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Chase, Hasseman, Cerminara win medals at the Canada Cup, held in Guelph, Canada, July 8-9
7/12/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Three U.S. wrestlers won medals at the Canada Cup, an international freestyle tournament held in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, July 8-9.
Claiming a silver medal in the women’s division was Caitlyn Chase (Bloomingdale, Ill./Gator WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Winning bronze medals in the men’s division were Bryce Hasseman (Franklin, Ind./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, N.Y./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Chase made the finals in a very competitive weight class, losing to 2004 Olympic silver medalist Tonya Verbeek in the finals. Chase scored a victory over Canadian college star Brit Laverdure earlier in the competition.
Chase, a high school junior, was second at the 2004 U.S. Nationals at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., and competed at the World Team Trials at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. This is her first international success competing up at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Hasseman scored a victory in the bronze-medal match at 84 kg/185 lbs. over Travis Cross of Canada. His only loss was earlier in the tournament to Cross, which he avenged in the final match. Hasseman won a total of five matches during the event, including wins over athletes from Poland, Japan and Canada.
Cerminara lost his only match of the tournament to Canadian veteran Dean Schmeichel, who finished the event placing second. Cerminara won a total of five matches in the tournament, incluiding a bronze-medal win over Tae Hyun-Koo of Korea.
The tournament featured a women’s division on the Junior level, and a number of American athletes did very well. Nicole Woody (Odenton, Md.) won a gold medal at 46 kg and Sarah Peasley (Kimberly, Wis.) won a gold medal at 60 kg. Capturing a silver medal at 49 kg was Joey Miller (Woodward, Okla.).
In the boys Junior division, Dusty Colon was the only U.S. athlete to win a medal, taking a silver medal at 58 kg.
Results By Weight
Senior Women’s results
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold – Iwona Sadowski (Poland)
Silver –Alana King (Canada)
Bronze – Krista Wells (Canada)
51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Gold – Erica Sharp (Canada)
Silver – Sarah White (Canada)
Bronze – Jillian Gallays (Canada)
4th – Nicole Hauptmann (Germany)
5th – Pam Ewanishin (Canada)
6th – Jessica Bondy (Canada)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Tonya Verbeek (Canada)
Silver – Caitlyn Chase (USA)
Bronze – Gudrun Hoie (Canada)
4th – Jessica Bechtel (Germany)
5th – Britt Laverdure (Canada)
6th – Sylvia Bilenska (Poland)
59 kg/130 lbs.
Gold – Takako Ohshima (Japan)
Silver –Breanne Graham (Canada)
Bronze – Emily Richardson (Canada)
4th – Stefanie Stuber (Gerrmany)
5th – Jazzie Barker (Canada)
6th – Amanda Gerhardt (Canada)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Viola Yanik (Canada)
Silver – Nikola Hartmann (Austria)
Bronze – Helen Hennick (Canada)
4th – Stephanie Gross (Germany)
5th – Monika Rogien-Michali (Poland)
6th – Heidi Kulak (Canada)
67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Gold – Martine Dugrunier (Canada)
Silver – Megan Buydens (Canada)
Bronze – Tara Hedican (Canada)
4th – Stephanie Howurun (Canada)
5th – Samantha Johnson (Canada)
6th – Meaghan Wilton (Canada)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold – Anita Schaetzle (Germany)
Silver – Pam Wilson (Canada)
Bronze – Agnieszka Wieszczek (Poland)
Junior Women medalists
38 kg
1.Sabrina Manbahadur (Ontario)
2. Ella Burk (Canada)
3. Jenna Howard (Canada)
40 kg
1. Mapaline Quizon (Ontario)
2. Tina Lalonde (G.Eagles)
3. Stevie Van Wyk (Canada)
43 kg
1. Krista Bettis (Canada)
2. Jade Parsons (Ontario)
3. Kalymn Goetz (Canada)
46 kg
1. Nicole Woody (USA)
2. Coralie Dixon (Canada)
3. Jasmine Mian (Ontario)
49 kg
1. Genevieve Haley
2. Joey Miller (USA/NYAC)
3. Emily Filmore (Ontario)
52 kg
1.Stephany Dergo
2. Allyssa Wilcox (NS)
3. Kelly McNiven (Ontario)
56 kg
1.Magdalena Skrypec (Poland)
2. Ashley Warner (Ontario)
3. Heidi Erdle (NB)
60 kg
1.Sarah Peasley (USA)
2. Melissa Ashton (NS)
3. Mikita Chicoine (Canada)
65 kg
1. Bryan Malissa (Canada)
2. Jessica Belchos (Ontario)
70 kg
1. Kelita Zupancic (Ontario)
2. Emma Brightwell (Ontario)
3. Kayla Jeffery (NS)
80 kg
1.Beth Thompson (Jr. Husky)
2. Nichole Plummer (Ontario)
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7/13/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet National Championships are considered the most prestigious youth wrestling events in the nation. Dubbed the “world’s largest wrestling tournament,” this competition has helped develop numerous athletes who have gone on to win World and Olympic medals for the United States, as well as national titles on the college level.
Up to 4,500 wrestlers from 49 different states will compete at the event, spread on over 20 mats on the floor of the FargoDome on the campus of North Dakota State. Two styles of wrestling will be competed at both the Cadet and Junior levels: Greco-Roman and freestyle. Women will compete in freestyle only.
Greco-Roman competition will take place July 23-26, men’s freestyle will compete July 27-30 and women’s action will be held July 29-30.
This will be the fourth year that a women’s division will be featured at the Junior Nationals. For the first time, USA Wrestling will host a Women’s Junior National Dual Meet Championships, set for Thursday, July 28 at the Bison Sports Arena.
Numerous champions from 2004 are expected to return to Fargo this year to seek more titles for their trophy case. In each division, there are some athletes who are back defending their gold medals. In some cases, athletes who were Cadet champions last year have moved up to the Junior division to make their name at a new level.
The Junior Nationals include the nation’s best athletes in grades 9-12 competing in both international styles.
Three of last year’s Junior double champions, winners of both the freestyle and Greco-Roman divisions, are eligible to return this year: Henry Cejudo of Arizona at 112 pounds, Troy Nickerson of New York at 119 pounds and Brent Metcalf of Michigan at 145 pounds. Nickerson was the Outstanding Wrestler in both style last year at the Junior Nationals. Please note that many of these athletes may compete at a different weight class this season.
Along with these three stars, there are a total of 12 other Junior Nationals champions from last year who are eligible to return this year.
Returning Junior National Greco-Roman champions include Matt McNaughton of Illinois (98), Dan Bishop of New York (105), Jayson Ness of Minnesota (125), Brett Robbins of Illinois (135), Kyle Bounds of Washington (152) and Jake Cranford of Oregon (189). Returning Junior National freestyle champions include Pat McCaffrey of Illinois (98), Rollie Peterkin of Massachusetts (105), Zach Bailey of Missouri (130), Mitch Smith of West Virginia (140), Matt Coughlin of Indiana (160) and Patrick Bond of Virginia (189).
The women’s division of the Junior Nationals will be loaded with 2004 champions, with eight of the nine winners from last year eligible to return to Fargo this year. Leading the group is last year’s Outstanding Wrestler in the women’s division, Na’Tasha Umemoto of Oregon at 138 pounds, plus two-time Junior Nationals winners Rachel Holthaus of Minnesota (101) and Deanna Rix of Main (128).
Other returning Junior Nationals champions include Nicole Woody of Maryland (95), Caitlyn Chase of Illinois (110), Nicole Darrow of New York (119), Melissa Simmons of Washington (165) and Juanita Russell of New York (175). The women’s weight classes have changed for 2005, moving up from nine divisions to 11 divisions, so there should be some new champions at different weight divisions on champion’s row this season.
The top 15- and 16-year old wrestlers in the United States will battle in freestyle and Greco-Roman for national titles and All-American honors at the Cadet National Championships.
There are eight 2004 Cadet National champions who are eligible to return this year, four in Greco-Roman and four in freestyle.
The returning Cadet National Greco-Roman champions are Eric Grajales of Florida at 84 pounds, Brian Owen of Washington at 98 pounds, Luke Rebertus of Maryland at 145 pounds and Deron Winn of Missouri at 171 pounds. The returning Cadet National freestyle champions this season are Boris Novachkov of California at 84 pounds, Anthony Valles of Connecticut at 91 pounds, Eric Medina of New Jersey at 145 pounds and Ben Kuhar of Ohio at 275 pounds.
In 2004, three records were set in Fargo, including the largest Junior National Championships, including all three divisions (2,320 participants), the largest Junior National Greco-Roman Championships (946 participants) and the largest Junior Girls National Championships (144 participants).
Many of these star athletes were competing for their state teams earlier this summer at the National Dual Meet Championships.
At the Junior National Duals, Iowa was the team champion in freestyle, with New Jersey placing second. In Greco-Roman, Minnesota won the team title, stopping Michigan in the championship match.
At the Cadet National Duals, Missouri was the freestyle team champion, defeating Minnesota in the championship finals. In Greco-Roman, Pennsylvania was the champion, and Missouri was the team runner-up.
To be eligible for Junior competition for both men and women, a wrestler must be born Sept. 1, 1985 or later and be enrolled in grads 9-12 during the 2005 Spring semester. Only wrestlers born in 1989 or 1990 are eligible to compete at the Cadet level.
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Bernard named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week
7/13/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
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Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Univ. of Regina) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for the week of July 5-11.
Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.
Bernard claimed a gold medal at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. at the Junior World Women’s Wrestling Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 7.
Bernard pinned all four of her opponents during the competition, including a second-period fall over Alena Stardubtseva of Russia. Bernard won the first period on criteria, 2-2, then pinned Stardubtseva in the second period.
Other athletes that Bernard pinned were Kie Tanaka of Japan, Vasilisa Marzaliuk of Belarus and Jenny Franson of Sweden.
Bernard was one of four U.S. wrestlers to win a medal in the Junior World Championships for the United States, joined by silver medalists Sara Fulp-Allen (El Granada, Calif./Menlo College) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Dany Hedin (Kailua, Hawaii/USOEC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Heather Martin (Wellington, Ohio/New York AC) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Bernard was second at the 2005 World Team Trials and the 2005 U.S. Nationals, competing at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. She was a 2004 U.S. Nationals champion at 67 kg/147.5 lbs., and competed at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Bernard was named 2004 TheMat.com/ASICS High School Girls High School Wrestler of the Year, after an outstanding age-group career. She won national titles on the FILA Cadet, Junior and FILA Junior levels. Bernard attended New Ulm High School in Minnesota.
She now attends the Univ. of Regina in Canada, where she was a 2005 CIS National champion on the Canadian college scene. She was named Rookie of the year among Canadian college wrestlers, as well as the Female Athlete of the Year and Rookie of the Year at her college.