Takedown Report

Women’s Wrestling News (2021) – # 6

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Focusing on college results for this group of women’s wrestling stories. Some polls, some regular season results and a look at post season championship opportunities. Keep on Wrestling!
E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – THIS WEEK’S WOMEN’S COLLEGE SCHEDULE, LISTED BY DAY; THE POST-SEASON BEGINS THIS WEEKEND!!
It seems like the college season just started. Time sure flies by during a pandemic. This week marks the beginning of the post-season for college programs at the NCAA level, as well as the NAIA level. The week starts out with a few dual meets, with NAIA No. 14 York hosting Otttawa and Central Christian on Tuesday, and a pair of NAIA ranked teams battling in a Tuesday dual meet, with No. 9 Midland and No. 19 William Penn doing battle. There are a few other NAIA duals this week. None of the NCAA women’s programs are competing during the week, because this weekend will be the four regional events which set the field for the NCWWC Nationals. On Saturday, the Northeast Qualifier is at Gannon. On Sunday, the Southeast Qualifier is at Emmanuel, the Southwest Qualifier at McKendree and the Northwest Qualifier at UW-Stevens Point. The top four athletes in each weight class will advance to the NCWWC national event at Tiffin on March 6. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/February/16/Womens-wrestling-schedule-for-this-week?mc_cid=83f6447486&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

2 } – Saints Suffer Setback at Hands of Blue Hose
GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Limestone University women’s wrestling team continued their trek through the 2021 season as they played host to the Blue Hose of Presbyterian College on Friday, January 22.  Presbyterian proved to be victorious at the end of the night as they were able to take home victories in all but on match on the day taking home the 17-5 win over the Blue and Gold. The first match of the night was at 116 lbs. where Limestone’s freshman Taqwai Seburn (Warner Robins, Ga.) fell in the first period before her freshman counterpart Caroline Schmitt (Orlando, Fla.) dropped a 10-0 tech-fall to Presbyterian’s Jaslynn Gallegos to give the Blue Hose a 9-0 lead. However, the next match would fall in the favor of the Saints as junior Gabriela Ramos-Diaz (Catano, Puerto Rico) made her debut for the Saints in dominating fashion as she was able to pick up a pin in just 1:08 at 130 lbs. over Hannah McElroy to bring the match score back to 9-5. The Blue Hose were able to string together a pair of tech-falls in the last two bouts of the match to bring the final margin out to 17-5. … rest of story at _{^{https://golimestonesaints.com/news/2021/1/22/womens-wrestling-saints-suffer-setback-at-hands-of-blue-hose.aspx?mc_cid=63515b3c44&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

3 } – Interview with Tucker Black, William Penn Womens Wrestling Coach
By G. Wyatt Schultz for The Predicament
An interview with Tucker Black of William Penn. Talks about the new program, recruiting, competition and more. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.thepredicament.com/2021/01/interview-with-tucker-black-william-penn-womens-wrestling-coach/?mc_cid=bf1f14c6db&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

4 } – DOMINANT PERFORMANCE BY DUTY AWARDS HER NAIA WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Kansas City, MO – Cumberlands wrestling earns back-to-back weeks of NAIA Wrestler of Week awards, announced by the national office. After a perfect 4-0 weekend Bridgette Duty takes home the honor this week after Jaine Stephens won the award a week ago. UC is the first team to have two wrestlers from the same team win the honor this year. This is the fifth time a Cumberlands wrestler has earned the award, the most by any program in the NAIA. Duty has also won the award twice in her career. “I have been very impressed with how much Bridgette keeps improving. People watch her and, the God gifted talent is evident but, behind the scenes you see one of the hardest working most dedicated athletes I’ve ever coached, ” said Head Coach Donnie Stephens, “Bridgette has a legitimate chance to win a national championship in any of the three weight classes she chooses to wrestle post season. It’s an honor to win NAIA Wrestler of the Week and Bridgette has earned it!” On Friday #5 Life hosted #7 Cumberlands in a Mid-South Conference dual. … rest of story at _{^{https://cumberlandspatriots.com/news/2021/1/27/womens-wrestling-dominant-performance-by-duty-awards-her-naia-wrestler-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=bf1f14c6db&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

5 } – 2020-21 NAIA Women’s Wrestling Coaches’ Poll – No. 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In the second poll of 2020-21 season, Life (Ga.) claimed the No. 1 spot in the latest edition of the 2020-21 Women’s Wrestling Coaches Top 20 Poll. Campbellsville (Ky.), Wayland Baptist, Grand View (Iowa) and Southern Oregon rounded out the top five.
Poll Methodology : The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the eight conferences.
Two days prior to the national poll, … rest of story at _{^{https://www.naia.org/sports/wwrest/2020-21/Releases/WWrest-Poll2?mc_cid=8a92ee7e2c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND NCAA WOMEN’S Regular Season Poll #1
Manheim, PA – With the announcement that Preseason #1 Simon Fraser University will not be competing in NCAA competition for the Spring Semester, the top spot for the tournament team rankings now goes to McKendree University who slides up from #2 in the NWCA Coaches Poll for NCAA Women released on Wednesday. McKendree leads the way by claiming half of the ten #1 spots; Felicity Taylor (116), Camerin Guerin (130),  Emma Bruntil (136), Alara Boyd (143), and Sydnee Kimber (191). King University is the only other school to have multiple athletes ranked #1 with Jaclyn McNichols (101) and Cheyenne Sisenstein (123). Other schools with top-ranked athletes are Augsburg University, Emmanuel College, and North Central College. … rest of story and rankings at _{^{http://www.nwcaonline.com/ncaa-womens-regular-season-poll-1/?mc_cid=653cd27934&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

6 } – Beat the Streets to Celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day
February 3, 2021, marks the 35th Annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). This year, Beat the Streets Wrestling is hosting a virtual event to help “unite Beat the Streets communities, increase awareness of equity in sport and to meet new role models.” Guest speakers include Olympian Randi Miller and World Champion Tamyra Mensah-Stock. Details and registration information can be found in the press release below.   Beat the Streets Wrestling will celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day on February 3rd at 4:30pm EST!  This year our virtual celebration … rest of story at _{^{https://www.transitionwrestling.com/beat-the-streets-to-celebrate-national-girls-women-in-sports-day/?mc_cid=ad9f03475a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

7 } – NJCU Women’s Wrestling Featured by CBS2 New York in Historic Segment
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — In a milestone moment for one of the newest varsity athletic programs at New Jersey City University, the Gothic Knights women’s wrestling program was featured by CBS2 New York at the tail end of the station’s 5:00 p.m. evening news last night, Thursday, Jan. 28. The interview, conducted by CBS2 sportscaster Steve Overmyer, featured many brilliant angles of NJCU’s brand new wrestling room as well as countless shots of NJCU women’s wrestlers in action. Overmyer also spoke at length with team captain, freshman Sandra Guerrero (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) — the defending New Jersey high school girls state champion — as well as head coach Elena Pirozhkova — a former world champion and two-time Olympian — and associate vice president/director of athletics Shawn Tucker. NJCU announced the addition of men’s and women’s wrestling as a varsity sports prior to the 2019-20 academic year, with 2020-21 slated as the program’s first year of competition. Shortly after the Gothic Knights’ announcement, the NCAA officially recognized women’s wrestling as an emerging sport. … rest of story at _{^{https://njcugothicknights.com/news/2021/1/29/njcu-womens-wrestling-featured-by-cbs2-new-york-in-historic-segment.aspx}}

8 } – Kiiler Stephens promoted to head wrestling coach
Wayland Baptist assistant wrestling coach Kiiler Stephens has been promoted to head wrestling coach for both the men’s and women’s programs. Stephens, the third head coach in the 11-year history of the program, replaces Aaron Meister, who accepted a similar position at Friends University in his home state of Kansas. Meister had been with the WBU wrestling program since the beginning in 2010, first serving as assistant coach under Johnny Cobb then becoming head coach when Cobb retired prior to the 2014-15 season. Now the job belongs to Stephens, who joined the Pioneers as an assistant this past August. In that short time, he has made a favorable impression on many at Wayland, including athletics director Rick Cooper. “We’re very excited to have such a quality man and successful coach as Kiiler on staff and ready to step into that role,” Cooper said. “He has a lot of people who think very highly of him as a mentor coach and leader. “He and (assistant) Coach (Glenn) Gray will make an excellent team of coaches moving forward.” Stephens is looking forward to leading the Pioneers’ program…. rest of story at _{^{https://wbuathletics.com/news/2021/1/20/-1-womens-wrestling-kiiler-stephens-promoted-to-head-wrestlng-coach.aspx?mc_cid=36a2e0aa41&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

9} – Bearcats Remain Undefeated after Going 2-0 in North Central Duals
(NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Jan. 31) – The No.1 McKendree University women’s wrestling team competed in a double dual afternoon, at the North Central Duals Sunday afternoon. The Bearcats went undefeated over University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (UWSP) and No.4 North Central College, and improve to 5-0. Due to transportation troubles, No.1 McKendree only competed against two other programs in the North Central Duals. Sam Schmitz‘s first competition of the afternoon was against UW-Stevens Point, taking eight of the 10 weight classes. The Bearcats had four of the victories come by pin in the 109-lb, 130-lb, 136-lb and 155-lb classes. They would add on two more victories by decision for the 38-8 win. … rest of story at _{^{https://mckbearcats.com/news/2021/1/31/womens-wrestling-bearcats-remain-undefeated-after-going-2-0-in-north-central-duals.aspx?mc_cid=8755157a86&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

10 } – COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S COACHES DEVELOP FIRST INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM RANKINGS, WITH GRAYS HARBOR AT NO. 1
A group of coaches of women’s wrestling programs at the community college level has provided information that was developed into the first Community College women’s wrestling rankings. Both individual and team rankings were included in this inaugural ranking for two-year schools. There were 14 teams included in the team ranking, with Grays Harbor College from Washington state coming in at No. 1. Rounding out the top five were No. 2 Big Bend CC (WA), No. 3 Indian Hills CC (IA), No. 4 Umpqua CC (OR), and No. 5 Southwestern Oregon CC (OR). Teams from seven different states are included in the team ranking. Athletes were ranked in each of 11 weight classes used in women’s college wrestling. Grays Harbor has the most No. 1 ranked athletes with three, Tatum Pine (123), Kamila Montenegro (170) and Sila Fotu (191). Plans are being formed to host the first Community College women’s wrestling national tournament later in 2021. In December, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) gave women’s wrestling its Emerging Sport Status, which should help increase the number of teams in the future. … rest of story and full rankings at _{^{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/January/29/Community-College-womens-wrestling-rankings?mc_cid=ad9f03475a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

11 } – #7 Colorado Mesa Mavericks win big in lone home dual
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa women’s wrestling team won four of the six contested bouts in the dual in a 31-9 win over Schreiner University on Saturday afternoon in Brownson Arena. It was the lone home dual of the season for Colorado Mesa as they improve to 3-1 all-time in duals in their home gym. Redshirt sophomore Marissa Gallegos earned the Mavericks first contested win of the afternoon with a 39 second pin of Kya Battle at 123 pounds. Gallegos, ranked No. 3 at 123 pounds, gave the Mavericks a 10-4 lead in the dual. Holly Beaudoin kept the Maverick streak of wins going with a 10-0 technical fall win over Karina De La Torre at 130 pounds to make it 14-4. Second-ranked Dalia Garibay picked up a 12-0 technical fall win Sofia De Leon at 136 pounds. It was the National Runner-up’s first match of the season and gave the Mavericks a 18-4 lead in the dual. … rest of story at _{^{https://cmumavericks.com/news/2021/1/30/womens-wrestling-7-mavericks-win-big-in-lone-home-dual.aspx?mc_cid=f12b64bb83&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}

12 } – CLIFF KEEN NATIONAL COLLEGIATE WOMEN’S WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR TIFFIN ON MARCH 6, WITH FOUR REGIONAL QUALIFIERS, FEBRUARY 20-21
Women’s wrestling postseason set for NCAA programs
The Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Coalition has announced the 2021 postseason schedule for the NCAA women’s wrestling programs, including the site and dates for the annual national championships, as well as four regional qualifiers which determine the national field. The Cliff Keen National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC) will be hosted by Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio on Saturday, March 6.. This will be the second annual national championships event for NCAA programs. Each of the 10 women’s college weight classes will have 16 participants, with four wrestlers advancing to the national tournament from each of four regional qualifiers. This will be the first year in which there will be a regional qualification system for the competition. All-American awards will be given to the top eight placewinners in each weight class. Team Awards will be given to the top four teams. … rest of story at _{^{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/February/03/NCAA-women-post-season-announced?mc_cid=653cd27934&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}}
AND By Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Coalition at http://www.nwcaonline.com/wrestling-championships-set-for-tiffin-on-march-6-with-four-regional-qualifiers-february-20-21/?mc_cid=fca48e06b8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

February 28, 2021 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized