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After 2 matches canceled by COVID in the opposing team, the regional qualifying tournament for the United States national was presented on February 20, where 4 fighters by weight were classified. Unlike previous matches, with the team competition mode, it was an individual competition.
Marta Ojeda got a sports scholarship from Tiffin University (Ohio) through the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, with a national ranking of No. 6 for a year of her university studies. Due to the pandemic, the Spanish fighter had to wait until January 8 to go to the US, so she did not have the opportunity to debut on January 9 at King’s University, 4th in the national ranking in Bristol (Tennessee). However, on January 16 he was able to make his home debut against Indiana Tech, winning by touching. In the same way, he won on January 25 against North Central College, 5th in the national ranking and on Saturday, February 7 against Adrian College, 10th national.
Marta fought in the 155-pound (70.31 Kg) category and faced in the quarterfinals the representative of Gannon University, Annabelle Helm, whom she won by hit in 2’15 ”. On the other hand, in the semifinals she faced Aspen Dodge from Adrian College, who suffered the same fate as her predecessors, losing by hit in 1’52 ”, while in the final she challenged her teammate and team captain Taylor Hites, head Series No. 2 with a ranking value of 0.99125, being the only one that did not lose.
The fight against Taylor Hites took place with Marta as soon as the fight began, who took the initiative and threw a hip turn that caused her opponent to fall between the side and chest, although Taylor recovered and was able to win her back, so the fight it started with a 2-1 in favor of Marta. In the next action, Marta pressured her opponent by bringing her to her knees and in a quick lateral movement she grabbed her right leg, closing the grip with the other arm through Taylor’s left shoulder that put her opponent on his back, legs up already about to be touched. The referee for his part, did not grant the hit but the victory was already predicted 4-1. Later, Marta defended an attempted entry to Taylor’s legs, which she used to counterattack and beat her rival’s back. The 6-1 score came up shortly before the end of the first half and Marta, deciding not to risk and control her adversary, knew that the regional title was in her pocket.
The next appointment will be the United States National University Championship that will be held precisely in Tiffin on Saturday, March 6, where the 16 best university fighters in the country will attend (4 per region: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest).
Last season, the NCAA (National College Athletics Association), the leading organization for college sports, declared women’s wrestling as an emerging sport in order to encourage women’s sports and named USA Wrestling (the American Wrestling Federation) in conjunction with the non-profit organization “Wrestle Like a Girl”, to pilot this project. To this end, the WCWC (Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Coalition) was created, which in addition to the two previous organizations is part of the American Olympic Committee, the NCWA (National Collegiate Wrestling Association), the NWCA (National Association of Wrestling Coaches, the USWOA (American Association) of Wrestling Referees), the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, as well as colleges and university sports conferences.
Marta Ojeda’s next commitment will be the Spanish Under-23 Championship that will take place in Santiago de Compostela on March 28.
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