Texas takes title at the first-ever Women's Junior National Duals

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John Fuller (TheMat.com)
07/28/2005


Fargo, N.D. - Texas, the state long regarded as the top youth women's wrestling state in the nation, now has the hardware to back up that claim after the Texas-Lady Lonestars defeated California 32-12 in the finals of the inaugural Women's Junior National Duals at the FargoDome on Thursday.    The women from Texas posted five dual wins in the eight-team event.    At 95 lbs., Helen Timmons of Texas wasted no time in getting the Lady Lonestars out in front of the dual with a first-period pin over Deanie Panganoran. California's Michelle Jimenez tied the dual meet with a second-period fall over Emily Martin, but the dual was all Texas from that point on.    Raquel Woodruff (110 lbs.) gave Texas the lead for good with a first-period pin against Kristen Campbell.    After Sarah Van Allen won by forfeit for Texas at 119 lbs., LeAnn Barney (128), Vanessa Epps (138) and Lindsey Brooks (148) all earned pins to give Texas a 24-4 lead, one that was insurmountable by California at that point.    All of those three straight pins by the Texas women took place in the first period, including a 38-second fall by Epps.    California's won the next two matches by fall as Monica Gonzalez (160) and Amy Havens (175) earned falls in less than two minutes, but Texas took the final two matches of the dual.    Lauren Birks (195) won by forfeit and Carrie Clark (220) fittingly closed the dual for the Lady Lonestars with a pin as well.     In the third-place dual, Team Hawaii downed Team Ohio, 24-4. In the dual, Team Hawaii won all six contested matches, five of them by fall.    Florida defeated the Washington Sour Apples, 28-12, in the fifth-place dual. Florida wrestlers Ashley Shockley (110), Breissa Galic (128) and Leila Maloff (148) all recorded pins in the dual, but Washington also lost four matches by forfeit.    In the seventh-place dual, the Wisconsin Milkshakes defeated the Kansas Krusaders, 20-8. Wisconsin boys state tournament qualifier Alyssa Lampe (110) started the dual off with a pin for Wisconsin, and the Milkshakes never looked back, recording four more wins by fall.    The Women's Junior National Championships will begin on Friday, July 29 and end on Saturday, July 30. TheMat.com will provide complete coverage.