5 NMU wrestlers earn titles at Pointer Open
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Northern Michigan University's Lillee Denson, left, has her arm raised by the referee signifying victory for a technical fall over North Central College's Zurri Zamora in a meet held at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Nov. 2. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
Some of their teammates also had podium finishes.
Team scores weren't kept, but Northern claimed half of the tournament's 10 weight classes, with no other program winning more than two.
The Wildcats' champions were junior Sophia Bassino at 160 pounds along with a quartet of freshmen -- Lillee Denson at 103 pounds, Cheyenne Frank at 117, Kandice Spry at 124 and Belicia Manuel at 145.
As a group, Northern wrestlers notched 29 technical fall wins, the most among 22 competing schools and clubs, according to an NMU Sports Information news release detailing the meet.
Some of the schools competing included North Central (Illinois), Cornell College (Iowa), Aurora (Illinois), Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Wartburg (Iowa) and the host W-SP Pointers.
Denson was named the Wrestler of the Week in Northern's league, the Great Lakes Valley Conference, after posting a 5-0 record in her first week of action.
She opened with a 10-0 tech fall in just 1 minute, 17 seconds, then added three more tech falls for her title at the Pointer Open, which followed a victory posted in a home dual against national powerhouse North Central College on Monday.
In Wisconsin, she clinched her title with a 13-1 tech fall victory over Genesis Ramirez of Aurora, who was ranked No. 2 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
Also in Wisconsin, Bassino picked up four consecutive technical fall victories, including three by 10-0 scores, in her championship effort.
Frank also impressed with five straight tech falls, including a 10-0 victory in just 28 seconds in her opening bout.
Spry had a trio of tech falls and a close 4-3 decision, capping her title with a 12-1 tech fall win.
And Manuel dominated with three tech falls, then a 6-0 win, and finishing with another tech fall in the finals.
Among other wrestlers, the Wildcats claimed two podium spots at 180. Freshman Kanata Richardson was runner-up with back-to-back tech falls before winning 5-2 to advance to the finals, while senior Mickaela Keane was fifth, starting with a tech fall and 5-1 victory.
Freshman Maddie Hayden was fourth at 207, getting a tech fall, 10-4 win and pin in her run, while junior Abbie Miles at 160 battled through to earn fifth place with a tech fall and pin.
Freshman Youstina Hanna at 138 collected four pins and reached the consolation first-place match, senior Zhivanna Magdaleno at 124 won a bout with a pin, sophomore Jamie Cook at 131 picked up two victories, junior Keaton Hood had a pin, and freshman Mya Brandenburg at 207 also got two wins.
NMU gets right back into action the next two weekends, starting with a trip to downstate Adrian College for the Adrian Duals on Saturday and Adrian Open on Sunday.
The following Saturday, Nov. 21, at 1 p.m. the Wildcats invite Aurora and Wisconsin-Stevens Point for a home triangular.
Story contents based on a pair of Northern Michigan University Sports Information press releases reviewing the meet and the honors. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.