Lady Vikings ranked fourth in pre-season poll

The Missouri Valley College women's wrestling team will begin the 2005 season where it ended the previous one in TheMat.com's North American College rankings: Fourth.

Considering the changes in personnel between March and November, when the pre-season poll was released, the Lady Vikings were probably glad to be that high -- trailing Simon Fraser (B.C.), Cumberland (Ky.) and Calgary (Alb.). Four of Valley's seven rated grapplers are no longer with the program -- Kiersten Hyatt and Mollie Kieth having graduated and Debbie Sakai and Brandy Golt moving on.

Among those returning, sophomore Stephany Lee of Honolulu, Hawaii, is the most heralded. Lee is ranked second to Cumberland senior Toccara Montgomery, a U.S. Olympic team member, in the 72 kilogram class after being No. 1 at 80 Kg in the spring poll. Lee won the PanAmerican Games and University National titles last year.

Also back in the rankings are juniors Brooke Bogren of Burlingame, Kan., and Kelly Branham of Apache Junction, Ariz. Bogren, a three-time all-American, is fifth at 59 Kg -- down from third. Branham, No. 8 at 67 Kg, like Bogren won the College Nationals in Marshall last March.

A major addition to the Lady Vikings' roster is junior Tabithia Ramsey of Elgin, Texas. She transfers from Minnesota-Morris, which dropped the program which it pioneered as the first U.S. college to offer women's wrestling. Ramsey, No. 6 at 51 Kg, is a veteran of the PanAm Games, University World Championships and other international competition. She was second in the University and U.S. Girls' Wrestling Association Nationals a year ago.

The latest U.S. Senior Women's rankings, which also came out in November, is heavily populated with current and former Valley wrestlers. Ramsey is eighth and sophomore Maika Watanabe of Napa, Calif., 10th at 51 Kg, Bogren is seventh at 59 Kg, Branham holds down No. 5 at 67 Kg and Lee comes in third at 72 Kg.

Among the 10 ex-Vikings in the poll are Clarissa Chun -- No. 2 behind Olympian Patricia Miranda at 48 Kg -- Grace Magnussen and Donell Bradley, all part of MVC's inaugural team in 2000.

There are 19 freshmen on Valley's pre-season roster, 10 from Texas. Returning lettermen include sophomores Clarissa Calibuso, Erika Chew, Sandy Do and Julie Duarte.

The Lady Vikings will kick off the campaign with the Purple and Orange Scrimmage on Jan. 15, followed by the NWCA National Duals at Cleveland on Jan. 23. An interesting addition to the schedule will be the Missouri Valley College Showcase on April 1-3, which will feature both college-level and youth wrestlers -- seven age groups ranging from the 18- to 24-year-olds in the University division to 7- and 8-year-olds in the bantam class.