Thunder Bay, Ontario - The University of Minnesota-Morris women's wrestling team posted another strong performance claiming championship team honors at the Gord Garvie Memorial Wrestling Festival host by Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.     The Cougars posted four individual champions with Katrina Betts, Keli Hinton, Katie Downing and Samantha Branka.    UM-Morris who is ranked sixth in the most recent TheMat.com North American Collegiate Women's Wrestling Polls, topped both number two ranked Brock University and number seventh ranked Lakehead University in the final team standings.    UM-Morris placed first in the tournament with 44 team points followed by Lakehead University with 39 points, and Brock University with 26 points.    Freshman Katrina Betts (Milan, MI) posted a three wins in the 48 kilos/105 pound weight class.  Betts opened the tournament with a fall in 1:00 versus Destiny Hodgins of the University of Regina, then won a 10-0 technical superiority over Jenny Andress of Lakehead University.  In the finals, Betts faced teammate Liz Short and won by fall 1:49.    Freshman Keli Hinton (Andover, KS) posted her second consecutive championship at 53 kilos/116 pounds.  Hinton defeated teammate Lisa Neuburger by fall in 0:22, then downed Michelle Gorie of Lakehead University with a fall in just 0:26 in the round robin pool competition.    World Cup Champion Katie Downing (Pendleton, IN) celebrated her 22nd birthday with her third Gord Garvie championship in her career.  In the 65 kilo/143 pound weight class Downing made quick work of Heather Pollack of Lakehead University with a fall in 34 seconds.  In the semi-finals, Downing barely broke a sweat in putting away Abbey Weber of the University of Regina with a fall in 10 seconds.  In the finals, Downing faced Meg Dolan of Brock University.  Downing had a battle in the Sunkist International Open in October with Dolan winning a hard fought match 3-0.  Downing once again won the battle, winning 3-1 to claim her 11th tournament championship in her collegiate career.    Junior Samantha Branka (Lincoln Park, MI) won her third individual title of the season at the Gord Garvie.  Branka competed in the 70 kilo/154 pound weight division.  Branka who wrestled the tournament with torn rib cartilage showed her mental toughness in the event.  Branka opened up the first round with a fall in 2:32 versus Alicia Brown of the University of Regina.  Branka then defeated a very tough opponent in Laura Jones of Brock University 9-4. In the semi finals Branka won by fall in 29 seconds versus Stacy Richards of the Soo Wrestling Club.  Branka won by injury default against Lulu Burszytyn of McMasters University, when Burszytyn could not continue wrestling due to a shoulder injury.    Liz Short (Lombard, IL) placed second at 48 kilos/105 pounds.  Short won by technical superiority versus Jen Andress of Lakehead University 11-0, and recorded another technical superiority over Destiny Hodgins of the University of Regina 10-0.  Lisa Neuburger (Plymouth, MN) placed 2nd at 53 kilos/116 pounds winning an impressive 14-2 technical superiority versus Michelle Gorie of Lakehead University.    Katie Ross (Greensboro, NC) placed 4th at 57 kilos/129 pounds and Alicia Wilson (Santee, CA) placed 4th at 77 kilos/169 pounds.     "Coming into this week I wasn't even sure we should be wrestling," said UM-Morris head coach Doug Reese.  "We had a month off of competition, and when we came off Christmas break everyone was sick or battling some injuries.  The team impressed me with their heart.    "Everyone on the team took a step forward.  It wasn't until the ride home that we realized that we defeated the number two-ranked team in North America in Brock University.  I am impressed so much with their effort, this is a great team to coach," said Reese.    The UM-Morris women will continue training before competing in their next event on January 26th at the Missouri Valley International Open, in Marshall, MO.