Leonhardt wins 124-pound crown at DIII National Invitational

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Freshman Morgan Leonhardt won the 124-pound bracket to lead the Otterbein University women's wrestling team at the ultra-competitive Division III National Invitational. She was a perfect 5-0 on the weekend, helping the Cardinals finish in seventh place out of 32 teams, scoring 74.5 points.

In her first match, Leonhardt needed just 41 seconds to pin Ithaca's Sophia Torian. She followed with another fall in 2:56 against Sophia Renteria (Adrian) and grinded out an 11-6 victory to advance to the semifinals. In the semis, Leonhardt worked her way to a 14-4 technical fall over Shai Curtiss (Alma) before another tech fall in the championship bout over Natasha Markoutsis (Aurora, 12-2).

Vita Savage's impressive freshman campaign rolled into the weekend with a 3-2 record. She pinned Lyon's Kaylei Parish in 1:24 in her opening bout. Coming off a tough 10-7 loss, she responded by recording a 10-0 tech fall over Chelsea Beaver (Augsburg). Savage went on to earn her second technical fall of the weekend, another 10-0 score before bowing out in a 6-2 loss to Mia Vazquez (Augustana).

Kellie Kennedy finished the weekend 0-2 at 110, facing a pair of tough competitors.

Sophomore Emma Rinehart finished the weekend 1-2 overall, wrestling at 124. Rinehart earned her victory in an 8-2 decision over Sophia Torian of Ithaca.

Alicia Coleman and Kira Cole placed fifth and sixth at 131 to score points for the Cardinals. Four of Coleman's victories on the weekend came via falls in times of 1:53, :43, 4:56 and 2:34. She also added a 10-0 technical fall in her opening bout on Saturday. Cole added a pair of falls and a pair of tech falls en route to placing in her weight class. Her biggest win of the weekend was a fall in 1:27 over Elsie Triplett (UW-Stevens Point).

At 138, freshman Abby Green finished the weekend 1-2. Her win came in a 10-0 technical fall over Eureka's Krisean Buchana in 2:44. Raegan Briggs also went 1-2 at 138, earning a fall in 1:15 over Naomi Castillo-Posadas (MSOE).

Jada Weiss placed seventh at 145, after a 4-2 performance. Weiss started the weekend with back to back wins over Jillian Giller (Illinois Wesleyan) and Kelly Ladd (Augustana). Dropping her next bout, she responded with a 12-0 tech fall over Augustana's Gia Ritter. After a tight loss in her next match, she pinned Lana Zimmerman (UW-Stevens Point) in 2:16 to claim seventh. Finishing the weekend 2-2 was Sarah Abner, also competing at 145. She opened the weekend with an 11-8 decision over Buena Vista's Paige Baier and dropped her next bout to fall into the consolation bracket. She earned her second win in a 7-3 decision over Nellie Stagg (UW-Oshkosh).

Audrey Garcia turned in a 3-2 showing at 160. She opened the weekend with a 14-3 tech fall victory over Leilana Kollasch (Buena Vista) and dropped a tight decision in her next bout. She followed with a pin in 1:37 over Catherina Paz Garcia (Lyon) and a 12-8 decision over Albion's Brooklyn Sage before falling in her next match.

In the 180-pound bracket, Kaitlyn McCann's win of the weekend was an impressive 17-second pin over Natalie Gratschmayr (UW-Oshkosh). She went 1-2 in the event.

Otterbein will spend the next two weeks preparing for the Regional Tournament, hosted by Tiffin University Feb. 20-21. The top three placers in each weight class will advance to the National Championships.

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Players Mentioned

Raegan Briggs: Sophomore

Kellie Kennedy: Sophomore

Emma Rinehart: Sophomore

Alicia Coleman: Sophomore

Audrey Garcia: Freshman

Kira Cole: Freshman

Jada Weiss: Freshman

Vita Savage: Freshman

Morgan Leonhardt: Freshman

Sarah Abner: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Raegan Briggs
: Sophomore

Kellie Kennedy
: Sophomore

Emma Rinehart
: Sophomore

Alicia Coleman
: Sophomore

Audrey Garcia
: Freshman

Kira Cole
: Freshman

Jada Weiss
: Freshman

Vita Savage
: Freshman

Morgan Leonhardt
: Freshman

Sarah Abner
: Freshman