Menlo Becomes First-Ever CCC Women's Wrestling Champion
Team Scores – 1. Menlo (Calif.) 166.5, 2. Southern Oregon 151.5, 3. Providence (Mont.) 117.5, 4. Eastern Oregon 46.5, 5. Life Pacific 26, 6. Warner Pacific 9.5
Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament – Precious Bell (170), Menlo
Coach of the Year – Joey Bareng, Menlo
Team Sportsmanship Award – Providence
ASHLAND – A near-perfect run through the finals was the cherry on top of a dominant afternoon for Menlo (Calif.), which left Lithia Motors Pavilion as the first-ever Cascade Conference women’s wrestling team champion at Sunday’s inaugural CCC Championships presented by U.S. Bank.
The Oaks – who will defend their NAIA championship with a No. 2 overall ranking – won six of the seven title matches in which they were represented and topped the team standings with 166.5 points to third-ranked Southern Oregon’s 151.5. Ninth-ranked Providence (Mont.) was third with 117.5, 13th-ranked Eastern Oregon was fourth with 46.5, and Life Pacific (Calif.) (26) and Warner Pacific (9.5) landed in fifth and sixth.
All four of Menlo’s NAIA top-ranked individuals – Alleida Martinez (109 pounds), Tiana Jackson (123), Solin Piearcy (143) and Precious Bell (170) – lived up to their billings with first-place finishes, and Bell was voted the Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament after recording a pin and two technical falls without conceding a point all day. Second-ranked Gracie Figueroa (130) also won a title for the Oaks, and sixth-ranked Angela Peralta upset fourth-ranked Julissa Taitano of SOU with a 5-4 decision for their other.
Menlo’s Joey Bareng was voted the CCC Coach of the Year, and Providence received the Team Sportsmanship Award.
The top-three placers in each weight class attained all-conference status. SOU had 10 such performers but went 1-6 in the finals to slip in the team race. Kayvette Osorio captured the Raiders’ lone championship at 191, defeating Providence’s Christine Marquez 6-3 in the last match of the tourney.
Providence was represented by a pair of champions in Iverly Navarro (101) – who was the only opponent to defeat an Oak in the finals, getting Tianna Fernandez by technical fall shutout in 32 seconds – and Tatum Sparks (155).
Jessica DeHart was victorious for Eastern Oregon, pinning SOU’s Tara Othman 2:33 into the first round of the 116 final.
The teams will compete next at the second annual NAIA National Invitational in Jamestown, N.D. Each school can take up to 12 individuals of their choice to the tournament, which will take place March 13-14.
101
1st-place Match – Iverly Navarro, Providence, tech. fall Tianna Fernandez, Menlo, 10-0 (0:32).
109
1st-place Match – Alleida Martinez, Menlo, dec. Yurie Yoneoka, Providence, 4-0.
3rd-place Match – Macie Stewart, Southern Oregon, p. Lana Hunt, Providence, 0:32.
116
1st-place Match – Jessica DeHart, Eastern Oregon, p. Tara Othman, Southern Oregon, 2:33.
3rd-place Match – Carol Johnson, Southern Oregon, dec. Alina Kinsey, Providence, 6-1.
123
1st-place Match – Tiana Jackson, Menlo, dec. Glory Konecny, Southern Oregon, 5-2.
3rd-place Match – Lizette Young, Menlo, tech. fall Nora Ochoa, Southern Oregon, 10-0 (2:19).
130
1st-place Match – Garcie Figueroa, Menlo, dec. Alana Vivas, Menlo, 5-1.
3rd-place Match – Macy Higa, Eastern Oregon, p. Anesia Ramirez, Southern Oregon, 1:48.
136
1st-place Match – Angela Peralta, Menlo, dec. Julissa Taitano, Southern Oregon, 5-4.
3rd-place Match – Shelly Avelino, Menlo, tech. fall Fatima Avalos, Life Pacific, 10-0 (1:35).
143
1st-place Match – Solin Piearcy, Menlo, tech. fall Sienna Ramirez, Southern Oregon, 10-0 (0:45).
3rd-place Match – Maria Elena Enriquez, Providence, dec. Taj Vierra, Warner Pacific, 11-4.
155
1st-place Match – Tatum Sparks, Providence, injury def. Gladdys Palma, Southern Oregon, 3:45.
3rd-place Match – Olivia Pizano, Southern Oregon, dec. Dempsi Talkington, Eastern Oregon 3-0.
170
1st-place Match – Precious Bell, Menlo, tech. fall Tristyn Borden, Southern Oregon, 10-0 (3:45).
3rd-place Match – Ivory Ayers, Providence, tech. fall Haley Flores, Life Pacific, 10-0 (1:52).
191
1st-place Match – Kayvette Osorio, Southern Oregon, dec. Christine Marquez, Providence, 6-3.