LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The top-ranked King University women's wrestling team won their sixth National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals championship on Saturday afternoon. The Tornado had to come-from-behind to defeat second-ranked North Central College 23-21. With the dual even at 20-20,
Chey Bowman earned a 5-1 win at 191 pounds to give King the victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #1 King 23, #2 North Central 21
LOCATION: Kentucky Expo Center; Louisville, Ky.
RECORDS: King 4-0; North Central 14-1
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Second-ranked Jessica Corredor got the Tornado off to a good start again, taking an 8-4 decision over sixth-ranked Maddie Avila at 101 pounds.
- In their second matchup over the last month, top-ranked Sage Mortimer defeated second-ranked Sydney Petzinger again at 109 pounds.
- Mortimer opened up a sizable advantage in the first period, but saw Petzinger comeback to take a 14-13 lead in the final minute. However, Mortimer followed with a takedown with 34 seconds remaining to take the match 15-14.
- The Cardinals then earned pins in the next two matches before third-ranked Montana DeLawder took a 4-0 victory over Sara Sterner at 130 pounds to pull King back within 12-9.
- The Tornado responded with back-to-back pins at 136 and 143 pounds.
- Sixth-ranked Viktorya Torres was trailing second-ranked Yele Aycock at 136 pounds, but earned a pin in 5:26 to vault King into the lead.
- Top-ranked Ana Luciano followed with a 3:39 pin of fourth-ranked Kendall Bostelman at 143 pounds.
- North Central took a decision at 155 pounds and forfeit at 170 pounds to even the match at 20-20 going to the final bout.
- Bowman, who is ranked second at 170 pounds squared off with fifth-ranked Traeh Haynes at 191 pounds for the title.
- Bowman held a 1-0 lead after the first period, then earned a four-point takedown in the opening minute of the second period to take the 5-1 victory.
- That gave King the victory, 23-21.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- King wins their sixth NWCA National Duals championship and second straight.
- All of those titles have come in the last nine years.
UP NEXT
- King returns home to face the University of Mount Olive on Friday at 5:00 p.m. before hosting the Tornado Open on Sunday.
- North Central travels to UW-Stevens Point on January 24.
