News Page

2003 Women’s World Team Trials preview at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.

6/16/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

Indiana native Katie Downing of the Sunkist Kids claimed her first U.S. Nationals title this year, making her the hometown favorite in the women’s division in Indianapolis. Downing was a 2002 World Team Trials champion, but did not compete at the World Championships after dropping a Special Wrestle-off to veteran star Kristie Marano. Downing won a Junior World medal earlier in her career, and has done her best wrestling at 147.5 pounds. Downing was the greatest women’s wrestler to compete at UM-Morris, setting the standard for the nation’s first women’s college wrestling program.

Downing defeated Kaci Lyle in the finals of both the U.S. Nationals and the University Nationals this year. Both Downing and Lyle are full-time USOTC resident athletes. Both will consider a change to the highest weight class next year, for a shot at one of the four Olympic team spots. Both Downing and Lyle were second at the 2002 U.S. Nationals, but were competing in different weight classes. The matches between these two are usually very close and competitive. Lyle came to the USOTC resident program after competing in college, last season with Pacific Univ. and previously Missouri Valley College.

The results from the World Team Trials may not determine the U.S. World Team member at this division. Last year, there was a challenge from Marano, who moved up from 138.75 pounds. There are also athletes at the 158.5 pound division that potentially could drop in weight and also seek a Special Wrestle-off. The question for Downing, Lyle and the others is whether they have improved enough this season to defeat all comers if a Wrestle-off Challenge is issued.

Young Stephany Lee of the Hawaii Rainbow Wahines captured third place at the U.S. Nationals, quickly making a name on the Senior level. Lee showed her skills at the age-group Women’s Nationals event in Minnesota earlier this spring, then put together a great tournament in Las Vegas. Spending her first year after high school without going to a women’s wrestling college, Lee showed her stuff nationally and is expected to enter Missouri Valley in the fall. Coaches are excited about her competitive nature, as well as her judo background.

Claiming fourth at the U.S. Nationals was high school sensation Ali Bernard, who will be competing on the 2003 U.S. Junior World Team. Bernard has paid her dues, competing in as many international events as possible and could be one of the young athletes who are establishing their place in women’s wrestling’s future. Another high school star, Ohio’s Heather Martin of Keystone WC, placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals and has a tremendous future in women’s wrestling. Martin was a champion at the first ASICS Junior National for girls, and has a history of success on the age-group levels.

College wrestler Kelly Branham of Missouri Valley, competing in her first full season on the freestyle circuit, captured sixth at the national championships. Branham defeated a number of more experienced wrestlers during the college season, and has shown the potential to improve.

Taking seventh and eighth respectively in Las Vegas were Cindy Herceg of Spartak and Mollie Keith of Missouri Valley. At last year’s World Team Trials, Keith placed second behind Downing and Herceg was third. Keith had a tough college season, dropping some bouts to younger teammates, but seemed to return to form as the spring season heated up. She will need to be in top form if she hopes to return to Team USA this year. Herceg is a true club wrestler, having competed in track and field in college and taking up wrestling only in recent seasons. Her work ethic and toughness is a reason she has been able to be nationally competitive in her new sport.

High school star Nikia Jensen of the Minneapolis AWC was a Regional champion this year to qualify for the World Team Trials. Brandi Golt of Missouri Valley gets into the field because of a medal performance at a major international event. Elena Mena of Neosho County CC qualified for the World Team Trials at 158.5 pounds, but could chose to drop because she has competed at this division in the past.

This weight class sets up as an expected finals showdown between USOTC resident athletes Katie Downing and Kaci Lyle. However, the young stars in the division, including Stephany Lee, Ali Bernard and Heather Martin are looking to make the World Team Trials their breakthrough event. Cindy Herceg and Mollie Keith hope to improve their Las Vegas performance and work their way into the Challenge Tournament finals again. Should Lyle emerge to battle Downing, expect some close bouts between two athletes who know each other very well. It should be interesting to see if Downing can turn her hometown status into an home field advantage.

2003 U.S. Women’s Nationals results at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.
1st - Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 3-0
3rd - Stephany Lee (Honolulu, Hawaii/Rainbow Wahine WC) dec. Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./New Ulm Rolling Thunder), 8-4
5th - Heather Martin (Wellington, Ohio/Keystone WC) won by tech. fall over Kelly Branham (Apache Junction, Ariz./Missouri Valley), 10-0
7th - Cindy Herceg (Los Angeles, Calif./Santa Monica Bay WC) dec. Mollie Keith (Aurelia, Iowa/Missouri Valley), 5-4

2003 Women’s World Team Trials qualifiers at 67 kg (147.5 lbs.)
National champion - Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
National placerwinners - 2. Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids); 3. Stephany Lee (Honolulu, Hawaii/Rainbow Wahine WC); 4. Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./New Ulm Rolling Thunder); 5. Heather Martin (Wellington, Ohio/Keystone WC); 6. Kelly Branham (Apache Junction, Ariz./Missouri Valley); 7. Cindy Herceg (Los Angeles, Calif./Santa Monica Bay WC); 8. Mollie Keith (Aurelia, Iowa/Missouri Valley)
Regional champions - Nickia Jensen (Eden Prairie, Minn./Minneapolis AWC); Medalist at Group A Tournament - Brandi Golt (Chesapeake, Va./Missouri Valley)

---------------------------------------------

10 Questions for U.S. Nationals champion Katie Downing

6/16/2003
John Fuller/USA Wrestling

KATIE DOWNING
2002-03 Team USA Ranking: No. 1 at 67g/147.5 lbs.
Years on Team USA: 5 (1998-2000, 2002-04)
Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Club: Sunkist Kids
College: UM-Morris
High School: Pendleton, Ind. (Pendleton Heights HS)
Born: January 6, 1980 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Height: 5-8

1. How thrilled were you to win a national title this year?
Downing: I was really pumped to win this year because I have never won a senior nationals before. Sometimes nationals is played up more than the Trials, and it felt really good to finally win one.

2. You kind of struggled in a couple of tournaments earlier this year. What do you think was the cause of those performances?
Downing: Mainly because I was wrestling at 158.5. All year, when I was trying to bulk up, I was weighing 155, so it was tough to wrestle at the higher weight. Obviously, I do much better at 147.5.

3. In the national finals, you faced Kaci Lyle, who is also training in Colorado Springs. Is she someone you ever work out with and if so, do you think that helped you in your finals match?
Downing: We train all the time. She is one of the reasons I have improved so much. In one way, some people don't think it's good to train with your top competitors. But if she gets better and starts stopping my best stuff, then I have to get better.

4. What has helped you to get to the top spot on USA Wrestling's ladder in your weight class the past year and a half?
Downing: I really can't go without mentioning the OTC program and Terry Steiner. There has never been a better situation in the United States for the girls. We have the best coach, the best facilities, and as far as schedule, there is no better place. We have one full-time coach to concentrate on us.

5. How vital has the new women's resident program been to your success?
Downing: It's been a big part of it. Like I said, I can't talk enough about how much better the state of women's wrestling is today in the United States, and that is all because of the resident program.

6. Last year, you won the World Team Trials, but lost a Special Wrestle-off to Kristie Marano in Fargo. How much have those losses to Marano driven you this year?
Downing: Each loss, you can take something from it immediately, but you kind of have to let it go. I guess the thing I took the most from the wrestle-off last year is that I won't be done after the Trials this year.

7. Do you expect to once again be wrestling off following the Trials?
Downing: If nobody came to challenge me, then that would not be smart on their part. Those girls who are second and third at the other weight classes have nothing to lose.

8. Do you feel the Special Wrestle-off system is fair?
Downing: I don't like it. It's not fair to the people who end up losing the spot that they have earned, because nobody has to re-earn their spot. It's just like when the clinch first came in. Nobody liked it, but you train for it.

9. What will you do to prepare for the year's Trials? Is it going to be anything different than you did for last year's tournament?
Downing: No, because I feel good where I am right now. I have worked on the things I need to work on. I feel confident going in. For the two days of the Challenge Tournament, I am just going to be getting good practices in.

10. What are your thoughts on being able to compete in front of your friends and family at the World Team Trials?
Downing: I am really glad that I get to go home. There are a lot of people who have always supported me, but have not been able to get out to where I wrestle. This is a way for them to get to see me and thank them for supporting me throughout my career.

--------------------------------------------------------

UM-Morris Wrestler Katie Ross To Appear on "Fear Factor"

6/16/2003
Doug Reese/UM-Morris Sports Information

Morris, MN - University of Minnesota-Morris senior Katie Ross will appear on "Fear Factor - Special Edition" this season vying for the grand prize of one million dollars.

Ross who is an Studio Art and Math major from Greensboro, NC has been an All-American wrestler for the past two seasons at UM-Morris wrestling at 121 pounds. This season Ross qualified for USA Wrestling's World Team Trials in Indianapolis, IN on June 20-22.

The top three place winners at the Trials earn a spot on the U.S. National Team, but unfortunately for Ross and USA Wrestling, she will have to travel to Hollywood on June 20th for the filming of "Fear Factor." Ross will spend 10 days in Hollywood doing the filming of the "Special Edition."

"According to Katie," said UM-Morris head wrestling coach Doug Reese, "they really liked the idea of having a female wrestler on the program. We will just have to make sure Katie wears a UMM wrestling shirt on the day of filming."

Ross sent in an audition tape filmed in the UM-Morris wrestling room along with video of her in action on the mat at the 2002 U.S. National Wrestling Championships to "Fear Factor" who was searching for contestants for the upcoming season. A few months later Ross was invited to an interview in Minneapolis.

"Katie is pretty tough physically and mentally. If you can do what she does all season in wrestling, then nothing will scare you. She is capable of winning it all," said Reese.

---------------------------------------------------

Austrian Ladies Open

Results:
Nicole Woodey-4th
Rachel Holthause-3rd
Katherine Fulp Allen-5th
Daina Acors-6th
Kelli Rasmussen-3rd
Jessica Jauck-4th
Amber Miracle-6th

Nicole Darrow -6th
Chelynnne Pringle-3rd
Resa Dubow-5th
Deanna Rix-4th

The US Cadet Team placed 2nd overall