The Grays Harbor College women's wrestling team placed two of its wrestlers at the United World Wrestling Women's National Championships back on May 7-8 in Fort Worth, Texas. Marissa Riojas and Julian Yates both placed at the tournament that would send its champion at each weight class to represent the United States at the U23 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria this summer.

Yates, a junior from Towson, Md., took sixth and Riojas, a freshman from Toppenish, Wash., placed eighth. The tournament marked the first All-America finish of her career for Yates, who dropped a close 11-8 decision to Nia Perez of Rhode Island in the 5th place match. Jocelyn Fierro, a freshman from Gilroy, Calif., and Andrea Jones, a freshman fro Toledo, Wash., also competed and combined for a 1-4 record on the weekend.

"I am so happy for Julian. She does everything and then some with her training," Pine said. "She has consistently had the tough draws and it has not worked out for her, but she was the tough draw this time around.

Riojas fell in the seventh-place match to Haley Corona, a former USA World Team member and Utah native, by a score of 10-0.

"Marissa has had a fantastic season," Chokers coach Kevin Pine said. "This is her third placing at a major event this season after taking third at both the Junior College and the NCWA College Championships this year. She continues to get tougher every time she steps on the mat."

The Choker Wrestling Club ended up in 21st place in the 51-team event.