Four Wildcats win their weight divisions; four others are runners-up
ALMA, Mich. – The Northern Michigan women’s team found resounding success at the Alma College Open on Sunday, earning four 1st place finishes and four more runner-up finishes.
Northern’s best representation came in the contention at the 117 weight class, where Yu Sakamoto and Sara Schroder each recorded a pair of tech fall wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals to advance to the championship tilt against each other. Sakamoto would come out on top with a tech fall win, with Schroder taking 2nd place.
At 145, Alissa Caltagirone flew through the competition for another 1st place finish. Caltagirone notched tech fall wins in the champ. round 1 and the quarterfinal, won by fall at 1:35 in the semifinal, and then took care of business in the championship with another tech fall victory.
Clarissa Wangen made it three Green and Gold victories at 180, winning in a variety of fashions including tech fall, fall in a time of 1:00, and by decision.
The Wildcats also saw a lot of success at 207, where Kailyn Garrett took 1st, Ozioma Ogu placed 2nd, and Teni Ajayi earned 4th. Garrett picked up a pair of wins by fall at 0:42 and 1:16 before following that up with two tech fall wins. Ogu recorded two victories in her bouts, one by fall at 5:51 and the other by tech fall. Ajayi had two decision victories to her credit.
Zhivanna Magdaleno earned a runner-up finish in the 124 weight class. Two tech falls wins advanced Magdaleno to the championship match before she fell by fall at the end of the first round.
The last 2nd place finish for the Wildcats came from Mickaela Keane at 180. Keane earned three wins, coming by tech fall, decision, and by fall at 2:07.
Elsewhere on the mat, Sophia Bassino claimed a 3rd place finish. At 160, Bassino had three wins by tech fall, fall at 1:31, and by injury default. Ruby Joseph added a victory to her credit at 160 as well, winning by fall at 1:15 in a quarterfinal match.
