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U.S. Nationals preview at 55 kg/121 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
4/14/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The United States has tremendous talent and depth at this weight class, and will continue to be a threat to win World and Olympic medals here. The 2004 Olympian at the division was Tela O’Donnell of the Sunkist Kids, who placed sixth at the Athens Games in her first World-level competition last year. O’Donnell continues to compete, but might move up to 59 kg this season. She competed in the higher division at the Dave Schultz Memorial International this fall, and was defeated in the finals by the No. 1 athlete at that division, Sally Roberts of the Gator WC. O’Donnell is still young and learning the sport, but has great pinning abilities and has proven she can score points on tough opponents.
The athlete who dominated this weight for many years remains active and motivated, two-time World silver medalist Tina George of the New York AC. George has been on a tear since last summer, after losing to O’Donnell in two straight matches at the Olympic Team Trials in Indianapolis. George had beaten O’Donnell at the U.S. Nationals in 2004, although O’Donnell beat her at the 2003 U.S. Nationals. George has power and speed and experience, and has shown that she wrestles well under the new international rules. She has won five straight titles with the new rules this year, three held in the USA (Sunkist Kids International, New York AC Christmas Open and the Dave Schultz Memorial International), and two over in Europe (Trophe Milone in Italy and the Klippan Ladies Open in Sweden). George scored a win over Olympic silver medalist Tonya Verbeek in Italy. If O’Donnell goes up a division, George is the strong favorite to take the title in Las Vegas.
Showing strong skills at this division is 2004 University World champion Marcie Van Dusen of the Sunkist Kids. Van Dusen has qualified in the past for Women’s Team USA, and has shown she can win medals in international tournaments overseas. Van Dusen got a tune-up for the U.S. Nationals by winning the University Nationals earlier this month. She has given both Goerge and O’Donnell some tough matches in the past, and is completely healthy after having injury issues that affected her season last year. If Van Dusen becomes No. 1, she will be expected to win medals at the World Championships level.
The rest of this weight class features young talents who are looking down the road for success and have proven their ability on the age-group levels. There are two talents on the USOEC team at Northern Michigan, worth noting, Sharon Jacobsen and Danyelle Hedin, both with medal potential in Las Vegas. Hedin has won the FILA Junior Nationals for two straight years, and is a dangerous upperbody specialist who often throws and pins opponents.Jacobsen beat Hedin at the New York AC Christmas Open, where she captured a bronze medal.
An athlete who has been doing well in recent events is high school star Chelynne Pringle of the Minnesota Storm, who reached the FILA Junior National finals and lost to Hedin in the finals. Pringle scored a victory over college star Othella Lucas at the FILA Junior Nationals. She also beat Sharon Jacobsen at the New York AC Christmas Open. Lucas has looked strong on the college circuit. She also won a bronze medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial.
USOTC resident athlete Tina Pihl of the New York AC has shown some talent and ability in recent competitions. Pihl tried out for both the U.S. and Canadian Olympic teams, because of dual citizenship, and she made a strong run at the Canadian Trials before being eliminated. Pihl is making stronger showings at major competitions, and is a difficult draw at this division.
Among the college wrestlers to watch at this division are USOEC wrestler Amy Borgnini of the New York AC, Erica Chew of Missouri Valley College, Julie Duarte of Missouri Valley College and Chelsea Rountree of Cumberland College. Iris Mucha, who competed on the college level last year, placed seventh at the U.S. Nationals a year ago.
This division has some very strong individuals, such as O’Donnell, George and Van Dusen, and a load of impressive young athletes who are loking for a breakthrough. This will be a difficult division to earn All-American status at, and even more difficult to reach the finals. There should be some great matches in the early rounds, and perhaps another classic in the gold-medal finals.
2004 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS
1st - Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Tela O'Donnell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC) , 4-2
3rd - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Erin Tomeo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 5-1
5th - Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) inj. dft. over Stephanie Murata, Minden, Nev. (Sunkist Kids)
7th - Iris Mucha, Williamsburg, Ky. (Cumberland College) dec. Tina Pihl, Colroado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 4-1
THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR APRIL 1, 2005
1. Tela O'Donnell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
3. Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Sharon Jacobsen, El Cajon, Calif. (USOEC)
5. Danyelle Hedin, Honolulu, Hawaii (USOEC)
6. Othella Lucas, San Diego, Calif. (New York AC)
7. Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
8. Tina Pihl, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
9. Amy Borgnini, Terre Haute, Ind. (USOEC)
10. Chelsea Roundtree, Crestwood, Ky. (Cumberland College)
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U.S. women’s wrestler Ali Bernard receives numerous awards in Canadian college wrestling
4/14/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Rolling Thunder) has made a name in women’s wrestling on the national and international levels. In 2003, she won a Junior World title for the United States. In 2004, she was a U.S. Senior Nationals champion at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.
This year, Bernard was a freshman on the women’s wrestling team at the Univ. of Regina in Canada, the top recruit for the program. In just one short season, she has made a major impact on Canadian college wrestling. She is coached at Regina by Leo McGee.
The Univ. of Regina announced last week that Bernard was named the “Most Outstanding Female Athlete” and the “Female Rookie of the Year” at the university, in comparison with all women athletes in all sports at Regina. The criteria for Most Outstanding Athlete includes achieving a minimum academic standard, evidence of outstanding athletic achievement this season, and displaying the leadership qualities and character of an outstanding student-athlete.
Bernard had a very successful season at Regina, winning the gold medal at 80 kg at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) National Championships, which is the college national tournament in Canada. Bernard was also named CIS Rookie of the Year for women’s wrestling after winning the event.
Bernard also excelled at the Canada West Championships, which serves as the qualifying tournament for the CIS Championships. Bernard won the gold medal at the Canada West Championships, and was named Outstanding Female Wrestler at the tournament. Canada West wrestling coaches also selected Bernard as the Canada West Rookie of the Year.
Among the other events that she won on the Canadian college circuit this year were the Cougar Open and the Clansman International Open.
Bernard is no stranger to major national awards. In 2004, she was named TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year, the top honor within U.S. girls high school wrestling.
This past weekend, Bernard won a gold medal at the FILA Junior National Championships, earning a spot on the 2005 U.S. Junior World Team which will compete in Lithuania this summer. This will allow her to attempt to win a second career Junior World title for the United States.
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