Valley women claim seven medals at University Nationals

With a fifth-place finish, sophomore Jennifer Germany of Chula Vista, Calif., was one of seven Lady Vikings to medal last week at the Body Bar University Nationals. (Photo by Zach Sims/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

COLORADO SPRINGS -- Seven Missouri Valley College women's wrestlers won medals last Friday at the Body Bar University National Championships in Colorado Springs.

None, however, finished in the top two spots needed to reserve a berth in the World Team Trials.

The best the Lady Vikings could do in a highly competitive weight class was fourth place at 48 kilograms by freshman Vanessa Nordstrom, coming in one position above freshman teammate Krista Camarillo.

Valley grapplers faced each other in two trophy matches for fifth place. Junior Courtney Martell defeated freshman Mary Shamblin at 55 kilograms, 6-0, 8-0, and sophomore Jennifer Germany pinned sophomore Karen Howe in 1:38 at 63 kg.

Freshman Amy Havens was one of only two wrestlers in the 77 kilogram division, losing two matches to ninth-ranked Megan Goldsmith of the Dinos Wrestling Club, 6-0, 5-0 in the first bout and by fall in the second.

Former MVC wrestler Ashley Sword took first place at 72 kilos and will represent the U.S. at the PanAm Championships next month in El Salvador.

Meanwhile, at the ASICS/FILA University Nationals in Akron, Ohio, former Valley all-American Nate Engel beat the U.S. Olympic Education Center's Terry Allison in the Greco-Roman 55 kg championships match with a second-period pin to win a spot in the PanAm meet.

The Lady Vikings have qualified four entries for the Trials, June 9-10 at Las Vegas: freshman Amberlee Ebert (67 kg) of Reedsville, Wis., for placing second at the College Nationals and fourth at the U.S. Senior Nationals, junior Emily Rinehart (63) of Orlando, Calif., for being the College Nationals runner up, senior Stephany Lee (72) of Honolulu as third-place finisher at the Senior Nationals and sophomore Lacey Novinska (72) of Fennimore, Wis., for coming in fifth at the same meet.