DES MOINES, IA – Menlo Women's Wrestling made the business trip to Des Moines once more this season for the Grand View Open, one of the most competitive tournaments on the entire 2023-24 schedule. Of the 13 Oaks that took the mat, 10 placed overall with 3 Champions, Kayla McKinley-Johnson (101), Kalila Shrive (170), and Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson (191). The Oaks were ranked #1 in the nation going into this weekend and have defended that ranking on the road.
Champion Status!
Kayla McKinley-Johnson (101) - Champion
#8 Kayla's first match of the day was against #12 ranked Jalen Bets (Grand View) and did not give up a single point against in her 10-0 tech fall. The Oak would move on to the semifinals to face #3 Esther Walker (Midland). McKinley-Johnson held control the entire match creating an 11-2 lead after the first period. One more 4-point takedown would end the match in an upset 14-2 tech fall and punch her ticket to the Championship match. The only thing in the way of the title was #4 Alyssa Quezaire (Missouri Baptist). The first period was back-and-forth but Kayla was able to earn two 2-point takedowns in the last 7 seconds to go up 6-5 in the first period. The match ended in favor of the Oak after two more minutes on the mat when Kayla laid down the pin for another upset victory!
Kalila Shrive (170) - Champion
#4 Shrive was the first seed at 170 in the Grand View Open and was ready to claim her title. Shrive's day began with a fall in the first period over Salima Omari (Grand View). She then went on a tech fall run over Aalyah Villarreal (Texas Wesleyan), 10-0, and Mickaela Keane (Northern Michigan), 12-0, to advance to the Championship match to see #11 Chamira Cooper (Cumberlands). The freshman Oak would hold the match tied at 1-1 through the first period. Kalila responded in the second with a 4-point takedown and a 2-point takedown to finish with a 7-3 decision to win the Championship title at 170!
Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson (191) - Champion
#1 Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson, the veteran All-American, was the third Oak to claim their Championship title at the Grand View Open after going 5-0. Tavia's first match ended swiftly with a 10-0 tech fall over #16 Tiffany Curry (Texas Wesleyan). Her next victories were over Skyler Bruno (Waldorf) by pin, #9 Marissa Patterson (Hastings) by 10-4 decision, and Olivia Brown (Grand View) by 4-1 decision. An injury forfeit in the second period would earn Tavia another Championship title. Heidelberg was in one of the most competitive brackets of the day and was able to pull off some amazing wrestling to claim her Championsip!
Oak Placers
The Oaks had three 2nd place finishers, #3 Louisa Schwab (130), #5 Desiree Jones (143), and #3 Shannon Workinger (155). Schwab went 4-1 on the day totaling 3 falls, one over #6 Elizabeth Duvall, and a sudden victory to advance to the championship match. Jones (143) went 3-1 with two pins and a 3-1 decision over #6 Micah Fisher (Cumberlands) in the semifinals. Workinger (155) totaled an astounding 4 pins that ended up being 10 minutes of wrestling for her entire day.
There were two 3rd place finishers, one at 123, #5 Alana Vivas, and one at 143, Alexandra Lopez. Vivas (123) went 4-1 on the day taking victories over #18, #15, and #7 in the NAIA. After taking a first round loss, Alexandra Lopez (143) would win out the rest of wrestle backs beating #4, #11, #8, and #6 to place 3rd. The final two Oaks to place were Alejandra Corral (116) at 4th place and Cindy Zepeda (130) at 5th place.
Grand View Open Direct Link
Up Next….
Women's Wrestling is on the road once again next weekend for the Cerritos College Duals and Open. Duals will take place on Friday, February 9 at 6pm followed by the Open on Saturday beginning at 10am!