Women’s wrestlers make history for Menlo College

That changed over the weekend as the Menlo Oaks earned their school’s first-ever national crown Saturday at the Cobb County Civic Center in the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association National Championship.

“We knew we were coming in the favorites, and we had a big possibility this weekend to get it done,” Menlo College head coach Joey Bareng said. “But I want to say there was definitely some nerves on the part of the team.”

Those nerves turned into an outpouring of celebration Saturday when junior Solin Piearcy scored an 11-1 technical fall over King University’s Nicole Joseph in the 143-pound championship match, clinching the close victory for the Oaks.

Menlo College finished the tournament with 199.5 team points, topping second-place McKendree University with 189. Along with Piearcy, freshmen Alleida Martinez (109s) and Gracie Figueroa (116s), both out of Selma High School, topped the podium for individual national championships.

“If one of our kids doesn’t win any match they’re wrestling, we probably don’t win this thing,” Bareng said.

Piearcy is known for her even-keel temperament on the mat. Bareng said her normal reaction to a win is a simple smile. Not this time, though, as the junior knew what was at stake when she stepped onto the mat.

In the semifinals, the No. 3-ranked Piearcy was forced to battle back from a 4-1 deficit against No. 4 Kayla Marano of Emmanuel College. In the second period, she scored a leg lock and never let up, rallying for 13 unanswered points to win with a 14-4 tech fall. Then, in facing the No. 2 ranked Joseph, Piearcy needed to score an upset — and did.

“She was ecstatic,” Bareng said. “She knew she had won nationals for herself and for her team. She ran up and gave me a hug. It was incredible. It was a great moment for all of us.”

The Oaks have been contenders on the WCWA national stage for several years running now. Menlo took fifth place at the national tournament in each of the past two years. In 2016, the Oaks finished seventh.

Bareng credited Martinez and Figueroa, who he recruited as a tandem out of Selma, as the additions that put his NAIA program at the small Atherton private college over the top.

“We knew we were going to be in this position a while back, as early as last year,” Bareng said, “… and when we got our two Selma girls signed with us, it really sealed it as a possibility.”

The national championship also serves as a crowning achievement for senior Hiba Salem, a graduate of South City and 2015 Daily Journal Wrestler of the Year. Salem took fourth place in 101s, earning points for the Oaks and garnering All-American honors in the process, posting a 5-2 record in the tournament.

This marks Salem’s third All-American honor. She was an All-American in 2016 and ’17, but fell short as a junior last year.

“Last year she didn’t have such a great year at this one,” Bareng said. “It was the only one she didn’t get All-American. So this was redemption for her.”

Also placing for the Oaks: senior Iman Kazem placed second at 155s; junior Precious Bell placed fourth at 170s; sophomore Tiana Jackson placed sixth at 116s; sophomore Angela Peralta placed eighth at 143s; and sophomore Sara Aguilar placed eighth at 191s.

On hand to witness the national title was Menlo College vice president of athletics Keith Spataro, who started the wrestling program as Oaks head coach in 2001. Prior to that, Spataro served as an assistant coach at San Francisco State University, where in 1997 the Gators became the last wrestling team from California to with a national championship.

Menlo College’s season is not over. This season marks the first year the NAIA will hold a women’s wrestling championship. The Oaks will compete in the NAIA tournament March 15-16 in Jamestown, North Dakota.