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U.S. Nationals preview at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling

Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
03/25/2006

There are many changes in the field at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. this year in women’s wrestling, as a number of top athletes have switched weight classes and the field should be considerably different than last year.

In fact, the two top-ranked wrestlers in the weight class going into Las Vegas this year both competed at 112.25 pounds last year. The wrestler who won the World Team Trials at this weight class last year has moved up to 112.25 pounds. Confused?

Ranked No.1 in the most recent TheMat.com rankings is veteran Stephanie Murata of the Sunkist Kids, who was a member of the 2005 U.S. World Team at 112.25 pounds. For the first time in her long career, Murata has dropped down to the lowest weight class. In previous seasons, she has wrestled in events at weights as high as 121 pounds. The move down has seemed to work very well for her, as she has won a number of tournaments since the switch in weight.

Murata won gold medals at the FILA Golden Grand Prix in France, a prize-money tournament that featured many of the world’s top athletes. She also claimed titles at the New York AC Holiday Championships and the Dave Schultz Memorial International. She also has a silver medal at the Ivan Yarygin International at this division, and a bronze medal at the Klippan Golden Grand Prix in Sweden.

Murata has won eight national titles, including a streak of seven in a row (1996-2002). She was second at the 2001 World Championships, and was fourth in the World Championships two other times. She has more experience than any of the women competing on the national level, yet has not yet won the coveted World title that she continues to pursue.

Returning to 105.5 pounds this year is Mary Kelly of the USOEC/New York AC, who lost to Murata in the World Team Trials at 112.25 pounds. Kelly had a superb year last year at the higher weight class, including winning a bronze medal at the World University Games. She competed a number of years down at this weight. This year, Kelly, in her first event at 105.5 pounds, she won a bronze medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial International. She wrestled at 112.25 pounds in two tournaments early in the season. Kelly has won numerous World-level medals at the age-group levels, but has yet to make her first U.S. Senior World Team.

The returning U.S. Nationals champion at this weight class is Sara Fulp-Allen of Menlo College, who had a strong performance last year, winning her first Senior national title. Fulp-Allen entered the year ranked No. 2 in this division, after losing in the World Team Trials finals to Jenny Wong of the Sunkist Kids. Wong has since moved up a weight class to 112.25 pounds, where she competed most of her career. Fulp-Allen has not wrestled much in recent months, with her top performance of the season being a bronze medal at the Sunkist Kids International.

Wong isn't the only former 105.5-pounder who is now up in weight. 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda of the Sunkist Kids returned to the mats this winter, but for now is competing at 112.25 pounds. Don't be surprised to see her come down in weight prior to the next Olympic Trials.

One of the wrestlers who could seriously battle for the title this year is veteran Clarissa Chun of the Gator WC, who was third at the World Team Trials last year. Chun has won gold medals at three international events, the Sunkist Kids International, the Clansman International in Canada and the Vehbi Emre Golden Grand Prix in Turkey. She also wrestled very well at the Klippan Golden Grand Prix in Sweden, where she won a silver medal and scored a win over Murata. However, she lost to Murata at the Ivan Yarygin International in Russia, and also lost to Kelly at the Dave Schultz Memorial. Chun has been second at the U.S. Nationals four times, and would like nothing better than to win her first U.S. Nationals title this year.

After Chun, the field drops off a little bit in relation to past success on the national and international level. Hana Askren of the Santa Monica WC, who actually did her college wrestling at McGill Univ. in Canada, placed fourth at the World Team Trials last year. Placing fifth at the World Team Trials was college wrestler Laura Felix of the New York AC, who wrestles on the men’s team at Cal-State Bakersfield. Felix has been successful on the age-group levels.

Training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center has been Rachel Holthaus of Hi Flyers, who was a Junior Nationals champion while in high school. Holthaus placed sixth at last year’s U.S. Nationals, and has the potential to move up in the standings as she continues to improve.

There are a number of competitors who are currently in college who could challenge for a spot in the medal rounds at Las Vegas. Jessica Median of the Univ. of the Cumberlands had a strong college season this year, but moved up to 112.25 pounds for the Women’s College Nationals this year. Capturing that tournament was Tabitha Ramsey of Missouri Valley College, with Aquila Hills of the Univ. of the Cumberlands in second and Tanya Miyasaki of Missouri Valley College in third.

Liz Short of the USOEC program at Northern Michigan has been nationally ranked for a number of years and remains competitive. Another USOEC athlete, Sadie Kaneda, has shown potential at this weight class. Another wrestler on the college level, Amantha Hordagoda at Cal-State Bakersfield, has been competing on the national level for a number of seasons.

There could some high school students who make a big impact at this division. Last year, a high school wrestler was second at the U.S. Nationals at 105.5 pounds, Caitlyn Chase of the Gator WC, but she moved up to 112.25 pounds at the World Team Trials.

Last year’s Junior Nationals champion at 102 pounds, Joey Miller of the New York AC, who lives in Oklahoma, has numerous age-group national honors and has begun to test herself on the Senior level. The Junior Nationals champion at 95 pounds, Nicole Woody of Maryland, is also capable of winning matches on this level. Many people are excited about Alyssa Lampe of Wisconsin, who placed second in the boys high school state meet this winter and won a bronze medal at the Junior Nationals last year. Numerous other high school wrestlers could make an impact if they decide to test the waters in Las Vegas this year.

This weight class promises to be interesting this year, with some different athletes competing than in recent years. With the decision by Stephanie Murata to drop to this division, and the return of Mary Kelly to the weight, there could be very competitive matches. Each year, some young athletes often make an impact at the U.S. Nationals at 105.5 pounds.

2005 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS AT 48 KG/105.5 LBS.
1st – Sara Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif. (Menlo College) pin Caitlyn Chase, Hanover Park, Ill. (Gator WC), 0-2, 1:20
3rd – Hana Askren, Los Angles, Calif. (Santa Monica Bay) pin Katie Kunimoto, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 2-0, 1:22
5th – Laura Felix, Bakersfield, Calif. (Cal-Bakersfield) dec. Rachel Holthaus, Little Falls, Minn. (High Flyers), 1-1, 3-0
7th - Liz Short, Lombard, Ill (USEOC) dec. Jessica Medina, Pomona, Calif. (Cumberland College), 1-0, 1-0

THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR MARCH 2006
1. Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Mary Kelly, Mahomet, Ill. (USOEC/New York AC)
3. Sara Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif. (Menlo College)
4. Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Hana Askren, Los Angeles, Calif. (Santa Monica WC)
6. Laura Felix, Bakersfield, Calif. (New York AC)
7. Jessica Medina, Pomona, Calif. (Cumberland College)
8. Liz Short, Lombard, Ill. (USOEC)
9. Joey Miller, Woodward, Okla. (New York AC)
10. Sadie Kaneda, Honolulu, Hawaii (USOEC)

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Miranda wins gold, Kelly takes bronze on first day of Medved International in Belarus

Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
03/24/2006

MINSK, BELARUS - 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda (New Haven, Conn./Sunkist Kids) claimed a gold medal at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., the top American performance on the first day of action at the Alexander Medved International, March 24.

Four weight classes were contested on Friday, two in women’s freestyle wrestling and two in men’s freestyle wrestling.

Miranda won four straight matches to capture the gold medal, including a 1-0, 3-0 victory over Alaina Kareisha of Belarus in the finals, Kareisha won a bronze medal at the 2005 World University Games and was fourth at the 2003 World Championships.

Miranda opened the tournament with a technical fall victory, beating Maryna Shishkina of Russia, 6-0, 7-0. In the second round, she stopped Christyna Shnipko of Ukraine, 3-0, 7-0. In the semifinals, Miranda pinned Sarka Andrilova of Czech Republic.

It was the second international tournament that Miranda has won, and the third international medal that she has garnered, since she returned to the mats after taking off a year following her Olympic medal performance in the Athens Games, Miranda also won the Dave Schultz Memorial International, and was second at the New York AC Holiday International.

In addition to her Olympic bronze medal, which she won at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Miranda has also won two career World silver medals.

Capturing a bronze medal at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. was Mary Kelly (Mahomet, Ill./USOEC/New York AC). Kelly had a 1-2 record in the tournament, including a 3-1, 2-0 decision over Yana Stadnik of Ukraine in the bronze-medal match.

Kelly opened the tournament with a 6-0, 6-0 technical fall over Viktoriya Poddubskaya of Belarus. In the semifinals, Kelly was pinned by Maryna Markevich of Belarus.

Kelly was ranked No. 2 in the USA last year at 112.25 pounds, but has since dropped back down to 105.5 pounds. She is a past Cadet World champion, and has won a number of age-group World medals for the United States.

Three other U.S. women wrestlers competed on Friday, but none were able to advance to the medal rounds.

One U.S. athlete participated in the men’s division, Danny Felix (Charlottesville, Va./Sunkist Kids), who had a 1-1 record at 60 kg/132 lbs. and did not place. Felix opened the tournament with a big win, beating 2003 World champion Arif Abdullaev of Azerbaijan, 1-0, 0-1, 2-0. In his second match, he lost to Ersin Chetin of Turkey, 1-0, 1-0.

Five more weight classes will be contested on Saturday (women’s 55 kg and 59 kg, and men’s 66 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg). On Sunday, the final five weight classes will be held (women’s 63 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg and men’s 96 kg, 120 kg).

ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
in Minsk, Belarus, March 24-26

Women’s freestyle results

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold – Iwona Sadowska (Poland)
Silver – Maryna Markevich (Belarus)
Bronze – Mary Kelly (USA)
Bronze – Maryna Khmialitskaya (Belarus)
5th - Yana Stadnik (Ukraine)
5th - Yuliya Staravoitava (Belarus)

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Gold – Patricia Miranda (USA)
Silver – Alaina Kareisha (Belarus)
Bronze – Sarka Andrilova (Czech Republic)
Bronze – Viktoriya Yemeliyanova (Ukraine)
5th – Maryna Shishkina (Russia)
5th – Zamira Rakhmanova (Russia)

U.S. women’s results

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Mary Kelly, Mahomet, Ill (USOEC/New York AC), 3rd
WIN Viktoriya Poddubskaya (Belarus), 6-0, 6-0
LOSS Maryna Markevich (Belarus), 4-7, pin
WIN Yana Stadnik (Ukraine), 3-1, 2-0

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Sara Fulp-Allen, Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Menlo College), dnp
LOSS Yuliya Staravoitava (Belarus), 0-2, 3-0, 0-1

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Rachel Holthaus, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm), dnp
LOSS Julitta Omilusik (Poland), 4-0, 3-0

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Patricia Miranda, New Haven, Conn. (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Maryna Shishkina (Russia), 6-0, 7-0
WIN Christyna Shnipko (Ukraine), 3-0, 7-0
WIN Sarka Andrilova (Czech Republic), 4-0, pin
WIN Alaina Kareisha (Belarus), 1-0, 3-0

51 kg/121 lbs. – Julieta Okot, New York, N.Y. (New York AC), dnp
LOSS Sarka Andrilova (Czech Republic), 1-1, 3-0, 0-2

Men’s freestyle results

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Gennadi Tulbea (Moldova)
Silver – Aial Pavlov (Russia)
Bronze – Vladislav Andreev (Belarus)
Bronze – Kazbek Shamsutdinov (Russia)
5th – Jamie Macari (Canada)
5th – Aliaksandr Lasitsa (Belarus)

60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold – Aliaksandr Karnitski (Belarus)
Silver – Aleksandre Kontoev (Russia)
Bronze – Yurij Semankin (Ukraine)
Bronze – Kamal Ustarkhanov (Russia)
5th – Nabi Ganifaev (Russia)
5th – Badrudzin Magomedov (Belarus)

U.S. men’s freestyle results

60 kg/132 lbs. – Danny Felix, Charlottesville, Va. (Sunkist Kids), dnp
WIN Arif Abduallaev (Azerbaijan), 1-0, 0-1, 2-0
LOSS Ersin Chetin (Turkey), 1-0, 1-0

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Female wrestler chasing greatness

By Jack Korpela
For The Tribune-Review
Sunday, March 26, 2006

One of the best 103-pound wrestlers in the state of Illinois wears pink nail polish.
Caitlyn Chase of Glenbard (Ill.) High School is in Pittsburgh to compete in the National High School Coaches Association Senior Nationals Wrestling Championships at Petersen Event Center.

Of the more than 850 wrestlers from around the country competing at the event, Chase is the only female.

Chase doesn't mind standing out and says it's something she learned to deal with long ago.

"Some of them give me a hard time, but I've gotten it so much over the years that I'm used to it," Chase said. "I've found that it's something that builds character. My attitude is, whether they accept me or not, I have to be true to myself and do what I love."

Chase is unique for another reason. She hasn't wrestled a match this season. Chase, who qualified for the Illinois State AA Tournament last season and accumulated 78 career victories in her first three varsity seasons, was forced to miss her senior season because of health complications.

Chase lost her first match to Maryland state champion Robbie Eloshway, 6-0, on Saturday. Chase was eliminated from the tournament in a loss to Rafael Montez of Indiana in the consolation bracket.

Like most wrestlers, Chase began the season trying to cut weight. Her regimen proved too intense, and it began to take a toll on her body.

"I was determined to make 103, but my weight would keep jumping up," Chase said. "I did some pretty unhealthy things. I would starve myself, drink a Red Bull, go wrestle and then throw the Red Bull back up."

After months of rehabilitation, Chase has accepted her healthy body weight of about 110 pounds. With the extra three-pound weight allowance given for the NHSCA tournament, Chase was easily able to shed enough water weight to make 106 without straining herself.

"It wasn't hard," Chase said. "I ate cucumbers, french fries and salad the day before. I even drank a Pepsi."

Chase didn't seem nervous to be starting her senior season at, what many consider, one of the toughest tournaments in the country.

"I'm passionate for wrestling, and I was more than excited to have an opportunity to be in this tournament and show everybody what Illinois wrestling is all about," said Chase, who made it into the 16-wrestler, 103-pound bracket as a wild card.

For Chase, wrestling always has been a family endeavor. Her mother and grandfather watch from the stands, and her younger brother keeps her loose between matches.

"My brother is out here to help me warm up. He's my drilling partner," Chase said of her 128-pound freshman sibling. "Even when we were little, I used to beat up on him. He's bigger than me now, but I still beat up on him."

Although her high school career is finished and she won't attend college immediately, Chase has serious wrestling ambitions. She hopes to some day be a world champion.

"I have a lot of goals," Chase said. "I want to be an Olympian and win a Junior World Gold Medal. I want to finish college as well."

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Local Digest

Saturday, March 25, 2006 -- The Truth, B1
Last updated: 3/25/2006 12:04:20 AM

Wrestling: Jimtown

clinic targeted to girls

JIMTOWN -- A Jimtown Wrestling Club clinic targeted to beginning girls in grades kindergarten through eighth grade who might be interested in the sport is planned for Sunday, April 2.

The clinic, from 1 to 5 p.m., will take place in the Jimtown High School wrestling room.

Pre-registration by Wednesday is encouraged to assure receiving a T-shirt, but individuals will be accepted at the door. Cost is $10.

For more information or to register, call Gina Stone at 293-9781.

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Senior World Championships

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Missouri Valley Showcase of Women’s Wrestling

March 25, 2006

Outstanding Wrestlers

Bantam - Kennedy Jackson

Midget – Cassandra Herkelman

Novice – Lacey Wallis

School Girl – Alli Ragan

Cadet/Junior – Beth Johnson

Senior – Othella Lucas

Senior Results:

48 Kilos

1st Sadie Kaneda - USOEC

2nd Tabithia Ramsey - MVC

3rd Vanity Vasquez - UC

Vanity Vasquez WBF Krista Camarillo (OK)

Aquilla Hills (UC) d. Angelee Homma (MVC) 1-0, 5-1, 2-0

Sadie Kaneda d. Vanity Vasquez 0-1, 6-0, 4-0

Tabithia Ramsey d Aquilla Hills 3-0, 1-1

Kaneda d Ramsey 1-0, 2-0

Hills d. Camarillo 8-, 6-0

Vasquez WBF Homma

Vasquez d. Hills 3-1, 1-0

51 Kilos

1st Jessica Medina –UC

2nd Rikki Giles – UC

3rd Samantha Schuman – MVC

Joey Miller (OK) d Chandra Peterson (IA) 2-0, 1-0

Medina d. Miller 1-0, 1-0

Christina Varland (MVC) WBF Schuman

Giles WBF Tanya Miyasaki 2-3, 1-0, Fall

Kelli Rasmussen (MN) d. Maika Watanabe (MVC) 3-0, 3-1

Medina d Varland 5-1, 1-4, 2-0

Giles d Rasmussen 3-1, 3-0

Medina d Giles 1-0, 2-0

Watanabe d Peterson 6-0, 6-0

Watanabe d Miyasaki 1-0, 1-0

Schuman d Miller 3-1, 0-1, 1-0

Watanabe d Varland 2-0, 3-4, 3-0

Schuman d Rasmussen 1-0, 3-2

Schuman d Watanabe 1-0, 1-0

55 Kilos

1st Dany Hedin - USOEC

2ND Cheyenne Stokes – OK

3rd LeAnn Barney – TX

Stokes d Barney 3-2, 3-2

Stokes d Sharlee Solis (MVC) 2-1, 0-5, 3-0

Courtney Martell (MVC) d Warry Woodard (UC) 3-0, 1-4, 3-0

Clarissa Calibuso (MVC) d Amanda Stormo (MVC) 5-0, 8-0

Hedin tf Rachel Rothe (UA) 6-0, 6-0

Stokes d Martell 3-1, 2-1

Hedin WBDfault Calibuso

Hedin d Stokes 5-1, 2-0

Barney WBF Rothe

Barney WBF Stormo

Woodard d Solis 2-0, 1-0

Barney WBF Martell 0-1, 3-3, Fall

Woodard WBFF

Barney WB Inj Def Woodard

59 Kilos

1st Othella Lucas – UC

2nd Rachel Billerbeck – MVC

3rd Bethany Harris – USOEC

Jessica Jauck (UC) d Amanda Velasquez (MVC) 5-3, 4-1

Harris d Karen Howe (MVC) 4-0, 4-0

Lucas d Shamaine Danner (MO) 5-0, 4-0

Billerbeck d Jauck 2-0, 2-0

Lucas d Harris 1-0, 3-0

Lucas WB Inj Def Billerbeck

Danner WBF Howe

Harris d Velasquez 1-1, 2-0

Jauck d Danner 3-3, 1-1

Harris d Jauck 3-0, 4-0

63 Kilos

1st Sara McMann Sunkist

2nd Kierstin Hyatt USOEC

3rd Chaneal Meletia MVC

Maria Dunn (MVC) d Krystal Kiyuna (UC) 5-0, 3-0

McMann d Meletia 5-0, 6-0

Hyatt d Dunn 2-1, 2-0

McMann WBF Hyatt 7-0, Fall

Meletia d Kiyuna 0-1, 1-0, 1-0

Meletia d Dunn 2-1, 2-0, 1-0

67 Kilos

1st Tabetha Golt UC

2nd Emily Rinehart MVC

3rd Sherolyn Eppinger UC

Round Robin

Golt d Eppinger 6-0, 5-2

Rinehart d Daphne Moriel (UC) 3-1, 3-0

Golt d Rinehart 4-0, 6-0

Eppinger WBF Moriel

Rinehart WBF Eppinger

Golt d Moriel 5-1, 6-0

72 Kilos

1st Shelly Ruberg UC

2nd Sara Hilliard MVC

3rd Michelle Hooker

Round Robin

Ruberg WBF Hooker

Ruberg TF Hilliard 6-0, 6-0

Hilliard d Hooker 5-0, 3-0

80 Kilos

1st Donell Bradley USOEC

2nd Elizabeth Hernandez MVC

Round Robin

Bradley WBF Colette Curtis (MVC)

Bradley d Hernandez 3-1, 1-0

Hernandez WBFF Curtis

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Bantam Division

1st Kennedy Jackson OK

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Midget

Folkstyle

70 Lbs

1st Cassandra Herkelman IA

2nd Katie Agey IA

3rd Darian Gonzalez

100 Lbs

1st Jasmine Baker IL

2nd Mariah Guilfoyle KS

Freestyle

70 Lbs

1st Katie Agey IA

2nd Cassandra Herkelman IA

100 lbs

1st Jasmine Baker IL

2nd Mariah Guilfoyle KS

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Novice

1st Lacey Wallis OK

2nd Zoe Casteneda GA

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School Girl

90 Lbs

1st Hanna Martin OK

105 Lbs

1st Alli Ragan IA

130 Lbs

1st Chelsea Campbell IL

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Cadet/ Junior

105 Lbs

1st Alli Ragan IA

2nd Taylor Frederiksen KS

123.5

1st Beth Johnson Ks

2nd Cheyenne Stokes OK

123.5

1st Joey Miller OK

2nd Jessica Rea CT

3rd LeAnn Barney TX

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Showcase West - East Dual

March 24, 2006

West listed first. Team Score

Medina vs. Schuman 1-1, 3-0, 1-0 3-1

Hedin vs Martell 3-3, 1-0 6-2

Ramsey vs Hill 5-5, 4-0, 3-0 9-3

Cruz vs Camarillo 5-0,7-0 12-3

Kaneda vs Vasquez 7-0, 2-3, 0-1 13-6

Giles vs Varland 6-3, 6-1 16-7

Stormo v Woodard 1-3, 2-7 17-10

Lucas v Velasquez 6-0, 6-0 21-10

Harris vs Danner 2-0, 3-0 24-10

Jauck vs Howe 7-0, Fall 29-10

Kiyuna vs Dunn 0-1, 4-2 Fall 29-15

Hyatt vs Sword 0-3, inj Def 34-15

Rinehart vs. Eppinger 2-4, Fall 39-15

Bradley vs Hernandez 2-0, 5-0 42-15

Hilliard vs Hooker 2-1 , fall 47-15

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