Region champ
Lange takes title; advances to national tourney
Martin County West graduate Katie Lange, a freshman with the Grand Valley State women’s wrestling program, won the 138-pound title at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships Region 5 tournament in Adrian, Mich. Saturday.
Lange, rated first in the country at 138, won her first match by fall and then won three matches by technical fall:
Round 1: Pinned Madison Cook (Carthage College) 0:37
Quarterfinals: Tech fall over Lilian Hernandez (Aurora) 1:49 (12-2)
Semifinals: Tech fall over Alissa Caltagirone (Northern Michigan) 3:51 (10-0)
Championship: Tech fall over Taylor Graveman (North Central College) 6:00 (11-3)
Lange is now 14-0 on the season. Grand Valley State is rated fifth as a team.
The Lakers were second in the team standings at the region tourney. No. 2 North Central was first with 173 points, with GVSU next with 171.5 points.
Lange scored 21.5 team points, tied for most in the tournament. She scored 39 match points, which was second in that category.
Grand Valley is coached by Simley graduate Jake Short, who was named Region 5 Coach of the Year.
Lange will compete in the NCWWC National Championships March 7-8 at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.