Kansas Wrestling (all images via bakerwildcats.com)
Wildcats Have Two Second Place Finishers as Wildcats Finish 9th at NAIA National Invitational
Women’s Wrestling – Tue, Mar. 16, 2021 at 7:25 PM
JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Taking 12 wrestlers to compete in the meet, the Baker women’s wrestling team finished in ninth place as a team at the 2021 NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Invitational, while two wrestlers brought home second place.
“This year was full of so many firsts, and this weekend was no exception,” head coach Cody Garcia said. “With last year’s event being cancelled, this trip was one we’ve been looking forward to since we started the program. It was an exciting environment to wrestle in and our ladies came to compete. Just like any national tournament, there were some matches that came down to an exchange or two that made the difference. Even with that, we finished with four All-Americans and had our first two national finalists. This team has a bright future and this year was the start of great things to come.”
Both Morgan Mayginnes and Elisa Robinson were able to finish in second place in the tournament, while teammates Nichole Moore and Jennifer Curry finished in sixth place.
Mayginnes picked up back-to-back 10-0 victories to start the day, then after defeating Destinee Rivera of Life by a score of 6-1, found herself in the semifinal match. After a strong 14-9 win in the semifinals, Mayginnes lost in the championship match to finish in second place at 155 pounds.
Elisa Robinson received a bye in the first round, but then did not allow a point in her next three matches, winning 6-0, 5-0 and 4-0 before losing in the championship match to finish in second place for the tournament at 191 pounds.
Nichole Moore was able to win her first three matches of the tournament, but after a close 5-4 loss to No. 1 Julia Vidallon of Life, and losses in her next two matches, Moore took home a sixth place finish at 123 pounds in the 2021 NAIA National Invitational.
Jennifer Curry started the tournament with a bye and then won her next match by a score of 10-1. After a loss sent her to the consolation bracket, Curry regrouped and won her next two matches, before losing the last two to take home sixth place.
The Wildcats had eight other wrestlers compete in the tournament including Abigail Halstead (109 lbs), Kassidy Leiszler (109 lbs), Katherine Heath (116 lbs), Olivia Branson (123 lbs), Abbie Jones (136 lbs), Jaimes Clark (136 lbs), Kiya Jones (170 lbs) and Martha Vizcarra (191 lbs).
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