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Women's Wrestling vs. Menlo

Women's Wrestling 1/11/2020 5:35:00 PM CU Athletics

Lady Tigers finish runner-up to Menlo College at NWCA National Duals

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Wrestling in their second championship dual in three years, Lady Tiger wrestling needed a pin in the final match and couldn't get it falling to Menlo College, 22-19, in the NWCA National Dual Championship.

The second-ranked Lady Tigers suffer their first dual loss of the season but it came at the hands of the fourth-ranked program in the NAIA.

"I'm very proud of this team," said head coach Lee Miracle. "They just went out and lost a great battle to a very talented team. We are so young that, honestly, I am surprised we've developed to this point as fast as we have.

"If we continue at this pace, we will put ourselves in a good position to win a national championship."

Campbellsville and Menlo both dominated their competition coming in but this dual was even as it came. At 101, McKenzie Bacich won 12-5 over Tianna Fernandez to give the Lady Tigers a 3-1 lead.

But Menlo, the WCWA and NAIA Champions from last year, came right back at 109 as Alleida Martinez took down No. 2 McKayla Campbell will a 10-0 tech fall to earn bonus points. The Lady Tigers got them right back at 116 though. Katlyn Pizzo pinned Alexandra Christoforatos in 1:35 giving CU the 8-5 advantage.

The dual continued to go back and forth. Charlotte Fowler lost 8-0 to Tiana Jackson at 123 but Abby Netter pinned Laynee Pasion in 1:35 to put the score 13-8 in CU's favor.

But the next four matches went in favor of the Oaks. Randi Robison lost to Alana Vivas at 136 with a 9-1 decision, then it was Solin Piearcy earning a 10-0 tech fall over Mhina Oseitutu.

Menlo regained the lead 15-14 and scored seven team points in the final three matches to secure the win. Marilyn Garcia earned a hard-fought decision, 7-5, over Alexia Foca and Precious Bell, a national championship and U.S. World Team member, took down Kenya Sloan, 10-2.

In the 191 match, Alexandra Castillo had the Lady Tigers on her shoulders. Needing a pin to tie the dual at 21-all, she had three opportunities but couldn't get the hips and back of Sara Aguilar all the way to the mat. Castillo earned a 10-2 decision.

The Lady Tigers have now finished in the Top 5 each of the last three years at the NWCA National Duals. CU returns home on Wednesday, Jan. 29 to host top-ranked Life University in a Mid-South Conference dual.

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Players Mentioned

McKenzie Bacich: Senior; Stockton, Calif.

McKayla Campbell: Junior; Wauseon, Ohio

Alexandra Castillo: Sophomore; Arleta, Calif.

Alexia Foca: Junior; Hackensack, N.J.

Charlotte Fowler: Senior; Katy, Texas

Katlyn Pizzo: Junior; Madison Heights, Mich.

Kenya Sloan: Sophomore; Knoxville, Tenn.

Abby Nette: 5' 3"; Senior; St. Rose, La.

Mhina Oseitutu: 5' 5"; Freshman; Katy, Texas

Randi Robison: 5' 3"; Freshman; East Peoria, Ill.

Players Mentioned

McKenzie Bacich
: Senior; Stockton, Calif.

McKayla Campbell
: Junior; Wauseon, Ohio

Alexandra Castillo
: Sophomore; Arleta, Calif.

Alexia Foca
: Junior; Hackensack, N.J.

Charlotte Fowler
: Senior; Katy, Texas

Katlyn Pizzo
: Junior; Madison Heights, Mich.

Kenya Sloan
: Sophomore; Knoxville, Tenn.

Abby Nette
: 5' 3"; Senior; St. Rose, La.

Mhina Oseitutu
: 5' 5"; Freshman; Katy, Texas

Randi Robison
: 5' 3"; Freshman; East Peoria, Ill.