Freshman Sadie Kaneda (top) went undefeated for Valley's lone gold medal at the tough MVC Showdown. [Click to enlarge]

The Missouri Valley College women's wrestling team found stiff competition at its first home event of the season, Saturday's MVC Showcase in the Burns Athletic Center.

The meet featured five of the top-ranked college grapplers, all from No. 1 Cumberland (Ky.), including the highest-rated U.S. Senior wrestler in junior Alaina Berube. Because of the presence of the Lady Patriots, Valley didn't dominate the tournament as it did the U.S. College Nationals the previous week in California -- where the Lady Vikings won gold medals in six of the eight weight classes -- but came away better prepared for high-level tests to come.

Valley's lone champion was freshman Sadie Kaneda in the 51-kilogram class. Ranked seventh among Senior women at 48 kilos, the Honolulu, Hawaii, native won three bouts -- including a two-round victory over No. 10 Deseree Cazares of Cumberland -- before being declared the winner by default. Eighth-ranked MVC junior Tabithia Ramsey won all three of her matches before forfeiting to finish second.

Also placing second was junior Kelly Branham (67 Kg), her only loss to Cumberland freshman Heather Martin, No. 3 in the Senior poll. Freshman Astrid Gomez moved up two weight classes to split four matches for third place.

The only loss for sophomore Clarissa Calibuso (55) was to No. 6 sophomore Othella Lucas of the Lady Patriots, otherwise she pinned two of three foes for a silver medal.

Sophomore Julie Duarte (59) got to face third-ranked Cumberland sophomore Suekoiya Shelly in the finals after beating former Valley all-American Leigh Jaynes in the semis. Duarte gave a good accounting of herself during a 4-1, 2-0 loss to Shelly.

Freshman Brittney Jones (72) had to take on Cumberland freshman Tabitha Golt, No. 10 at 80 kilos, to open round-robin action, but rebounded from that setback with two wins for second.

Sophomores Alecia McCoy (80) and Selina Perez (72) were third in four-entry divisions and freshmen Rachel Billerbeck (63) and Maria Dunn (59) were fourth in more substantial weight classes. In all, three groups had seven or more wrestlers and the 46-person field was significantly more potent than that of the previous week -- especially considering the addition of post-graduate athletes.

The Showcase also included younger wrestlers -- including a 5-year-old -- in the Novice, Junior and Cadet divisions. It provided an opportunity for girls who usually have to take on boys in folk style wrestling to face their own gender in freestyle.

The Lady Vikings will continue to see Senior wrestlers this weekend when they go to San Diego for the FILA Body Bar Nationals.