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Niles West Grappler Sets Her Sights On Athens
By DWIGHT ESAU
Journal Reporter5/5/04
Dallas Monreal-Berner, a 16-year-old wrestler from Niles, has been doing very well in national wrestling competition as well as in high school IHSA competition locally.
The Niles West sophomore recently grappled to a second place at a national high school championship, a third place in the FILA cadet freestyle competition, and a fourth in the FILA junior freestyle, all held in Minnesota.
All of this is very impressive and nice.
It becomes even more special, however, when it is revealed that Dallas is a young lady wrestler who is showing amazing, dominating talent against both other girls and boys.
Her second place nationally came in what is called folkstyle wrestling, a variation on freestyle. Against the top female teenage wrestlers in the country, she won six bouts and lost four in the medal rounds of the tourney. She settled a score from last year, beating the top-ranked Juanita Russell from New York by a fall. She then lost a close decision to another New Yorker, Toni Copeland, 6-3, in the championship match in her weight class.
"I am improving and this was a good test for me to compete against the top people in my age group and the junior age group," she said after the folkstyle competition. "I had to adjust to freestyle because my whole season has been wrestling folkstyle. I can do better and I intend to train hard for the senior competition in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the junior nationals in North Dakota in July."
She also plans to try and qualify for the U.S. Olympic team in mid-May as the youngest lady wrestler to attempt to be in the Athens games. She is respectful but not awed by her competition for the chance to go to the Athens Olympics this summer. "This may not be the year that I make it but I definitely want to make enough noise for those college girls to know who I am, where to find me, and that I'm coming up fast in their rear view mirrors," she said.
She has done well against boys, also. She won the freshman championship in the Central Suburban-South conference last year, and this past winter, she wrestled on both the Wolves JV and varsity teams in IHSA competition. "She has held her own with most boys and has won respect," said Wolves head coach Bryan Wittersheim.
Ms. Monreal-Berner practices with the Team West Wolves Wrestling Club that works out at Niles West and is open to all Niles West-area boys and girls through eighth grade.
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George continues on the hunt for gold
5/7/2004
Amy Ufnowski/USAW
Time is ticking down for Tina George to make her Olympic dream a reality. Tina is preparing to fight a battle she never has before, not even as a solider in the U.S. Army. She will be fighting for a spot on the first ever women’s wrestling Olympic team for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
Tina George, above all, is a solider in the U.S. Army and a part of the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). Along with being an accomplished wrestler, Tina has won the World Team Trials at her weight class for six straight years, she serves her country, and is ready to defend it should it become necessary. It is fitting that the motto of the World Class Athlete Program is “soldier first,” and once the Olympics are over, there is a chance Tina could be sent overseas.
Tina has been involved with the WCAP for three years. According to Shon Lewis, head coach of the U.S. Army team, Tina has been one of the most consistent wrestlers in the program.
Tina is a two-time World Silver medalist (2002-03), and a two-time U.S. Nationals champion (2002, 2004). Also in 2002, she was named the U.S. Army’s Female Athlete of the Year. Lewis attributes much of Tina’s consistency and success to that of the Army’s individualized attention on their soldier/athletes and their excellent training partners.
“Training at Ft. Carson allows me to have my own coaches and training partners that have a vested interest in me doing well making sure I have the best possible training situation to put me on the Olympic team and win an Olympic gold medal,” explained Tina. “Shon is unlike any coach I have ever worked with because he sees potential in people and believes in them. Whether you are ranked No. 1 or 16, he can see your abilities and develop them.”
Lewis, who is also a 2004 U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman Coach, enjoys coaching Tina and encourages her to develop her own style.
“Lots of previous coaches have tried to change her style before she came the Army, but I let Tina wrestle like Tina,” said Lewis.
Tina’s life revolves around her training, leaving her little free time for other things. Her training regime includes up to six hours per day in three different training sessions in two different environments. She has one more training session, at least twice a week, than most of her opponents at her weight class.
A typical day for Tina starts out at 5:00 a.m. and around 10:00 p.m. All of her training sessions include time at both Ft. Carson and the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Monday and Friday are her three-session training days. Tuesday thru Thursday and Saturday are usually two-session training days.
When she is working out at Ft. Carson her training partner is often Jason Loukides, another member of the WCAP, who is a Greco-Roman wrestler at 96kg/211.5 lbs. Primarily they work on technique, due to Loukides out-weighing her by 80 lbs.
“It is better to work with him even though he is bigger because he knows what positions I need to be in and has good control over his body,” explained Tina. “This is opposed to training with someone around my own weight who does not understand the technique I am working on.”
Tina is also a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs with many of her other opponents at 55 kg. She gets the best of both worlds, while training both at Ft. Carson and at the U.S. Olympic Training Center working with both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers.
While working out at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Tina is able to train with women at or near her weight.
With only four of the seven FILA weight classes being used in the Olympic games, it has caused many women to move to an Olympic weight class. Many women are moving to the 55 kg weight class to try to beat her. At first, Tina said she took it as an insult, but now sees it as merely motivation to prove to them they made a wrong decision.
“I plan to completely separate myself from the other women by taking my wrestling to another level with constant improvement and intense training,” said Tina.
“People see opportunities when they watch her wrestle,” explained Lewis. “But when they are on the mat wrestling her, it is a different story.”
There is a lot of talent at the 55 kg weight class. From top to bottom, it is stacked with World medalists. Including George, there is potential to have three world medalists in this weight class that will give Tina some stiff competition.
Those who moved to this weight class this season are 2001 World silver medalist Stephanie Murata and 2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong. Wong won her medal at 51 kg. This does not count out Tela O’Donnell, a 2003 U.S. Nationals champion, and Marcie Van Dusen who are ranked No. 2 and No. 3 respectively at 55 kg.
“I think whomever makes it out of the Challenge Tournament will be a legit competitor,” said Tina. “The weight class has so many good girls with such completely different techniques that I have to remain ready for all of them.”
With all the talent in this weight class, Tina, the 2004 U.S. Nationals champion, will have her work cut out for her come the Championship Series, May 23.
“Tina does not fear nor duck any of her opponents,” said Lewis. “She must bring her ‘A-game’ at Olympic Trials and stay focused from start to finish in order to win the Championship Series. When she wrestles like Tina George, she can’t be beat.”
Tina George is a fearless competitor and is up to any challenge she may face. After all she got her start in wrestling at 17 years old when another student in school told her it the toughest sport in school. Naturally, she had to see for herself. _______________________________________________________________________________
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling are May 21-23 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Tickets and hotel accommodations are available. Visit www.trials2004.com for more information.
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U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in women's freestyle wrestling
5/7/2004
Gary Abbott/
Kristie Marano or Sara McMann? Both are world-class wrestling stars. There is only one spot available on the U.S. Olympic Team between them. Who will it be? Who will win in Indy?
It would be simple to say that the entire 63 kg/138.75 pound battle in women’s wrestling boils down to that one question. Certainly, no women’s weight class offers two such stars who are currently at the top of their game. The wrestlers have different styles and different personalities. It is a truly compelling story, no doubt about that. But it is not the entire story of this division this year in Indianapolis. There are some other talented and intriguing athletes to discuss. But you have to start with Marano and McMann.
Kristie Marano has won more World medals than any other woman in American wrestling history with seven. She won seven medals in seven tries. Two World golds, four World silvers and a World bronze. She is the only past World Champion in U.S. women’s wrestling still competing. She is a legend, and just 25 years old. And, even more importantly, she enters the Olympic Trials as the U.S. Nationals champion and does not have to compete in the Challenge Tournament.
For the last two World Team Trials, Marano competed at 63 kg and lost to Sara McMann in the finals. Both years, Marano beat Katie Downing in a Special Wrestle-off at 67 kg and went to the World meet. Last year, Marano was the only World Champion for the United States in any style. This winter, she split a pair of bouts with McMann at the Manitoba Open in Canada. As expected, the two met in the finals at the U.S. Nationals this year. Only the outcome was a bit surprising. Marano pinned McMann. Her style is much different than McMann’s, as she uses more throws and gets her opponents in awkward positions. Marano comes from a judo background and is well versed in Greco-Roman. She reputation for being tough, both physically and mentally, is well deserved.
McMann enters the Olympic Trials coming off a devastating loss. Yet she has decided not to dwell on it. She knows that if she wins the Challenge Tournament, she has a brand new chance to win it all against Marano. This time it will be a best of three series. McMann wrestles with power and some very effective technique. She knows that when she wrestles her match, she has often beaten Marano quite impressively. McMann does not mind coming in as the underdog, either, now placing all the expectations and pressures squarely on Marano. She is ready to let things fly and see what happens.
McMann has dominated her division in recent seasons in the USA, and won her first World medal in 2003, a silver. She went into overtime with Japan’s Saori Icho before losing in New York. She has been that close to being the best. This winter, in Greece, she won the Olympic Testing Event in Athens, beating some very talented opponents. McMann has a strong work ethic and is always seeking ways to get better.
So what about the rest of the weight class? Well, Marano and McMann aren’t the only World medalists in the field. Sally Roberts, who placed third at the 2004 U.S. Nationals, also won a World bronze medal in New York City. She was down at 59 kg, a teammate of Marano and McMann. A year ago, Roberts wrestled in this division and was third at the World Team Trials. Like Marano, she won a Special Wrestle-off to make the 2003 World Team at a non-Olympic weight. Roberts has decided to make her Olympic run up a division. At the U.S. Nationals, her only loss was by a 5-4 margin to Marano in the semifinals. Roberts also won an Olympic Regional Trials. She is very strong and talented, and wrestles without fear. The only question is whether Roberts has gained the experience and confidence to get past the two big stars in the division.
Placing fourth at the weight class in Las Vegas is college star Alaina Berube, who has a tremendous future in freestyle wrestling. Her losses were to McMann and Roberts, both by fall. A big win came in the quarterfinals in Vegas, when she pinned veteran Kaci Lyle. Berube wrestled most of the season at 59 kg and dominated the college season. She has a tremendous upside, as she is still learning and improving as she goes along.
Kaci Lyle captured fifth place at U.S. Nationals. She made the move to this division from 67 kg at the beginning of the season, and has wrestled well at the lower weight class. She is a former U.S. Nationals runner-up at her old division. Lyle defeated Roberts during the Sunkist Kids International, but has not been able to get a win over either Marano or McMann. Lyle has paid her dues, and will be a dangerous draw in the Challenge Tournament.
High school star Vanessa Oswalt placed sixth at the U.S. Nationals, putting her on the national stage on the Senior level for the first time. Her losses in Las Vegas were to Lyle (twice) and to Berube. Although few expect her to be able to win the Challenge Tournament, she should continue to improve and gain confidence just by competing in the first Olympic Trials for women wrestlers.
Taking seventh at the U.S. Nationals is past Junior World medalist Tori Adams, who has been ranked as high as No. 3 at this division in past seasons. Adams also qualified for the Olympic Trials by winning the University Nationals gold medal. She lost 3-0 to Lyle in the wrestlebacks in Las Vegas. Adams is a tough, aggressive athlete, but has not kept up with the top few athletes in this weight during the last couple of seasons.
Earning the final qualification spot from the U.S. Nationals was Tina Arnds, who captured eighth place. She was a top wrestler in college for four years, but did not wrestle all season this year. She entered at the U.S. Nationals, and was able to qualify with a solid performance.
A pair of veteran wrestlers earned a spot in the Challenge Tournament with victories at the Regional Trials, Grace Magnussen (East) and Leigh Jaynes (South). Both of these athletes have had success at 59 kg in the past. Magnussen made the Women’s National Team by placing third at the World Team Trials at 59 kg last year. They will have some challenges at this division, but have the experience to provide a test to whoever they draw. Another Regional champions who should wrestle at this division, but who actually qualified competing up at 72 kg, are college star Shelly Ruberg and high school star Stefanie Shaw.
There could be some athletes moving into this division from the non-Olympic weight classes. Certainly expected to move up from 59 kg is Brandy Rosenbrock, who was fourth at the U.S. Nationals at that division. Two years ago, as a high school junior, Rosenbrock reached No. 2 on the National Team. She also has a ton of international experience on the age-group level. The only other 59 kg wrestler who might show up at this division is six-time World Team member Lauren Lamb, who was second at the U.S. Nationals. Lamb is reportedly making the drop to 55 kg, but has wrestled at 63 kg many times in the past and would be a force at this weight also.
Expected to drop down is 67 kg University Nationals champion Mollie Keith. In fact, Keith wrestled at 63 kg in the U.S. Nationals but did not place in the top eight, losing to former teammate Arnds in the wrestlebacks. Keith was ranked No. 2 on Team USA at 67 kg two seasons ago. Also qualifying at 67 kg and expected to drop down is Malissa Sherwood, who in her prime was a Freestyle Team USA member down at 55 kg. She is bigger now, but retains the scrappy nature that made her so tough a few seasons ago.
So, back to the original idea. Is this weight class really just a battle between superstars Marano and McMann? Perhaps. History has shown that these two have reached the finals each time the last three seasons. However, there are some talented athletes in the Challenge Tournament who think that they can give McMann a tough time, especially a motivated Roberts. This should be an interesting division to watch in Indianapolis. And if the finals is Marano vs. McMann, expect some amazing action.
2004 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS IN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE AT 63 KG/138.75 POUNDS
U.S. Nationals Champion - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Sara McMann, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Alaina Berube, Escanaba,Mich. (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Kaci Lyle, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Vanessa Oswalt, Mount Vernon, Ohio (Simpson)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, eighth place - Tina Arnds, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley)
University Nationals Champion - Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
South Regional Trials Champion - Leigh Jaynes, Burlington, N.J. (New York AC)
West Regional Trials Champion - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
East Regional Trials Champion -Grace Magnussen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC)
NON-OLYMPIC WEIGHT CLASS QUALIFIERS (must compete at Olympic division at Olympic Team Trials)
59 kg/130 pounds
U.S. Nationals Champion - Na’Tasha Umemoto, Portland, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Lauren Lamb, Farmington, N.Y. (Michigan WC)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Suekoila Shelly, Hurst, Texas (Cumberland College)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Brandy Rosenbrock, St. Clair Shores, Mich. (Rosenbrock WC)
University Nationals Champion - Erin Tomeo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
67 kg/147.5 pounds
U.S. Nationals Champion - Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
U.S. Nationals, second place -Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio (Cleveland State)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Malissa Sherwood, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Stars and Stripes)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Kelly Branham, Apache Junction, Ariz. (Missouri Valley),
University Nationals Champion - Mollie Keith, Aurelia, Iowa (Missouri Valley)
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U.S. National Champions Q & A: Kristie Marano
5/7/2004
Amy Ufnowski/TheMat.com
Kristie Marano is at the top of the leader board in most U.S. women’s medals won at the World Championships. She has been to seven World Championships, and won seven medals, including her second gold last year.
Now, the bar has been raised to include women’s wrestling in the Olympic Games.
TheMat.com spoke with Marano of her past and recent successes.
TheMat.com: As the U.S. Nationals Champion and being able to sit out of the Challenge Tournament, will that help you going into the Championship Series, or maybe work against you because you are not getting that “first match” out of the way earlier?
Marano: I have been in both situations, waited through the Challenge Tournament and wrestled. I don’t feel it is an advantage or a disadvantage for me, because I will be warming up those two days, working with Toccara (Montgomery) or my brother Matthew.
TheMat.com: You and Sara McMann have been back and forth winning in this weight class, but as of late you have pulled ahead. What has been the difference this year? How does this help your confidence when you are wrestling her?
Marano: We have always been pretty even, Sara is a great competitor. I have helped myself out with improving by coming out to Colorado Springs to train and putting myself in this training situation at the Olympic Training Center.
TheMat.com: What have you improved on most in the last year?
Marano: I have expanded my knowledge of wrestling overall. I am actually doing wrestling moves and not relying on my judo background. I have learned so much from being here, especially from Terry Steiner.
TheMat.com: Making the move to Colorado Springs to train fulltime at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, how has that made a difference in your performance?
Marano: It was the best thing I could have done. In every aspect I have become a better wrestler.
TheMat.com: How has the added support from your father moving out here helped you when you are training?
Marano: Overall, I think this has just bettered my situation with my daughter, Kayla. My parents have always been supportive of me in anything I do. It means a lot to me that my dad moved over 1000 miles away from his wife to better my situation.
TheMat.com: Do you feel a lot of pressure to win because you are the reigning world champion?
Marano: I put the pressure on myself. I don’t feel any pressure from the outside. I can’t focus on the fact that I have to defend my World Championship, rather I look at it as no one can take it away from me, because it is mine. Right now I am just focusing on these next two matches.
TheMat.com: How do you juggle everything from training, your daughter Kayla, and increased media attention?
Marano: My situation is probably easier than it should be. I have my dad and brother helping me out with Kayla so that doesn’t interfere with my training. As for media, I don’t think I will ever get used to that. Besides most of the time they don’t want to cover me, they want to cover Kayla. She loves all the attention. Where as I am shy, she will talk your ear off.
TheMat.com: You have won the most medals as a U.S. woman. When you hear that how does that make you feel?
Marano: Honestly, it doesn’t seem like I have done that much, because I have been around forever. I don’t look at the past or concentrate on that, but I look at the future and what I can improve on to make myself better.
TheMat.com: How often does being an Olympian, or even an Olympic champion cross your mind being that this is the first year you are able to do it?
Marano: It hasn’t hit me yet. I can’t concentrate on it because I still have at least two matches left to wrestle. I think when it does finally hit me it will be a huge blow, but an exciting blow. It probably won’t hit me until after everything is over how monumental this is.
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Coach's daughter has her sights set on Athens
The David Douglas High School junior grew up wrestling boys and now has a shot at the Olympics
Thursday, April 22, 2004
MOLLY BLUE
Bobo Umemoto was running wrestling drills 12 years ago when, surveying the room, he realized there was an odd number of little boys, so one would have to sit out.
Unless, he reasoned, he could persuade his 5-year-old daughter to jump in and work out.
"She ended up beating every kid in the room that day," he said, still with a mixture of disbelief and bemusement in his voice.
That's where it started forNa'Tasha Umemoto, now a junior at David Douglas. Tagging along with her father, who coaches for the USA Cobra wrestling club, she started to absorb the nuances of a sport primarily defined by men, that is subtle in its techniques and brutal in its strength.
From that first day, Umemoto said she fell in love with wrestling, and her father found in her a discipline and dedication that has guided them both to the brink of the Olympics.
Na'Tasha Umemoto, 17, will compete at the USA Wrestling Team Trials May 21-24 in Indianapolis. She's vying for a spot on the 2004 Olympic team that will compete in Athens this summer.
In her first senior women's tournament, Umemoto qualified for the team trials by winning the national championship qualifier in Las Vegas on March 8, at 59 kilograms (130 pounds), a non-Olympic weight class. At the team trials, she expects to compete at 55 kilograms (121 pounds), which is one of four classes in the women's Olympic program.
"It's fun and exciting when you have a breakthrough performance like she had," in Las Vegas, said Gary Abbott, the media director of USA Wrestling.
"It's the first year she's eligible to wrestle in the senior women's events. She's as young as you can get, but the coaches have been aware of her for a while," Abbott said. "She's been very successful in age-group tournaments."
In Las Vegas, Umemoto beat Brandy Rosenbrock 5-2 in overtime in the quarterfinals; beat Chelynne Pringle of Minnesota in a fall at 1 minute, 26 seconds; and in the final, beat Michigan's Lauren Lamb, 8-5. Lamb was a member of the USA Women's national team in 2001-2002 and is ranked No. 3 at 59 kilograms in TheMat.com's April 1 poll.
The win in Las Vegas, "was great," Umemoto said. "I got to be around all the Olympic-caliber athletes. It was really inspiring."
Umemoto is on a roll. She advanced to the OSAA Class 4A wrestling tournament -- only the second girl to qualify in the tournament's history -- after finishing third at 119 pounds at the Mt. Hood Conference district meet last winter.
At the state meet, she lost in the first round to the eventual champion, and in the second round, she lost to the No. 3 seed, who eventually finished sixth.
"The state tournament was great," Umemoto said. "I'm excited for next year. Now I have the experience of a state tournament."
Does she get a lot of flak in the Scots wrestling room?
"No. The guys at David Douglas are good to me; it's like having all kinds of brothers," Umemoto said.
It wasn't always that way. In the second tournament of her career, as a 6-year-old, she finished second.
"Fathers weren't happy. Neither were their sons," she said.
At first, "there were a lot of forfeits," she added. No boy wanted to wrestle against her, win or lose.
But things changed as she stuck to it. A familiar face, a workout partner every day of the week, and a consistent opponent, Umemoto said the male wrestlers around her eventually got used to her.
"As soon as I got to middle school, guys accepted me," she said. "I've been around. I've paid my dues."
Now, there's a chance to get some return. Umemoto currently is ranked No. 9 at 55 kilograms in TheMat.com's poll.
"I think she can wrestle with anyone in the world," Bobo Umemoto said. "She'll have her hands full come the Olympic trials, but she has the potential."
All three women she beat at the qualifier are veterans of the national program, part of the first wave of athletes that brought women's wrestling to the Olympics.
Women's wrestling is an established program at Pacific University in Forest Grove, and there are college programs from Kentucky to California.
Pacific's program, in particular, has spawned several elite wrestlers -- including Umemoto's potential rivals for a spot on the Olympic team -- such as Kristen Fujioka and Katie Kunimoto, who all have qualified for the trip to Indianapolis. Danielle Hobeika, who wrestled at Harvard before becoming an assistant coach at Pacific, also has qualified.
And more are in the pipeline.
"Now, there are 30 or 40 girls coming along who are going to be tougher than we are," Na'Tasha Umemoto said. "They'll have more opportunities."
But, they'll have to go through her.
Umemoto is eyeing colleges and plans to wrestle at that level. At the international level, her timing couldn't be better. Barring injury, she should be competitive for the Games of 2004 and 2008, and by the 2012 Olympics, when she's 25, she may be at her peak.
"The women I'm wrestling now are all in their early- to mid-20s, and they're tough," Umemoto said. "Eight years from now, I'll be hitting my prime."
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