Rodriguez Named Wrestler of the Year; Five Qualify for NAIA Nationals

Women's Wrestling hosted the KCAC Championships on Saturday in Fuhrer Field House. The Tigers had one champion and four runner-up finishes on their way to a third place finish and 142.5 team points. Five wrestlers received bids to the NAIA National Championships in Jamestown, N.D., on March 8-9.

Cristelle Rodriguez repeated as the 123 division champion with a 3-0 day. She dominated her division, starting off with a win in the quarterfinals by technical fall, 10-0, in 26 seconds. In the semifinals, she won by pin in 1:42. The championship match gave her an opportunity to take on NAIA No. 4 Emily Paulino of Midland. Rodriguez picked up one takedown and then rolled Paulino four times to get a 10-0 tech fall victory in 29 seconds.

Karina Vang placed second at 101 with a 2-1 record. She opened action with a pin in 57 seconds and followed with a win in the semifinals over NAIA No. 12 Alejandra Mezano of Ottawa by pin in 3:53. In the championship, No. 5 Esther Walker was able to hold off Vang for a 7-4 decision.

In the 130 bracket, Abbie Ahrens won her opening match in 1:01 with a pin. She followed with a pin in 50 seconds to advance to the championship. Ahrens was defeated by pin in the finals at 2:09.

Aspen Barber took runner-up in the 155 division. She opened with a pin in 2:22 before knocking off NAIA No. 17 Lisa Hoeflich of Hastings by tech fall, 10-0. In the championship, No. 9 Allyssa Johnson of Jamestown won by tech fall, 10-0.

Kenisha Jacsaint took second in the 191 bracket. After winning by pin in 3:37 to begin action, she pinned NAIA No. 12 Shan Briggs of Avila in 5:06. In the semifinals, she defeated No. 3 Agatha Andrews of Jamestown by an 11-2 decision. NAIA No. 4 Lessly Sandoval of Saint Mary won the championship by decision, 8-1.

Three Tigers earned fifth place in the tournament. Kimberly Navarrete went 2-2 at 101 with her two losses coming to Top 20 ranked opponents. In her two wins, she posted pins at 1:47 and 1:33. Bridgette Sotomayor was 3-2 on the day at 136 with her two losses coming to Top 20 opponents. She had two wins by pin in 44 seconds and 2:09 with a tech fall win, 10-0, in the final match. Lamia Benn was 3-2 in the 170 bracket. She recorded two wins by tech fall (15-4, 10-0) and won 6-4 in the final match.

Brianna Membreno and Andrea Jones tied for seventh at 143. Membreno went 2-2 with a win by decision (6-4) and one by pin (3:53). Jones went 1-2, winning by tech fall. Matches for seventh place were not contested.

Kalli Sutton went 2-2 with all her matches decided by pin. Her two wins came at 2:17 and 1:42. Hailey Romero went 1-2 with a win by pin in 1:57.

Earning First Team All-KCAC honors are Rodriguez, Vang, Ahrens, Barber, and Jacsaint. Receiving honorable mention recognition are Navarrete, Sotomayor, and Benn.

Tigers qualifying for nationals with automatic bids were Vang, Rodriguez, Sotomayor, Barber, and Jacsaint.