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USA Wrestling awards Body Bar Women’s Nationals to San Diego, Calif., April 8-10, 2005
10/19/2004
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The major age-group national championships for girls has moved to a new location, as USA Wrestling announced that the Body Bar Women’s Nationals will be hosted in San Diego, Calif., April 8-10.
This competition provides USA Wrestling national championships for female wrestlers at three different age levels, the University division, the FILA Junior division and the FILA Cadet division.
University athletes are ages 18-24, including many of the best college wrestlers in the nation. FILA Junior athletes are ages 17-20. FILA Cadet athletes are ages 15-17.
There will be a FILA Junior World Championships for women this year, held in Vilnius, Lithuania from July 5-10. The Body Bar FILA Junior Women’s National Championships are part of the qualification process for the U.S. Junior World Team.
The last two years, the Body Bar Women’s Nationals were hosted in St. Joseph, Minn. A combined national championships for young women provides tremendous competition for a variety of age groups featuring the nation’s best wrestlers.
The site has yet to be finalized, but will be announced shortly. The local organizing committee is California USA Wrestling, the state association in California.
“USA Wrestling is pleased to award this major age-group women’s event to San Diego,” said National Events Director Pete Isais. “California USA Wrestling will do a great job hosting the event, and we expect talented athletes of all ages from across the nation to challenge for national titles.”
"The San Diego Wrestling Association is excited to have been selected by California USA Wrestling to host this combination of three national women's events, and two California State events,” said San Diego Wrestling Association Director Richard Bailey.
The Outstanding Wrestler at the 2004 Body Bar University Nationals was Erin Tomeo of the Sunkist Kids, the individual champion at 130 pounds. Among the other University Nationals champions last year was Toccara Montgomery of the New York AC, the 158.5-pound champion, who went on to earn a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team.
Other 2004 University Nationals champions were Clarissa Chun of the Gator WC (105.5), Mary Kelly of the New York AC (112.25), Malinda Ripley of the Sunkist Kids (121), Tori Adams of the Gator WC (138.75), Mollie Keith of Missouri Valley (147.5) and Megan Goldsmith of UM-Morris (169.5).
The Outstanding Wrestler at the 2004 Body Bar FILA Junior Nationals was Danyelle Hedin of Hawaii at 121 pounds.
Other 2004 FILA Junior Nationals champions were Aquila Hills of Cumberland College (97), Sara Fulp-Allen of California (105.5), Tabithia Ramsey of UM-Morris (112.25), Alaina Berube of Cumberland College (130), Stefanie Shaw of Connecticut (138.75), Heather Martin of Ohio (147.5 lbs.), Stephany Lee of Missouri Valley (158.5) and Samantha Lang of Oregon (175).
The Outstanding Wrestler at the 2004 Body Bar FILA Cadet Nationals was Oklahoma’s Cheyenne Stokes, the champion at 123.25 pounds.
Other 2004 FILA Cadet Nationals champions were Joey Miller of Oklahoma (94.75), Kelli Rasmussen of Minnesota (101.25), Caitlyn Chase of Illinois (108), Nicole Darrow of New York (114.5), Kayla Chambers of Minnesota (132.25), Sheila McCabe of California (143.25), Mellisa Simmons of Washington (154.25) and Lizz Sanders of Iowa (170).
The competition in 2005 will be held alongside two major California USA Wrestling state championships, the FILA Cadet State Championships, and the FILA Junior State Championships, in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.
For information, contact event director Richard Bailey of the San Diego Wrestling Association at 619-303-6886 or via e-mail at rrbailey@cox.net
Additional information on the event will be posted when available on TheMat.com, as well as at the following internet address:
http://sdwa.silverbackswrestling.com
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10/18/2004
John Fuller/USA Wrestling
International wrestlers will get their first taste of FILA’s new rules at the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz., Oct. 28-30.
The Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open is the longest standing international tournament in the United States with over 300 entries in all three Olympic styles, men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman.
This is the 20th year that the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open will be held.
All seven Olympic weight classes will be competed in men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman, and all seven international weight classes will be competed in women’s freestyle.
It is important to note that there will be two modifications to the new FILA competition rules for this event only. The tournament will be a double-elimination format, with all losing wrestlers going into a consolation bracket.
Also, competition for men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman will be held over two days, instead of the one-day competition format implemented by FILA.
To view all of the new FILA rules, click here.
Many U.S. Olympic Training Center residents plan to compete in this event, as do the residents at the U.S. Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Mich. Most of the top women’s college wrestlers are also expected to compete.
This event qualifies for the NCAA Waiver for Outside Competition, so college wrestlers may compete. In past years, a number of talented college athletes and teams have participated to kick off their new season.
This is also a prize-money event, as part of USA Wrestling’s national teams program. Champions in the men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman divisions receive $1,000 and the champions in the women’s division receive $750. U.S. citizens in men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman will be eligible to receive prize money for second and third-place finishes. U.S. citizens in women’s freestyle will be eligible to receive prize money for second-place finishes. Foreign athletes are eligible for first place prize money only. Awards will be given to the Outstanding Wrestler in each division.
Athletes from Canada, Colombia and Macedonia have indicated that they will attend this year. There has also been interest from Albania, Brazil, Denmark, Niger, Nigeria, Russia and Sudan.
Last year, the United States won all seven gold medals in men’s freestyle, six gold medals in Greco-Roman and five gold medals in women’s freestyle. Overall, four 2004 Olympic medalists won gold medals at last year’s Sunkist Kids International Open. They were Greco-Roman Olympic bronze medalist Rulon Gardner (Wellsville, Utah/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., Greco-Roman Olympic gold medalist Karam Gaber of Egypt at 96 kg/211.5 lbs., women’s freestyle Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda (New Haven, Conn./Dave Schultz WC) at 105.5 lbs. and women’s freestyle Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
In addition to the wrestling action, the 2004 Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open Wrestler and Coaches Clinic will be held Oct. 29-30. Two-time Olympic medalist Rulon Gardner and 1992 Olympic silver medalist Zeke Jones will join the current Arizona State coaching staff of Thom Ortiz, Aaron Simpson and Eric Larkin at the clinic that will be offered in conjunction with the annual Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open.
For more information on all of the activities at the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open, contact tournament director Tim Gressley at (480) 483-2907 or visit the tournament website at www.sunkistkids.org.
Complete coverage of the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open will provided on TheMat.com.
SUNKIST KIDS INTERNATIONAL OPEN SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 28
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - FILA Officials Clinic, Session #1 (WFA)
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. - FILA Officials Clinic, Session #2 (WFA)
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. - FILA Pairing Clinic, Session (SDL)
4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. - FS & GR Registration (WFA)
5:50 p.m.-6:00 p.m. - FS & GR Medical Check (WFA)
6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. - FS & GR Weigh-in, + 2KG (WFA)
Friday, October 29
8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. - New FILA Rules Clinic Men's Freestyle & Greco-Roman (WFA)
9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - Mens' FS & GR Prelims & Consolations
3:00 p.m.-finish - Mens' FS & GR Prelims & Quarterfinals & Consolations
6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. - Womens' Registration (WFA)
6:50 p.m.-7:00 p.m. - Womens' Medical Check (WFA)
7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. - Womens' Weigh-in + 2KG (WFA)
7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. - Sunkist/Sun Devil Coaches & Wrestling Clinic
Saturday, October 30
8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. - New FILA Rules Clinic Womens' Freestyle (WFA)
9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - Womens' Prelims Quarterfinals & Consolations, FS & GR Semi Finals & Consolations
2:30 p.m.-4:15 p.m. - Womens' Semifinals & Consolations, FS & GR 3rd Place
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. - Womens' 3rd Place & All Finals (FS, GR & WM)
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. - Sunkist/Sun Devil Coaches & Wrestling Clinic
*Schedule Subject to Change
2003 SUNKIST KIDS INTERNATIONAL OPEN CHAMPIONS
Men’s Freestyle
121 - Jeremy Hunter (USA); 132 - Michael Lightner (USA); 145.5 - Doug Schwab (USA); 163 - Ramico Blackmon (USA); 185 - Lee Fullhart (USA); 211.5 - Dominic Black (USA); 264.5 - Steve Mocco (USA)
Greco-Roman
121 - Joe Espinoza (USA); 132 - Joe Warren (USA); 145.5 - Faruk Sahin (USA); 163 - Ken Cook (USA); 185 - Kenny Owens (USA); 211.5 - Karam Gaber (Egypt); 264.5 - Rulon Gardner (USA)
Women’s Freestyle
105.5 - Patricia Miranda (USA); 112.25 - Malinda Ripley (USA); 121 - Tonya Verbeek (Canada); 130 - Alaina Berube (USA); 138.75 - Sara McMann (USA); 147.5 - Kristie Marano (USA); 158.5 - Christine Nordhagen (Canada)
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U.S. Olympic Wrestlers to visit the White House on Monday, October 18
10/14/2004
John Fuller/USA Wrestling
Many U.S. Olympians will visit the White House and meet with President George Bush on Monday, October 18, including 12 members of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team.
Wrestlers planning to visit the White House are Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif.), Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla.), Jamill Kelly (Stillwater, Okla.), Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa), Cael Sanderson (Ames, Iowa), Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla.) and Kerry McCoy (Bethlehem, Pa.) from the men’s freestyle team, Jim Gruenwald (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Oscar Wood (Fountain, Colo.) and Rulon Gardner (Wellsville, Utah) from the Greco-Roman team and Patricia Miranda (New Haven, Conn.) and Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio) from the women’s freestyle team.
Five of those wrestlers won medals at the Olympics. Sanderson won a gold, Abas and Kelly came home with silver medals and Gardner and Miranda captured bronze.
It was the first time that women’s wrestling had ever been featured at the Olympic Games.
Hundreds of Olympians from all sports are expected to visit the White House. Athlete flights are being paid for by United Airlines, a sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
U.S. Wrestlers Visiting The White House
Men’s Freestyle
55 kg/121 lbs. - Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Eric Guerrero, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jamill Kelly, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Cael Sanderson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Kerry McCoy, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC)
Greco-Roman
60 kg/132 lbs. - Jim Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Oscar Wood, Fountain, Colo. (U.S. Army)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Rulon Gardner, Wellsville, Utah (Sunkist Kids)
Women’s Freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda, New Haven, Conn. (Dave Schultz WC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland Ohio (New York AC)