Dragons battle nation's best at Missouri Valley Open

Tiffin University's Taylor Hites was one of two unbeaten Dragons after day one of the Missouri Valley Open.
Tiffin University's Taylor Hites was one of two unbeaten Dragons after day one of the Missouri Valley Open.

Tiffin University had two wrestlers still unbeaten and numerous others alive in consolation rounds after day one of the Missouri Valley Open.

The Open, which showcases some of the nation's best women's wrestling teams, was led by King University with 95 points, just ahead of McKendree's 91. North Central was 3rd with 81. Tiffin stood in 9th place of 38 teams with 52.5 points heading into day two.

Olivia Shore at 101 pounds and Taylor Hites at 155 pounds remained in the championship bracket. 

Shore had pin fall victories over Grand View in 4:22 and King in 2:02 before posting a tech fall win over Indiana Tech 10-0.

Hites, meanwhile, had falls over Oklahoma City in 3:40 and Northern Michigan in 1:14.

Numerous Dragons continued to battle in the consolation rounds. 

Shanna Morris (101) had tech fall wins over Life (12-2) and King (10-0) while also posting a 9-2 win over Missouri Baptist.

Sugey Ceja (116) had tech falls over North Central 10-0 and Campbellsville 10-0 before losing for the first time in the quarterfinals against King by fall in 2:52.

Ariana Carrasquillo (130) bounced back from an opening round loss to post three straight wins, all by fall over Missouri Baptist in 1:06, Menlo in :21, and Midland in :50.

Aliya Martin (155) had a tech fall win 10-0 over William Penn and a pin over Cumberlands in :59.

Also posting wins before exiting the Open were Trinity Oredina at 109 pounds (pin over York in 1:49, tech fall over Friends 11-0), Sairra Tapp at 130 (4-2 over Friends), Paige Lenhardt at 143 (tech fall over Baker 11-0), Morgan Davidson at 170 (pin over St. Mary in 1:43), Taryn Martin at 170 (pin over North Central in :33), and Hollie Espinoza at 191 (pin over North Central in 1:41).

Wrestling will conclude Nov. 20.