GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Mountaineer Women's Wrestling had a solid performance at the 2022 CCC Championships, presented by U.S. Bank on Sunday as the team placed fourth overall. Eastern Oregon scored 106 points to place in the top-five and had three grapplers win individual crowns.

Highlighting the day for the Mountaineer women was the performances of Macy Higa at 123 pounds, Morgan Shines at 143 pounds, and Olivia Robinson at 170 pounds. The trio all won their first career CCC Titles and became the second, third and fourth CCC Champions in program history. 

In all, including the champions, Eastern had six wrestlers earn All-CCC honors and nine total placewinners on the day. Joining Higa, Shines, and Robinson as All-CCC selections were Kaylee Moore at 130 pounds (2nd), Stephanie Blankenship at 109 pounds (3rd), and Nayeli Maston at 143 pounds (3rd).

Rounding out the placewinners for Eastern was Dempsi Talkington at 155 pounds (4th), Nayeli Flores Roque at 101 pounds (5th), and Krystal Fabricante at 136 pounds (6th).

Higa was 2-0 in her weight class en route to her first career title. She received a bye in the quarterfinals to get to the semifinals. In the semis, she made quick work of her opponent, pinning Lizette Young of Menlo College in 1:16. In the championship bout, Higa scored an 11-0 tech fall to secure the win. She defeated Carolina Moreno in 1:58 for the victory.

Shines was also 2-0 on the day after receiving a bye in the quarterfinals. Both of her wins were superb as she posted a pair of tech falls. In the semifinals, Shines posted a 12-0 tech fall over Morgan Mackey of Providence. She mirrored her score, 12-0, in the championship match. She posted the shutout over Ramona Jimenez of Southern Oregon.

Robinson's day was the shortest of the three champions. She received byes in both the quarterfinals and semifinals to automatically advance to the championship. In the finals, Robinson battled to a 7-1 decision victory over Dennis Bailey of Southern Oregon.

Moore was the lone runner-up for the Mountaineers as she posted a 2-1 record at 130 pounds. She opened the day with a hard fought 11-8 decision in the quarterfinals. She then posted a 14-4 tech fall in the semifinals to advance to the championship. In the finals, Moore suffered a 10-0 tech fall defeat.

Blankenship was 2-1 at 109 pounds to place third. She received a bye in the quarterfinals before dropping a 12-2 tech fall in the semifinal round. She bounced back, winning her final two matches, both by way of decision. Her first win was an 8-0 decision in the consolation semifinals. In the third place match she scored a 17-10 decision to earn a podium finish.

Maston finished 1-1 on the day at 143 pounds. She started with a bye in the quarterfinals and fell via a 6-0 decision in the semifinals. In the consolation bracket, she received a bye yet again in the semifinals. In her second match, Maston posted an 8-0 decision in the third place match to secure her spot on the podium.

Talkington just missed out on a podium finish, placing fourth with a 2-2 record. She got things started with a pin in 2:08 in the quarterfinals. In the semis, she dropped a close 3-2 decision to move into the consolation bracket. In the consolation semifinals, Talkington responded with another pin, this time in 1:32. In the podium match, she came up short, falling via a 4-0 decision. 

Flores Roque was 1-2 at 101 pounds. Her lone win came in the fifth place match as she posted a fall in 4:34 to secure her top-five finish. Fabricante was 0-3 at 136 pounds.

The Mountaineers will have the potential to send 12 athletes to this year's NAIA National Invite, which will take place March 11-12 in Jamestown, N.D. Those selected will be announced later this coming week.

FOLLOW EOU ATHLETICS