Torres, Pacific Women Make North American Poll

TheMat.com's North American Women's College Wrestling Poll is selected by a panel of women's college coaches with three from Canada and two from the United States.

Kapua Torres has been ranked No. 1 among 51-kilogram wrestlers in the first North American Women's College Wrestling Poll of the season. Photo: Pacific Athletics

FOREST GROVE - Never mind that Kapua Torres (Jr., Kahuku, Hawaii) never saw action on the mat last year. All raters needed to know is that she was back in action.

Torres has been ranked No. 1 among 51-kilogram wrestlers in the first North American Women's College Wrestling Poll of the season, released on Friday by USA Wrestling's Web site, TheMat.com.

Torres is the only Pacific wrestler to earn a ranking in the opening poll.

As a team, the Boxers are ranked 10th on the 20-team poll, earning 53 of a possible 100 points.

Pacific is the third highest ranked U.S. program behind Cumberlands (Ky., 2nd) and Missouri Valley (4th).

"The rankings for both Kapua and our team is impressive and surprising, especially considering how few matches we have wrestled so far," said Pacific head wrestling coach Scott Miller. "As we return to the mat, I hope that all of our girls are able to live up to the bar that has been set high for them."

Torres was the 2005 champion in the 51 kg. bracket at both the National College Women's Wrestling Championships and the Body Bar U.S. Junior Nationals, but sat out the 2005-06 season with pinched nerves.

So far in 2006-07, Torres has amassed a 4-2 record and is 2-0 against other opponents from U.S. and Canadian colleges.

Her win tally includes a 5-1, 4-2 victory over Missouri Valley's Samantha Schuman, who is ranked No. 6 in the North American poll.

The Boxers have not competed since dueling Simon Fraser at the Vision Quest Duals on Nov. 11th.

They will return to action on Sunday at the Portland State Open in Portland.

The University of Calgary took the No. 1 spot in the poll, with the Dinos taking all four first place votes.

Cumberlands is second with 95 points and Simon Fraser is ranked third with 90 points.

The full poll can be found online at TheMat.com.

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