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Girls wrestler wins Nationals

Behind the Brown (United Parcel Service - Oklahoma) 5/04

Joey Miller, daughter of Woodward and Guymon. Mechanic Jerry Miller, recently won a United States Girls Wrestling Association National championship.

Joey was the only eighth grader competing at the high school level in the
tournament.

Joey won five matches to win nationals, and has not lost to a girl in over seven years.

There were more than 600 competitors in the tournament, including 31 girls from 16 states
competing in Joey's bracket.
This was Joey's fifth consecutive title.

Joey will be on the USA Women's Cadet team for the second year in a row, and is
eligible to wrestle with the team in Austria

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U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in women's freestyle wrestling

5/10/2004
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

Two-time World silver medalist Toccara Montgomery has established her position as one of the best women wrestlers in the world. She combines outstanding athletic ability with a keen mat sense and a drive to be the best. Although she lost to five-time World champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan in the World finals in New York City last September, a month later she beat Hamaguchi in Japan. Since she has moved up to this weight division almost three years ago, Montgomery has been the nation’s best.

In spite of many great achievements, the fact is that Montgomery is still young and is still learning. She is just a junior at Cumberland College (where she dominates college women’s wrestling). Although her offense is well celebrated, she has not yet developed a consistent top-knotch defense. There have been times when Montgomery has not wrestled to her highest level, and a few times they have led to unexpected losses. However, when facing American rivals, she has maintained her dominance on a regular basis, exactly what she will need to make the first women’s Olympic Team. Montgomery will be a strong favorite to win these Olympic Trials.

The top contender in the Challenge Tournament is Stephany Lee, a talented young college athlete who placed second to Montgomery at the U.S. Nationals this year. Lee has wrestled Montgomery many times this year, first on the college schedule, then on the Senior national circuit, and has yet to get a win. The finals match in Las Vegas was a 3-1 decision. The match was not wide open like some of their other battles. Lee is showing great skills in international tournaments, and has beaten a few talented wrestlers from other countries. She has judo training, and is able to get some amazing throws at times. What also makes her impressive is her competitive nature.

Entering the Olympic Trials as the bronze-medal winner from the U.S. Nationals is Katie Downing, who is a native of Indiana and should be a hometown favorite there. Downing had most of her success at a non-Olympic weight, 147.5 pounds, and moved up this year just for shot at the Olympics. Downing won the last two World Team Trials at that division, but was defeated in Special Wrestle-offs by Kristie Marano. She was also a 2003 U.S. Nationals champion. Downing took a few lumps in her early tournaments up at the highest weight, but her performance has been steadily improving. Her only loss in Las Vegas was to Montgomery, an old rival who had moved up in weight a few seasons ago.

Lee almost didn’t make the U.S. Nationals finals, losing most of the match to veteran Iris Smith in the semifinals. Lee popped a big move and pinned Smith with five seconds left to move on. Smith placed fourth at the U.S. Nationals, also losing to Downing in the bronze-medal match. Smith is a three-time U.S. Nationals champion and former World Team member who has slipped a bit since Montgomery made the move to this division. She is experienced and capable of winning matches against tough opponents, as shown by her win at the Yarygin Tournament in Russia this year.

Part of the story at this division is who is not in the field. A year ago, the No. 2 athlete at this division was high school star Samantha Lang, who had a win over Montgomery under her belt. This has been a disappointing season for her, as Lang will not be in the Olympic Trials. She was unable to compete at the U.S. Nationals, and did not make the weight at the final Regional Qualifier. Lang’s Olympic future in wrestling will have to wait for another four year cycle.

Returning to prominence after a period out of wrestling with injury is Nina Vernon, who placed fifth in Las Vegas and was also the West Regional Trials winner. Earlier in her career, Vernon was a Team USA member who had placed as high as second at the U.S. Nationals. Her health became an issue a year ago, and her return to competition was in question. With hard work, she has made a comeback and is again a factor here. Vernon is big and strong and has experience, but will need to continue getting better if she is to place high at the Olympic Trials.

Randi Miller, a college wrestler with considerable experience, placed sixth at the U.S. Nationals. She has competed at the weight class below, but made the move up for a shot at the Olympic Team. Another seasoned athlete, Elena Mena, placed seventh in Las Vegas. Mena had a strong age-group career and has been placing on the Senior level since her high school days.

The final qualifier from the U.S. Nationals was college athlete Misty Stalley, who placed eighth. Stalley has been showing improvement and should be a factor on the Senior level well into the future. Another college student who might be in the field is 77 kg University Nationals champion Megan Goldsmith, who has had a number of battles with Stalley during the college season.

Regional Trials qualifiers at this weight included Shelly Ruberg (South) and Stefanie Shaw (East). Ruberg is expected to drop down to 63 kg, as she competed there all college season. Shaw was a FILA Junior Nationals champion at 63 kg, which means she may also drop back down.

Then there are qualifiers who placed in the top four at the U.S. Nationals at the non-Olympic division, 67 kg. These athletes have the right to compete in Indianapolis, but will have to move up or move down in weight. High school stars Ali Bernard and Heather Martin, who finished first and second at the U.S. Nationals, most probably will not go down in weight. Not expected to drop is college wrestler Kelly Branham, who was third. If they wrestle in Indy, they will probably be up at this division. Placing fourth was Malissa Sherwood, who most probably would drop, as most of her career was in lower weight classes.

To summarize. The heavy favorite to make the Olympic team at this division is World medalist Montgomery. College star Lee is the top hopeful in the Challenge Tournament. Veterans Downing and Smith are aiming to peak for a chance to beat Lee and make the finals series. Vernon has been a winner in the past, and could mess things up a bit in the competition. The rest of the field is not expected to make the Challenge Tournament finals, but upsets do occur at this level. Don’t be surprised if the athlete who makes the finals against Montgomery competes very well against her. The pressure will be on Montgomery, and the dream of making the Olympics will be a big motivation.

2004 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS IN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE AT 72 KG/158.5 POUNDS
U.S. Nationals Champion - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Stephany Lee, Honolulu, Hawaii (Missouri Valley)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Nina Vernon, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Randi Miller. Arlington, Texas (Dave Schultz WC),
U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Elena Mena, St. Paul, Minn. (West Side)
U.S. Nationals, eighth place - Misty Stalley, Atherton, Calif. (Menlo)
University Nationals Champion 72 kg - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio (Cumberland College)
University Nationals Champion 77 kg - Megan Goldsmith, Black River Falls, Wis. (UM-Morris)
South Regional Trials Champion - Shelly Ruberg, Ueras, Ohio (Cumberland College)
West Regional Trials Champion - Nina Vernon, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
East Regional Trials Champion - Stefanie Shaw, Waterford, Conn.

NON-OLYMPIC WEIGHT CLASS QUALIFIERS (must compete at Olympic division at Olympic Team Trials)

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: Toccara Montgomery

5/10/2004
John Fuller/TheMat.com

Toccara Montgomery has established herself as a dominant wrestler on the World level. She has won two World silver medals – at different weight classes.

After last year’s loss World Championships, she defeated the woman who took the gold medal at the World Cup just two weeks later.

TheMat.com spoke with Montgomery about the upcoming Olympic Games, and how she continues to prepare for what will be the biggest event in women’s wrestling history.

TheMat.com: You have now won four straight U.S. National titles. As each year passes, does it get any tougher to get motivated for this tournament?
Mongtomery: Actually no. Vegas is an unbelievable atmosphere to wrestle in. When I go out there to wrestle, it magnifies my ability to wrestle. It puts me in a different game mentally.

TheMat.com: You have basically had a full two years at 72 kilograms. Is your body completely used to the weight now?
Mongtomery: I think so. I still think I wrestle better when I am at the smaller weight, but I think my body has adjusted to the new weight class.

TheMat.com: You lost to Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan last year in the World Championships finals. You then came back and beat her two weeks later at the World Cup. How big was that win for you at the World Cup?
Mongtomery: It was a huge win for me. I felt like she took something away from me in my home country, so I went to Tokyo to do the same thing to her.

TheMat.com: What have you learned about your wrestling in the past year?
Mongtomery: I’m a thinking type wrestler. A lot of people think I am explosive and just a brute. A lot of coaches tell you to try to think two moves in advance, and that’s something that I try to do now.

TheMat.com: With only four weight classes being competed at the Olympic Trials, how much better do you expect the competition to be at your weight class?
Mongtomery: I’ve always had good competition. In the finals there, I think it’s going to be that much more intense with the 67 kilo girls coming up. It’s going to be a battle for whoever comes out and I am looking forward to whoever that may be.

TheMat.com: With more women filtering into your weight class, how much of an advantage is it to sit out the first two days?
Mongtomery: It’s really hard to say. I like to get a first match in. Sometimes I wonder if it’s better to go through the Challenge Tournament, but as I look at things now, it probably is a better situation for me to just sit out and wait.

TheMat.com: Of the seven World Team members from last year, you are the only one who doesn’t live in Colorado Springs. Does that affect your training at all?
Mongtomery: I think it affects it, but in a positive way. When I am out there, I don’t think that the Training Center is my optimal training place. I think that’s here at Cumberland with the men’s team and in Cleveland as well. It’s good to work with my coach Kip Flanik, who is there for me 24/7.

TheMat.com: Who do you train with on a regular basis?
Mongtomery: When I’m here in Kentucky, I train with Coach Slaughter, the men’s coach here and Jacob Teuchler, a member of the men’s team.

TheMat.com: How important is it to you to make the Olympic team this year?
Mongtomery: It’s really important to me. I feel like this may be my last year possibly and I would just like to go out with a bang.

TheMat.com: We know that education plays an important role in your life. How high are the chances of you retiring after this year?
Mongtomery: Right now, I think it’s 50/50 that I may be finished. It’s something that I have been thinking about for the last year or so. When I graduate, I just want to find a job and stick with that. Maybe get into coaching.