Trio of Warriors Place at York Open

YORK, Neb. – No. 20-ranked Midland University took to the mats at the York Open, held inside the Freeman Center on Saturday afternoon.

Four Warriors competed in the "Open Division." At 103 pounds, 19th-ranked Zoe Omura went 1-2. In the quarterfinals, Omura defeated Hannah Selle of Fort Hays State by an 11-6 decision. In the semifinals, Omura suffered an injury default to Alanis Serrano-Rios of Waldorf. Omura later bowed out of the competition by injury default in the consolation semifinals to Kimberly Navarette of Doane.

Emily Paulino recorded the best Warrior performance of the day. The NAIA's 7th-ranked 124-pounder claimed first place in her division. Paulino won by fall in the quarterfinals over Lorianna Piestewa of Colorado Mesa at 2:24. In the semifinals, Paulino pinned Thalia Vogelsang of Colorado Mesa in just 41 seconds. In the 124-pound "Open" championship, Paulino took the title with a 6-4 decision over Colorado Mesa's Brooke McCurley.

Midland recorded a pair of third-place finishes on the day. Maci Avila earned one at 138 pounds. The 13th-ranked Avila defeated Shelby Davis of Grand View by fall at 2:09. In the quarterfinals, Avila secured a 6-0 decision over Nichole Moore of Fort Hays State. Avila's path to the championship bout came up short after dropping a 6-4 decision to Ashlynn Goodwin of Fort Hays State. Avila bounced back in the consolation semifinals with a 10-0 technical fall victory over Adrienna Turner of Grand View. Avila won the third-place match over Amanda Jaeger of Fort Hays State, 6-5.

Makenna Schramm went 0-2 at 145 pounds. Schramm lost to Erica Schroeder of Colorado Mesa by fall in 13 seconds. In the consolation round, Schramm was defeated by Brooke-Lynn Rush of Grand View by technical fall, 13-2.

Six Warriors competed in the "Amateur Division." At 103 pounds, Kyra Gonzalez went 0-2. In the quarterfinals, Gonzalez lost to Savannah Siqueiros of Iowa Western Community College by fall at 1:50. After a consolation round one bye, Gonzalez was defeated by Mia Cabrera of Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa by technical fall, 10-0.

Destiny Castillo went 1-2 at 110 pounds. In the quarterfinals, Castillo defeated Bailee Cash of Iowa Western Community College by fall at 3:19. In the semifinals, Castillo lost to Brooklyn Noel of Southeast Community College by fall in 40 seconds. In the consolation semifinals, Castillo was defeated by Rocio Chavez-Fuentes of York by fall at 2:51.

Taylor Hood and Brianna Gaytan represented the Warriors at 131 pounds. 19th-ranked Hood won her opening round match over Emily Hill of Minot State by fall in 47 seconds. Hood was defeated in the second round by Elizabeth Riggs of Missouri Valley College by fall in 33 seconds. Hood bounced back in consolation round two with a victory via fall over Joselyn McCunn of Iowa Western Community College in 1:45. After a consolation round three bye, Hood defeated Toby Goertz of Missouri Valley College by fall at 1:50. Hood's day ended in consolation round five when she lost to Carlaeona Hockert of Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa by fall at 2:29. Gaytan went 0-2. After a first-round bye, Gaytan lost to Jill High of York University by fall at 1:13. In consolation round two, Gaytan was defeated by Zoe Ortiz of Iowa Western Community College by fall at 3:25.

Andrea Frisque was the Warriors' final placer at 138 pounds. The 19th-ranked Frisque won her opening round match over Harley Brower of Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa by fall at 1:28. In the quarterfinals, Frisque defeated Katie Dolence of Doane by a 4-0 decision. Frisque lost in the semifinals to Daeja Sundquist of Iowa Western Community College by fall at 3:55. Frisque responded with a victory in the consolation semifinals over Jericka Renner of Missouri Valley College by technical fall, 10-0. Frisque's day wrapped up with a third-place victory over Katie Dolence of Doane by a 6-4 decision.

Abigail Holtz went 1-2 at 145 pounds. After an opening round bye, Holtz lost in the quarterfinals to Payton Weese of Doane by fall at 1:08. In consolation round two, Holtz defeated Angelica Castillejo of Waldorf University by fall at 4:20. Holtz's day ended in consolation round three after suffering an 11-0 technical fall loss to Sara Daley of Iowa Western Community College.

Midland will return to action on Saturday, February 1, when it competes in the Grand View Open. Competition inside the Dave Sisam Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, will begin at 9:00 a.m.