
Nwachukwu Dominates Field for Title in Statesmen Debut
Forest City--The William Penn women's wrestling team sent another small crew into competition as it tip-toes into the campaign, but again came up with huge results as it competed at the Waldorf Open Saturday.
Adaugo Nwachukwu (Jr., San Jose, Calif., Exercise Science) headlined the navy and gold in her William Penn debut, going 4-0 with four technical falls as she wrestled up a weight at 143 pounds. The junior was set to face Madison Diaz of Grand View in the finals, but Diaz forfeited to Nwachukwu for the crown.
Joanna Vanderwood (Jr., Graham, Wash., Nursing) also reached the title bout at 130 pounds, posting a 3-1 record to take second place. The junior won once by fall and twice by technical fall, but fell 10-0 to Kylie Rule of Wartburg in the finals.
123-pounder Grecia Martinez (So., Horizon City, Texas, Engineering), in fourth, and 143-pounder Ashleigh Denny (Jr., El Paso, Texas, Biology), in sixth, both placed at the Open. Martinez went 4-2 with a pair of falls and a pair of technical falls, while Denny was 4-3 with two falls and two technical falls.
Mya Turnmire (Sr., Machesney Park, Ill., Sports Management), wrestling up two classes at 116, won twice as well (one fall, one technical fall).
101-pounder Rachel Cotter (So., Katy, Texas Public Accounting) and 191-pounders Samantha Ruano (Sr., Romeoville, Ill., Business Management) and Grace Gray (So., Ankeny, Iowa, New Media) all pinned one opponent, while 130-pounder Tatiana Garcia (So., Amarillo, Texas, Undecided) and 155-pounder Kylee Eastwood (So., Fontana, Kan., Biology) both had their hands raised once each.
"Overall, a lot of good things can be taken from today," Head Coach Jake Kadel said. "There was a lot of good competition and teams there and we were dealt a couple of tough first-round draws that we had to overcome. We still have a quite a few little things to work on, but it is early in the season. I am really proud of Grecia's performance today, as well as that of Joanna and Adaugo's."
Next Up: William Penn travels to Marshall, Mo. next Friday and Saturday to compete in the Missouri Valley Open.