LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The King University women's wrestling team reached their sixth NWCA National Duals championship match with a 26-20 win over #4 Wayland Baptist University early in the day. The fifth-ranked Tornado then faced top-ranked McKendree University in the title bout but fell 24-17 to take a runner-up finish.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #5 King 26, #4 Wayland Baptist 20; #1 McKendree 24, #5 King 17
LOCATION: Louisville Exposition Center; Louisville, Ky.
HOW IT HAPPENED – WAYLAND BAPTIST
- The Tornado fell behind 10-0 following the first two matches, but Makayla Welch got the Tornado going with an 11-0 technical fall over sixth-ranked Jathiya Isaac-Thomas at 116 pounds.
- Briana Kellin followed with a tight 7-6 decision where she scored in the final minute to take the win over Rebekah Cordova.
- Cheyenne Sisenstein pulled the Tornado ahead when she pinned Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez in 2:45 at 130 pounds.
- Joseph followed with a 1:07 pin of Jacqueline Flores to extend the Tornado advantage.
- Ashlynn Ortega came up with an 11-0 technical fall victory over Marina Briceno before Ana Luciano clinched the victory for the Tornado at 155 pounds.
- Luciano pinned Breanna Jennings in 2:26, giving King a 26-11 advantage.
- The Pioneers had top-ranked wrestlers take wins at the final two weight classes, making the final score 26-20.
RESULTS BY WEIGHT CLASS
101 – #1 Asia Ray (WBU) pinned #7 Jaclyn McNichols (King), 2:24
109 – #4 Rhonda Johnson (WBU) pinned Lesly Hernandez (King), 1:05
116 – #5 Makayla Welch (King) technical fall #6 Jathiya Isaac-Thomas (WBU), 11-0
123 – #7 Briana Kellin (King) decision Rebekah Cordova (WBU), 7-6
130 – #4 Cheyenne Sisenstein (King) pinned Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez (WBU), 2:45
136 – #2 Nicole Joseph (King) pinned Jacqueline Flores (WBU), 1:07
143 – #3 Ashlynn Ortega (King) technical fall Marina Briceno (WBU), 11-0
155 – #5 Ana Luciano (King) pinned Breanna Jennings (WBU), 2:26
170 – #1 Brittany Marshall (WBU) technical fall #10 Nia Crosdale (King), 10-0
191 – #1 Paige Baynes (WBU) pinned Denise Perez (King), 0:14
HOW IT HAPPENED – MCKENDREE
- Jaclyn McNichols gave King an early lead over McKendree with a 4-2 win over sixth-ranked Natalie Reyna at 101 pounds.
- The Bearcats then took back-to-back wins before Sisenstein earned an 8-4 decision over 10th-ranked Alexia Ward at 123 pounds.
- Following another McKendree victory, Joseph evened the score at 13-13 when she pinned sixth-ranked Michelle Camacho in 2:00 minutes.
- Ortega gave King a 16-14 lead when she defeated top-ranked Alexis Porter 5-1 at 143 pounds.
- However, the Bearcats won the final three matches to take the dual 24-17 and the title.
RESULTS BY WEIGHT CLASS
101 – #7 Jaclyn McNichols (King) decision #6 Natalie Reyna (MCK), 4-2
109 – #6 Vanessa Ramirez (MCK) technical fall Lesly Hernandez (King), 10-0
116 – #1 Felicity Taylor (MCK) technical fall #5 Makayla Welch (King), 14-3
123 – #4 Cheyenne Sisenstein (King) decision #10 Alexia Ward (MCK), 8-4
130 – #2 Brenda Reyna (MCK) decision #9 Allison Petix (King), 5-1
136 – #2 Nicole Joseph (King) pinned #6 Michelle Camacho (MCK), 2:00
143 – #3 Ashlynn Ortega (King) decision #1 Alexis Porter (MCK), 5-1
155 – #1 Alexandria Glaude decision #5 Ana Luciano (King), 8-0
170 – #7 Sydnee Kimber (MCK) technical fall Hailey Cancelleri (King), 10-0
191 – #6 Destane Garrick (MCK) decision #10 Nia Crosdale (King), 6-2
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- King finishes runner-up for the second time in program history, the other time was in 2012.
- The Tornado reached the NWCA National Duals championship for the sixth time in history and first since 2017.
UP NEXT
- King is in action again on Saturday in the Student Center Complex when they take on Ferrum College and Adrian College.
- The Tornado then host the Tornado Open on Sunday.
