TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No. 3-ranked Southern Oregon University women's wrestling team stormed into the semifinal round of the U.S. Marine Corps/NWCA National Dual Meet Championships on Thursday at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
The Raiders opened with a 41-6 thumping of No. 20 Brewton-Parker (Ga.) to advance to the quarterfinals, where their 34-10 win over No. 7 Cumberlands (Ky.) was never in doubt.
They moved on to face No. 2 Life (Ga.) on Friday at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. The other semifinal features top-ranked Campbellsville (Ky.) and No. 5 Grand View (Iowa). The winners will meet in the final at noon, and the third-place dual is set for the same time.
The Raiders – who hadn't wrestled since Dec. 18 – didn't finish better than eighth in their two previous trips to the National Duals. Their perfect record stands at 6-0.
Emily Se, the NAIA's No. 5-ranked 136-pounder, recorded two of SOU's seven pins on the day – first at 143 pounds, downing Brewton-Parker's Merianyeli Mercado Marte in 50 seconds, then at 136, finishing Cumberlands' Madyson Dow in 40.
Tara Othman (116), Carolina Johnson (123), Julissa Taitano (136/143) and Sienna Ramirez (155) were the other Raiders to win two contests apiece on the day. Emma Baertlein (101) and Karrah Smith (191) both won with bonus points and received a forfeit apiece.
Smith's win also represented the upset of the day. In the finale against Cumberlands, the No. 5-ranked junior took down top-ranked Jesse Kirby by fall in 2:17.
The Raiders dominated at the lower weights, racing out to leads of 19-0 in the first dual and 16-1 in the second through 123 pounds.
SOU 41, BREWTON-PARKER 6
101 – Emma Baertlein, SOU, wins by forfeit. (5-0)
109 – Valeree Ornelas, SOU, p. Alyssa Valdivia, 2:18. (10-0)
116 – Tara Othman, SOU, tech. fall Alesandra Burgos, 10-0. (14-0)
123 – Carolina Johnson, SOU, p. Geneva Winston, 4:07. (19-0)
130 – Jorie Richardson, BPC, p. Jordynn Robson, 4:00. (19-5)
136 – Julissa Taitano, SOU, tech. fall Kamryn Ellis, 12-0. (23-5)
143 – Emily Se, SOU, p. Merianyeli Mercado Marte, 0:50. (28-5)
155 – Sienna Ramirez, SOU, dec. India Page, 8-3. (31-6)
170 – Bailey Dennis, SOU, p. Sierra Hartfelder, 0:21. (36-6)
191 – Karrah Smith, SOU, wins by forfeit. (41-6)
SOU 34, CUMBERLANDS 10
101 – Emma Baertlein, SOU, tech. fall Elizabeth Dosado, 10-0. (4-0)
109 – Macie Stewart, SOU, p. Jaine Stephens, 0:59. (9-0)
116 – Tara Othman, SOU, dec. Alexi Medina, 6-2. (12-1)
123 – Carolina Johnson, SOU, tech. fall Hailey Foster, 10-0. (16-1)
130 – Courtney Pittman, Cumberlands, p. Jordynn Robson, 2:15. (16-6)
136 – Emily Se, SOU, p. Madyson Dow, 0:40. (21-6)
143 – Julissa Taitano, SOU, tech. fall Taylor Whitehurst, 10-0. (25-6)
155 – Sienna Ramirez, SOU, tech. fall Kailee Godinez, 10-0. (29-6)
170 – Chamira Cooper, Cumberlands, tech. fall Bailey Dennis, 10-0. (29-10)
191 – Karrah Smith, SOU, p. Jesse Kirby, 2:17. (34-10)