Two place-winners, one NAIA qualifier highlight KCAC Championships

CRETE, Neb. – Morningside competed at the KCAC Championships for the first time Saturday in Crete, Nebraska and have their first NAIA qualifier.

Madeline Black and Melissa De La Torre are Morningside's first two place-winners at the conference tournament, and De La Torre earned a spot in the NAIA Tournament field with her fourth place finish.

After losing her first match of the day, De La Torre picked up wins by fall (2:09), decision, and fall (2:42) to make the third place match. Her fall in the consolation semifinals came against No. 3 Agatha Andrews of Jamestown. She lost her third place match, but with five wrestlers from the KCAC in the 191-pound weight class getting to go to nationals, De La Torre gets a spot.

Black placed sixth in the 130-pound bracket, battling her way through the consolation bracket most of the way. After losing her first matchup, Black earned wins by tech fall (10-0) and fall (1:17) to make the consolation semifinals. A 12-8 decision sent her to the fifth place match where she came up short to take sixth.

Morningside totaled 21.5 team points to come in 10th place in its inaugural season. The full NAIA Tournament field will be announced Tuesday, Feb. 27. The championships are held in Jamestown, North Dakota March 8-9.