Parker-Borrero's highlight return of The Evergreen State College wrestling season

The Evergreen State College wrestling teams were off to a good start in college wrestling’s season opener this November. The women’s team competed in the Simon Fraser Open at Burnaby, British Columbia, while the men’s team participated in the Simpson Duals at Redding, CA, both held last Saturday, November 2. 

Flor “Jasmine” Parker Borrero led the women’s team, winning first place in the women’s 72-kilogram division. At the same time, freshman Ronnell Parker-Borrero impressed as he went 5-0 with three pins to carry the men’s team for its first win in the conference against Westcliff University.

Ranked in the preseason as NAIA’s #3 wrestler in the country in her weight class, Jasmine met all high expectations and proved that her #6 finish in the nationals last year was no fluke as she bested her opponents with relative ease, pinning unattached wrestler Belen Lopez at 16 seconds and downing Lene McCrackin of Simon Fraser at 40 seconds en route for a gold medal.

Also, in the same Simon Fraser tournament, last year’s All-American U-23 selection Nizhoni Tallman and rookie Karen Salas finished second in the 50-kilogram and 47-kilogram divisions, respectively. Elexis Kalar joins them, placing fifth in the round-robin play at 57 kilograms.

The 5-foot NAIA’s #11-ranked Tallman beat Victoria Stefanov of Edmonton WC by fall at the 4:52 mark, won in a close 5-4 points decision against Simon Fraser’s Kesley Louen, before folding to London-Western's Madison Parks in points in the final match.

The Geoducks placed 12th out of 23 teams competing at the Simon Fraser Open, with the hosts winning first.

Meanwhile, in the men’s Simpson Duals, the Geoducks won over Westcliff University 36-14 in overall accumulated points, their first win in the conference this season.

"Who I am most impressed with is freshman Ronnell Parker-Borrero who went 5-0 with three pins," said Evergreen Head Men's Wrestling Coach Greg Ford. "Another highlight was Jeramias Sandoval who went 4-1, losing his only match in overtime in a close scramble."

Freshman Horacio Godinez also finished 4-1, with his only loss recorded on points by the opponent at the buzzer. Isaias Rodriguez also had 2-0 in his first matches for the Geoducks, while recruits Mallachi Wallway and Mason Townsend registered their first wins for Evergreen.

Earlier in the event in Redding, the Geoducks lost to Southern Oregon, Fresno City College, and the host Simpson University.

Both teams will resume action this weekend. The women’s team will travel to Montana to join The Battle of the Rockies hosted by the University of Providence on November 9, while the men’s team will first take on North Idaho College on Friday, Nov. 8, in Maple Valley, Washington, and then travel to Stoller Center in Oregon to participate in the Mike Clock Open hosted by Pacific University on November 10.