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USA WOMEN'S WRESLTING
2005-2006 OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
The Olympic Development Camps will be facilitated by USA Wrestling Staff Members in conjunction and with the help of local state women's directors and coaches.
The Purpose of the camps are to bring USA's top young athletes up to speed with the techniques that the national staff feels is important for your future success in the sport on the national and international level.
The camp is designed for our elite "funded" young athletes only. Wresters must meet at least one of the following criteria within an eighteen month period in order to be considered an Athlete that has Funded Access to the Olympic Training Centers. All athletes MUST meet these criteria at one of the following tournaments.
" Body Bar FILA Cadet Nationals (15-17)
o Top 5 per weight class
" Jr Nationals (9-12 grade)
o Top 8 per weight class
" Body Bar FILA Junior Nationals (17-20)
o Top 6 at the Olympic Weights, Top 4 at the Non-Olympic Weights
" USGWA High School Nationals
o Top 6 per weight class
" October 12-16, 2005 - Lake Placid, NY Deadline September 9, 2005
" October 26-30, 2005 - Chula Vista, CA Deadline September 23, 2005
" April 30-May 4, 2006 - Colorado Springs, CO Deadline March 10, 2006
Pre-Body Bar training camp. Body Bar May 5-6-7. Campers may stay at OTC through Body Bar.
" August 16-20, 2006 - Marquette, MI Deadline July 14, 2006
There will be a tiered cost for the camps. It is our hope that we can attract each athlete to all four of the camps. We feel that if we can be in contact with you 3-4 times throughout the year we are going to achieve great results. The following is a price list depending on the # of camps you attend: You must commit to 1-4 camps at one time to get the discount.
" 1 camp: $110.00 - 2 camps: $160.00 - 3 camps: $210.00 - All for camps: $225.00
" FILA Cadet, Junior, and FILA Jr. Finalists are half price.
There is a limited space at each camp. It will be on a first come first serve basis. There will be no price break beyond the deadlines.
Please make checks payable to: USAW.
Send checks and registration form to: USA Wrestling, Attention: Coach Izzy, 6155 Lehman Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918
For more information please call: Coach Izzy at 1-800-999-8531 ext. 647 or email at: izzy@usawrestling.org
Name: ________________________________, Email Address: _____________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________________________
City: __________________________, State: ____, Zip Code: ______________________________________
Home Phone: _______________________, Mobile Phone: _________________________________________
Age: _____, Date of Birth: ___/___/___
I would like to attend: ___Lake Placid,NY - (Oct. 12-16, 2005), ___Chula Vista,CA - (Oct 26-30, 2005)
___Colorado Springs,CO - (April 30- May, 2005), ___ Marquette, MI - (August 16-20, 2005)
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2005 World Championships preview at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
9/15/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Japan’s Kaori Icho has won this weight class at the level for three straight years, with two World titles and the first Olympic gold medal in the history of the division. She remains active, winning gold medals at the World Cup and the Asian Championships this year. If Icho were to ever take a break, Japan has a tremendous talent to take her place, 2005 World University Games champion and 1999 World champion Ayoko Shoda. Clearly, Japan is favored to win this division.
The last two years, Icho defeated American Sara McMann in the gold-medal finals. Both matches were very close, and McMann had opportunities to win them both times. In June, McMann made a comeback at the U.S. World Team Trials after sitting out the year, and will be back for another shot at Icho. When McMann is in top form, she can beat anybody with her tremendous skill and experience. However, it is yet to be seen how far she has come back from her time away from the sport.
The Olympic bronze medal went to Lise LeGrand-Golliot of France, a two-time World champion who often competed at 67 kg in recent seasons. LeGrand has been wrestling up this year, so it is possible that France will replace her at this division with Myriam Selloum, who was third at the World Cup this year.
At the Athens Olympics, Stavroula Zygouri of Greece was fourth, Viola Yanik of Canada was fifth and Olga Khilko of Belarus was sixth. All three have the ability to challenge for medals again.
Yanik was a 2003 World bronze medalist, and scored a win over McMann during the Olympic pool competition. However, Canada is reportedly sending former Junior World champion Tara Hedican to compete in the Worlds this year. Khilko was second at the 2005 European Championships and also placed second behind
China’s Lili Meng, a 2001 World Champion, did not place in Athens, but is still competing. Meng was third at the Asian Championships this year. China has many options at this division, including Xu Haiyan, who was fourth in the 2003 World Championships.
The 2005 European champion was Monika Mihalik-Rogien of Poland, and claiming bronze medals were Mihaela Sadoveanu of Romania and Nikola Hartmann-Dunser of Austria.
Hartmann-Dunser is a five-time World champion who did not qualify for Athens, but remains a strong competitor. She was third at the European Championships in 2005. Another outstanding past World champion who should be right in the mix is Sara Erikson of Sweden, who was second behind Icho at the 2002 World Championships.
Lene Aanes of Norway placed third in the 2001 and 2002 World Championships, and has beaten many of the top stars in this weight class. Alana Kartashova of Russia, a 2002 World Champion at 59 kg, has been competing at this weight in recent seasons. She was eighth at the 2004 Olympics and fifth at the 2003 World Championships at this division.
Second behind Icho at the Asian Championships was Geetika Jakhar of India, who was also a Junior World silver medalist this year. Among the other athletes to watch with tremendous experience are Lyudmila Golovchenko of Ukraine, Stephanie Gross of Germany and Magorzata Bassa of Poland.
Icho has dominated this weight class for four seasons now, and will be the heavy favorite going into the tournament. Many would love to see another Icho vs. McMann showdown in the championship finals. There are many other talented athletes capable of earning a spot in the gold-medal round in what is considered one of the deepest fields in all of women’s wrestling.
RECENT WORLD AND OLYMPIC RESULTS
2004 Olympic Games results
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Gold – Kaori Icho (Japan); Silver – Sara McMann (USA); Bronze – Lise Legrand (France); 4th – Stavroula Zygouri (Greece); 5th – Viola Yanik (Canada); 6th – Volha Khilko (Belarus); 7th – Stephanie Gross (Germany); 8th – Alena Kartashova (Russia); 9th – Lili Meng (China); 10th – Sara Eriksson (Sweden)
2003 World Championships results
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Gold – Kaori Icho (Japan) dec. Sara McMann (United States), 4-3, ot, 8:20; Bronze – Viola Yanik (Canada) pin Lyudmila Golovchenko (Ukraine), 2:44; 5th – Alena Kartacheva (Russia); 6th – Lene Aanes (Norway); 7th – Sabrina Esposito (Italy); 8th – Volha Khilko (Belarus); 9th – Stephanie Gross (Germany); 10th – Geetika Jakhar (India)
2002 World Championships results
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - 1st - Kaori Icho (Japan) pin Sara Eriksson (Sweden), 4:38; 3rd - Lene Aanes (Norway) pin Haivan Xu (China), 2:35; 5th - Malgorzata Bassa (Poland); 6th - Nikola Hartmann-Dunser (Austria); 7th - Stephanie Gross (Germany); 8th - Geetika Jakhar (India); 9th - Tara Hedican (Canada); 10th - Myagmarsuren (Mongolia)
2001 World Championships results
62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Gold - Lili Meng (China) dec. Diletta Giampiccola (Italy), 4-0; Bronze - Lene Aanes (Norway) dec. Stephanie Gross (Germany), 3-0; 5th - Volha Khilko (Belarus); 6th - Bassa Malgorzata (Poland); 7th - Lyudmila Golovchenko (Ukraine); 8th - Patricia Leibel (Canada); 9th - Lotta Andersson (Sweden); 10th - Michala Krizkova (Czech. Republic)
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9/14/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The U.S. World Wrestling Teams have now completed their domestic training camps, in preparation for the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 26-Oct. 2.
The men ‘s freestyle and women’s freestyle teams held their final workouts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The men’s Greco-Roman team had already finished its U.S. training camps over the past weekend in Colorado Springs.
The last scheduled workouts for both the men’s freestyle team and the women’s freestyle team were at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The focus in both practice sessions was on the seven individual World Team members on each team who will represent the U.S. at the World Championships.
The men’s freestyle practice was in the wrestling room in Sports Center II, where daily wrestling practices are conducted year round. National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson and U.S. World Team coach Mike Duroe gave some final instructions to the athletes prior to the workout. Duroe handed each of the World Team members a workout schedule for their time back at their homes, prior to the team’s departure for Hungary on September 19.
The practice concentrated on warming up, getting in a strong drill, and each World Team member having one live match. Coach Jackson told the athletes to work with intensity so the practice could be short.
“I feel real good and ready,” said Mo Lawal (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), who competes at 84 kg. “The rush for me will be right after weighins. I am satisfied with my conditioning and my technique. I am good to go.”
“I am excited,” said Lawal, who will be competing in his first World meet. “I will go out and give it 100 percent and wrestle smart. If I do that, I get my gold medal. That is what it takes. We learn new stuff at every camp, game plans, par terre wrestling, setups.”
“Camp has been awesome,” said Chris Bono (Gilbert, Ariz./Sunkist Kids), the 66 kg wrestler who will be on his third U.S. World team. “I have been pushed to the limit. I am in the best shape in my life. I have improved in all areas of my concentration. I am ready. I am excited to get home now to see my wife and kids for a few days.”
“I am ready to go,” said 2004 Olympian Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC), who wrestles at 96 kg. “We trained hard, harder and smarter than ever before. I think I have done everything right. I have prepared myself mentally and physically to be the best. I am focused on being the World champion. It is the first time I have not had distractions off the mat prior to competing.”
The women’s freestyle team was having its final U.S. practice at the same exact time, in a different gym in Sports Center I. National Freestyle Coach Terry Steiner and National Resident Coach Izzy Izboinikov were holding individual workouts with the World Team members, which included some drilling and live wrestling, including short matches.
The women’s team travels over the weekend to Prague, Czech Republic, where they will have their final training camp with the Czech athletes, leading up to their arrival in Budapest just prior to the competition.
Two of the World Team members, Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg and Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg started their workouts 30 minutes prior to the rest of the team. Both received personalized instruction from Steiner, Izboinikov and other coaches.
“I am excited about this trip,” said Murata, a past World silver medalist who has competed on a number of U.S. teams. “We have a lot of support. Women’s wrestling has come a long way. It is amazing where we are now, in terms of workout partners, coaches and support staff. It is nice to see, and it is very helpful to the athletes.”
“My weight class will be very challenging, but I never shy away from a challenge,” said Murata. “It means more if you beat everyone to win. I am not planning on an easy draw. I am ready for everyone. We have had a lot of preparation. I am hoping it will pay off over there.”
“I feel great,” said Downing, who will compete in her first World Championships. “This is fun. This is icing on the cake, all of this. Even the conditioning doesn’t hurt as much when you are training for the Worlds. I was ready yesterday. We could go tonight and get started, I am that ready.”
This workout was very relaxed, with each World Team member pairing off with training partners and working directly with the coaches. Each athlete has different needs, and have had different challenges during the training period.
“I didn’t wrestle much during July and August because of my back,” said Jenny Wong, a 2003 World bronze medalist who will compete at 48 kg in Budapest. “I think things will be fine for me, as I got lots of wrestling in this month. When I was healing, I did lots of conditioning, video training and mental training. I think it will work out for the best for me. My workout partners and coaches have been tremendous.”
“It has been one adverse blow after another for me during training,” said 2003 World bronze medalist Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), who competes at 59 kg. “I overcame this. I can take it to the opponents. I feel really good. My conditioning will not be a problem, it is really good. I am going to wrestle to the best of my ability. I’m only going there to win.”
“I feel I am ready. Camp has been great,” said 72 kg wrestler Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), who is competing in her second World meet. “We had a bunch of new bodies at camp. I had a number of new looks in training. It was the largest and strongest training camp I can remember. I totally feel ready. I can’t wait to go over there and handle business.”
The excitement about the task at hand is not just from the athletes, but is a feeling that is also shared with the coaching staff and team leaders.
“We’ve had some good training this summer,” said men’s freestyle World Team Coach Mike Duroe. “I have been around a long time, and this is the best series of training camps we’ve had.”
Duroe explained how the first training camp, which was held in Fargo, N.D. during the week of the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet Nationals, set the tone for the entire summer of workouts.
“Fargo was a different environment, and it was well received by the guys,” said Duroe. “We put them up on the stage, and they got a little nervous, and it gave them some variety. Here in Colorado Springs, Coach Terry Brands has put them running on the cog trail in the mountains. Kevin Jackson has done a good job of giving me, Joe Seay and Terry Brands the chance to run a variety of workouts. It has all been positive.”
“We have concentrated a lot on new rules, tactics and strategies,” said Duroe. “We have areas of concentration for each guy. If you improve on your areas of concentration, you will be successful. We have an unbelievably talented group. If they come to compete, they will have a great deal of success.”
The women’s freestyle team coaches are equally upbeat about the team’s prospects going into the World Championships.
“I think our training camps went well,” said National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner. “Our first camp was extremely successful. We pushed them hard and got in great condition. The second camp concentrated on individual preparation. We had some good times and some bad times. We are coming together at the right time. I am hoping our best is yet to come.”
“We are not going there to take second place,” continued Steiner. “We know the competition is strong. If you make a U.S. team, you should be ready to step on the podium and medal. Every one of these athletes are capable of a great performance.”