IOWA CITY, Iowa – On Saturday six King University women's wrestlers had a chance of a lifetime that only comes around every four years, qualify for the Olympics. The Tornado had three wrestlers reach the semifinals, and one, Alli Ragan reach the final series on Saturday night. However, Ragan dropped both matches in the final to conclude the first day of wrestling at the Olympic Team Trials.
THE BASICS
EVENT: U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling
LOCATION Carver-Hawkeye Arena; Iowa City, Iowa
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ragan led the Way for six Tornado that competed on the first day of the Olympic Trials, reaching the finals. As the top-ranked wrestler at 58 kilograms, Ragan took a pair of 10-0 technical fall wins over Tarkyia Mensah and Becka Leathers.
- In the semifinal match, Ragan trailed Kayla Miracle 4-2 in the second period before scoring the final four points to take the match 6-4 and advance to the final.
- In the best-of-three finals, Ragan dropped a tight 2-1 decision to 2012 Olympic Team Trials champion Kelsey Campbell. Then in the second bout, Campbell again took a 2-1 victory, this time with a late push out to take the title.
- At 63 kilograms, No. 3 Amanda Hendey reached the semifinals and No. 7 Hannah Jewell advanced to the quarterfinals. Hendey started with two wins by fall, defeating Rosemary Flores in 3:41 and Katerina Lobsinger in 6:00. She then fell to second-ranked Erin Clodgo in the semifinals.
- In the consolation bracket, Hendey defeated Alexis Porter on a fall in 2:26 to reach the third place bout. However, she fell to Mallory Velte, giving Hendey a fourth place finish.
- Jewell defeated Leigh Jaynes-Proviser 13-10 in her first bout of the day before falling to No. 4 Jennifer Page. She then fell in her first match in the consolation bracket to end her day.
- No. 4 Julia Salata reached the semifinals at 69 kilograms with a pair of wins, first topping Maggie Douma on a 12-0 technical fall. She then defeated Iris Smith 4-1 before falling to top-ranked Tamyra Mensah in the semifinals.
- In the consolation bracket, Salata defeated sixth-ranked Rachel Watters 8-1 to reach the third place bout. However, Salated fell to second-ranked Randi Miller, giving Salata a fourth place finish.
- Also at 69 kilograms, fifth-ranked Forrest Molinari defeated Hannah Gladden on a fall in 5:25 to reach the quarterfinals, but fell to third-ranked Brittney Roberts. In the consolation bracket, Molinari defeated Douma on a 10-0 technical fall before falling to Watters on a tight 3-2 decision in the semifinals.
QUOTABLE
- "Just had to stay in there and stay patient, she shot great shots, so I had to be ready for that," Ragan said about her semifinal match. "Defense and finishing on some of those shots"
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will have nine women competing on Sunday at the Olympic Team Trials, including Salata and Molianari at 75 kilograms. King will have fivewrestlers at 48 kilograms, two at 53 kilograms.
KING RESULTS BY WEIGHT CLASS
58 KG – Alli Ragan 3-2, 2nd
63 KG – Amanda Hendey 3-2, 4th; Hannah Jewell 1-2
69 KG – Julia Salata 3-2, 4th; Forrest Molinari 2-2; Lorrie Ramos 0-2
