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USA Wrestling releases national women’s age-group rankings
3/14/2003
USAW Coaches/USA Wrestling
Each year, USA Wrestling develops an age-group national ranking for women wrestlers, recognizing the nation’s best female youth wrestlers. These rankings are prepared to reward athletes for their success in past USA Wrestling events, and encourage their participation in this year’s competitions.
This year, three of the age groups form women's wrestling will be held side by side at one location, at the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, Minn., April 11-13. This combined event should be the largest women's age group competition in USA Wrestling history.
The FILA Cadet age level includes athletes who are 15-17 years old. The Women’s FILA Cadet National championships are set for St. Joseph, Minn., April 11-13. Champions of this event qualify for a partially subsudized international tour.
Returning champions include Amberle Montgomery of Washington, Chelynne Pringle of Minnesota, Anna Jenkins of Michigan, Heather Martin of Ohio and Samantha Lang of Oregon.
The USA Wrestling Junior age level includes athletes in grades 9-12. The Women’s Junior Nationals will be held alongside the competition for boys in the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D., July 20-26. Last year this was the world's largest wrestling event ever.
Returning champions from the Women’s Junior division include Rachel Holthaus of Minnesota, Amberle Montgomery of Washington, Brandy Rosenbrock of Michigan, Heather Martin of Ohio and Samantha Lang of Oregon.
The FILA Junior World age level includes athletes from 17-20 years old. FILA, the international federation for wrestling, will host Junior World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, August 22-29.
The FILA Junior Nationals for women will be in Saint Joseph, Minn., April 11-13. Champions of this event qualify for the U.S. team at the Junior World Championships.
Returning champions include Liz Short of Illinois, Sara Fulp-Allen of California, Brandy Rosenbrock of Michigan, Brooke Bogren of Kansas and Randi Miller of Texas.
The University age group includes all women between the ages of 17 and 24. The University Nationals for both men and women will be hosted in Saint Joseph, Minn., April 11-13. Champions qualify for the 2003 Senior World Team Trials to be held in Indianapolis, Ind., June 20-22.
Last year’s champions eligible to return are Miriam Jenkins of Virginia, Cathilee Albert of Colorado, Sara McMann of Colorado, Kristie Marano of New York, Iris Smith of Colorado and Alicia Wilson of California.
2003 Women's FILA Cadet Rankings
3/14/2003
USAW Coaches/USA Wrestling
83.75 – none ranked
88 - 1. Joey Miller (OK)
94.75 - 1. Peggy Whitaker (NY) 2nd Jr Nats 95; 2. Kelli Rasmussen (MN)
101.25 - 1. Rachel Holthaus (MN); 2. Caitlyn Chase (IL); 3. Jaimie Chappa (WI); 4. Jenna Emmons (MI); 5. Stacy Lassman (KS); 6. Katherine Fulp-Allen (CA)
107.75 - 1. Natasha Umemoto (OR); 2. Heidi Haughn (MI); 3. Gabrielle Aguial (NC); 4. Trisha Kulas (MI); 5. Jessica Jauck (CA)
114 - 1. Amberle Montgomery (WA); 2. Alysse Strandford (MN); 3. Danielle Hedin (MI); 4. Chelsea Roundtree (KY); 5. Brittany Wisdom (MO); 6. Ashley Gray (NC)
123.25 - 1. Deanna Rix (ME); 2. Jamie Moehring (AK); 3. Sharlee Solis (CA); 4. Alisha Zahn (MN); 5. Debra Clark (WY)
132.25 - 1. Chelynne Pringle (MN); 2. Erin Reagan (NC); 3. Brittany Shell (AK); 4. Stefanie Shaw (CT); 5. Vanessa Oswalt (OH); 6. Veronica Hollaway (OR)
143.25 - 1. Ali Bernard (MN); 2. Anna Jenkins (MI); 3. Courtney Bush (FL); 4. Stephanie Smoot (IN); 5. Monica Olguin (CA); 6. Melissa Simmons (WA)
154 .25 - 1. Heather Martin (OH); 2. Toni Copeland (NY); 3. Nickia Jensen (MN); 4. Yadira Aguilera (TX); 5. Jacqueline Dollaway (NY)
170 - 1. Samantha Lang (OR); 2. Megan Richardson (CA); 3. Juanna Juarez (CA); 4. Ashley Benzio (PA); 5. Clarissa Dalke (TX); 6. Juanita Russell (NY)
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3/14/2003
USAW Coaches/USA Wrestling
95 - 1. Rachel Holthaus (MN); 2. Peggy Whitaker (NY); 3. Bernadette Javier (HI); 4. Julie Giles (VA); 5. Maika Watanabe (CA)
101 - 1. Sara Fulp Allen (CA); 2. Caitlyn Chase (IL); 3. Jaimie Chappa (WI); 4. Jenna Emmons (MI); 5. Stacy Lassman (KS)
110 - 1. Na’Tasha Umemoto (OR); 2. Claire Dupont (CO); 3. Debbie Sakai (HI); 4. Alysse Strandford (MN); 5. Sara Bergman (MN); 6. Heidi Haughn (MI)
119 - 1. Amberle Montgomery (WA); 2. Rachel Groft (PA); 3. Danielle Hedin (HI); 4. Chelsea Roundtree (KY); 5. Brittany Wisdom (MO); 6. Nicole Benton (PA)
128 - 1. Shawn Swartzlender (OR); 2. Madeline Briones (CA); 3. Nicole Mezzaferro (CA); 4. Jen Chu (PA); 5. Suekoily Shelly (TX); 6. Deanna Rix (ME)
139 - 1. Brandy Rosenbrock (MI); 2. Wendy Casey (NY); 3. Chelynne Pringle (MN); 4. Glory Dalton (TX); 5. Brittany Shell (Alaska); 6. Stephanie Shaw (CT)
150 - 1. Heather Martin (OH); 2. Ali Bernard (MN); 3. Sheri Hilliard (ND); 4. Anna Jenkins (MI); 5. Michelle Graff (CA); 6. Anna Matteson (NC)
165 - 1. Samantha Lang (OR); 2. Nickia Jensen (MN); 3. Megan Richardson (CA); 4. Juanna Juarez (CA); 5. Clarissa Dalke (TX); 6. Juanita Russell (NY)
175 - 1. Misty Stalley (CA); 2. Ashley Benzio (PA); 3. Laura DeCesare (MI); 4. Lizz Sanders (IA); 5. Jacqueline Dollaway (NY)
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2003 FILA Junior Women's Rankings
3/14/2003
USAW Coaches/USA Wrestling
97 - 1. Liz Short (IL); 2. Rachel Holthaus (MN); 3. Erica Dye (WV); 4. Peggy Whitaker (NY); 5. Bernadette Javier (HI); 6. Julie Giles (VA)
105.5 - 1. Mary Kelly (IL); 2. Sara Fulp-Allen (CA); 3. Gina Heinzelmann (MI); 4. Tanya Miyasaki (HI); 5. Kristen Fujioka (HI); 6. Jaimie Chappa (WI)
112.25 - 1. Malinda Ripley (CO); 2. Kera Pemberton (KS); 3. Keli Hinton (KS) 4. Claire Dupont (CO); 5. Debbi Sakai (HI); 6. Alysse Strandford (MN)
121 - 1. Jessica Shirley (OH); 2. Lindsey Owens (CA); 3. Desi Lockhart (WA); 4. Raquel Magdaleno (MI); 5. Rachel Groft (PA); 6. Danielle Hedin (HI)
130 - 1. Brandy Rosenbrock (MI); 2. Brooke Bogren (KS); 3. Shawn Swartzlender (OR); 4. Sharon Jacobson (CA); 5. Jennifer Miyahara (HI); 6. Madeline Briones (CA)
138.75 - 1. Alaina Berube (MI); 2. Ashley Sword (FL); 3. Linse Meadows (TX); 4. Wendy Casey (NY); 5. Chelynne Pringle (MN); 6. Emily Rinehart (CA)
147.5 - 1. Randi Miller (TX); 2. Lisa Bisers (PA); 3. Brandy Golt (VA); 4. Heather Martin (OH); 5. Ali Bernard (MN); 6. Emilee Murphree (CA)
158.5 - 1. Alicia Mena (MN); 2. Megan Goldsmith (WI); 3. Ashley Gaspar (HI); 4. Nickia Jensen (MN); 5. Megan Richardson (CA); 6. Juanna Juarez (CA)
170 - 1. Samantha Lang (OR); 2. Misty Stalley (CA); 3. Elizabeth DeBoy (CA); 4. Ashley Benzio (PA); 5. Rebecca Hare (PA); 6. Clarissa Dalke (TX)
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2003 University Women's Rankings
3/14/2003
USAW Coaches/USA Wrestling
105.5 - 1. Patricia Miranda (CO); 2. Clarissa Chun (CO); 3. Mary Kelly (IL); 4. Katrina Betts (MI); 5. Miriam Jenkins (VA); 6. Gina Heinzelmann (MI); 7. Tanya Miyasaki (HI); 8. Liz Short (IL)
112.25 - 1. Jenny Wong (CO); 2. Katie Kunimoto (CO); 3. Malinda Ripley (CO); 4. Sarah Hayes (CO); 5. Patrice Crenshaw (GA); 6. Keli Hinton (KS); 7. Jillian Yost (CT); 8. Kera Pemberton (KS)
121 - 1. Marcie Van Dusen (CA); 2. Tela O'Donnell (CO); 3. Melina Hutchison (AK); 4. Jessica Shirley (OH); 5. Lindsey Owens (CA); 6. Jill Remiticado (HI); 7. Desi Lockhart (WA); 8. Marianne Vollmer (MI)
130 - 1. Tonya Evinger (MO); 2. Erin Tomeo (CO); 3. Kiersten Hyatt (CA); 4. Brooke Bogren (KS); 5. Cathilee Albert (CO); 6. Jamie Alvesteffer (MI); 7. Sharon Jacobson (CA); 8. Jennifer Miyahara (HI)
138.75 - 1. Sara McMann (CO); 2. Kristie Marano (NY); 3. Tori Adams (CO); 4. Sally Roberts (CO); 5. Tina Arnds (AZ); 6. Leigh Jaynes (NJ); 7. Alaina Berube (MI); 8. Sara Williams (MI)
147.5 - 1. Katie Downing (IN); 2. Mollie Keith (IA); 3. Elena Mena (MN); 4. Randi Miller (TX); 5. Lisa Bisers (PA); 6. Brandy Golt (VA); 7. Aja Smith (KY); 8. Kelly Branham (AZ)
158.5 - 1. Toccara Montgomery (OH); 2. Iris Smith (CO); 3. Satrinina Vernon (CO); 4. Kaci Lyle (CO); 5. Samantha Branka (CO); 6. Alicia Mena (MN); 7. Donnell Bradley (HI); 8. Megan Goldsmith (WI)
170 -1. Alicia Wilson (CA); 2. Jenna Pavlik (DE); 3. Wendy Hunter (OH)
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Pacific Women's Wrestling Weekly News
March 24, 2003
THE SEASON COMES DOWN TO THIS: After a one-month layoff from competition, Pacific's women wrestlers are itching for competition. For their return, it doesn't get any bigger than the United States Girl's Wrestling Association's Collegiate Freestyle Nationals, which take place Saturday and Sunday in Lake Orion, Mich.
ABOUT THE USGWA NATIONALS: Pacific will have a little bit of pressure on themselves after finishing second last season. The Boxers finished just one point behind Missouri Valley in 2002 and brought home three national champions in Jill Remiticado (Sr., Aiea, Hawaii), Tela O'Donnell and Sally Roberts. Katie Kunimoto, Kaci Lyle and DesireŽ Lockhart (So., Port Townsend, Wash.) also came home as All-Americans after they top-three finishes in their respective weight classes.
The defending champions Vikings enter as favorites in the tourney. They are currently tied for first in the country according to TheMat.com's national collegiate poll, and will be helped by lots of wrestlers in each weight class.
"I like our chances to do well, but because of our numbers it is going to difficult for us to win the national title," said Pacific head wrestling coach Scott Miller. "We have to have zero margin for errors and we will need some help, but it is possible."
Miller is convinced that each of the Boxers' wrestlers has a chance to return as All-Americans. Lockhart and Jennifer Miyahira (Fr., Honolulu, Hawaii) have the top chances, ranked No. 2 at the 121-pound and 138.5-pound weight classes, respectively. Lockhart has ended her regular season in dramatic fashion, going 3-0 at the Northwest Wrestling Championships and earning the meet's Most Outstanding Wrestler award.
"Desi and Jenn both have excellent chances to walk away with national titles," Miller said. "Both look very good on their feet and in the top position."
Remiticado, meanwhile, will be aiming for her fourth collegiate national championship and her fifth in a row dating back to high school. She will have tough competition from teammate Lockhart, who is looking for her first title in the same 121-pound class. "Jill looks really crisp right now," Miller said. "She is ranked fifth nationally, which is good because it should put her on the opposite side of the bracket from Desi. We expect her to wrestle very well this week."
Kristin Fujioka (So., Kaneohe, Hawaii) is also a favorite for All-American honors. Fujioka is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation in the 105.5-pound weight class, and is ranked eighth in North America. She appears to have recovered from a knee injury and will be at full strength.
Salome Gipson (Fr., Kissimmee, Fla.) and Melissa Deiman (Fr., Ninilchik, Alaska) are considered "dark horses" by Miller to sneak in for All-American honors. Both will play a key role in the Boxers' national title chances.
AN UPWARD TREND IN THE RANKINGS: Despite not having wrestled in the last month, the Boxers have found themselves moving up in both the United States and North American polls.
The Boxers moved up to No. 4 in TheMat.com's United States College Rankings, behind Cumberland and Missouri Valley, who are tied for first, and Neosho Valley Comm. College. On the North American poll, the Boxers have moved up to 10th.
Individually, Fujioka moved up to third at 105.5 pounds in the U.S. poll and eighth in the North American rankings. Lockhart is second at 121 and ranks sixth at that weight in North America. Remiticado is ranked fifth in that same weight in the national poll.
Miyahira has moved up to No. 2 in the nation at 138.5 pounds and is eighth in the North American poll. Gipson maintain her spot on the poll, ranking seventh nationally at 147.5 pounds.
"We are pleased with where we are ranked as a team and individually," Miller said. "Our women have really stepped up this semester and really look good going into competition."
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