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USOEC program at Northern Michigan recruits a number of Junior National champions
8/2/2005
Julee Basal/USOEC
MARQUETTE, Mich. –- The United States Olympic Education Center’s wrestling coaches and staff traveled to Fargo, N.D., to recruit new athletes at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet National Championships, and Women’s Junior Dual National Championships last week in Fargo, N.D.
USOEC Director Jeff Kleinschmdit, Head Greco-Roman Coach Ivan Ivanov, Assistant Greco-Roman Coach Steve Goss, Head Women's Freestyle Coach Shannyn Gillespie and several USOEC wrestlers made the trip to look for up-coming athletes who show potential for success in the USOEC’s Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling programs.
Robby Smith of California and Justin Wren of Texas will be joining the USOEC as incoming freshman this fall. Smith strut his stuff at 215 pounds. He came in first at the competition, defeating Brent Jones of Virginia 3-1. Wren also came out on top in his division, overtaking Erik Nye of California 5-0 at 275 pounds.
Smith also came back in the freestyle competition to win a gold medal in that style, defeating Daniel Erekson of Idaho, 10-9 in overtime. Smith becomes the first Junior freestyle champion and the first Junior "double" champion to join the USOEC program in Greco-Roman.
Goss said they were recruited because of their work ethic and ability to work with current USOEC wrestler Adam Wheeler, who is also a heavyweight. He predicts they will go far in the program.
“Generally, our heavyweights do well in world competition. These guys have a great chance of winning an Olympic medal someday, like heavyweight Rulon Gardner who won gold in 2000 and bronze in 2004,” said Goss.
Female freestyle wrestler Deanna Rix (128 pounds) of Maine will also join the USOEC this fall. Rix defeated Bethany Harris of California 10-0 at the championships, becoming the first woman to win the competition three times. She was named the outstanding wrestler for the championships.
Rix also threw her hat in the men’s Greco-Roman championships and did very well.
“She’s just outstanding. She won three or four matches against the men in Greco-Roman. The crowd went crazy,” said Goss.
Other female wrestlers expected to come to the USOEC this year include Nicole Darrow of New York (119 lbs.), Stefenie Shaw of Connecticut (138 lbs.), Amberlee Ebert of Wisconsin (148 lbs.), Melissa Simmons of Washington (160 lbs.), Toni Copeland of New York (175 lbs.) and Juanita Russell of New York (195 lbs.).
Simmons and Russell took first in their weight classes at the championships. Simmons pinned Amy Havens of California and Russell pinned Brittany Delgado of South Carolina.
Darrow, Shaw and Ebert took second. Darrow fell to Tatiana Padilla of California 10-1, Shaw lost to Na’Tasha Umemoto of Oregon 13-4 and Ebert was defeated by Vanessa Oswalt of Ohio 3-2 in the gold-medal round. Darrow was a Junior National champion in 2004.
Current and new athletes will be in Marquette, Mich., by the last week of August to start classes at Northern Michigan University and to begin their training program.
For more information, please contact the USOEC office at 906-227-2888.
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Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - Bangor Daily News
Deanna Rix, a 2005 graduate of Marshwood High School in South Berwick, became the first-ever three-time women's junior national wrestling champion last weekend at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Women's National Championships held in Fargo, N.D.
Rix, the daughter of Marshwood wrestling coach Matt Rix, won six matches to claim the 128-pound freestyle national championship. She scored three falls and three technical falls in the tournament., including a 10-0 technical-fall victory over Bethany Harris of California in the championship match.
Rix was named outstanding wrestler of the championships.
The 18-year-old Rix last winter became the first Maine schoolgirl wrestler to amass 100 career victories. Rix went on to place second in the Class A meet at 130 pounds, losing to Shane Leadbetter of Sanford 2-1 on an escape with four seconds left in double overtime.
The three-time high school All-American is headed to Northern Michigan University this fall on a full wrestling scholarship.
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Amateur Wrestling: Ebert stars at Nationals
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Rix named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week
8/3/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Note: To nominate a wrestler for TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week, send the athlete's name, accomplishments for the week and career accomplishments to John Fuller at jfuller@usawrestling.org
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Deanna Rix (South Berwick, Maine) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for the week of July 27-Aug. 1
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.
Rix won the gold medal at 128 pounds at the ASICS/Vaughan Women’s Junior National Championships, and was named the Outstanding Wrestler in the tournament in Fargo, N.D., July 30.
For Rix, it was a third career Junior Nationals title, setting the record for the most Junior National titles for girls in a career.
In the gold medal finals, Rix scored a 10-0 technical fall over Bethany Harris of California.
Rix scored three falls and three technical falls on the way to her title. She opened the tournament with three straight pins, scoring falls over Trisha Kulash of Michigan, Tina Karol of Kansas and Reneta Kaethler of Pennsylvania. She then scored technical fall wins over Megan Corden of Connecticut and Jessica Jauck of California.
Earlier in the week, Rix entered the Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman, competing against boys at 130 pounds.
To the surprise and delight of the crowd, Rix won her first two matches handily, a 10-0 technical fall over Cody Blackford of Tennessee and a 1:12 pin of Daniel Navarro of California. In the third round, Rix lost a competitive 3-0 match to Gus Lee of North Dakota. She withdrew from the tournament in the next round with a hand injury.
Rix was named the 2005 ASICS Girls Wrestler of the Year after her amazing prep career ended. Wrestling for Marshwood High School, she was second at the Maine state high school championships as a senior, competing against boys. She was beaten in the finals in overtime. It is the highest placement ever for a girl competing in a boys state high school meet, matching the achievement of Erica Dye of West Virginia and Michaela Hutchison of Alaska.
Rix will attend Northern Michigan Univ. in the fall, as part of the USOEC Women’s wrestling university resident program there.