Grace Magnussen (Walnut Creek, Calif./Team Ichiban) won the 123-pound title and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Skyline College Invitational for Women in San Bruno, Calif., Oct. 11.Magnussen won both of her matches in the tournament, stopping runner-up Hazel Vera (San Bruno, Calif./Peninsula Grapplers) by fall in 1:38, and beating Julietta Kliford-Okot (San Bruno, Calif./Peninsula Grapplers) by a 3-1 margin.
Magnussen attends Diablo Valley College, and is currently ranked No. 5 in the United States at 123.25 pounds.
The other two champions at the tournament are considered among the best female wrestlers in the nation: Marie Ziegler (Pleasant Hills, Calif/Team Ichiban) at 112 pounds and Diana Wesendunk (Hillsborough, Calif./Peninsula Grapplers) at 132 pounds.
Zeigler won two matches in the tournament by pin, stopping Melissa Minjarez (Mustang WC) in 2:30 and Haydee Navaro (San Bruno, Calif./Peninsula Grapplers) in 1:05.
Ziegler was a World silver medalist in 1990 and 1991, and competed on four U.S. World teams. She is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation at 112.25 pounds.
Wesendunk pinned Olga Lara (Daly City, Calif./Peninsula Grapplers) in 2:24 to claim the gold medal. Lara was ranked No. 3 in the nation in the 1996-97 season.
Wesendunk has competed on three U.S. World Teams, and has won the U.S. Nationals four times. She is currently ranked No. 3 in the U.S. at 136.5 pounds.
SKYLINE COLLEGE INVITATIONAL at San Bruno, Calif., Oct. 11
Final results
112 - 1st - Marie Ziegler (Team Ichiban); 2nd - Melissa Minjarez (Mustang WC); 3rd - Haydee Navaro (Peninsula Grapplers)
123 - 1st - Grace Magnussen (Team Ichiban); 2nd - Hazel Vera (Peninsula Grapplers); 3rd - Julieta Kliford-Okot (Peninsula Grapplers)
132 - 1st - Diana Wesendunk (Peninsula Grapplers); 2nd - Olga Lara (Peninsula Grapplers)