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Body Bar recognizes U.S. women wrestlers at banquet celebrating historic season of achievement
11/13/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Body Bar, the U.S. Women’s National Team sponsor, recognized the U.S. women’s wrestling program with a recognition celebration at Buca di Beppo restaurant in Colorado Springs, Colo., Nov. 12.
Arno Niemand of Body Bar Systems and his wife Brenda served as hosts to a dinner to honor the achievements of America’s women wrestlers in 2003. Also there to join in the celebration was Art Martori, Team Leader of the 2003 U.S. Women’s World Team and a longtime supporter of women’s wrestling in the United States.
Five of the seven 2003 U.S. Women’s World Team members were able to attend the dinner, along with most of the members of the U.S. Olympic Training Center Women’s Wrestling Resident Team program. A number of U.S. Olympic Committee staff members who work with the women wrestlers were there, as well as USA Wrestling national staff members involved with the women’s program.
“We are here to celebrate the success of our women’s program,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. “We won seven medals out of seven weight classes at the World Championships, the performance of the ages, something that has never happened before.”
“That success was built on the backs of the others who are here tonight,” said Bender. “They have worked hard and trained to make our team succeed. Thank you for being a part of the national women’s program.”
It was a historic year for U.S. women’s wrestling. Team USA placed in a first-place tie with perennial World power Japan at the World Championships in New York City in September, claiming a medal in every weight class. Japan won the tiebreaker by having the most medals. A month later, the United States upset host Japan in the championships finals to win the World Cup of Women’s Wrestling held in Tokyo, Japan, one of the greatest achievements in U.S women’s wrestling history.
“We wish to recognize the people who make it possible,” said Bender. “This would not happen without people like Art Martori, who singlehandedly took the women’s program under his wing and let our athletes reach their potential.”
Bender presented Martori with a ceremonial gold medal from the 2003 World Championships. Then Bender then thanked Arno Niemand for his personal commitment to the women’s team.
“Arno went away from the norm,” said Bender. “He saw the value and potential of the women’s program. He has been a leader in providing opportunity for the women wrestlers.”
Niemand then addressed the women athletes in attendance.
“It has been a great honor and privilege to be part of this program,” said Niemand. “Many people deserve credit. Terry (Steiner) and Trish (Saunders) have been a big part of this success. We look forward to the future together.”
“The bar has been raised high now. Anything less than four gold medals at the Olympics would be short of the goal,” said Neimand. “The performances have been outstanding, and the sportsmanship has been outstanding, which is important in the long run. Congratulations and thank you.”
National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner then presented Niemand with a framed singlet signed by the women wrestlers. Inscribed on the frame was the following: “Arno, thanks for your support from the USA Wrestling 2003 Women’s World Team.”
As none of the athletes had to weigh in for competition in the near future, all at the dinner enjoyed the healthy portions of outstanding Italian food brought in numerous courses by the wait staff. It was a joyous evening of fellowship, friendship and celebration, a chance to look back at a job well done and look forward to the challenge of the first Olympic Games to feature women’s freestyle wrestling.
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Olympic hopefuls, including 12 wrestlers, travel to Athens to “Seize the SUMMIT”
11/13/2003
Carla OConnell/USOC
Eighty-five athletes who dream of representing the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games traveled to Athens, Greece, to “Seize the SUMMIT.” The November 6-9 gathering, which included a visit to the Athletes Village and previews of the USA High Performance Center and competition venues, was the third in a series of 2004 Summer Sport SUMMITS hosted by the United States Olympic Committee and its Athlete Programs Division.
Designed to help American athletes achieve their peak performance at the Athens Olympic Games, the SUMMIT program brings together a cross-sport group to share a vision of excellence and serve as a motivating support system for one another prior to and during the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad. It is modeled on the SUMMIT 2002 initiative, which was an instrumental part of the overall medal success of the U.S. Olympic Team in Salt Lake City. Of the athletes who participated in the 2002 program, 49% earned a medal and 80% placed in the top eight during the Olympic Winter Games in Utah.
A dozen athletes from wrestling, representing all three styles, participated in the gathering in Athens, Greece this weekend. The wrestlers, all members of the 2003 U.S. World Team, were: Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif.), Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla.), Jamill Kelly (Stillwater, Okla.), Sara McMann (Lock Haven, Pa.), Kristie Marano (Albany, N.Y.), Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Jenny Wong (Stillwater, Minn.), Kevin Bracken (Colorado Springs, Colo.), T.C. Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Justin Ruiz (Taylorsville, Utah) and Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo.).
“This SUMMIT is a reminder of why we do this, why we continue to train in our sport,” said Ruth Nortje. “It’s wonderful to come away wanting to make ever single minute count. It’s too easy to become complacent. This event was a renewal. After listening to Connie’s [Carpenter-Phinney] talk, I know that every little bit counts. The SUMMIT has renewed my focus on my process. I will take my best path.”
Gymnast Raj Bhavsar cited mental imagery as the biggest benefit of his participation in the program in Athens. “Now that I’ve been here, when I train I’ll be able to visualize everything – landing at the airport, going through the terminal, driving through Athens, arriving at the [athletes’] village, training at the venue and competing. I can see it all – it’s so important.” Asked if he believes this will give him an advantage, Bhavsar said, “I know it will – big time. Mental imagery is huge.”
A steering committee of U.S. Olympic medalists has helped the hopefuls as they prepare for the 2004 Athens Games by sharing experiences and lessons learned in setting goals and achieving them. They include Mike Conley (athletics/’84 silver, ’92 gold); Karch Kiraly (volleyball/’84 gold, ’88 gold, ’96 gold); Heather Pease Olson (synchronized swimming/’96 gold); Connie Carpenter Phinney (cycling/’84 gold); Sandra Whyte-Sweeney (ice hockey, ’98 gold); Andrew Valmon (athletics/’88 gold, ’92 gold); and Peter Vidmar (gymnastics, ’84 two gold and one silver). Serving as team leaders for the SUMMIT were Olympians Jill Savery (synchronized swimming/’96 gold) and Michelle Dusserre Farrell (gymnastics/’84 silver), who is now a USOC sport partnership manager.
Diver Mark Ruiz credited Whyte-Sweeney with providing his “take away moment” from the sessions in Athens. “It was that resources are there for us and we need to take advantage of them. Sandra’s story made me think about that for the first time. I have an advantage – not all the athletes have been able to see all the USOC has provided for us.”
“I think the athletes’ eyes were opened to what it will be like during the 2004 Olympic Games. They got to experience the look and the feel of Athens,” said Mary Klever, director of USOC Athlete Programs. “This familiarization with what will be their surroundings next August should help as they prepare to compete and enhance their performances during the Olympiad.”
Other athletes participating in the “Seize the SUMMIT” program were: Archery – Vic Wunderle (Lincoln, Ill.); Boxing – Karl Dargan (Tulsa, Okla.) and Raul Martinez (San Antonio, Texas); Canoe/Kayak – Kathy Colin (Kailua, Hawaii), Ruth Nortje (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) and Matt Taylor (Atlanta, Ga.); Cycling (Mountain) – Susan Haywood (Davis, W. Va.); Diving – Cassandra Cardinell (Loudonville, N.Y.), Michelle Davison (Columbia, S.C.), Sara Hildebrand (St. Paul, Minn.), Mark Ruiz (Orlando, Fla.) and Brittany Viola (Orlando, Fla.); Fencing – Soren Thompson (San Diego, Calif.); Gymnastics – Raj Bhavsar (Houston, Texas); Judo – Brian Olson (Tallahassee, Fla.); Sailing – Betsy Allison (Newport, R.I.), Lee Icyda (Stuart, Fla.) and Suzie Leech (Avon, Conn./Annapolis, Md.); and Shooting – Brandi Neal (Spencer, Ind.) and Glenn Eller (Houston, Texas).
Also, Softball – Leah Amico (Chino Hills, Calif.), Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.), Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.), Jaime Clark (Tustin, Calif.), Lisa Fernandez (Long Beach, Calif.), Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.), Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.), Amanda Freed (Cypress, Calif.), Nicole Giordano (Saugus, Calif.), Lori Harrigan (Las Vegas, Nev.), Lovieanne Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.), Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.), Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.), Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.), Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif.), Catherine Osterman (Houston, Texas), Jenny Topping (Whittier, Calif.) and Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.); Swimming – Rachel Komisarz (Warren, Mich.); Synchronized Swimming – Alison Bartosik (Santa Clara, Calif.), Tammy Crow (St. Louis, Mo.), Erin Dobratz (Clayton, Calif.), Mary Hofer (San Diego, Calif.), Becky Jasontek (Loveland, Ohio), Sara Lowe (Desoto, Texas), Lauren McFall (Sunnyvale, Calif.), Stephanie Nesbitt (Riverside, Calif.), Katie Norris (Tallahassee, Fla.) and Kendra Zanotto (Los Gatos, Calif.); Taekwondo – Simona Hradil (Richardson, Texas), Diana Lopez (Sugarland, Texas), Mark Lopez (Sugarland, Texas), Peter Lopez (Upland, Calif.) and Taylor Stone (Denver, Colo.).
Additionally, Track & Field – Dawn Burrell (Houston, Texas), Allyson Felix (Los Angeles, Calif.), Jearl Miles-Clark (Knoxville, Tenn.), Melissa Morrison (Columbia, S.C.) and Demetria Washington (Columbia, S.C.); Volleyball (Beach) – Dain Blanton (Laguna Beach, Calif.); Water Polo – Omar Amr (Fullerton, Calif.), Ryan Bailey (Long Beach, Calif.), Layne Beaubien (Coronado, Calif.), Brandon Brooks (Honolulu, Hawaii), Larry Felix (Anaheim, Calif.), Peter Hudnut (Encino, Calif.), Genai Kerr (Imperial Beach, Calif.), Dan Klatt (Fresno, Calif.), Merrill Moses (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.), Jeff Powers (San Luis Obispo, Calif.), Chris Segesman (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Wolf Wigo (New York, N.Y.) and Adam Wright (Seal Beach, Calif.);
“One Team, One Dream” was the theme for the 2001 sessions of the SUMMIT, which brought together athletes representing 19 Olympic summer sports for a variety of group activities aimed at helping the participants get to know each other and celebrate their commonality even through they come from different disciplines. In 2002, the theme was “Riding the Wave to Athens” and the program continued to focus on philosophies and training regimens that could help in the athletes’ pursuit of Olympic success.
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