WRTC Underground 1: Women’s Preview

Madison, Wis. – – The Wisconsin RTC confirmed two women’s matches as part of the Underground 1 card scheduled for Tuesday, November 24. The third match between age-group World Team members Ronna Heaton (WRTC) and Cam Guerin (TMWC/McKendree) was pulled from the list due to injury. 

Bout 7: World Bronze Medalist Alyssa Lampe vs World Silver Medalist Sarah Hildebrandt
The last time Alyssa Lampe competed in Madison was for the 2014 World Team Trials event at the Dane County Coliseum. She won that event and represented the United States in Tashkent, Uzbekistan that fall. But it was a Saturday in 2006 that Lampe’s face was printed on the front page of newspapers outside the Kohl Center–she wore the expression and body language of a warrior. Lampe had made history advancing to the Division 2 finals of the Wisconsin state wrestling tournament. 

Lampe’s career is highlighted by an entire list of international records that populate the United World Wrestling database from 2007-19. This includes accolades as a two-time Junior World Bronze Medalist and two-time Senior World Bronze Medalist. Lampe retired after competing at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials held at Hawkeye Carver Arena in Iowa City. But just a year ago she burst back onto the scene with a championship performance at Senior Nationals. To win that tournament she defeated Senior National Team members No. 3 Amy Fearnside (TMWC) in the semis and No. 2 Victoria Anthony (SKWC) in the finals. 

On Tuesday, Lampe returns to Madison and will wrestle World Silver Medalist Sarah Hildebrandt. 

This 50 kg challenge match is one that fans may have anticipated watching in Iowa last month, but never happened—Amy Fearnside bested Lampe 6-5 in the semifinals in a reversal of the prior year’s outcome. 

Sarah Hildebrandt, however, had her signature “SH” on display to the crowd in Iowa where she made her domestic debut at 50 kg. She outscored her opponents 38-0 and spent just over 8 minutes on the mat in total. Hildebrandt made the drop from 53 kg for the Olympic year and successfully tested the weight in Rome at the Matteo Pellicone Tournament, bringing home the 50 kg Gold medal. In March, Hildebrandt qualified the 50 kg weight class for the Olympic Games and secured her place in the finals at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. 

Hildebrandt has her own myriad of top-level domestic and international performances. A 2018 World Silver Medalist, Hildebrandt made her first Senior World Team in 2016 and is currently No. 1 on the Senior National Team. She won the Final X series back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. At the collegiate level, Hildebrandt is a two-time WCWA national champion and a four-time finalist for King University. She was part of the Tornado’s power team for two of their four-year team championship streak.  

Bout 3: Alexis Gomez (Grand View University) vs Ginamaria Santiago Ayala (Indian Hills CC)
Even with just two matches lined up, the women’s representation spans from pioneer prowess to the new-age of college options for women. This second women’s match is a bout between redshirt-freshman Alexis Gomez (Grand View University) and Ginamarie Santiago Ayala (Indian Hills Community College). Both programs, located in Iowa, are part of the 87 different college options for women right now. 

Alexis Gomez is ranked No. 5 in the NAIA and is fresh off winning the 68 kg title at UWW Junior Nationals in Omaha. Fans caught a glimpse of her power as she fired off double-legs during three wins by tech fall. Gomez attends school in Des Moines at Grand View University. The women’s program there is just beginning its second season but is already ranked No. 3 in the NAIA. 

Her opponent, Ginamarie Santiago Ayala attends Indian Hills Community College. The team had their debut performance versus Missouri Valley College last weekend and Santiago Ayala won a varsity match against Kambrie Hedrick (MVC) by tech fall, 12-2. Santiago Ayala went to high school in Carolina, Puerto Rico and attended Brewton-Parker College during the 2018-19 season. 

The Wisconsin RTC Underground 1 card begins at 5 pm on Tuesday, November 24 and will be streamed exclusively on Rokfin. 

Complete Underground 1 Match List
1. Drew Scharenbrock vs Kevin Meicher
2. Eddie Smith vs Jared Krattiger
3. Alexis Gomez vs Ginamarie Santiago Ayala
4. Hunter Lewis vs Joe Zargo
5. Danny Chaid vs Peter Christensen
6. Ben Provisor vs Fritz Schierl
7. Alyssa Lampe vs Sarah Hildebrandt
8. Bryce Meridith vs Seth Gross