Two Doane women's wrestlers earn NAIA All-American honors to cap inaugural season

JAMESTOWN, ND — Doane Women's Wrestling closed out their first season of competition on Saturday at the NAIA National Championships in Jamestown, N.D. The Tigers finished 15th overall with 33.5 points in the tournament.
Cristelle Rodriguez opened the final day of action in the 130 semifinals as she took on defending national champion and top seed, Lexie Basham of Texas Wesleyan. Basham struck first with a takedown with 41 seconds left in the first period. She landed a four-point takedown early in the second period for a 6-0 lead. Rodriguez snagged a takedown with 13 seconds left but was unable to add to it as she fell 6-2.
In the consolation bracket, Rodriguez defeated 3-seed Skye Realin of Central Methodist (Mo.). Realin scored first and led 2-1 after three minutes. Rodriguez took the lead with a four-point takedown early in the second. She would add four more points in posting a 9-3 win.
In the Third Place match, Rodriguez faced 6-seed Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp of Providence (Mont.). Rodriguez landed the first two takedowns to take a 4-0 lead after three minutes. In the second period, Estrella-Beauchamp cut the lead in half with a takedown. Rodriguez sealed the win with a takedown with 1:40 to go as she held the 2021 national champion at 143 scoreless the remainder of the match.
Karina Vang started her day in the consolation bracket against 12-seed Tianna Fernandez of Menlo (Calif.). Vang recorded the first takedown with Fernandez tying the match at the 1:03 mark of the opening period. Vang landed a takedown 15 seconds later that was turned into a pin at 2:14.
In the consolation semifinals, 4-seed Elizabeth Dosado of Cumberlands (Ky.) hit a takedown that turned into a pin at 1:46. In the Fifth Place match, Vang faced another Menlo wrestler in 11-seed Kayla McKinley-Johnson. Vang dropped the match by tech fall, 10-0. She earned All-American honors with her Sixth Place finish.