Warriors Host Annual Open

FREMONT, Neb. – A total of 194 athletes competed in the Midland Warrior Women's Wrestling Open on Saturday at the Wikert Event Center. Nine Warriors took to the mat, with senior Emily Paulino leading the way with a runner-up finish at 124 pounds.

Midland's Zoe Omura, ranked No. 17 in the NAIA, placed fifth in the 103-pound division. After receiving a first-round bye, Omura won her quarterfinal match over Ava McNeal of Sioux Falls by technical fall, 10-0. In the semifinals, she fell to Devyn Moore of Grand View, the No. 6-ranked wrestler, by fall at 3:35. Omura then lost a close 9-8 decision to Kinlee Brandley of Snow in the consolation semifinals. She rebounded in the fifth-place match, defeating Trinity Motter of Friends by technical fall, 12-2.

Wrestling at home for the final time in her collegiate career, Paulino, ranked No. 10 in the NAIA, opened the tournament with a bye. In her first match, she pinned Wachipi Hamelryck of Oklahoma City in 1:18. She then won her quarterfinal match over Kiersten Flanagan of Doane by technical fall, 10-0. Paulino advanced to the championship bout by pinning Teila Peters of Sioux Falls at the 3:00 mark. In the title match, she fell to Talea Guntrum, wrestling unattached, by an 8-4 decision.

Midland had four athletes compete in the 131-pound bracket. Taylor Hood received a first-round bye before falling to No. 17-ranked Bryce White of Oklahoma City, 8-0. After a consolation-round bye, Hood pinned Emily Pasillas of Snow in 1:12 but was eliminated in the fourth consolation round by Mackenzie Armagost of Sioux Falls, who won by fall at 3:57. Brianna Gaytan lost her opening match to No. 3-ranked Xochitl Mota-Pettis of Missouri Valley by technical fall, 10-0. She bounced back with a pin over Ariana Blume of Southeast CC in 1:50. Gaytan then defeated teammate Eny Bravo by technical fall, 10-0, before falling to Hallie Carter of Snow by fall at 5:08. Eny Bravo went 1-2 on the day. She lost in the opening round to Brooke Cox of Doane by technical fall, 10-0. After a consolation-round bye, she pinned Joselyn McCunn of Iowa Western CC in 3:59 but was eliminated by teammate Gaytan, 10-0. Kierra Nartatez finished 3-2. She opened with a pin of Emily Pasillas (Snow) at 2:51 and then received a forfeit win. In the quarterfinals, she lost to Cindy Zepeda of Grand View by fall in 53 seconds. Nartatez rebounded with a pin over Caxton Smith of Northwest Kansas Tech at 3:48 before falling to No. 19-ranked Ashlee Palimo of Doane, 6-0.

Abigale Holtz went 1-2. She lost her opening match to Clara Sapienza of Southeast CC by technical fall, 11-0. In the consolation round, she defeated Izzy Urban of Waldorf, 8-4, but was eliminated by Isabelle Messerly of Snow, who won by fall at 3:52.

Makena Schramm finished 2-2. She opened with a pin of Addaly Miller of Sioux Falls in 2:02, followed by a 44-second pin over Ariel Bryant of Wayne State. In the quarterfinals, she lost to Valerie Hamilton, wrestling unattached, by technical fall, 10-0. Schramm was eliminated in the fourth consolation round by No. 18-ranked Makayla Munoz of Oklahoma City, 12-2.

Ja'Nya Banks posted a 2-2 record in the 160-pound bracket. She opened with a 4-0 decision over No. 17-ranked Izzy Deeds of Hastings. In round two, she lost a tiebreaker to Lamia Benn of Doane, 4-4 (criteria). Banks rebounded with a technical fall victory (12-0) over Jocelyn Ambriz of Iowa Western CC but was eliminated by Nicole Olson of Grand View, who won by fall at 2:17.

Midland will have three weeks off before competing in the GPAC Championships on Saturday, March 1, at Doane in Crete, Nebraska. The competition begins at 1 p.m.