News
World Team Trials preview at 59 kg/130 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
6/3/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
2003 World bronze medalist Sally Roberts of the Gator WC has emerged as the favorite to win the World Team Trials at 59 kg/130 lbs. in women’s wrestling. Roberts has shown both strength and skill at this division, and has held an edge over the rest of the field recently. However, by no means is this weight class a lock for anybody, and there could be a few surprises during the weekend in Ames, Iowa.
Because this weight division was not in the Olympic Games, a Special Wrestle-off was held last summer to determine the national team rankings at this division. Roberts won that tournament, and has continued to wrestle well since. She has since then won gold medals in the Ivan Yarygin International in Russia and the Dave Schultz Memorial International in the USA, then held her No. 1 seed by winning the U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas. However, Roberts has dripped a few matches this year, and is not way ahead of some of the other talents in the division. She seems to wrestle well under the new rules, which could be an advantage in a best-of-three series showdown.
Losing to Roberts in the U.S. Nationals finals was 2004 Olympian Tela O’Donnell of the Sunkist Kids, who has moved up in weight from 55 kg, where she was sixth in the Olympic Games. O’Donnell is very competitive at this division. In the finals, she lost to Roberts, but it was a very close battle that went three periods. Roberts also beat O’Donnell in the finals at the Dave Schultz Memorial, another memorable war. O’Donnell has shown the ability to win at this division, but must find the secret to beating Roberts. If she chooses to go down a weight class, this makes winning much easier for Roberts and the rest of the field.
Brandy Rosenbrock of the USOEC placed third at the U.S. Nationals, and has been a Senior-level star going back to her high school days. Rosenbrock scored a win over Roberts at the Sunkist Kids International in the fall. She climbed as high as No. 2 on the National Team a few years ago, showing the ability to wrestle well when it counts. Rosenbrock has always been physically tough, and is working to improve her techniques and add to her international experience.
Placing fourth at the U.S. Nationals is the exciting Cumberland College star Suekoyla Shelly of the New York AC. Shelly scored a win over Roberts at the Sunkist Kids International where she won a bronze medal. She was impressive in winning the title at FILA Junior Nationals, and will represent the U.S. at the World Championships in Lithuania. This athlete has a great future, but it will interesting to see how far she can go this year. The World Team Trials gives Shelly a chance to try to beat a “name” athlete at an early part of her career.
Veteran college wrestler Brooke Bogren of Missouri Valley College placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals. Bogren has placed in the U.S. Nationals in the past, and continues to be near the top in the standings of key events. She was a University Nationals champion this year. However, Bogren has not had any wins over the top-echelon wrestlers, something she hopes to change at the World Team Trials.
An exciting young star is Maine high school sensation Deanna Rix of S.M.T., who was sixth at the U.S. Nationals at her first big test on the Senior level. Rix was second behind Shelly at the FILA Junior Nationals, and won the Junior Nationals in Fargo the last two years. She has a tremendous upside, especially if she can make some progress at the World Team Trials event.
The final athlete to qualify for the World Team Trials, by placing seventh at the U.S. Nationals, is veteran Leigh Jaynes of the New York AC. Jaynes has been in the national rankings for a number of years, and will be a tough draw for anybody in the Challenge Tournament.
A veteran star who did not compete in Las Vegas but could move quickly up the standings is Erin Tomeo of the Sunkist Kids. Tomeo has twice been a U.S. Nationals runner-up, and seems to do very well at this weight division. Tomeo competed at the World Championships in 2001, an experience that few in the division have had. Tomeo had injury problems in the past, and will have to be in great form to make a dent in the depth at this division.
Another athlete fully capable of winning during the Challenge Tournament is Lauren Lamb of the Michigan WC, who has won multiple national titles, and competed at a number of World Championships. Lamb has not wrestled since the Olympic Team Trials, but if she enters in Ames, she has the experience, strength and skill to beat talented younger athletes.
Another possibility could be the return of 2004 U.S. Nationals champion Na’Tasha Umemoto of the Sunkist Kids to this division. Umemoto has been wrestling up at 63 kg, and was sixth at the U.S. Nationals there this year. If she decides to drop the weight and test herself in this field of athletes, she would have high expectations. However, many expect her to stay up at her new division and not be included in the mix here.
Sally Roberts is the woman to beat at this division. Olympian Tela O’Donnell has pushed Roberts hard, and has the ability to win in a close battle. Coming out of the college ranks with tremendous experience and success is Brandy Rosenbrock and Suekoilya Shelly. A wrestler win proven ability to win at this division is Erin Tomeo. This weight class could have some interesting story lines and some exciting matches, and could be very entertaining for the fans.
2005 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS AT 59 KG/130 LBS.
1st – Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Tela O'Donnell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 4-0, 0-1, 2-1
3rd – Brandy Rosenbrock, Harrison, Mich. (USOEC) dec. Suekoiyla Shelly, Hurst, Texas (New York AC), 1-0, 0-3, 3-1
5th – Brooke Bogren, Burlingame, Kan. (Missouri Valley) pin Deanna Rix, South Berwick, Maine (SMT), 1:06
7th – Leigh Jaynes, Burlington, N.J. (New York AC) dec. Jen Chu, Philadelphia, Pa. (W.O.W.), 4-0, 5-1
QUALIFIERS FOR 2005 WORLD TEAM TRIALS AT 59 KG/130 LBS.
U.S. Nationals Champion - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Tela O’Donnell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC)
U.S. Nationals, third place – Brandy Rosenbrock, Harrison, Mich. (USOEC)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place – Suekoilya Shelley, Hurst, Texas (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place – Brooke Bogren, Burlingame, Kan. (Missouri Valley)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place – Deanna Rix, South Berwick, Maine (S.M.T)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place – Leigh Jaynes, Burlington, N.J., (New York AC)
Rocky Mountain Regional Champion – No entry at this weight class
Northern Plains Regional Champion – No entry at this weight class
Past World Team member – Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
Past World Team member – Lauren Lamb, Farmingville, N.Y. (Michigan WC)
Past World Team member – Erin Tomeo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
’04 Sunkist Kids International champion – None, foreign champion
’04 NYAC Christmas Open champion – Leigh Jaynes, Burlington, N.J. (New York AC)
’05 Dave Schultz Memorial champion - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
International Tour medalist (within 2 yrs) –
*’03 World Cup gold medalist - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
*’04 Kiev Grand Prix gold medalist - Erin Tomeo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
*’05 Ivan Yarygan Memorial gold medalist - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
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National Champions Q&A: Sally Roberts
6/3/2005
John Fuller/TheMat.com
Sally Roberts is the classic case of what is still wrong with women’s wrestling internationally. In 2003, she won a World bronze medal. However, it was at a non-Olympic weight class, one of the three weights not in the Olympic Games.
So when 2004 came around, Roberts had to choose to move up or down in weight. She moved up, and while competitive, it was too much for her to handle by her own admission.
Now, Roberts is back at 59 kg/130 lbs., and she won her second U.S. Nationals title this year. TheMat.com sat down with Roberts and spoke to her about her weight class, and winning her second national title.
TheMat.com: You were a national champion two years ago, but last year switched weight classes because of the Olympics and placed third. Do you feel that much more comfortable at 130 lbs.?
Roberts: I do because it takes a lot more effort. I just have to be more involved in my wrestling and my wrestling career. I have to do everything right to make 130 lbs., which brings everything together with my training and my nutrition.
TheMat.com: We’ve seen your international success over the last couple of years, but how much more does beating an Olympian in Tela O’Donnell solidify your national title?
Roberts: I definitely gives my weight a little bit more credibility. But at the same time, she’s just another wrestler and it’s one more person I have to beat in order to become a World champion.
TheMat.com: Being a non-Olympic year, do you think that your weight class, both in the U.S. and internationally, has gotten a lot deeper?
Roberts: It has. When I went around and counted all the weight classes, my weight had more people than anyone else’s. When I went overseas, there are some quality competitors at this weight.
TheMat.com: What has been the biggest improvement you have made in the last year of your training?
Roberts: Mental toughness and how to overcome injuries and setbacks. I think that even a good excuse is still an excuse, and that just doesn’t sit well with me.
TheMat.com: Who has had the biggest influence on you in your career?
Roberts: My biggest influence has been Terry Steiner because I didn’t actually start wrestling in my mind until I got out to the training center. He has the one who has honed my skills and put us through these ridiculous workouts. He has been invaluable to my career so far. And as an athlete, it’s always good to have someone sitting in your career who really believes you can be the best you can be.
TheMat.com: How long do you plan to stay at 130 lbs.?
Roberts: I really, in my heart, believe they are going to put the rest of the weight classes in for the Olympic Games, so I would like to stay here. I feel that I fit at 130 comfortably and I plan to stay there as long as I can. And in the event that they decide not to add 59 kilos as an Olympic weight class, then I will talk to my coaches and decide when the right time is to make a move up or down.
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6/3/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The Las Vegas/ASICS United States National Wrestling Championships will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 on Monday, June 6 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.
It will be a one-hour broadcast, on a tape-delayed basis, with championship bouts and highlights from the U.S. Nationals finals in men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle wrestling.
The nation’s best international wrestlers competed at the Las Vegas/ASICS United States National Wrestling Championships on April 29-30 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
There are eight featured matches on the show, from the gold-medal round in all three styles. Fans can enjoy coverage of the following matches:
Men’s Freestyle at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Sammie Henson, St. Louis, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) vs. Matt Azevedo, San Luis Obispo, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
Women’s Freestyle at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) vs. Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Men’s Greco-Roman at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Sam Hazewinkel, Pensacola, Fla. (Gator WC) vs. Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC),
Men’s Freestyle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Chris Bono, Gilbert, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) vs. Jared Lawrence, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Men’s Greco-Roman at 84 kg/185 lbs.
Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) vs. Keith Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army),
Men’s Freestyle at 84 kg/185 lbs.
Muhammed Lawal, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC) vs. Lee Fullhart, Blacksburg, Va. (Gator WC)
Men’s Greco-Roman at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) vs. Russ Davie, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC),
Men’s Freestyle at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) vs. Steve Mocco, N. Bergen, N.J. (New York AC)
The broadcast team for this event is veteran play-by-play announcer Van Stokes, color commentator Randy Couture and wrestling broadcaster Joe Miller. Couture was a U.S. World team member in Greco-Roman, before becoming a mixed-martial arts champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC).
The competition will be one of the first broadcasts in the nation to show the new rules of international wrestling, which were implemented after the 2004 Olympic Games. The show will allow wrestling fans to see for themselves how the new rules have changed the sport.
Champions from the U.S. Nationals earned the No. 1 seed at the World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa, June 18-19, which will determine the 2005 U.S. World Championships teams.
Mark your calendars for June 6th, and tune in to ESPN2 for the best of international wrestling. Make sure to set your VCRs and TIVOs for the show if you can not watch at the scheduled time, Check your local listings for time and station in your area.
Please forward this notice to other wrestling and sports fans that you know.