Valley freshman Rachel Billerbeck (top) was impressive during the World Team Trials, reaching the challenge finals before losing to Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann.
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Valley's Billerbeck makes run at WTT
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
By Chris Allen/Sports Editor
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Valley freshman Rachel Billerbeck (top) was impressive during the World Team Trials, reaching the challenge finals before losing to Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann. |
AMES, Iowa -- The Missouri Valley College women's wrestling team won't have any members at the World Championships at Budapest, Hungary, in September, but one of them made a valiant run for a berth.
Freshman Rachel Billerbeck of Pflugerville, Texas, was one of the surprises at the U.S. World Team Trials last weekend in Ames, Iowa, reaching the challenge tournament 63-kilogram finals before being stopped by an Olympic medalist.
Billerbeck, No. 5 among U.S. Senior Women in TheMat.com poll, opened with a first-period pin of fourth-ranked Stephanie Shaw of Waterford, Conn., and then beat sixth-rated Na'Tasha Umemoto of the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, 2-0, 7-2.
That got the Lady Viking one win away from Sunday's championship round. However, in her path was Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann of the Sunkist Kids -- one of the world's most experienced female wrestlers. McMann defeated Billerbeck, 7-0, 6-0, and then went on to take a spot on the world team by beating the New York Athletic Club's Alaina Berube in two matches.
With sixth-ranked junior Brooke Bogren not participating in the meet, although qualified by her medal at the U.S. Senior Nationals, Valley's only other entry was No. 7 sophomore Maika Watanabe of Napa, Calif., at 51 Kg. Unfortunately, Watanabe faced No. 4 Mary Kelly of the NYAC in her first bout, taking a 4-0, 2-0 loss.
Kelly would go on to win the challenge tourney, but would be dropped by the Sunkist Kids' top-ranked Stephanie Murata in two matches for the championship.
Watanabe bounced back with a second-period pin of Chandra Peterson of Lake Mills, Iowa, the Northern Plains Regional champion, before falling to the Gator Wrestling Club's Caitlyn Chase -- No. 3 at 48 Kg -- in 49 seconds to finish fourth.
Two former Valley grapplers also made the challenge finals. Clarissa Chun (48 Kg) of the Gators won twice before being edged by the Sunkist Kids' Jenny Wong -- who would go on to claim the world team spot -- 1-0, 4-4, 3-0, and Ashley Sword (67) of the NYAC was beaten by eventual champion Katie Downing of the Sunkist Kids, 4-0, 4-0.
The NYAC's Leigh Jaynes (59) was third, Kaci Lyle (63) lost two out of three to be bumped from the medal hunt and Donnell Bradley (72) of the U.S. Olympic Education Center last both of her matches.