MVC Round-up/Valley third at Collegiate Nationals

Valley sophomore Amberlee Ebert was a gold medalist at the Collegiate Nationals. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Missouri Valley College women's wrestling team brought home 14 medals Saturday from the Collegiate National Championships at Oklahoma City.

The Lady Vikings had only one finalist, top-ranked sophomore Amberlee Ebert of Reedsville, Wis., who beat former MVC grappler Ashley Sword of the host Stars in the 67 kilogram finals, 0-3, 3-0, 1-1. Third-ranked Valley finished third in the team standings with 68 points behind No. 1 Cumberland (Ky.) and second-rated Oklahoma City -- the Lady Patriots winning by a point, 118-117.

The Lady Vikings took the third through six spots in the 63 kilogram class, junior Karen Howe finishing ahead of sophomores Samantha Richardson, Clara Curtiss and Shamaine Danner. Also winning bronze medals were senior Samantha Schuman (55 kg) and sophomore Samantha Fee (59).

A fourth-place finish was recorded by senior Angelee Homma, while sophomore Vanessa Nordstrom (44), senior Courtney Martell (51), freshman Zinna Anyanwuh (67) and freshman Katie McClanahan (95) all came in fifth.

During the meet, coaches formed the Women's College Wrestling Association to oversee the sport, which is not sanctioned by the NCAA or NAIA. A proposal to change the season schedule was adopted, which would move the Collegiate Nationals in late January at rotating two-year sites -- Missouri Valley selected for 2010-11.

Coaches also approved establishing eligibility rules. Changing schools and clubs has been rampant since Minnesota-Morris, which no longer has a program, began competing in the sport in 1998.

Meanwhile, the MVC Women's Showcase, scheduled for Saturday in the Burns Athletic Center, has been canceled.

Jewell takes two from Vikes

LIBERTY -- Heart of America Conference leader William Jewell took two games Wednesday from the visiting Missouri Valley College baseball team to extend its winning streak to 12 games.

The Cardinals, ranked third in NAIA Region V, had to come from behind to win the opener, 6-3. Singles by senior Kyle Eley and junior Kevin Challoner produced a run for the Vikings in the fourth inning, with two more coming in on junior Steven Montijo's two-out single in the sixth.

Jewell rallied for five runs in the bottom of the sixth, banging out six hits -- a single by junior Colt Ferguson driving in the game-winning run.

The Cardinals (19-5, 6-0 HAAC) carried the momentum into the nightcap, a 10-0, six-inning rout. Junior Darren O'Brien tossed the one-hit shutout, striking out 12 batters, and seniors Jeremy Strack and Zach Kohan each knocked in three runs.

The Vikings (9-15, 3-5) will entertain Baker Saturday at Osage Field.

Flores qualifies for NAIA

FREMONT, Neb. -- Senior Anthony Flores is the first Missouri Valley College track and field athlete to qualify for the NAIA Championships in the outdoor season.

Flores finished fourth Saturday at the Midland Lutheran Half-Marathon in Fremont, Neb. His time of one hour, 11 minutes and 22 seconds put him three minutes, 78 seconds under the automatic qualifying standard. Flores came in nearly three minutes behind the race winner, South Dakota State senior Andrew Van Nurden.

The Vikings will open the season Saturday at the Baker Invitational.