Josh Kim won four straight matches to claim the championship at 184 pounds last week at the Boxer Open, held at the Stoller Center on the campus of Pacific University.
Kim allowed just six points to his opponents as he cruised through the round-robin bracket. His ledger included a pair of technical falls over Zach Wardle of Clackamas Community College and Central Washington's Andrew Huerta. The sophomore from Toronto, Ont., won by decision over Ishmael Rubio (Southwest Oregon Community College), 6-3, in the semifinal, and then won by decision over Tanner Fischer of Southern Oregon University, 10-3, for the championship.
“It was a good win for Josh, he wrestled in control and managed his opponents,” said Clan head coach Justin Abdou in a school press release. “He won four straight without giving up a takedown for his first title since last year’s junior nationals.”
Morgan Smith, a redshirt freshman from Lynnwood, Washington, finished second at 174 lbs.
After a quarter-final victory by major decision over Hunter Taylor (Highline Community College), 15-3, Smith advanced to the championship match with a bye.
The first-place match went to overtime before Smith eventually lost to Ali Alshujery of Oregon State University, 5-3.
“Morgan got his opponent to overtime but did not keep his composure,” said Abdou. “He got anxious and gave up a sloppy takedown.”
Watkins was coming off of an ankle injury suffered in last week’s matches.
“He was not as sharp in the final and lost his focus,” said Abdou. “He needs to get some more matches in next few weeks if he is going to compete for an NCAA berth this year.”
SFU sophomore Reid Watkins (Okotoks, AB) placed third at 165-pounds and sophomore heavyweight Sean Molle (Calgary, AB) was fifth.
Women live up to ranking
The Simon Fraser University women’s wrestling team lived up to its No. 4 ranking in the Women’s College Wrestling Association, as Clan wrestlers dominated the Boxer Open Sunday held on the campus of Pacific University.
Led by graduate student Bailley Halvorson, the No. 1-ranked wrestler at 155 lbs., the Clan dominated the weight classes in the tournament.
A native of Thunder Bay, Ont., Halvorson was 10-0 to start the season and has compiled a 24-2 record after winning two matches in her weight class Sunday. Halvorson is fully recovered from an ACL injury suffered last season that disrupted her senior year.
“Bailley is one of our leaders and she has worked very hard to recover from her injury,” said Clan head coach Mike Jones. “She’s a tough kid with a lot of confidence. This year, she has been more aggressive, and with her experience, she’s in control of her matches and getting the results.”
With eight wrestlers ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight classes, Simon Fraser is ranked fourth in the WCWA team standings behind top-ranked King’s College (NCAA Div II), Oklahoma City University (NAIA) and Lindenwood University (NCAA Div II).
SFU junior Darby Huckle (Sarnia, Ont.) is ranked No. 4 at 101 lbs. and she won all three of her matches at the Boxer Open by technical fall to improve her season record to 24-3.
Clan sophomore Jennifer Anderson (Pullayup, Washington) is rated fourth at 130 lbs., and after going 3-2 this weekend, is 25-7 on the season.
Freshman Abby Lloyd is ranked No. 6 at 109 lbs., the only ranked freshman in her weight class. Lloyd, a five-time Canadian national judo champion, won all four of her matches Sunday without giving up a point to run her season record to 32-6 in her first year of collegiate wrestling.
SFU has two ranked wrestlers in the 116-lbs. weight class. Seniors Laura Anderson (La Quinta, CA) and Nikkie Brar (Abbotsford, BC) are rated fifth and sixth, respectively. Laura Anderson wrestled at 123 lbs. at the Boxer Open and finished 4-1. She is off to a 17-4 start. Brar won two matches Sunday to improve to 24-5.
Junior Monika Podgoski (New Westminster, BC), who is 10-5 after two victories Sunday, is ranked eighth while freshman Payten Smith (Maple Ridge, BC) is No. 8 at 191 lbs. Smith has started her collegiate career 19-3.
The Clan does not have any ranked wrestlers at 123, 136, or 143 lbs.
The Women’s College Wrestling Association National Championships begin February 12 in St. Louis, Missouri.
