LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Over the weekend, five current Tornado and four former King University women's wrestlers moved one step closer to qualifying for the 2016 Olympics. All nine of the wrestlers finished in the top seven of their respective weight classes to move on to April's U.S. Olympic Trials.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- At 48 kilograms, three Tornado qualified, starting with Breonnah Neal who vanished third with a record of 5-1. She fell in the quarterfinals to Nicole Woody before rolling off four straight wins, including a 3-2 victory over Woody in the third place bout.
- Marina Doi and Regina Doi also qualified, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. Regina Doi earned a win by fall over Juliana Olivio and followed it with a 6-2 decision over Candace Workman before falling to Wood and Marina Doi.
- Marina Doi reached the semifinals where she fell to eventual runner-up Erin Golston before dropping a bout to teammate and third place finisher Neal. She closed the day with a win over Regina Doi by default to take fifth.
- At 63 kilograms, Hannah Jewell turned in a sixth place finish, going 4-3 on the day. Following an opening round defeat, Jewell rolled off four straight victories, the first two by technical fall and fall, respectively. However, she dropped her final two bouts to take sixth.
- Jessi Kee also wrestled at 63 kilograms and went 2-2 on the day, falling to Jewell in the consolation bracket.
- Forrest Molinari went 4-1 at 69 kilograms, giving her a third place finish. She started with back-to-back wins before her only setback of the day, a 4-2 decision to runner-up Randi Miller. She bounced back with a pair of decision victories, finishing third.
- Samantha Klingel wrestled at 53 kilograms and went 2-2 on Friday.
- Former King wrestlers that competed and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in April were Haley Augello who is on an Olympic redshirt year as well as Sarah Hildebrandt, Julia Salata and Amanda Hendey.
- Augello finished runner-up at 53 kilograms and Hildebrandt took third in the same weight class.
- Hendey finished first at 63 kilograms and Salata took third at 75 kilograms.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will be in action again on January 9-10 at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals in Fort Wayne, Ind.
- The U.S. Olympic Trials are scheduled for April 8-9 in Iowa City, Iowa.
