McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Jacob Barnes scored four pins on his way to an individual championship in the 285-pound men's weight class, and Alice Rickett prevailed in three women's contests to capture a surprise title at 143 pounds, highlighting a busy day of action Sunday in the Mat 'Cat Invitational. The four-mat tournament hosted by the Linfield inside the Ad and Joan Rutschman Fieldhouse.
 
As a team, the Linfield women finished in fifth place among 11 competing programs. The Linfield men took fourth place in the point standings in a field consisting of 13 men's teams.
 
MEN
Wrestling unattached, Barnes avenged a loss to Jacob Vincent of Simpson in the championship match, pinning his opponent in 1:03. Earlier, Barnes scored two quick pins in the opening rounds of the tournament, topping Micah Vuki of Utah Tech in 56 seconds and Aiden McCain of Grays Harbor in :52. In the semifinals, he defeated Southwestern Oregon's Jayden Dobson in 14 seconds. The third-year sophomore improved his season record to 20-2.
 
Linfield's Ethan Ensurd reeled off three straight wins to advance to the championship round, earning a matchup against Andres Nicacio of Corban. Nicarcio ultimately prevailed 21-7 but the loss could hardly spoil the positive results recorded by the Wildcats freshman.
 
Jakob Jarvis advanced to the semifinals before falling 6-2 to Tyler Diaz of Simpson. After securing a pin of unattached athlete Bilgumn Narantsetseg in 1:57, Jarvis went third place with a pin of unattached athlete Michael Gentry in 1:22.
 
Jacob Moore pinned Jacob Enrico of Pacific in 2:56 to reach the championship match where Christopher Guizar of Simpson dominated Moore 19-3.
 
Julian Ortiz reached the semifinals, but lost by pin to Jacob Vincent of Simpson at 2:17.
In the cosoluation semifinals, Ortiz battled into the third period before falling 13-10 to Ruben Zarare of Utah Tech, ranked seventh in the NCWA.
 
Max Vander Meide placed fourth at 133 pounds, losing his opening decision 11-3 to unattached Sully Hill before winning his next two consolation bouts.
 
WOMEN
Winning her first championship as a collegian, Rickett knocked off Tarleen Saroya of Umpqua Community College in the 143-pound final, prevailing by pinfall in one minute, three seconds. Saroya entered the tournament ranked No. 4 in NJCAA while Rickett entered Saturday's action winless in four bouts and had been idle since November 4 due to injury.
 
In the championship final of the 130-pound weight class, Linfield's Emily Sullenger squared off against Umpqua's Zainab Ibrahim, the top-ranked 130-pounder in NJCAA. The Wildcats sophomore from Cascade Locks trailed just 8-6 following a back-and-forth first round, but suffered the loss in the second round by result of a pin.
 
Medina, an NCAA nationals competitor a year ago, won by pin and technical fall in the opening rounds to advance to the championship match. Facing Evergreen State's Flor Parker Borrero, Medina absorbed a 41-second loss by pin.
 
AHEAD
The Wildcat women head to Redmond, Oregon, on Saturday to compete in the annual Oregon Wrestling Classic. Linfield's men are idle until Tuesday, Jan. 16, when both squads will host Umpqua Community College in a special match at McMinnville's Evergreen Aviation Museum starting at 7 p.m.