Vang, Rodriguez Win Titles for Women's Wrestling

Doane Women's Wrestling traveled to Arizona for a Friday competition as they competed in the Embry-Riddle Mile High Open. Tiger wrestlers picked up 18 victories on the day with two champions crowned.

Karina Vang and Cristelle Rodriguez brought home championships for the Tigers as both wrestlers went 3-0 on the day. This is the first college title for Vang and second for Rodriguez.

Vang opened the day at 109 with a pin of Aphrodite Ayala of Simpson (Calif.) in 1:46 in the quarterfinal round. In her semifinal match, Vang defeated Jennifer Alcott of Ottawa (Ariz.) by tech fall, 10-0. In the championship match, Vang ran into a tough opponent in Hermelinda Mendoza of Ottawa (Ariz.). Mendoza jumped out to a 10-2 lead before Vang came back with a takedown that turned into a pin in 2:18.

Rodriguez, wrestling at 123, set the mark for the program with a 31-second pin in her opening match over Emma Child of Snow (Utah). She held a 6-0 advantage before the pin was awarded. Rodriguez followed with a pair of 10-0 tech fall wins over Vanguard (Calif.) teammates, Nevaeh Chambers and River Todd.

Brooke Cox went 3-1 at 109 to take third place. She opened the day by pinning Norma Can of Vanguard (Calif.) in 5:12. After dropping her semifinal match to Mendoza, Cox bounced back with a 7-1 decision over Ayala and a 10-0 tech fall win over Alcott.

In the 116 division, Savannah Smith went 3-2 on the day to place fourth. She dropped her opening match but rebounded with three straight wins. She defeated Jade Cabrera of Vanguard (Calif.) by an 11-2 decision and Lianny Barrena of Snow (Utah) by a 10-0 tech fall. She earned a pin in her last victory, defeating Daniela Suttles of Grand Canyon (Ariz.) in 1:24.

Andrea Jones went 1-3 at 143 with her win coming by pin over Katherine Cuellar of Ottawa (Ariz.) in 1:54.

Taking second place at 191 was Jessica Villanueva as she went 2-1 on the day. She opened with a 10-0 tech fall win over Audrey Gribble of Snow (Utah). In the semifinals, she defeated teammate Victoria Hernandez by pin in 0:36. Villanueva dropped the championship match 14-2 to Lily El-asri of Vanguard (Calif.).

Kenisha Jacsaint took third place at 191 for the Tigers. She opened with a 12-0 tech fall win over Tayleigh Robertson of Snow (Utah). Jacsaint dropped her semifinal match to El-asri before coming back with an 11-0 tech fall win over Gribble. In the final match, she defeated Nya Seiuli of Snow by tech fall, 19-8.

Next up for the Tigers will be the Missouri Valley Open on November 18-19 in Marshall, Mo.