FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Taking on five ranked teams, the 10
th-ranked Wayland Baptist's women wrestlers lost just once – technically – but had to settle for seventh place at the NWCA Women's National Duals held here Friday and Saturday.
"The location of the losses is what hurt us," WBU assistant coach
Matt Oney said.
Oney said "losses" since, in reality, the Pioneers were defeated twice, but only after coming up short on a seldom-used tie-breaker criterion.
After defeating No. 11 Missouri Valley, 24-22, and No. 16 Life (Ga.), 30-14, but falling to No. 2 Oklahoma City, 33-11, on Friday, Wayland on Saturday faced two tough teams from Missouri. First, the Pioneers tied No. 3 Lindenwood, 21-21, although Lindenwood – based on what Oney said was the "fifth or sixth" tie-breaker criteria – advanced to wrestle for fifth place, while Wayland moved on to the seventh-place dual against No. 9 Missouri Baptist. The Pioneers prevailed, 27-21.
"Generally speaking, we under-performed relative to our potential and ability," Oney said. "There were opportunities for us to score more points and perform at a higher level, and we didn't take advantage of those."
Two wrestlers who wrestled extremely well were
Tam Tillman and
Nahiela Magee, both of whom became eligible to compete for Wayland at the semester. Tillman and Magee were the Pioneers' feature performers as they both won all five of their matches.
"They are very talented and wrestled well," Oney said of the pair. "They are good wrestlers and they're beating good wrestlers."
In the 123s, Tillman won twice by technical fall and three times by decision, while Magee recorded two technical fall victories, a pin, a decision and a forfeit.
"We have a lot of high hopes and high expectations for them, and several other girls," Oney said.
Against Lindenwood, Wayland won six of the 10 matches, but was hurt by a forfeit in 143s and a disqualification in 191s by
Kierra Boyce due to "fleeing the hold," according to Oney.
Against Missouri Baptist, WBU also won six matches, including a pin by Boyce in 191s. Meanwhile,
Tarkyia Mensah, competing in the 130s, recorded a pair of 10-0 technical falls.
"It was an exciting event," Oney said. "Every wrestling division was there except for NCAA Division I, so there were thousands of men's and women's wrestlers in an enormous facility."
Wayland (9-8-1) returns to the mat on Thursday in a dual at Colby Community College (Kan.), and Oney said his team is looking forward to the remainder of the season, including WCWA Nationals on Feb. 13-15 in St. Louis.
"There are opportunities out there for these girls, and that's why we practice every day, to work to get better."
NWCA Women's National Duals
No. 3 Lindenwood (Mo.) 21, No. 10 Wayland Baptist 21
101:
Vanessa Smith (Wayland) over unknown (unattached), forfeit; WBU leads 5-0
109:
Michele Guerrero (Wayland) over Andrey Diaz (Lindenwood), dec. 8-0; WBU leads 8-0
116:
Jesse Von Behren (Wayland) over Hannah Padilla (Lindenwood), dec. 2-2; WBU leads 11-1
123:
Tam Tillman (Wayland) over Diaysha Moore (Lindenwood), dec. 5-5; WBU leads 14-2
130:
Tarkyia Mensah (Wayland) over Rachel Factora (Lindenwood), TF 10-0; WBU leads 18-2
136: Monica Ramirez (Lindenwood) over
Jordan Smith (Wayland), TF 10-0; WBU leads 18-6
143: Angelina Fabbri (Lindenwood) over unknown (unattached), forfeit; WBU leads 18-11
155: Lisa Gonzalez (Lindenwood) over
Rhina Lopez (Wayland), TF 10-0; WBU leads 18-15
170:
Nahiela Magee (Wayland) over Anna McAleavey (Lindenwood), dec. 13-12; WBU leads 21-16
191: Mikayla Mathews (Lindenwood) over
Kierra Boyce (Wayland) DQ; match tied 21-21 (Lindenwood declared winner)
No. 10 Wayland Baptist 27, No. 8 Missouri Baptist 21
101:
Vanessa Smith (Wayland) over unknown (unattached), forfeit; WBU leads 5-0
109:
Michele Guerrero (Wayland) over unknown (unattached), forfeit; WBU leads 10-0
116: Marylou Martinez (Missouri Baptist) over
Mayra Franco (Wayland), fall 1:06; WBU leads 10-5
123:
Tam Tillman (Wayland) over Montana Drum (Missouri Baptist), dec. 11-4; WBU leads 13-6
130: Bree Rapoza (Missouri Baptist) over
Jordan Smith (Wayland) inj. 1:32; WBU leads 13-11
136:
Tarkyia Mensah (Wayland Baptist) over Sarah Bolinger (Missouri Baptist) TF 10-0; WBU leads 17-11
143: Lindsay Villarmia (Missouri Baptist) over unknown (unattached), forfeit; WBU leads 17-16
155: Cheyenne Youngblood (Missouri Baptist) over
Rhina Lopez (Wayland) fall 1:52, MBU leads 21-17
170:
Nahiela Magee (Wayland) over unknown (unattached) forfeit; WBU leads 22-21
191:
Kierra Boyce (Wayland) over Kassandra Castruita (Missouri Baptist) fall 3:41; WBU wins 27-21
