Simon Fraser University finished runner-up at the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association national duals this year.
The defending national duals champion Clan opened the final day of the meet with a 27-17 win over Oklahoma City, but narrowly fell 21-19 to King College of Tennessee in the championship final on Sunday in Des Moines, Iowa.
Victoria Anthony, Helen Maroulis, Justina DiStasio and Jenna McLatchy all won two matches on the final day, but that wasn’t enough despite both schools winning five bouts each.
In the championship final, Darby Huckle opened the competition with a win over Shannon Constantine at 101 pounds, while Anthony pinned Samantha Kingel at 109 lbs.
King responded with five wins in the next six matches, building a big lead.
Maroulis got SFU back in it with a technical fall over Kayla Brendlinger at 130 lbs.
Seniors DiStasio and McLatchy wrapped up the duals with wins at 170 and 191 lbs., respectively, but the point total was not enough.
“We tied 5-5 and it came down to my last two seniors,” said SFU head coach Mike Jones. “But (the point structure of the duals) is a different focus. … What cost us was our young kids got majored.”
DiStasio won by technical fall over Lorrie-Ann Ramos and McLatchy beat Malexsis McAdoo by decision.
In the semifinals against Oklahoma City, Anthony scored her first win of the day with a technical fall over Kristi Garr at 109 pounds.
Maroulis scored with a pin over Tanalei Louis at 130 lbs. Maegan Kuruvita, the best of a promising group of SFU freshmen, beat Beatrize Marinez on points at 143 lbs.
DiStasio and McLatchy both won on a pin over Sherese Thomas and Heather O’Connor, respectively.
It was the fifth time SFU has defeated the powerhouse Oklahoma City program.
“They make it easy to like to win,” said Jones of the 10-point win over Oklahoma City.
SFU started off the national duals, winning nine of 10 matches in a 38-6 victory against the University of Cumberlands on Saturday.
Huckle led off with a technical fall over Sarah Allen.
Anthony easily won her match by a fall, before Nikki Brar defeated Sherri Berube at 116 lbs.
Laura Anderson won a technical fall against Kristin Yamasaki at 123 lbs., while Maroulis pinned Darby Newman at 130 lbs.
Kuruvita won by technical fall over Olivia Cepak and New Westminster’s Monica Podgorski also defeated Deangela Castex by technical fall at 155 lbs.
DiStasio and McLatchy both won their respective weight classes by technical superiority.
“It was a good result. We always want to win, but it gave us a good idea of where we have to pull up our socks,” Jones added.
The Clan will be back in action next week at the national championships in St. Louis, Missouri, beginning Jan. 24.
Jones believes SFU will likely be ranked No. 3 heading into the nationals.
The SFU men’s team will be in action on Monday, Jan. 20 in a dual meet at home against Emery-Riddle. The bouts begin at 7 p.m.
