News Page
7/27/2002
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Amberle Montgomery of Washington, the champion at 119 pounds, was named Outstanding Wrestler as the first ASICS-Vaughan Junior National for girls concluded with an exciting gold-medal round at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D., July 27.
The first nine women's Junior National champions were crowned, as female wrestlers were included in the competition during its 32nd year of the tournament's existence.
Montgomery was dominant in her finals match, dominating Rachel Groft of Pennsylvania with a 10-0 technical fall in just 2:39. Montgomery, who will be just a sophomore in the fall, displayed great skills throughout the tournament.
The first Junior National girls champion ever was Rachel Holthaus of Minnesota, who clinched the gold medal at 95 pounds with an 11-0 technical fall over Bernadette Javier of Hawaii to open the finals round.
The next two lightweight bouts featured a pair of mild upsets, as Gina Heinzelmann of Michigan won at 101 pounds and Malinda Ripley of California captured the 110 pound title.
Heinzelmann used a cradle to pin Sara Fulp Allen of California in 56 seconds in the finals. Fulp Allen placed fifth at the 2002 U.S. Senior Nationals this year, while Heinzelmann has just recently begun competing on the national freestyle scene.
Ripley wrestled a mistake-free bout to defeat Mary Kelly of Illinois, 4-0. Kelly is currently ranked No. 3 on the U.S. Senior national team, while Ripley holds a No. 5 Senior national ranking. Kelly dominated all of her first five opponents, pinning them all, and receiving the most falls award with five in 4:03.
The highest rated wrestler in the field, Brandy Rosenbrock of Michigan, captured the 138 pound title by pinning Wendy Casey of New York in 3:54. The match was very competitive until Rosenbrock powered for the pin. Rosenbrock was named TheMat.com/ASICS Wrestler of the Year in ceremonies before the finals, and is currently ranked No. 2 on Women's Team USA at 130 pounds.
The other pin in the gold-medal round came in the final match, when Alicia Mena of Minnesota pinned Misty Stalley of California in 54 seconds. Mena has been successful on the Senior level in past years, and is a graduated senior.
At 165 pounds, Samantha Lang of Oregon won by technical fall over Ashley Gaspar of Hawaii, 10-0, in just 1:09.
The other individual gold medalists were Lindsay Owens of California at 128 pounds and Heather Martin of Ohio at 150 pounds.
Owens stopped Shawn Swartzlender of Oregon in a tight 7-5 bout. Martin also had a close finals, edging Ali Bernard of Minnesota, 8-6.
A total of 103 athletes entered the event, representing 24 states. USA Wrestling officials are confident that based upon this strong start that the event will have considerable growth in the next few years.
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Indianapolis Earns 2003 USA Wrestling World Team Trials
The best men and women wrestlers in the USA to compete
at the Indiana Convention Center June 27-29, 2003
For Immediate Release:
February 14, 2002
Contacts:
Bill Benner, Indiana Sports Corporation, (317)237-5113/(317) 714-3669
Jeff Weitekamp, Indiana Sports Corporation, (317)237-5016/(317) 714-3671
Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling, (719) 598-8181
Indianapolis, Ind. - USA Wrestling and Indiana Sports
Corporation (ISC) announced today that the 2003 World Team Trials
of Wrestling will take place in Indianapolis, Ind., at the Indiana
Convention Center, June 27-29, 2003. Indianapolis already has
been chosen host of the U.S. Olympic Team Wrestling Trials in 2004.
The best men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman and
women's freestyle wrestlers in the nation will battle for the right to
represent the United States in the 2003 World Championships at this
popular and prestigious event.
The quality of the competition is expected to be
outstanding. Many past World and Olympic medalists in all three styles
are expected to participate. This event will provide a preview of the
top contenders for the 2004 Olympic Team for the United States.
"We are very excited to have USA Wrestling again
choose Indianapolis and Indiana Sports Corporation as hosts of another of
their outstanding events," said ISC President Dale
Neuburger. "Our successful bid is not just reflective of our
facilities and event management, but the popularity of wrestling in Indiana
and throughout the Midwest."
"USA Wrestling is pleased to bring the World Team
Trials event to Indianapolis in 2003," said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling
Executive Director. "Indianapolis is a proven leader in the
organization of quality Olympic sports events, and the region is a
hotbed for wrestling. Both the 2003 World Team Trials and the
2004 Olympic Team Trials will provide a tremendous showcase for our
sport and its champion athletes."
This will be only the third time in USA Wrestling
history that the World Team Trials for men's freestyle, women's
freestyle and men's Greco-Roman will be staged together at one site.
The tournament format features a two-day Challenge
Tournament and a Championship finals series. The Challenge Tournament
in all three styles will take place Friday, June 27 and Saturday,
June 28. This includes all of the competitors, except for the 2002
National Champions who are automatically in the finals.
Sunday, June 29 will be the Championship finals in
each weight class, featuring the national champion facing the
Challenge Tournament winner in a best-of-three series.
There are seven weight classes in each style. Only the
champions in each weight class will qualify to represent the United
States at the 2003 World Championships. The dates and site of that
event are to be determined.
The United States is among the top wrestling nations
in the world. The U.S. won seven wrestling medals at the 2000
Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, including four medals in freestyle
and three medals in Greco-Roman. The United States also captured
seven medals at the 2001 World Championships, including three in
Greco-Roman and two each in men's freestyle and women's freestyle.
Indiana has a rich tradition in amateur wrestling. Its
high school state championships are popular and well attended. A
number of universities in the state have successful programs,
including Big Ten universities at Indiana and Purdue. The Indiana
State Wrestling Association (ISWA), USA Wrestling's state
organization, is one of the largest and most active in the entire nation, with
strong programs on all levels.
Indiana has 8,200 registered wrestlers, the second
most of any state in the country, trailing California.
"I already was excited about 2004 and now this news is
even better," said Mike Dowden, president of the ISWA. "The
potential for exposing Olympic-style wrestling to wrestlers in Indiana and
surrounding states is great and we hope to take advantage of it."
The location in Indianapolis makes the event within
close range of wrestling fans from across the region and nation. All
sports fans are encouraged to make plans to come to Indianapolis
for some truly special wrestling.
A number of athletes with Indiana ties are expected to
be competitors at the World Team Trials. Charles Burton,
a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in freestyle wrestling, is
an assistant coach at Indiana Univ. Katie Downing, a Junior World
medalist in women's wrestling, is originally from Pendleton, Ind.
The U.S. Olympic Team Wrestling Trials will be June
2004, at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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