Missouri Valley wins Women’s College Nationals held at Menlo College, with six individual champions
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
03/28/2005
Missouri Valley College, led by six individual champions, captured the team title at the 2nd annual Women's College Nationals, hosted at Menlo College in Atherton, Calif., March 26. Missouri Valley had 69 team points, 30 points ahead of runner-up Pacific University with 39 points. Lassen College placed third, Menlo College was fourth, and Cal-State Bakersfield was fifth. The Outstanding Lightweight wrestler was the 105.5-pound champion Sara Fulp-Allen from host Menlo College. The Outstanding Heavyweight wrestler was Kelly Branham of Missouri Valley College, the champion at 147.5 pounds. Other individual champions for Missouri Valley were Erica Chew (121), Brooke Bogren (130), Rachel Billerbeck (138.75), Brittany Jones (158.5) and Selina Perez (176). Vikings head coach Carl Murphree was presented the coach of the year award. Pacific University had an individual champion in Kapua Torres at 112 pounds. Fulp-Allen, Bogren and Branham won gold medals for the second straight year. Last year, Missouri Valley College hosted the event, and won the team title. A special achievement award was awarded to Toccara Montgomery of Cumberland College for her contribution to the women's college wrestling programs. She became a member of the historic 2004 United States Women's Olympic Wrestling Team, the first to compete at an Olympic Games. She qualified for and competed in the Athens Olympic Games at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. while a student-athlete and leader of the Cumberland College wrestling squad.