Kristie Davis of Oklahoma City University, a two-time World champion and nine-time World medalist, won the 147.5-pound title competing in her first WCWA Women's College Nationals. Tony Rotundo photo.

ATHERTON, Calif. - Oklahoma City University, led by four individual champions, won its third straight Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) women’s college national title in a row.

With three individual champions, Simon Fraser University of Canada had its highest team placement ever, taking second place. The University of the Cumberlands placed third with one individual champion. The Cumberlands was second the last two years, and won the first WCWA Nationals team title in 2008.

Women’s college wrestling is contested in freestyle, the international style contested in the Olympic Games.

“It was our third national title, and our women wrestled and represented themselves very well,” said OCU head coach Archie Randall. “Simon Fraser wrestled well, and so did all of the teams. It was the biggest tournament we ever had and showed phenomenal growth. The tournament was tough. We won in the later rounds. We only lost one match in the late rounds.”

The big showdown between returning WCWA champions came at 55 kg/121 lbs. may have been the best finals of the night.

Helen Maroulis of Simon Fraser edged Michaela Hutchison of Oklahoma City, 7-1, 1-2, 2-1. Hutchison had a lead in the third period, and Maroulis pulled out the victory with less than a minute to go. It was Maroulis’s second straight WCWA title, after winning her 2010 title competing for Missouri Baptist. Hutchison was a WCWA champion in 2009 and 2010, and is now a three-time finalist.

Four returning champions from 2010 were able to win again: Maroulis, plus Victoria Anthony of Simon Fraser at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Danielle Lappage of Simon Fraser at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Brittany Delgado of Oklahoma City at 95 kg/209 lbs.

Anthony and Delgado scored pins in the finals, with Anthony stopping Emily Martin of King College in 1:29 and Delgado pinning Leya-Justina Luafalemana of Jamestown College, 4-0, 1:04. Lappage dominated Alli Ragan of King College, 5-0, 9-2. 

Last summer, Anthony and Lappage were gold medalists, Maroulis was a bronze medalist and Delgado placed fifth at the 2010 Junior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Two-time World champion and nine-time World medalist Kristie Davis won the 147.5 pound title competing in her first WCWA Nationals. She defeated Christen Paysse of the Univ. of the Cumberlands in the finals by technical fall, 6-0, 6-0.

The Outstanding Wrestler was Oklahoma City senior Ashley Hudson, who captured the title at 59 kg/130 lbs. with a victory in the finals over Cianah Hee of University of Cumberlands, 1-0, 3-1.

An impressive new champion came at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., as freshman Mei Ling Keiki of Missouri Baptist University defeated Kendra Lewis of Lindenwood University, 5-0, 4-0 in the finals.

Also winning individual titles were Gabrielle Henry of the University of Cumberlands at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., and Marina Lambert of King College at 90 kg/198 lbs.

Two returning WCWA champions placed second, Hutchison at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Hillary Greening of Simon Fraser at 90 kg/198 lbs., who lost to Lambert in the championship finals.

The size of the field was much larger than previous years. A record 14 teams entered the WCWA Nationals this year, as well as a record number of entries with 142 contestants. The quality of the wrestling and the depth of the competition reached at its highest level ever, with every expectation that this tournament will continue to grow and improve in the future.

“The WCWA women’s college wrestling competition level has increased by leaps and bounds,” said OCU head coach Archie Randall. “It is very hard to win, hard to medal and hard to be an All-American. The tournament continues to improve.”

Special thanks to the hosts at Menlo College for conducting the championship. The tournament was streamed online throughout the day, and results were available on TrackWrestling.com. Next year, the tournament is scheduled to be hosted at King College.

WCWA Women’s College Nationals
At Atherton, Calif., January 29

44 kg/97 lbs.
1st - Nicole Woody (Oklahoma City University) tech fall over Daphne-Anne Hodgson (Simon Fraser University), 6-0, 7-0
3rd - Opelia Felipe (University of Cumberlands) dec. Shannon Constantine (King College), 6-0, 0-4, 3-1
5th - Michiko Araki (Simon Fraser University) pin Brianna Gedeon (Lindenwood University), 1:36

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1st  - Victoria Anthony (Simon Fraser University) pin Emily Martin (King College), 1:29
3rd - Kristi Garr (Oklahoma City University) dec. Sherylyn Sabado (Menlo College), 1-1, 1-0
5th - Michelle Canete (Jamestown College) dec. Britney Heatherly (Missouri Valley College), 2-1, 1-0

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
1st - Gabrielle Henry (University of Cumberlands) dec. Carlene Sluberski (Northern Michigan USOEC), 3-0, 3-2
3rd - Joey Miller (Oklahoma City University) pin Natalie Rutt (Jamestown College), 1:28
5th - Tessa Ma (Simon Fraser University) dec. Chloe Ivanoff (Simon Fraser University), 1-0, 1-1

55 kg/121 lbs.
1st - Helen Maroulis (Simon Fraser University) dec. Michaela Hutchison (Oklahoma City University), 7-1, 1-2, 2-1
3rd - Shauna Isbel (Lindenwood University) dec. Rachel Pike (Missouri Valley College), 2-0, 2-0
5th - Hanna Martin (King College) dec. Kayla Bartosch (King College), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0

59 kg/130 lbs.
1st - Ashley Hudson (Oklahoma City University) dec. Cianah Hee (University of Cumberlands), 1-0, 3-1
3rd - Sheila McCabe (Oklahoma City University) pin Laura Gordon (Simon Fraser University), 3:38
5th - Haylee Childs (King College) pin Tanya Kusse (Lindenwood University), 2-4, 1:28

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
1st - Danielle Lappage (Simon Fraser University) dec. Alli Ragan (King College), 5-0, 9-2
3rd - Tessa Plana (Oklahoma City University) pin Lauren Louive (University of Cumberlands), 2:22
5th - Amberle Montgomery (Oklahoma City University) dec. Stephanie Geltmacher (Yakima Valley), 2-1, 5-1

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
1st - Kristie Davis (Oklahoma City University) tech. fall Christen Paysse (University of Cumberlands), 6-0, 6-0
3rd - Brittany Roberts (Oklahoma City University) dec. Michelle Quilles (Jamestown College), 2-0, 1-0
5th - Jenna McLatchy (Simon Fraser University) pin Brittany David (Lindenwood University) (Pin 5-6,5-0,1:31)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1st - Mei Ling Keiki (Missouri Baptist University) dec. Kendra Lewis (Lindenwood University), 5-0, 4-0
3rd - Melissa Simmons (Oklahoma City University) pin Justina DiStasio (Simon Fraser University), 6-0, 1:18
5th - Brittany Jones (Missouri Valley College) dec. Taylor Dick (Simon Fraser University), 3-0, 2-0

80 kg/176 lbs.
1st - Brittany Delgado (Oklahoma City University) pin Leya-Justina Luafalemana (Jamestown College). 4-0, 1:04
3rd - Brittany Caoile (Menlo College) pin Venus Barron (Missouri Valley College), 1-0, 1:38
5th - Chelsey Fleming (Jamestown College) pin Lisa Tinney (University of Cumberlands), 0-4, 0:58

90 kg/198 lbs.
1st - Marina Lambert (King College) pin Hillary Greening (Simon Fraser University), 1:46
3rd - Jamie Moore (Jamestown College) pin Lakia Henderson (University of Cumberlands), 1-0, 1:54
5th - Karon Scott (Oklahoma City University) dec. Amanda Athon (Jamestown College), 0-3, 1-0, 3-0

Team Standings
1.  Oklahoma City University, 117
2.  Simon Fraser University, 96
3.  University of Cumberlands, 66
4.  King College, 57 
5.  Jamestown College, 40 
6.  Lindenwood University, 30
7.  Missouri Valley College, 22
8.  Menlo College, 16
9.  Missouri Baptist University, 16.
10.  Northern Michigan USEOEC, 12
11.  Yakima Valley, 3
12.  San Jose State University, 0
13.  University of Regina, 0 
14.  Wayland Baptist University, 0