Although Christina Varland (left) won this early bout between Valley freshmen, Samantha Schuman claimed three victories on the back side for finish third. [Click to enlarge]

The field wasn't deep, but there was plenty of quality Saturday during the Showcase of Women's Wrestling in Missouri Valley College's Burns Athletic Center.

Not only were the nation's top two collegiate programs represented, No. 1 Cumberlands (Ky.) and the Lady Vikings, but grapplers from the U.S. Olympic Training Center and a 2004 Olympic silver medalist competed.

As it was, the young Valley squad was sometimes overmatched -- coming away without any gold medals -- but occasionally held up.

For example, junior Tabithia Ramsey (48 kilograms) notched a 3-0, 1-1 decision over Cumberlands' Aquilla Hills and only lost to the USOTC's Sadie Kaneda -- ranked 10th among U.S. Senior Women by TheMat.com -- by a 1-0, 2-0 margin in the championship round.

If not for an injury in the finals, sophomore Rachel Billerbeck (59) may have tested No. 4 Othella Lucas of Cumberlands -- voted the tourney's "outstanding" senior wrestler -- instead of settling for a silver medal. Although sophomore Chaneal Meletia (63) couldn't touch U.S. Olympian Sara McMann of the Sunkist Kids during a 5-0, 6-0 loss, her two wins were good for third place.

Sophomore Emily Rinehart (67) also won two of her three matches to come in second, which is where freshman Sara Hilliard (72) wound up with a split. A forfeit gave freshman Elizabeth Hernandez (80) second place.

The two deepest divisions were 51 and 55 kilograms. The only Lady Vikings' medal in the lighter class was a third place claimed by freshman Samantha Schuman by beating three of four opponents -- even after losing the first round to freshman teammate Christina Varland by fall. Schuman had to defeat the Oklahoma Bad Girlz' Joey Miller, ranked ninth at 48 kg, in the first wrestleback, 3-1, 0-1, 1-0, and sixth-rated MVC junior Maika Watanabe in the medal round, 1-0, 1-0, to take a prize.

Junior Clarissa Calibuso and sophomore Courtney Martell each won once at 55, but neither finished in the money. Also picking up a win was sophomore Maria Dunn (63). Two former Valley wrestlers now with the USOTC team medalled: second place for Kiersten Hyatt (63) and first for Donell Bradley (80), one of the members of the Lady Vikings' inaugural group in '99.

The Showcase also involved wrestlers from the bantam and midget youth divisions and cadets/juniors among those in high school.

Valley will take part in the Can-An Open this coming weekend at Lake Orion, Mich.