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Canada wins double diving gold, soccer bronze at Pan American Games

By Lori Ewing 7/26/07

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (CP) _ A double-gold day in diving sparked a 10-medal performance by Canada at the Pan American Games on Thursday.

The Canadian women's soccer team also rallied from a pair of embarrassing losses to capture a bronze.

Canada added four medals in wrestling _ a gold, two silver and a bronze _ and a pair of bronze in karate, while the men's water polo team heads home with bronze.

Canada remains fourth in the medal standings with 89 _ 26 gold, 32 silver, 41 bronze. The U.S. leads with 186 (79-69-38), Brazil is second with 117 (35-31-51), while Cuba is third with 87 (35-20-32). Medals standings are calculated by the number of gold medals won.

Alexandre Despatie of Laval, Que., shrugged off the boos from the pro-Brazilian crowd to capture gold in the men's three-metre springboard event Thursday, while Emilie Heymans of Longueuil, Que., and Marie-Eve Marleau of Laval, Que., topped the women's 10-metre synchronized platform competition.

Despatie finished with 503.65 points while Cesar Castro of Brazil took the silver with 492.70 and American Troy Dumais was third with 484.25.

``Audience's boos in my last dives were useful to make me train my focus,'' Despatie said. ``Since it had never happened to me before, I took it as a test to check how it will be in Beijing (2008 Olympics). I'm very satisfied to take this gold medal to my country.''

Heymans and Marleau won their competition with 327.30 points. Mexico's Paola Espinosa and Tatiana Ortiz Galicia were second with 325.14 while Americans Haley Ishimatsu and Mary Beth Dunnichay were third, 29.76 points back.

``We practised a lot and came here to do our best. We didn't win by accident,'' said Heymans. ``It was a tough competition, but we got what we wanted, which was the first position.''

Carol Huynh of Hazelton, B.C., led Canada's wrestling team, defeating Ingrid Medrano of El Salvador to win gold in the 48-kilogram category.

``A few countries are starting to pay attention to women's wrestling,'' said Huynh. ``In Canada, the women's wrestling started to evolve about 15 years ago.''

Ohenewa Akuffo of Brampton, Ont., took silver in the 72-kilogram class, losing to American Kristie Marano in the gold-medal bout.

Tonya Verbeek, a native of Beamsville, Ont., defeated Tahamara Barron of Mexico to win a bronze medal in the 65-kilogram category. Verbeek, a silver medallist at the 2004 Athens Olympics, had earlier lost to American Marcie Vandusen in the semifinals of the women's 55-kilogram wrestling division.

``I am not very happy with my performance in the Games,'' Verbeek said. ``For a moment I lost my focus. When I tried to get back into the fight again, I couldn't do it. You have to learn from your mistakes and move ahead.''

Megan Dolan of St. Catharines, Ont., collected bronze with a win over Cuba's Candida de Armas.

Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, B.C., and Ottawa's Kristina Kiss scored to lead Canada to a 2-1 soccer win over Mexico. The win was some consolation after earlier disappointment for the Canadians in Rio and a positive ending to the tournament as the team heads into the World Cup in China.

The Canadians had a major wakeup call when they were thrashed 7-0 by Brazil in their final preliminary-round game, and then went on to lose 2-1 to an under-20 U.S. team.

``Overall, it was a better performance than before,'' Canadian coach Even Pellerud said after the win. ``So it's good to finish off on a good note, but it was never great. This is not the World Cup level, we need to get better.''

The men's water polo team won the bronze with a 9-5 win over Cuba. Kevin Graham of Regina, Brandon Jung of Surrey, B.C., and Aaron Feltham of Lindsay, Ont., scored two goals apiece to lead Canada.

``It was a very physical and tough match because we were disappointed with (Wednesday's) result (a 10-6 semifinal loss to Brazil),'' said Noah Miller of Regina. ``We had to overcome this bruise.''

In karate, Philippe Poirier of Gatineau, Que., had to settle for bronze after losing to Colombia's Gilbert Ocoro in the 75-80 kilogram class. Jennifer Guillette of Granby, Que., also finished with bronze after a loss to Cheili Gonzalez of Guatemala in the under-53 kg. class.

Canada's women's softball team earned a semifinal matchup against the U.S., after beating Puerto Rico 6-3 and Venezuela 1-0. The Canadians finished round-robin action 3-0.

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Sandhu bags Khel Ratna award

Friday, August 10, 2007 11:36:7 IST

...Others in contention in athletics were quarter miler Satti Geetha and Chitra K Soman, discus thrower Krishna Poonia and 100m hurdler Anuradha Biswal. Archer Talukdar won the gold medal in the Croatia leg of the World Cup and finished a creditable fourth in the mega final in Mexico. Saurav Ghosal (squash), Subhajit Saha (TT), Vijay Kumar (shooting), Geetika Jhakar (wrestling) and Geeta Rani (weightlifting) were among those in the list of Arjuna awardees for their outstanding performance in 2006.

Arjuna Awards: P Harikrishna (chess), K M Binu (athletics), Vijender (boxing), Anjum Chopra (womens cricket), Jyoti Sunita Kullu (womens hockey), Chetan Anand (badminton), Jayanta Talukdar (archery), Navneet Gautam (kabaddi), Vijay Kumar (shooting), Saurav Ghosal (squash), Subhajit Saha (table tennis), Geeta Rani (womens weightlifting), Geetika Jhakar (womens wrestling)

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Black, Steiner to coach 2007 U.S. Women’s World Team

Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
08/09/2007

USA Wrestling has made its choice for a World Team Coach in women’s freestyle wrestling who will participate in the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 17-23

Selected to join USA Wrestling National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner of Colorado Springs, Colo. as World Team Coaches in women’s freestyle wrestling are Kevin Black of River Falls, Wis. and Troy Steiner of Corvallis, Ore.

The World Team Coaches were chosen by the Women’s Coach Selection Committee and approved by USA Wrestling’s Executive Committee.

Black has coached a number of USA Wrestling age-group women’s teams overseas, and has been active as a coach and leader with women’s wrestling programs in Wisconsin. He has coached on the college and high school levels, and currently operates the Victory School of Wrestling. He was a NCAA Div. I All-American at the Univ. of Wisconsin, and competed in international freestyle wrestling for a number of years.

Steiner is the head assistant coach at Oregon State Univ., and has had assistant coaching positions at the Univ. of Iowa, the Univ. of Wisconsin and Oregon State. He has coached a number of U.S. women’s teams overseas and was a finalist for the U.S. Olympic Team women’s coaching position in 2004. Steiner was a 1992 World Cup champion in freestyle wrestling and won the 1996 Pan American Championships. He was a NCAA Div. I champion at the Univ. of Iowa, and a four-time All-American.

Complete biographies of the U.S. World Team Coaches follow, as well as quotes from each of the coaches.

Kevin Black, River Falls, Wis.

Black has coached USA Wrestling age-group women’s teams for the last two years, taking the U.S. University women’s team to compete in El Salvador in 2007 and the U.S. Cadet women’s team to China in 2006. He has participated as a coach in a number of Women’s Team USA training camps in recent seasons.

Black serves as the Women’s Director for the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation. He has coached the Wisconsin Junior Nationals Women’s team since 200e and has coached Wisconsin athletes at the USGWA Nationals for the last two years. Black has started a new women’s wrestling club program at the Univ. of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Black has coached and operated the Victory School of Wrestling in River Falls, Wis. He served as an assistant coach for the Univ. of Wisconsin from 2003-05, working with the Div. I program there. He was a wrestling coach at Lodi High School from 2005-06.

He has been the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation State Coach from 2004-06, and coached the state’s Cadet Freestyle National Team from 2002-06. He conducted the Black Brothers Wrestling Camps from 2000-06.

Black was a NCAA Div. I All-American for the Univ. of Wisconsin, where he was a NCAA qualifier three times and served as the team captain three times. Black won four Wisconsin state titles for River Falls High School, with a 160-0 career record. He competed on the Senior level in freestyle, competing in a number of major international tournaments.

Troy Steiner, Corvallis, Ore.

Steiner enters his second season as an assistant wrestling coach at Oregon State Univ., where he helped head coach Jim Zalesky lead the Beavers to the Pac-10 title in their first year there. Steiner worked the two previous seasons as an assistant coach under Zalesky at the Univ. of Iowa.

He also served as an assistant coach at Wisconsin from 1997-2001 and Minnesota in 1996-97 and at Oregon State under Joe Wills for the 1995-96 season. Steiner also owned and operated the ADVANCE School of Wrestling in Madison, Wis., for four years.

Steiner has coached a number of U.S. teams in international competition and has participated in Women’s Team USA training camps. He was selected as a finalist for the U.S. Olympic Team women’s wrestling coaching position in 2004. He is the twin brother of USA Wrestling National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner.

Steiner was a four-time all-American at Iowa from 1990-93 and a NCAA champion in 1992. He won three Big Ten titles at Iowa, compiling a 148-13 career record at 134 and 142 pounds. He was part of three national and four Big Ten championship teams. Steiner shares Iowa’s school record for best season winning percentage for the 42-0 record he compiled during his junior season.

He was a top freestyle wrestler, winning gold medals at the 1992 World Cup and the 1996 Pan American Championships. He was third in the 1992 and 1996 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, and fifth in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

A native of Bismarck, N.D., Steiner was inducted into the North Dakota Hall of Fame in 1998.

QUOTES FROM THE WOMEN’S WORLD TEAM COACHES

Kevin Black, River Falls, Wis.
“I think this is a great opportunity. Since I have been involved in women’s wrestling, I have found that I enjoy coaching women very much. Their personalities, the way women communicate, I really enjoy that side of coaching. This is the highest assignment I can have as a coach. We need people who have been around wrestling at all levels to step up for the women’s program. Having coaches who stay involved and stay consistent is important to the program. We need more good wrestling people to be involved with women’s wrestling. Overall, our entire team, all seven athletes, will be very competitive. The goal is to win the overall World team title in all three styles, and winning is our goal for the women’s team.”

Troy Steiner, Corvallis, Ore.
“Right now, we are looking at Japan, China and Russia as some of the teams we have to beat. There may be some things we have to change as a team. I hope to add to what Terry is doing, and help the women in any way they need. I hope to bring a different perspective to help them reach their goals. We have a good core group of athletes. They have the ability to be near the top of the world again.”

National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner of Colorado Springs, Colo.

(about Kevin Black)

“Kevin brings some new energy to the team and to the program. He is very excited. Kevin is a wrestling junkie. He grew up with wrestling and loves wrestling people. He has been involved as an athlete, a coach and an administrator. He truly knows USA Wrestling, which is good for the organization. He has the right personality to coach our women. They can trust him immediately. The most important thing about Kevin as an athlete is he can find the good in every situation. He finds a way to learn from every experience and walk away with a smile. That attitude is contagious, and I think he will bring that to our program.”

(about Troy Steiner)

“We have talked about having more team unity in the program. The comfort for me with having Troy in this position is that we will be on the same page. Having the same message and philosophy is important. Troy has a good rapport with the women. They believe in him and trust him. We need to get back on track as a team where we are respected in the world as a power. We have the same people from when we were second in the World and won the World Cup. I expect to be back to that, where we are in position to win the team title and individual titles.”

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Steiners to coach US freestyle teams

August 10, 2007

Troy and Terry Steiner, former NCAA wrestling champions at Iowa, will be among the coaches for the United States freestyle delegation to the 2007 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The tournament is Sept. 17-23.

Terry Steiner is the national women’s coach for USA Wrestling. His twin brother will be an assistant. Troy Steiner is an assistant coach under former Iowa NCAA champion wrestler and coach Jim Zalesky at Oregon State. Troy also worked as an assistant to Zalesky at Iowa.

The Steiners will be joined by former Wisconsin all-American Kevin Black. Among the wrestlers on the women’s team is former Iowa City resident Sara McMann, who competes at 138.75 pounds.

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Former Badger to Coach U.S. Women’s World Team

MADISON, Wis.8/10/07

Former Wisconsin wrestler, Kevin Black, a River Falls, Wis. native, was named as one of two coaches for the 2007 USA Women’s World Wrestling Team. Also chosen was Troy Steiner of Corvallis, Ore. The team will compete in the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 17-23

Black, a four-year letterwinner, took third at the 2002 Big Ten Championships and fourth at the NCAA championship that same year. He then sustained an injury in 2003 and was unable to participate at the Big Ten or NCAA championships. Black has been coaching ever since.

The World Team Coaches were chosen by the Women’s Coach Selection Committee and approved by USA Wrestling’s Executive Committee.

Complete biographies of the U.S. World Team Coaches follow, as well as quotes from each of the coaches.

Kevin Black, River Falls, Wis.
Black has coached USA Wrestling age-group women’s teams for the last two years, taking the U.S. University women’s team to compete in El Salvador in 2007 and the U.S. Cadet women’s team to China in 2006. He has participated as a coach in a number of Women’s Team USA training camps in recent seasons.

Troy Steiner, Corvallis, Ore.
Steiner enters his second season as an assistant wrestling coach at Oregon State Univ., where he helped head coach Jim Zalesky lead the Beavers to the Pac-10 title in their first year there. Steiner worked the two previous seasons as an assistant coach under Zalesky at the Univ. of Iowa.

A native of Bismarck, N.D., Steiner was inducted into the North Dakota Hall of Fame in 1998.

QUOTES FROM THE WOMEN’S WORLD TEAM COACHES

Kevin Black, River Falls, Wis.

“I think this is a great opportunity. Since I have been involved in women’s wrestling, I have found that I enjoy coaching women very much. Their personalities, the way women communicate, I really enjoy that side of coaching. This is the highest assignment I can have as a coach. We need people who have been around wrestling at all levels to step up for the women’s program. Having coaches who stay involved and stay consistent is important to the program. We need more good wrestling people to be involved with women’s wrestling. Overall, our entire team, all seven athletes, will be very competitive. The goal is to win the overall World team title in all three styles, and winning is our goal for the women’s team.”

Troy Steiner, Corvallis, Ore.

“Right now, we are looking at Japan, China and Russia as some of the teams we have to beat. There may be some things we have to change as a team. I hope to add to what Terry is doing, and help the women in any way they need. I hope to bring a different perspective to help them reach their goals. We have a good core group of athletes. They have the ability to be near the top of the world again.”

National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner of Colorado Springs, Colo.

(about Kevin Black)
“Kevin brings some new energy to the team and to the program. He is very excited. Kevin is a wrestling junkie. He grew up with wrestling and loves wrestling people. He has been involved as an athlete, a coach and an administrator. He truly knows USA Wrestling, which is good for the organization. He has the right personality to coach our women. They can trust him immediately. The most important thing about Kevin as an athlete is he can find the good in every situation. He finds a way to learn from every experience and walk away with a smile. That attitude is contagious, and I think he will bring that to our program.”

(about Troy Steiner)
“We have talked about having more team unity in the program. The comfort for me with having Troy in this position is that we will be on the same page. Having the same message and philosophy is important. Troy has a good rapport with the women. They believe in him and trust him. We need to get back on track as a team where we are respected in the world as a power. We have the same people from when we were second in the world and won the World Cup. I expect to be back to that, where we are in position to win the team title and individual titles.”