UM-MORRIS WOMEN WRESTLERS DEFEAT CUMBERLAND COLLEGE 25-8 IN DUAL MEET ACTION    Meadville, PA - The University of Minnesota-Morris women's wrestling program opened up the 2001-2002 wrestling campaign with a dual meet win 25-8 over Cumberland College (KY) in Meadville, PA.  The Cougar women won five of seven matches to keep alive a dual meet winning streak that is now six years old.    Freshman Liz Short (Lombard, IL) opened up the season with a fall in 3:58 versus Leah Popolizio.  Short, wrestling at 101 pounds dominated the match building a 10-1 lead before ending the match with a fall.    Katrina Betts (Milan, MI) scored a fast 0:17 fall versus Barbara Crouse also in the 101 pound weight class.  Betts threw a head and arm takedown, putting Crouse to her back quickly for the pin.  The Cougars now led the dual 10-0.    At 112 pounds, freshman Patrice Crenshaw (East Point, GA) won a 8-3 decision versus Sara Hayes.  Crenshaw scored three points in the first period with three takedowns to lead 3-0.  In the second period, Hayes tied up the scored at 3-3 with a takedown and an exposure.  Crenshaw then came back with a one-point takedown and a three point takedown directly to Hayes back earning a hold down to make the score 8-3.  UMM now led 13-1.    At 123 pounds, sophomore Katie Ross (Greensboro, NC) dropped a 14-4 technical superiority to Jessica Shirley.  Shirley's win closed the gap to 14-5.     Peggy Van De Mark (Kimball, MN) took a forfeit at 136 pounds.  The win gave UMM a 19-5 lead.    Senior Katie Downing (Pendleton, IN) met arch-rival Tocarra Montgomery at 149 pounds.  Montgomery will be representing the United States in the 2001 World Championship in Bulgaria in December, and Downing is the alternate. Downing and Montgomery have battled it out numerous times in the last two seasons.    Downing opened up the scoring with a one-point takedown, then Montgomery reeled off seven straight points to build a 7-1 lead after the first three minute period.  Downing looked strong to the fatigued Montgomery.  Downing hit a three-point takedown which looked close to many in attendance as a touch fall, then scored two more, one-point takedowns to make the score 7-6. Downing just ran out of time.  Montgomery's win made the score 20-8 in favor of UM-Morris.    In the last match of the dual, junior Samantha Branka (Lincoln Park, MI) scored two, three-point takedowns, and a hold down in the danger position before pinning Issa Alverez in just 44 seconds.  Branka looked strong and focused in the win.  The victory gave UMM a 25-8 team win.    "We looked pretty good tonight," said head coach Doug Reese.  "We were pretty tight and nervous coming in.  Although we won we could have wrestled much better.  Tonight we just got our feet wet.  Tomorrow (at the Keystone Open) I hope we dive in."    "This was a long trip - 1100 miles one way for us, the team is learning what mental toughness is all about.  It was a good experience, this is a good time to evaluate, make corrections, then get back after it.  This is a talented team, we are only going to get better," noted Reese.    UM-MORRIS WOMEN WRESTLERS CLAIM KEYSTONE OPEN TITLE WITH THREE CHAMPIONS AND 7 PLACEWINNERS    Samantha Branka Named Most Outstanding Wrestler.    Meadville, PA - University of Minnesota-Morris junior Samantha Branka (Lincoln Park, MI) had a career weekend in Pennsylvania on October 12-13th. Branka had a dual meet win by fall over Issa Alverez of Cumberland College in 0:44, won both the senior and junior divisions in the Keystone Women's Open, went 7-0 with four falls, and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler.    Branka won by fall in 2:06 versus Rachel Goglowski of Messiah College, won by fall in 1:47 versus Emily Barna of Messiah College, defeated teammate Alicia Wilson by technical superiority 13-2, won by technical fall versus Junita Russell of TNT wrestling club 14-3, and pinned Issa Alverez of Cumberland College in 1:00.  For her outstanding efforts, Branka was cited as the Most Outstanding Wrestler in the Women's Keystone Open.  This is the fourth year in a row a UMM wrestler has won the honor.  In 2000 and 1999 Katie Downing was named OW, and in 1998 Tina George was honored.    "I am very proud of Sam," said head coach Doug Reese.  "She has worked very hard during the last three years to improve.  She has been in the shadows behind some very good wrestlers on our team.  I was very proud of her efforts.  This is the first tournament championship for her, and this won't be her last either.  She had an awesome weekend."    Freshman Katrina Betts (Milan, MI) won champions honors in the 101 pound weight class.  Betts earned falls in all three of her matches.  Betts pinned Leah Poplizio of Cumberland College in 0:28, Barbara Crouse of Cumberland College in 0:40, and Becky D'Ambrosia of Cumberland College in 1:16.    Freshman Patrice Crenshaw (East Point, GA) won the 112 pound division. Crenshaw captured her lone fall in 0:28 versus Leanna Betts.    Katie Downing (Pendleton, IN) placed second at 149 pounds.  The finals once again this year came down to Downing versus Tocarra Montgomery.  Montgomery is the 2001 World Team member who will be representing the United States in the world championships in Bulgaria in December. Downing is the alternate. These match ups have been battles.  On Friday night Montgomery pulled out a controversial decision 7-6, this time going into the final seconds, Montgomery held a slim 3-2 lead.  Downing looking for the big play tried to score off a throw and was countered giving Montgomery a 6-2 win.    Peggy Van De Mark (Kimball, MN) placed third at 136 pounds.  Van De Mark lost her opening match to Jimi Dawn Hornbuckle of the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club 13-2.  Hornbuckle is a former US National Team member and a member of the 1999 Pan Am Championship team.  Van De Mark came back to score wins over Stephanie Craft of Messiah College with a fall in 0:30, and over Heidi Bixler of Messiah College by a fall in 1:56.    Katie Ross (Greensboro, NC) placed fourth at 123 pounds, and freshman Liz Short (Lombard, IL) placed fourth at 101 pounds.  Freshman Lisa Neuburger (Plymouth, MN) looked tough going 1-0 in the 123 pound weight division before being removed from the tournament with an injury.    "We lost to some very good wrestlers today, but in some cases we did not wrestle up to our potential," noted head coach Doug Reese.    "Freestyle wrestling is new to many members of the team, but I did not see the aggressiveness that I see in practice.  Some athletes are holding back -fear, lack of confidence is something we need to work on.  All in all we had a good performance.  It is nice to win a tournament, but I saw a lot of technical things we need to work on in the next week," said Reese.  "We just need to strive to get better every time we are on the mat."    The Cougars will dual the women's wrestling team from the University of Regina on Saturday, October 20 in the UMM P.E. Center.  Admission is free and wrestling will begin at 7:00 pm.