First-time champs emerge at Girls Folkstyle Nationals

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Jason Bryant (USA Wrestling)
03/27/2010


Twelve first-time Junior Folkstyle National Champions emerged on Saturday night at Abe Lemons Arena on the campus of Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Marina Sanchez (Riverside, Calif/La Sierra) opened up the night by denying Missouri's Emily Webster a second title. Webster (Neosho, Mo.), won this event last season, but fell in the finals 6-5 at 95 pounds. The win was the first national title for Sanchez, a sophomore at La Sierra High School.

Webster, one of only two returning champions, wasn't the only star in the field, though. Returning All-Americans Erin Golston (Marquette, Mich./USOEC) and Hanna Grisewold (Warsaw, N.Y.) met in the finals at 102 pounds, with Golston taking a 14-5 major decision. 

Golston, who finished fourth last year at the same weight, was dominant with her takedowns en route to the title. It's the second straight year Grisewold has finished second. Last year, she fell to Webster in the finals at 95 pounds.

In a rematch of the Youth Olympic Games qualifier, Kayla Brendlinger (Slippery Rock, Pa./Draw Team) topped Sara Hildebrandt (Granger, Ind./Team Indiana) 4-0 at 109 pounds. Brendlinger was third a year ago at 102 pounds, while Hildebrandt was fifth. 

At 116 pounds, Miranda Bennett (Neosho, Mo.) upended Junior National Freestyle Champion Hanna Martin (El Reno, Okla./Geary). Bennett scored the lone takedown in the bout and held off a late push by Martin. Bennett finished sixth behind Martin in Fargo last summer.

Tanya Kusse (Webster, N.Y./Team Worldwide) was dominant in her championship victory over Brittney Faust (Butler, Pa./Team PA) at 123 pounds. After limited action in the first 115 seconds, Kusse went up 2-0 with a late takedown to end the first period and then put on the pressure from the top position in the second and third periods en route to a 12-0 major decision.

In one of the most talked-about matches of the night, Brieana Delgado (Fountain Inn, S.C./Carolina Khos) edged Amanda Hendey (Beaumont, Calif./SD Hot Beaches) 6-4 in sudden victory to win her second straight folkstyle national championship.

The match wasn't without its share of controversy, as Delgado tied the match in the second period with a takedown in which she countered a Hendey shot. However, control appeared to be established briefly in the second, before the two continued the same scramble situation, in which Hendey was in on the leg and Delgado stepping around the back. In the third, Hendey rode Delgado out the entire period, appearing to get a two count before the buzzer, but only one count was noted and the pair went into sudden victory.

In the sudden victory period, Delgado scooted around Hendey with control to gain the tight victory.

Jenna Burkert (Marquette, Mich./USOEC) beat Tamyra Mensah (Katy, Texas/Morton Ranch) 2-1 at 138 pounds. Burkert scored the only takedown of the match in the second period in a bout where both wrestlers chose neutral, keeping most of the match on their feet. Burkert adds another title after winning the Youth Olympic Games qualifier on Friday.

The most disappointing finish of the night came in the most exciting bout. In a rematch of last year's Junior National Freestyle final at 146 pounds, Julia Salata (Canton, Mich./Team Advantage) and Brittany Goebel (Lena, Ill.) were going back and forth through the first four minutes of action. Goebel scored the first takedown and took a 2-1 lead into the second period. 

Salata hit a two-on-one tightwaist tilt for two nearfall and took a 3-2 lead quickly into the second. Goebel locked up a cradle later in the bout and immediately Salata screamed out. When the two untangled, Salata's elbow was dislocated and the match was quickly over. 

Until that point, the night didn't see any falls. That changed quickly.

Lorrie-Anne Ramos (Orlando, Fla./Team Florida) pinned Elda Mendoza (Amarillo, Texas/West Amarillo WC) in the second period to claim the championship at 155 pounds. That was immediately followed by Anneliese DeAragon (Marquette, Mich./USOEC) picking up a fall at 2:46 over Alexandrea Holt (Albany, Calif./Albany) at 165 pounds.

The last two weights would end the same way, as Britnee Barbosa (Amarillo, Texas/Team Texas) pinned Dorothy Scott (Amarillo, Texas/West Amarillo WC) in 4:33 to claim the title at 185 pounds.  Miriam Moreno (Hereford, Texas) pinned Lizette Tenorio (Santa Ana, Calif.) in the second period to end the night the champion at 185+ pounds. Mia Folster (Napa, Calif./Napa Valley WC) was the only entrant at 185++. 

USA WRESTLING GIRLS FOLKSTYLE NATIONALS
Abe Lemons Arena, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, Okla.

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
95 pounds
Final: Marina Sanchez, Riverside, Calif. (La Sierra) dec. Emily Webster, Sedalia, Mo. (Missouri) 6-5.
True Second - Webster dec. Rahall 3-0.
3rd - Brianna Rahall, Yortown, Va. (Grafton) MD Ashley Iliff, Newton, N.J. (Newton) 8-0.
5th - Vannesa Smith, Frisco, Texas (Frisco Bombers) dec. Cheyenne Kemp, Amarillo, Texas (Omada Kitrinos) 4-3.
7th - Patricia Martin, Brighton, Mich. dec. Anissa Rodriguez, Delano, Calif. (Delano) 5-2.

102 pounds
Final: Erin Golston, Marquette, Mich. (USOEC) MD Hanna Grisewood, Warsaw, N.Y. (Warsaw Wrestling) 14-5.
3rd - Lauren Richardson, Bremmerton, Wash. (NWWC) FALL Julieta Gonzalez, Stockton, Calif. (Nor Cal) 1:29.
5th - Thalina Martinez (AWA Bailey) dec. Savanna Nobile, Richmond, Mo. (Richmond Spartans) 5-2.
7th - Akira Pena, El Paso, Texas (El Paso Aztec WC) FALL Kelsey Gunia, Frisco, Texas (Frisco East) :43.

109 pounds
Final: Kayla Brendlinger, Slippery Rock, Pa. (Draw Team) dec. Sarah Hildebrandt, Granger, Ind. (Team Indiana) 4-0.
True Second- Hildebrandt dec. Drum 3-2.
3rd - Montana Drum, Neosho, Mo. dec. Aerial Groene, Goddard, Kan. (Kansas Krusaders) 6-2.
5th - Kayleigh Longley, North Berwick, Maine (Southern Maine Trappers) FALL Jenna Pisarski, Lake Jackson, Texas 1:54.
7th - Alba Mendoza, El Paso, Texas (El Paso Aztec WC) inj. def. Tamara Tillman, Whittier, Calif. (SD Hot Beaches)

116 pounds
Final: Miranda Bennett, Neosho, Mo. dec. Hanna Martin, El Reno, Okla. (Geary) 3-1.
True Second - H. Martin dec. S. Martin 7-0.
3rd - Stacy Martin, Frisco, Texas (Frisco Bombers) dec. Megan Yamaguchi, Wahiawa, Hawaii (Team Hawaii) 8-5.
5th - Jacarra Winchester, San Leandro, Calif. (Pleasant Hill WC) dec. Rachel McFarland, DeWitt, Mich. (DeWitt WC) 4-1
7th - Shelby Morrison, Amarillo, Texas (Maverick Elite) FALL Madelynn McIlwain, Washougal, Wash. (Southwest Washington) 5:35.

123 pounds
Final: Tanya Kusse, Webster, N.Y. (Team Worldwide Titan) MD Brittney Faust, Butler, Pa. (Team PA) 12-0.
3rd - Roni Goodale, Muscatine, Iowa (KWA) dec. Alexia Moreno, Turlock, Calif. (Turlock) 9-5.
5th - Kayla Bartosch, Triangle, Va. FALL Morgan Yamaguchi, Wahiawa, Hawaii (Team Hawaii) 3:38.
7th - Megan Penny, East Stroudsburg, Pa. (Draw Team) dec. Mandy Binks, Sweet Home, Ore. 4-0. 

130 pounds
Final: Brieana Delgado, Fountain Inn, S.C. (Carolina Khaos WC) dec. Amanda Hendey, Beaumont, Calif. (SD Hot Beaches) 6-4, SV
3rd - Krista Revelle, Meriden, Kan. (Kansas Krusaders) dec. Anna McAleavey, Cypress, Texas 6-2.
5th - Kelsey Carl, Agness, Ore. dec. Tianna Camous, Folsom, Calif. (Mad Dawg) 6-0.
7th - Katelyn Eddy, Hood River, Ore. (Cobra) FALL Erin Miller, Katy, Texas 3:25.

138 pounds
Final: Jenna Burkert, Marquette, Mich. (USOEC) dec. Tamyra Mensah, Katy, Texas 2-1.
3rd - Emily Gessler, Tullahoma, Tenn. (Tennessee) dec. Jessica Brenton, Casper, Wyo. (Windy City) 3-2.
5th - Demi Strub, Guilford, Ind. (Team Indiana) dec. Sarah Saenz, San Fernando, Calif. (SD Hot Beaches) 7-5.
7th - Carolyn Benale, Naples, Fla. (Team Florida) FALL Jessica Hernandez, Lawton, Okla. 5:02.

146 pounds
Final: Brittany Goebel, Lena, Ill. inj. def. Julia Salata, Canton, Mich. (Wooby's Warriors).
True Second - Childs inj. def. Salata.
3rd - Haylee Childs (Team Florida) dec. Brittany David, Attleboro, Calif. (Delta) 4-2.
5th - Breena Maul, Amarillo, Texas (Lil Rebel WC) dec. Christina Zamora, Tustin, Calif. (SD Hot Beaches) 12-6.
7th - Kasey Kruczek, Easton, Pa. (WOW) FALL Savanna Nickols, Arcata, Calif. (Team Arcata) 4:51.

155 pounds
Final: Lorrie-Ann Ramos, Orlando, Fla. (Team Florida) FALL Elda Mendoza, Amarillo, Texas (West Amarillo WC) 3:42. 
3rd - Emilii Russell, Hendersonville, Tenn. (Tennessee) dec. Jami Martinez, Amarillo, Texas (Lil Rebel WC) 3-1.
5th - Elaina Dittrich, League City, Texas (Team Texas) FALL Miranda Cottenmyre, Belleville, Kan. (Kansas Krusaders) 5:52.
7th - Andrianna Rivas, Katy, Texas (Katy Area WC) FOR Melissa Yarrington, Chippewa Falls, Wis.

165 pounds
Final: Anneliese DeAragon, Marquette, Mich. (USOEC) FALL Alexandrea Holt, Albany, Calif. (Albany) 2:46.
True Second - Holt FALL Osborn 1:49.
3rd - Amanda Osborne, Whittier, Calif. (SD Hot Beaches) FALL Elizabeth Ihnen, Sheldon, Iowa (Orabs) 2:26.
5th - Brittany Jones (Cowboy WC) FALL Heather O'Connor, Napa, Calif. (Napa Valley WC) 1:14.

185 pounds
Final: Britnee Barbosa, Amarillo, Texas (Team Texas) FALL Dorothy Scott, Amarillo, Texas (West Amarillo) 4:33.
3rd - Pamela Abshire, Azle, Texas (Azle) FALL Ericka Rutt, Lincoln, Neb. 1:32.
5th - Jamaie Scott, Sacramento, Calif. (So. Sacramento WC) dec. Roxan Perez, Amarillo, Texas (West Amarillo) 2-0.

185+ pounds
Final: Miriam Moreno, Hereford, Texas FALL Lizette Tenorio, Santa Ana, Calif. (Santa Ana) 3:44.
3rd - Ronny Elor, Pleasant Hill, Calif. (Elor) dec. Kendra Creameans, Spanaway, Wash. 15-8.
5th - Jillian Jenkins, Albany, Calif. (Albany) dec. Courtney Richardson, Houston, Texas (Camc) 4-1.
7th - Bisoh Moma, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Southeast) FALL Jeantry Prather, Frisco, Texas (Frisco Bombers) 5:47. 

185++ pounds
First: Mia Folster, Napa, Calif. (Napa Valley WC)