1 lead.
- Top-ranked Sage Mortimer followed with a 2:28 pin of eighth-ranked Pauline Granados.
- Following a McKendree pin at 116 pounds, the Tornado earned another pin at 123 pounds.
- Fourth-ranked Vayle-Rae Baker pinned Elvie Villa in 2:53, extending the Tornado lead to 13-6.
- Following a Bearcat win at 130 pounds, King won four straight matches to clinch the win.
- Sixth-ranked Viktorya Torres started the run with a 2:04 pin of Jennifer Soto at 136 pounds.
- In another matchup of the top two ranked wrestlers, top-ranked Ana Luciano held off a late rally from second-ranked Alara Boyd at 143 pounds.
- Luciano then got a takedown and earned the pin in 5:58 to give King a 24-9 lead.
- At 155 pounds, fifth-ranked Tiffani Baublitz earned a 6-0 victory over Abigail Varady, clinching the win for the Tornado.
- Second-ranked Chey Bowman then defeated eighth-ranked Alexandra Castillo on a 10-0 technical fall at 170 pounds.
- McKendree won the 191-pound match by forfeit, but King won the dual 31-14.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- King will wrestle in the NWCA National Duals championship for the eighth time in 11 years.
- King has won five national titles, including last season.
UP NEXT
- The top-ranked Tornado will take on second-ranked North Central College at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.
- McKendree will wrestle for third place at 1:30 p.m. against third-ranked Colorado Mesa University.
