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Sara McMann (U.S. Olympic Team) pins Katie Couric (Today Show), 0:03 on national television
6/23/2004
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
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The U.S. Olympic Team in women’s wrestling made an appearance on the NBC Today Show, demonstrating wrestling moves and answering questions from hosts Katie Couric and Matt Lauer.
The segment was shown at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning outside of the studio in Rockefeller Center in front of a live audience.
Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) was interviewed by Katie Couric and Matt Lauer, while her three teammates Tela O’Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC), Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/New York AC) demonstrated wrestling techniques.
Miranda explained some of the history of women’s wrestling and details about the team and the goals ahead. While Miranda was talking, the athletes executed some nice technique, including a few nice takedowns and arm spins.
In the crowd were the other members of Women’s Team USA who are in New York with the Olympians, serving as training partners at training camp, which is being held at the di Silvestri Wrestling Center on the campus of Staten Island's Monsignor Farrell High School. Many people were carrying USA Wrestling banners and signs supporting the team.
At the end of the segment, Couric decided to give wrestling a try, and in her spiked heels, stood on the center of the mat facing Sara McMann. Quickly, McMann executed a deep double leg takedown, lifting Couric off the mat, and placing her down for a fall in three seconds.
Couric lay flat on the mat, laughing, as the crowd howled.
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6/22/2004
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
It was the first full day of training for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team for women’s freestyle wrestling. In the borough where they were being hosted, it was officially their day,
At a reception at the Staten Island Hotel, Staten Island Borough President James P. Molinaro declared June 22, 2004 as “2004 U.S. Olympic Women’s Wrestling Team Day” in the Borough of Staten Island.
Leaders in the Staten Island community welcomed the wrestling team, which chose to hold its first pre-Olympic training camp session at the di Silvestri Wrestling Center on the campus of Staten Island's Monsignor Farrell High School. This is a historic occasion because women’s wrestling is the only new sport at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
Along with Molinari, a number of Staten Island dignitaries were recognized at the dinner. The ceremony was led by Bill Crum, who serves as the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Wrestling Association (MWA) as well as the administrator of the di Silvestri Wrestling Center.
Included in the recognition was John D’Amato, who serves on the Board of NYC2012, the organization seeking to bring the Olympic Games to New York City. Stanley Friedman, owner of the Staten Island Hotel and host for the team, was also thanked for his support, along with leaders Dave Ironman and John Gallucci.
Many members of the MWA Board of the Directors made it out to Staten Island to greet the women wrestlers, celebrate their success, and wish them victory in Athens. MWA President Set Agonian, the 2003 USA Wrestling Man of the Year, made special presentations to Molinaro and D’Amato.
Other MWA leaders on hand to support the team were Paul Kieblesz, Al Bevilaqcua and Dr. Vince Zuaro.
Molinaro presented the proclamation to U.S. Olympic Coach Terry Steiner and the four Olympic athletes: Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC), Tela O’Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC), Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Sunkist Kids) and Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/New York AC). The proclamation said:
PROCLAMATION
Whereas: Staten Islanders appreciate the dedication and commitment of athletes to their sport and recognize that the ultimate dream for most athletes is to participate in the Olympic Games, and
Whereas: This year’s United States Women’s Wrestling Team has the honor of being the first U.S. women’s wrestling team to compete in the Olympic Games, as women’s wrestling makes it debut as an Olympic sport; and
Whereas: The coaches involved in Olympic wrestling will conduct clinics for the young people of Staten Island and New York City as part of the “MWA Beat the Streets” Youth Program, exposing the youth of our Borough to the great sport of wrestling; and
Whereas: All Staten Islanders join together to welcome and extend their best wishes to the United States Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Team as they train atb the world-class di Silvestri Wrestling Center on the campus of Monsignor Farrell High School, and wish them much success at the Olympic Games and in the future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES P. MOLINARO
President of the Borough of Staten Island, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the laws of the City and State of New York, do hereby proclaim June 22, 2004 as a
2004 U.S. OLYMPIC WOMEN’S WRESTLING TEAM DAY
in the Borough of Staten Island.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Borough of Staten Island, this 22nd day of June in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand Four
Signed
James P. Molinaro
Office of the President
Borough of Staten Island
City of New York
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Pomp and practice for women wrestlers
USA's team, here for pre-Olympic training, does some meeting and greeting ... and a little wrestling
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
By JASON BOCK
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
The dreams, goals and aspirations of many individuals and organizations came into focus last night at the Staten Island Hotel, where Borough President James P. Molinaro presented a proclamation to the first Olympic women's freestyle wrestling, which is also the first Olympic team of any kind to train on Staten Island.
The dreams are those of Molinaro and NYC2012 committee member John D'Amato, who believe the wrestling team's presence on Staten Island is a great step toward New York hosting the 2012 games.
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The goals are those of the members of the board of the Metropolitan Wrestling Association (MWA), whose mission is to promote the sport of wrestling in urban communities and provide training opportunities for hopeful Olympians.
The aspirations are of Olympic glory held by Patricia Miranda, Tela O'Donnell, Sara McMann and Toccara Montgomery, who had just completed their first day of training at Monsignor Farrell's diSilvestri wrestling room with coach Terry Steiner.
The quartet had already rubbed elbows with Mayor Michael Bloomberg at Monday night's Staten Island Yankee game. Then came last night's recognition at the Staten Island Hotel, a fitting location considering hotel General Manager Stanley Friedman generously donated free room and board to the athletes and the team's coaches and support staff.
Staten Island Family Events Inc. added a $2,500 donation to the team to cover expenses of travel and food. D'Amato, the organization chairman, presented the check.
"Maybe by the end of the week, we'll feel overwhelmed, but right now we're just trying to soak it all in," said the 23-year-old McMann, who was to continue the publicity tour with her teammates on today's NBC Today Show.
O'Donnell, 21, was a little more mindful of the attention, "I feel appreciation that the sport is getting so much publicity. Hopefully it will grow."
The growth of wrestling in NYC has been a healthy obsession for the MWA, which struck a major blow with the surprising success of last year's Freestyle World Championships at Madison Square Garden.
"New York is one of the last frontiers we have to develop," said MWA board chairman Al Bevilacqua, who was in attendance along with MWA President Setrak Agonian. "We want wrestling teams at every high school in Staten Island and youth programs that start kids in the fourth grade."
"I'm a great advocate of the youth, from Pre-K all the way through," Molinaro said, praising the work of the MWA. "Hosting the Olympic team is very important for the borough of Staten Island. If next year, we get the selection as the 2012 site, there should definitely be a lot more teams coming here to train."
In his proclamation, Molinaro wished the women's team great success at the Athens games and declared yesterday to be, "U.S. Olympic Women's Wrestling Team Day."
Bill Crum, the MWA Executive Director and director of the Farrell wrestling program, assisted the women's team in presenting the many supporters on hand with USA Wrestling fleeces or gold medals.
Crum was a driving force behind bringing the Olympic team to Staten Island, but admitted their presence would not have been possible without Staten Island wrestling guru Dave Ironman and former Farrell coach and current Olympic trainer John Gallucci.
"Those guys were the connection on Staten Island that made everything happen," Crum said. "Without them introducing me to (Farrell) and bringing my focus to Staten Island, today would not have been possible."