Al Case, Ashland Daily Photo.
No. 2 Menlo tops SOU, 32-12
SOU Sports Information
ASHLAND – Southern Oregon's All-American pair of Ramirez sisters and Kyleigh Lopez ignited the Lithia Motors Pavilion crowd, but defending NAIA and WCWA champion Menlo (Calif.) held the Raiders in check elsewhere in the lineup for a 32-12 dual victory on Thursday night.
The second-ranked Oaks won seven of 10 matches – four of which handled by top-ranked wrestlers in their weight respective classes – in their first outing of the season.
They led 13-1 after the first three contests before Lopez brought the ninth-ranked Raiders back to life in the 123-pound match. Lopez, a highly-touted freshman from North Medford High, needed just over two minutes to finish off a 12-2 technical fall against Alana Vivas.
Anesia Ramirez, a 22-match winner last year, ran with that momentum and blanked Taryn Ichimura 10-0 for a first-round technical fall at 130 that made the score 14-9. SOU's Mya Waechtler nearly cut further into the lead with a strong effort at 136, but lost an 8-3 first-period advantage and was eventually pinned with nine seconds to go in the second.
Two-time All-American Sienna Ramirez picked up SOU's final victory at 155, an 8-0 decision over Marlene Salinas.
Two of Menlo's top-ranked individuals, Precious Bell (170) and Gracie Figuero (116), won by fall. Its others in action, Alleida Martinez (109) and Solin Piearcy (143) won with tech-fall shutouts.
The Raiders (1-1) will travel to Forest Grove for Sunday's Pacific Open. Their next dual is slated for Nov. 15 at Warner Pacific.
MENLO 32, SOUTHERN OREGON 12
101 – Tiana Fernandez, Menlo, tech. fall Karly Scott, 12-2. (4-1)
109 – Alleida Martinez, Menlo, tech. fall Macie Stewart, 10-0. (8-1)
116 – Gracie Fieguero, Menlo, p. Carol Johnson, 1:17. (13-1)
123 – Kyleigh Lopez, SOU, tech. fall Alana Vivas, 12-2. (14-5)
130 – Anesia Ramirez, SOU, tech. fall Taryn Ichimura, 10-0. (14-9)
136 – Lizette Young, Menlo, p. Mya Waechtler, 5:51. (19-9)
143 – Solin Piearcy, Menlo, tech. fall Julissa Taitano, 10-0. (23-9)
155 – Sienna Ramirez, SOU, dec. Marlene Salinas, 8-0. (23-12)
170 – Precious Bell, Menlo, p. Olivia Pizano, 1:49. (28-12)
191 – Sara Aguilar, Menlo, tech. fall Taea Regua, 10-0. (32-12)