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TheMat.com’s Women’s College Team Preview: Missouri Valley College seeks to retain No. 1 ranking in competitive field

10/2/2002
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

As women’s college wrestling grows, more task of being the nation’s best college team will become more and more difficult. This year, the No. 1 team in the land will be much more hard to predict than in previous seasons.

Entering the year, there are now six women’s varsity wrestling programs, along with some club teams and some individual athletes competing on their men’s varsity team.

In recent years, Missouri Valley College has been the dominant college team in the United States. The Vikings have dominated the scene with the largest squad which also featured some of the best individual athletes in the country on the Senior level.

A number of factors will make it more difficult for Missouri Valley to end the year as No. 1 in TheMat.com U.S. College Women’s Wrestling Team Rankings. Missouri Valley brought in a smaller recruiting class this year, and a number of competitors had their best recruiting efforts to date. In addition, three talented athletes on the team were accepted to the USOTC resident athlete program in Colorado Springs, Colo., leaving the team without proven leadership.

Four teams have a legitimate chance to push Missouri Valley and come out at season’s end with the top ranking: Univ. of Minnesota-Morris, Cumberland College (Ky.), Neosho County CC (Kan.) and Menlo College (Calif.). The question will be if these teams have the individuals to overcome Missouri Valley’s considerable depth.

Pacific University (Ore.), which became the nation’s newest varsity program, will have a rebuilding year after a coaching change and the loss of four stars to the USOTC program. The Pacific team, then a club program, finished the 2000-01 season as the No. 2 program in the nation.

There are eight weight classes in U.S. women’s college wrestling, the seven new international weight divisions in freestyle wrestling, plus an additional weight class at 169.5 pounds. With the growth of the size of the college teams, it will be possible for many of these squads to have competitive dual meets in addition to strong tournament action.

A team-by-team preview of each varsity program follows, along with information on some of the clubs that will be involved on the college scene this year:

MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE
(NAIA, Coach Mike Machholz)

The Vikings spent the entire year last season with the No. 1 ranking, with a strong combination of star power and depth. This year, the race for the top will be more challenging for Coach Mike Machholz’ team, as three top stars were lost to the USOTC program, a few athletes left the team during last season, plus a smaller than usual recruiting class was brought in to expand the roster.

Viking fans need not worry too much. Missouri Valley brings back an experienced lineup, with nationally-ranked athletes at all eight college weight classes. What the team is missing at this point is proven leadership, a void that can be filled with seniors or some emerging underclassmen.

With Clarrisa Chun, Tori Adams and Nina Vernon gone to USOTC, just who is the best returning Viking wrestler this year? Based upon U.S. Senior national rankings, it is Mollie Keith (147), who placed second at the Senior World Team Trials with a strong summer season. However, Keith was a bit inconsistent last season and will need to step it up a notch to be a true star.

Senior Tina Arnds (138) has a long history of success on the national level, but played second fiddle to Adams in recent seasons. Expect Arnds to come into her own this year. Another senior, Donnell Bradley (158), has also achieved national honors and spent a good part of the summer break training in Colorado Springs. Missouri Valley is loaded at 130, with seniors Kirsten Hyatt and Leigh Jaynes scoring high in the college and Senior-level rankings. This corps of veterans could set the tone for the entire program.

Marianne Vollmer (121) had a great winter, winning a number of medals at major events, but she melted down at the U.S. Nationals, missing a placement. When she was hot, Vollmer showed the ability to go to a higher level. With a leadership void, will it be Vollmer, a junior, who becomes the next big-time Viking wrestler?

Missouri Valley also has a powerful heavyweight, Hillary Leith (169), and experience with Rachel Bernardes (105) and Erin Soli (112). Bernardes seemed to slip last season, and will need a new focus to rise in the rankings.

In spite of a smaller roster, Missouri Valley has more depth than any other team, if the top level gets injured or does not perform. Perhaps the best of the returnees are Sarah Williams (138) and Brandy Golt (147). The incoming freshman class was small, but all four were top high school prospects: Emily Rinehart of California (138), Kelly Branham of Arizona (147), Emilee Murphree of California (121) and Christie Rafanan of California (112). Perhaps it will be the performance of this freshman class that helps keep Missouri Valley on top.

In the early season, the Vikings will get the nod, based upon experience and depth. The true character of this team will be tested, as their opponents will have confidence that they can knock off the king.

Missouri Valley College projected starting lineup
(with state, year and final ‘01 U.S. college ranking)
105 - Rachel Bernardes (NJ, sr., No. 8)
112 -Erin Soli (CT, soph., No. 7)
121 - Marianne Vollmer (MI, jr., No. 7)
130 - Kirsten Hyatt (CA, sr., No. 2) or Leigh Jaynes (NJ, sr., No. 3)
138 - Tina Arnds (AZ, sr., No. 4)
147 - Mollie Keith (IA, jr., No. 5)
158 - Donnell Bradley (HI, sr., No. 4)
169 - Hillary Leith (Canada, soph., No. 3)

Missouri Valley College depth chart
105 - Bernardes, plus Jessica Dougherty (CA, soph.)
112 - Soli, plus Jessica Heckman (PA, soph.), Ophelia Pickard (MO, soph.), Christie Rafanan (CA, fr.), Danielle Bowen (MA, fr.), Rebecca Cisneros (IN, soph)
121 - Vollmer, plus Emilee Murphree (CA, fr.)
138 - Arnds, plus Sarah Williams (MI, soph., No. 5), Emily Rinehart (CA, fr.)
147 - Keith, plus Brandy Golt (VA, soph., No. 4), Kelly Branham (AZ, fr.)
158 - Bradley
169 - Leith

CUMBERLAND COLLEGE
(NAIA, Coach Kip Flanik)

Cumberland boasts the best college wrestler in the nation (and in 2001, the world’s best wrestler) in Toccara Montgomery (147 or 158). A World silver medalist, two-time U.S. Nationals champion, 2002 World Team member and Olympic contender, Montgomery has helped define excellence in women’s wrestling.

This year, coach Kip Flanik will have a team to showcase around Montgomery, after a strong recruiting year and some progress from returning individuals. Cumberland finished last year with a No. 5 college ranking in the USA. Cumberland has confidence that it can challenge to be the nation’s best team this year. However, the team will have to answer some questions throughout the lineup, and continue to improve as it did throughout the rebuilding year last season.

The team is bolstered by the return of Jessica Shirley (121) after missing the bulk of last season with a shoulder injury. Shirley was one of the nation’s top high school athletes going into Cumberland, and has had some success on the Senior level in freestyle. Her injury cut the heart out of the Cumberland lineup last year. Her return will give the team a stronger foundation.

The team should also be competitive in the lighter weights. Becky D’Ambrosio returns at 105, after a freshman year where she made progress and won a few big matches. The 112-pound spot should be a tossup between returning senior Sarah Hayes and incoming freshman Brooke Bogren of Kansas. Of the two, Bogren has achieved the most on the Senior level, and was one of the nation’s top recruits. Hayes made good progress late last season, and spent considerable time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center finetuning her game.

The team may need to count on another talented freshman, Alaina Berube (130 or 138). A national folkstyle champion and medalist at the Junior Nationals, Berube joined Bogren on the 2002 TheMat.com/ASICS First Team. Flanik indicates that Berube is still growing, so her weight class could change during the season.

Exactly who wrestles what weight will determine if Cumberland starts knocking off other top teams, or if they fall a little short. Montgomery can only wrestle at one weight, and will be on the U.S. World Team at 158. Issa Alvarez (138), a junior who has dropped in weight since joining the team, will need to step up to take over a weight class somewhere. Junior transfer Jamie Alvesteffer (130), who came over from Missouri Valley, might also be pressed into duty somewhere in the middleweights. Another junior transfer is Brenda McDaniels (121). Sophomore Kiara Baugh (112) might also see action.

Other incoming freshmen may also be in the mix, although most will use their first season learning the college game. Filling out the roster are freshmen Shelly Ruberg (130), Aja Smith (147), Colleen McKinney (112), Beth Deroy (158) and Jessi Clifton (158). These are the kind of projects that coach Flanik enjoys working with, and will provide Cumberland with depth if needed. Everyone expects Cumberland to be a major factor this year, especially if some of the new talent learns to emulate Montgomery.

Cumberland College projected starting lineup
(with state, year and final ‘01 U.S. college ranking)
105 - Becky D’Ambrosio (OH, soph., No. 7)
112 -Sarah Hayes (CO, sr., No. 6) or Brooke Bogren (KS, fr.)
121 - Jessica Shirley (OH, soph., No. 3)
130 - Alaina Berube (MI, fr.)
138 - Berube or Issa Alvarez (FL, jr., No. 7)
147 - Toccara Montgomery (OH, soph., No. 1) or Aja Smith (IN, fr.)
158 - Montgomery
169 - Wendy Hunter (OH, soph., No. 4)

Cumberland College depth chart
105 - D’Ambrosio
112 -Hayes, Bogren, plus Colleen McKinney (IL, fr.), Kiara Baugh (TX, soph.)
121 - Shirley, plus Brenda McDaniels (MA, jr.)
130 - Berube, plus Jamie Alvesteffer (MI, jr.), Shelly Ruburg (OH, fr.)
138 - Berube or Alvarez
147 - Montgomery or Smith
158 - Montgomery, plus Beth Deroy (CA, fr.), Jessi Clifton (GA, fr.)
169 - Hunter

NEOSHO COUNTY CC
(NJCAA, Coach John Taylor)

As a two-year school, Neosho County will have only freshmen and sophomores to take on the rest of the wrestling world. However, with a solid group of returning athletes and a tremendous recruiting class, John Taylor’s team could be right near the top in only its second year of existence.

At most, there may be three sophomores starting for Neosho County, which means this year’s recruits will need to quickly produce. The good thing is that those athletes coming in have the freestyle experience, both on the Senior level and the age-group level, to step up and make that immediate impact.

Mary Kelly enters at the No. 3 ranked 105-pounder on the Senior level. The two women ahead of her on the national team are no longer in college, so Kelly could be the nation’s best collegian right from her first event. She won silver medals at the University Nationals, FILA Junior Nationals and Junior Nationals last year, beating many college wrestlers. She should score big points for Neosho County in both tournaments and dual meets.

The blue-chip Mena sisters from Minnesota, Alicia (158) and Elena (147), are also proven performers on the Senior level. Alicia just graduated from high school, where she was on TheMat.com/ASICS First Team for two years, just like Kelly was. Elena has been out of school a few years, but has continued to pursue her wrestling on the national level. These experienced athletes will give Neosho County some punch in the upper weights.

The three returning athletes expected to make an impact are sophomores Kera Pemberton (112), Sarah Tolin (121) and Randi Miller (147). All three were nationally ranked last year on the college and Senior levels. Pemberton and Tolin competed at the World University Championships this summer, gaining valuable experience. The question will be if these athletes have become the kind of leaders that this young team will need when the going gets tough.

Freshmen will be expected to start at three other weight classes, with Linse Meadows (130), Jamie Bottomley (138) and Holly Kenneda (169) coming in without any backup support. Meadows had impressive achievements in both freestyle and folkstyle in high school, including a Texas state high school title (only two states have official state meets, Texas and Hawaii). Bottomley and Kenneda are unproven, and will need to be quick learners.

Pemberton is expected to miss the first semester, which will weaken Neosho in the early season. Sophomore Toni Trowbridge also returns at 112, giving the team a little flexibility, as well as freshman 112-pounder Yvette Madrid.

What would kill Neosho County would be injuries, or if any of the athletes without backups choose not to compete the entire season. What may develop is that Neosho may be a beast in tournaments, but could have trouble in dual meets. Neosho County finished at No. 6 last season, but should do better this time around. Don’t be surprised if Taylor picks up a few athletes at semester as word gets out about this team.

Neosho County CC projected starting lineup
(with state, year and final ‘01 U.S. college ranking)
105 - Mary Kelly (IL, fr.)
112 - Kera Pemberton (KS, soph., No. 5)
121 - Sarah Tolin (WY, soph., No. 4)
130 - Linse Meadows (TX, fr.)
138 - Jamie Bottomley (TX, fr.)
147 - Randi Miller (TX, soph., No. 5) or Elena Mena (MN, fr.)
158 - Alicia Mena (MN, fr.)
169 - Holly Kenneda (NE, fr.)

Neosho County CC depth chart
105 -Kelly
112 - Pemberton, plus Toni Trowbridge (MI, soph.), Yvette Madrid (TX, fr.)
121 - Tolin
130 - Meadows
138 - Bottomley
147 - Miller, Mena
158 - Mena
169 - Kenneda

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-MORRIS
(NCAA D-II, Coach Doug Reese)

The nation’s first women’s college varsity team, UM-Morris is always competitive. The team loses its greatest wrestler ever to graduation, Katie Downing, who will continue to pursue her Olympic dream. A strong group of returning athletes will make the team very difficult in each and every tournament. The question will be if coach Doug Reese can creatively fill all eight weight classes in any dual meets, as two divisions appear empty as the season begins.

The team’s top star may be a newcomer, Marcie Van Dusen (121), who is a junior transfer. Van Dusen enters the year with a No. 3 Team USA ranking on the Senior level. After a tremendous high school athlete, Van Dusen stayed out of the national scene for almost two years, but returned with a passion last spring, taking third at the U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials.

UM-Morris will be loaded in the lighter weight classes. The best weight class is 105, with sophomores Katrina Betts and Liz Short. Betts finished last year with a No. 3 college ranking, and Short was close behind at No. 5. Betts has shown tremendous promise on the Senior level. Short competed at the World University Championships this summer to add to her experience.

The team is well covered at 112, as well, with sophomore Patrice Crenshaw and freshman Tabathia Ramsey ready for action. Crenshaw started last season well, winning the Hoover/Geller Open and taking sixth at the Sunkist Open, but injuries ended her season early. Ramsey was a Texas high school state champion and placed fifth at the folkstyle nationals, but has no freestyle achievements.

Two wrestlers ranked on the college level last year appear to be behind Van Dusen at 121 pounds, sophomore Keli Hinton and junior Katie Ross. Hinton is moving up from 112 last season. Reese will be fitting seven strong athletes in just three weight classes, then will have to call upon all of his coaching skills in the upper divisions.

The only athlete in the higher weights with experience is senior Stephanie Looney (138). Freshmen Ranae Faaborg (130) and Megan Goldsmith (158) have no backups at this point. It appears the UM-Morris will have no athletes at 147 and 169 pounds. This will be especially tricky in the first semester, as the team will have a number of dual meets.

UM-Morris finished last season as the No. 3 team in the final TheMat.com U.S. College Women’s Wrestling Team rankings. This finish kind of finish will be difficult to achieve, but is within reach without a doubt based upon individual talent.

Minnesota-Morris projected starting lineup
(with state, year and final ‘01 U.S. college ranking)
105 - Katrina Betts (MI, soph., No. 3)
112 - Patrice Crenshaw (GA, soph.)
121 - Marcie Van Dusen (CA, jr.)
130 - Ranae Faaborg (IA, fr.)
138 - Stephanie Looney (VA, sr.)
147 - forfeit
158 - Megan Goldsmith (WI, fr.)
169 - forfeit

Minnesota-Morris depth chart
105 - Betts, plus Liz Short (IL, soph.)
112 - Crenshaw, plus Tabathia Ramsey (TX, fr.)
121 - Van Dusen, plus Keli Hinton (KS, soph., No. 8), Katie Ross (NC, jr., No. 6)
130 - Faaborg
138 - Looney, plus Sharon Jacobson (CA, fr.)
158 - Goldsmith

MENLO COLLEGE
(NAIA, Coach Lee Allen)

In its second season, Menlo College looks to improve dramatically from its No. 10 final ranking at the end of last year’s college season. Coach Lee Allen attracted a strong recruiting class, and will be loaded in the lighter weights. However, a lack of larger athletes will keep Menlo from having any success in dual meet competitions.

The two top stars should be returning sophomores Bior Guigni (112) and Melina Hutchison (121). Guigi had some success in tournament competition last season and has the potential to climb in the rankings here. Hutchison came to Menlo last year with an outstanding prep career, ranked on the Senior level with numerous age-group national awards. Her early season injury put a big dent in Menlo’s first season, and her return gives the team immediate presence.

Leading the class is 2002 Junior Nationals champion Linse Owens (121), who was also a national placewinner in folkstyle. Owens is projected to be at Hutchison’s weight, and their battle should strengthen both athletes.

Menlo has a pair of talented freshmen vying for the 105-pound spot. Tanya Miyasaki was third at this summer’s Junior Nationals and Tabitha Coffey was fifth at the Junior Nationals. Coffey also placed sixth nationally in folkstyle. The competition at this weight division should be fierce, as well.

Allen will need his freestyle coaching skills with a number of recruits who have mostly folkstyle backgrounds. Raquel Magdaleno (130) was fourth at this year’s USGWA folkstyle nationals. Teresa Dal Ben (121) was fifth at the 2002 USGWA folkstyle nationals. Another incoming freshman, Dina Tavera (138) will also be called upon to make the transition onto the national freestyle scene.

With no athletes on its roster at 147, 158 or 169, Menlo will look to have problems in any of its dual meet events. Tournaments will be another story, and on the strength of its individuals, Menlo College will be moving on up this season.

Menlo College projected starting lineup
(with state, year and final ‘01 U.S. college ranking)
105 - Tanya Miyasaki (HI, fr.) or Tabitha Coffey (CA, fr.)
112 - Bior Guigni (CT, soph.)
121 - Melina Hutchison (AK, soph.)
130 - Raquel Magdaleno (MI, fr.)
138 - Dina Tavera (CA, fr.)
147 - forfeit
158 - forfeit
169 - forfeit

Menlo College depth chart
105 - Miyasaki, Coffey
112 - Guigni, plus Lydia Asghedom (CA, soph.)
121 - Hutchison, plus Linse Owens (CA, fr.), Teresa Dal Ben (CA, fr.)
130 - Magdeleno
138 - Tavera

PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
(NCAA Div. III/NAIA, Coach Scott Miller)

Last year, Pacific Univ. started a women’s wrestling club, after a positive experience with a few female athletes on its men’s team. Putting together a mix of transfers, freshmen and returning athletes, the Pacific team went from the new kid on the block to the No. 2 ranked squad in the final TheMat.com U.S. College Women’s Wrestling Team rankings.

This year, Pacific has a new full-time coach, Scott Miller, who led Div. I teams at Campbell and Syracuse. The college made the decision to move its women’s wrestling program from a club to a varsity, a big step forward for U.S. women’s wrestling.

However, Pacific will go through a rebuilding season as it sets the stage for future success. Four members of the Boxers team were talented enough to be accepted to the new USOTC resident program, leaving Pacific without its top competitors. Resident athletes Kaci Lyle, Sally Roberts, Tela O’Donnell and Katie Kunimoto all improved last year training in the Pacific room, a testament to the positive environment there. In addition, with the process of changing coaches, the incoming recruiting class is not large in comparison to the other varsity programs.

The top two Boxer athletes compete at 121 pounds, senior Jill Remiticado and junior Desi Lockhart. Remiticado was the athlete who helped bring women’s wrestling to this campus, the true trailblazer for this program. She has placed nationally on the Senior level a number of times. Lockhart was also impressive on the freestyle circuit last year, improving throughout the season. They ended the year ranked No. 2 and No. 4 in college at this weight class.

The top incoming freshman is Jennifer Miyahara of Hawaii (130), a Hawaii state high school champion who placed second last year at the USGWA folkstyle nationals. Three other freshmen will join the team, none with national reputations yet: Melissa Deiman (112), Hoku Lewis (130) and Salomae Gibson (138). Also back is sophomore Idgy Levine (105), who is also looking to make a name for herself.

Just like last year, Pacific will look to show improvement as the season progresses. With the quality of women’s wrestling on the West Coast, and the commitment made to the program by the university, this program should be on the rise again.

Pacific projected starting lineup
(with state, year and final ‘01 U.S. college ranking)
105 - Idgy Levine (soph.)
112 - Melissa Deiman (AK, fr.)
121 - Jill Remiticado (HI, sr., No. 2) or Desi Lockhart (WA, jr., No. 4)
130 - Jennifer Miyahara (HI, fr.)
138 - Salomae Gibson (FL, fr.)
147 - forfeit
158 - forfeit
169 - forfeit

Pacific depth chart
105 - Levine
112 - Deiman
121 - Remiticado, Lockhart
130 - Miyahara, plus Hoku Lewis (fr.)
138 - Gibson

PRINCETON
(NCAA Div. I, Coach Michael New)

Princeton had two women on its men’s varsity team last year, and both athletes ended up making a strong showing by season’s end. Coach Michael New has provided a commitment to the women athletes, bringing in a female coach to help in their development, Team USA member Danielle Hobeika.

With another woman coming in as a freshman, Princeton will not yet have enough athletes to climb high in the national women’s rankings. However, if the individuals continue to improve as they did last year, this team will make an impact.

The returning athletes are Audrey Pang (112) and Amanda Noteware (130). Pang placed fourth at the 2001 U.S. Nationals, and finished the season with a No. 3 college ranking. Noteware placed fourth at the USGWA freestyle championships, her first major try at the national level. Both will have another full year of training and experience to build on. The freshman is Reona Kumagai (105), with a solid folkstyle background to build upon. This year’s Tigers will again be measured by individual achievement, and it will be fun to see how well they do.

Princeton projected starting lineup
(with state, year and final ‘01 U.S. college ranking)
105 - Reona Kumagai (NY, fr.)
112 - Audrey Pang (Canada, soph., No. 3)
130 - Amanda Noteware (TX, soph., No. 5)

Princeton depth chart
105 - Kumagai
112 - Pang
130 - Noteware

CAL-STATE BAKERSFIELD
(NCAA Div. I, Coach TJ Kerr)

When women’s wrestling was getting started in the United States, one of the first colleges to encourage women to wrestle was Cal-State Bakersfield. Coach TJ Kerr put together a group of athletes that competed on a national level, and had one athlete become No. 1 in the nation, Jessica McDowell.

It has been a few years since women were in the Bakersfield room. This year, three freshmen will take the challenge and train with the Roadrunner team. The women athletes were proven high school talents, and should bring the name “Cal-State Bakersfield” back to the women’s scene.

Laura Felix (121) comes in as a TheMat.com/ASICS Third Team selection, and Amantha Hordagoda (105) was on the ASICS team as an honorable mention choice. Both wrestlers placed fifth at the USGWA folkstyle nationals in folkstyle. The other incoming woman on the team is Tiffany Martin (130). If this proves successful, don’t be surprised if more of the California talent decides to stay in-state next year.

Cal State-Bakersfield projected starting lineup
(with state, year and final ‘01 U.S. college ranking)
105 - Amantha Hordagoda (CA, fr.)
121 - Laura Felix (CA, fr.)
130 - Tiffany Martin (CA, fr.)

Cal State-Bakersfield depth chart
105 - Hordagoda
121 - Felix
130 - Martin

OTHER TEAMS

The Hawaii Rainbow Wahines club is affiliated with the Univ. of Hawaii, and some of their freestyle athletes attend the Univ. of Hawaii. This club will not be considered for team rankings until January, when the club season gets going... A number of other athletes may be training with their men’s college wrestling teams. TheMat.com will survey the college wrestling community, and include these specific athletes in the individual weight-class previews to be published later this fall.