Not much has changed from her high school days for Maple Ridge wrestler Payten Smith.
The former MRSS Rambler and current Simon Fraser Clan grappler put on a dominant performance at the Menlo College Open women’s wrestling tournament in Atherton, CA on New Year’s Day, taking home the title in the women’s 191-pound open category.
Smith pinned all five opponents she faced, including taking down California native Anastasia Lobsinger in the finals 2:48 into the opening round.
Lobsinger was the bronze medallist at the 2013 Pan American Junior Wrestling Championships.
Smith opened the tournament by pinning Jazmine Charvarria of Southwestern Oregon Community College 1:21 into the match.
Smith’s longest match of the tournament went 2:52 into the opening round against Latiana Tauaese of Southern Oregon.
She then made quick work of Monica Gonzalez of Menlo College at the 1:56 mark of the opening round to move on to the semi-finals.
Smith then pinned teammate Kendall Reusing in 1:50 to advance to the finals
Smith is the No. 1-ranked wrestler at 191 pounds in Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association rankings, released Jan. 7.
She finished third at nationals as a freshman in 2015 and sport’s a record of 15-1 this season.
Smith, a 2013-14 female high school athlete of the year, helped the SFU Clan finished first overall at the tournament.
SFU won five of nine weight classes.
Darbie Huckle, Abby Lloyd, Dominque Parrish and Francesca Giorgioalso also won their respective weight classes.
