Five Champions Crowned at Mile High Open

PRESCOTT, Ariz. — The Doane University women's wrestling team posted a strong tournament performances on Friday, winning five individual titles and placing multiple athletes on the podium at the Embry-Riddle Mile High Open. The Tigers earned the team championship, posting 196 points, with Utah Tech taking second with 131.5 points.

At 103 pounds, Karina Vang claimed the title and scored 18 team points. Vang opened with a 6-5 quarterfinal decision before earning back-to-back pins, including a fall in 1:15 in the championship match. Teammate Kimberly Navarette finished third in the bracket, bouncing back from a semifinal loss to win her final two matches, including a pin in 1:28 in the bronze bout.

In another strong lower-weight showing, Angelica Vicente Gonzalez captured the 117-pound title after a first-round bye. Vicente Gonzalez tallied a tech fall, a pin in 1:22 and a 10-0 tech fall over teammate Bettie Chambers in an all-Doane final. Chambers placed second with 18 points after picking up two tech falls and a semifinal pin.

At 124, Cristelle Rodriguez remained dominant throughout the day. Rodriguez opened with a 50-second fall and added three straight 10-0 tech falls to secure the title and a team-high 21.5 points.

Payton Weese delivered another championship for the Tigers at 138 pounds, winning by decision in the first round, notching a 10-0 tech fall in the quarterfinals and scoring pins in both the semifinal (1:55) and title match (4:16).

In the upper weights, Jessica Rodriguez earned the 207-pound championship. She posted tech falls in her first two bouts before closing the tournament with a pin in 1:09 to seal the bracket.

Several other Tigers turned in key podium finishes.
At 110 pounds, Isabela Gutierrez placed fifth after posting three wins, winning by pin with two tech fall victories, including the final match, a 10-0 victory over Caley Kling of Colorado State.

At 131, Ashlee Palimo finished third after battling through the consolation bracket. Palimo went 4-1 on the day, highlighted by a 13-0 tech fall, a pin late in the second period and a 9-2 decision over teammate Sienna Long. Long placed sixth after opening with a fall and a 16-6 tech fall.

At 145, Bridgette Sotomayor recorded one of the team's best comeback efforts. After dropping her opening match, Sotomayor won five straight in the consolation rounds — all by bonus points — including three first-period pins and a 10-6 decision to take third.

At 160, Aspen Barber placed third with four straight tech falls in the consolation bracket before earning an 8-5 win in the medal match.

At 180, Yazmin Belk finished fifth after posting three pins and securing her final win with a 9-5 decision.

With champions across multiple divisions and consistent depth throughout the lineup, the Tigers' performance in Arizona highlighted the program's growing strength within the GPAC and NAIA.

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