ASHLAND – A convincing 29-11 dual win over Menlo (Calif.) represented a major breakthrough for the Southern Oregon women's wrestling team on Thursday night at Riehm Arena.
The No. 3-ranked Raiders, competing on their home mat for the first time in 20 months, had never defeated the No. 9-ranked Oaks in 10 previous dual matchups from 2015-20. They had few issues on their 11th try, claiming victories in seven of the final nine contests against their Cascade Conference rivals.
After Menlo's Tianna Fernandez opened with a win by decision in the 101-pound match, freshman Emma Baertlein started a five-match run for the Raiders that eventually made the score 21-3 with her pin of Nalani Kirkman in 1:18.
Emily Se (136) ended the run with SOU's other win by fall, victimizing Cindy Zepeda in 1:08. Between pins, Carolina Johnson (116) and Tara Othman (123) won by decision and Carolina Moreno (130) needed only 54 seconds to nail down a 10-0 technical fall over Lizette Young.
Bailey Dennis (170) collected SOU's other win with a 7-0 decision over Nikita Dhaliwal. Top-ranked Sienna Ramirez accepted a forfeit victory at 155.
Louisa Schwab (143) and Emily Sandoval (191) accounted for Menlo's remaining points with wins by technical fall.
The Raiders improved to 2-0 in dual action. The Oaks were wrestling in their first dual since defeating SOU 33-8 on Feb. 17, 2020.
SOU will be on the road next for Sunday's Mike Clock Open in Forest Grove.
SOUTHERN OREGON 29, MENLO 11
101 – Tianna Fernandez, Menlo, dec. Karly Scott, 6-2. (1-3)
109 – Emma Baertlein, SOU, p. Nalani Kirkman, 1:18. (6-3)
116 – Carolina Johnson, SOU, dec. Barbara Greenberg, 5-0. (9-3)
123 – Tara Othman, SOU, dec. Alana Vias, 2-0. (12-3)
130 – Carolina Moreno, SOU, tech. fall Lizette Young, 10-0 (0:54). (16-3)
136 – Emily Se, SOU, p. Cindy Zepeda, 1:08. (21-3)
143 – Louisa Schwab, Menlo, tech. fall Desinee Lopez, 10-0 (2:00). 21-7
155 – Sienna Ramirez, SOU, wins by forfeit. (26-7)
170 – Bailey Dennis, SOU, dec. Nikita Dhaliwal, 7-0. (29-7)
191 – Emily Sandoval, Menlo, tech. fall Karrah Smith, 10-0 (4:25). (29-11)