2019 SFU International Open Recap: Bruntil Stuns the Field, McKendree & King Shine
30 teams gathered to compete at the 2019 Simon Fraser University Open.
by Derek Levendusky, AWW staff writer
BURNABY, BC - In a field loaded with elite talent, including #2 U.S. Senior level athlete Victoria Anthony and numerous Canadian national team members, the McKendree Bearcats placed all ten wrestlers and King placed seven. No star shone brighter than McKendree 62 kg freshman Emma Bruntil, who started her college career with a bang. After edging 2019 Canadian Senior world teamer Jessica Broulette 6-5 in the quarters, she followed it up with a convincing 10-0 tech fall over #1 ranked Nicole Joseph (King) to make the finals. In the gold match, Bruntil had no problem with Canadian Julie Steffler, winning the title 10-0.
McKendree’s returning national champion, Alexandria Glaude, also won the 72 kg title, defeating Brock Wrestling Club’s Skylar Grote 6-1 in the finals. Glaude’s returning All-American teammate, #3 ranked Joye Levendusky, took the bronze in the same weight class with a 10-0 tech fall over Simon Fraser’s #5 ranked Chloe Rogers.
In all, 9 out of 10 Bearcats placed in the top 3, with only 53 kg Theresa Rankin placing 4th, though her day included an upset win over #1 NCAA ranked Ciara McCrae of Simon Fraser 9-7 in the quarters. 57 kg Alexia Ward, 76 kg Kori Bullock, and 90 kg Sydnee Kimber all took 2nd for McKendree. 68 kg Grace Kristoff and 76 kg Andrea Sennett also took 3rd for the Illinois-based program.
King University also had a stellar day, with 7 of their 9 competitors finishing in the top 4. Their performance included 2 gold medals, 1 silver, and 2 bronze. 59 kg Alyssa Aceval and 65 kg Ashlynn Ortega both took 1st, with Ortega taking down experienced Canadian world teamer & 2016 Olympian Michelle Fazzari in the finals 3-1, a 32-year-old world bronze medalist that was ranked #2 in the world at one point. Freshman hammer Phoenix Dubose took 2nd for King, falling to SFU/TMWCs Alex Hedrick 7-2.
Besides Hedrick, Simon Fraser also had a champion at 90 kg, as Emily Cue defeated McKendree sophomore Sydnee Kimber.
TOP 6 RESULTS
Finals
50 kg: Victoria Anthony (Dino WC) over Jess MacDonald (Brock WC) by forfeit
53 kg: Jade Parsons (Brock WC) over Karla Godinez-Gonzales (BMWC) by dec. 4-3
55 kg: Alex Hedrick (TMWC) over Phoenix Dubose (King) by dec. 7-2
57 kg: Amy Bellavia (Dino WC) over Alexia Ward (McKendree) by fall 4:02
59 kg: Alyssa Aceval (King) over Kaylee Gaines (unattached) by fall :19
62 kg: Emma Bruntil (McKendree) over Julia Steffler (Brock WC) by tech fall 10-0
65 kg: Ashlynn Ortega (King) over Michelle Fazzari (Brock WC) by dec. 3-1
68 kg: Danielle Lappage (Dino WC) over Olivia Dibacco (Brock WC) Inj. 0:00
72 kg: Alex Glaude (McKendree) over Skylar Grote (Brock WC) by dec. 6-1
76 kg: Justina DiStasio (BMWC) over Kori Bullock (McKendree) by dec. 5-4
90 kg: Emily Cue (SFU) over Sydnee Kimber (McKendree) by dec. 12-4
90+ kg: Amanda Silveri (SFU-U) over Reggan Grade (Big Bend CC) by fall 2:00
3rd place matches
50 kg: Natalie Reyna (McKendree) over Alexia Seal (SFU) by dec. 9-4
53 kg: Daniella Garcia (King) over Theresa Rankin (McKendree) by fall 3:21
55 kg: Makayla Welch (King) over Tori Seal (SFU-U) by dec. 14-11
57 kg: Emily Schaeffer (Brock WC) over Allison Petix (King) by fall 2:19
59 kg: Jillian Yates (Gray’s Harbour)
62 kg: Jess Broulette (Brock WC) over Nicole Joseph (King) by tech fall 12-2
65 kg: Katie Mulkay (Bears WC) over Bri Csontos (TMWC) by dec. 10-4
68 kg: Grace Kristoff (McKendree) over Paige Maher (Alberni WC) by fall :48
72 kg: Joye Levendusky (McKendree) over Chloe Rogers (SFU) by tech fall 10-0
76 kg: Andrea Sennett (McKendree) over Dejah Slater (Team Impact) by dec. 3-2
90 kg: Serena Woldring (SFU) over Sila Fotu (Gray’s Harbor)
5th place matches
50 kg: Vivica Addo (Bears WC) over Karah Bulaqui (SFU) by fall 2:26
53 kg: Tayler McPherson (Bears WC) over Jessica DeHart (EOU-unattached) by criteria 6-6
55 kg: Marquises Haintz (KHALSA) over Jenna Petryna (Bears WC) by fall 3:51
57 kg: Tiana Bryant (Bears WC) over Krystal Fabricante (Eastern Oregon) by fall :36
59 kg: N/A
62 kg: Aliyah Yates (Big Bend CC) over Morgan Shines (EOU-unattached) Inj. 0:00
65 kg: Jade Holland (SFU-U) over Stephanie Mould (SFU-U) by dec. 6-2
68 kg: Anna Naylor (EOU-unattached) over Haley Bye (Cowichan WC) by fall :26
72 kg: Alison Horne (SFU) over Sara Brinkac (SFU) Inj. 0:00
76 kg: Emily Mitchell (EOU-unattached) over Emma Justo (Grays Harbor)
90 kg: Rebekah Trudel (SFU)