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George takes first match of World Team Wrestle-Off in Colorado Springs
7/11/2005
John Fuller/USA Wrestling
Colorado Springs, Colo. - Two-time World silver medalist Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) defeated Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in the first match of a best-of-three wrestle-off for the final spot on the 2005 U.S. Women’s World Team for wrestling on Monday morning at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
George downed Van Dusen 2-1, 6-4 in the first match at 55 kg/121 lbs. The second match is slated for 12:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) and a third match, if necessary, will take place 15 minutes following the conclusion of the second match.
In the first period, George took a 1-0 lead 12 seconds after the opening whistle with a takedown near the edge of the mat. Midway through the period, Van Dusen tied the score at 1-1 as she forced George out of bounds. George scored the decisive point in the period with another takedown just 19 seconds later.
In the second period, George took a 3-0 lead just fourteen seconds into the period by taking Van Dusen down and to her back for two exposure points.
Van Dusen then clawed back, scoring a takedown and two exposure points to briefly tie the score at 3-3 before George scored a reversal and two exposure points of her own to take a 6-3 lead. Van Dusen added a takedown with 25 seconds left in the period, but was unable to score from par terre.
George took an extension on her championship series due to injury, something that only national champions may do. She suffered hand and knee injuries which prevented her from competing in the World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa, June 18-19.
Van Dusen earned a position in the Special Wrestle-off by winning the title at the World Team Trials. She defeated Chelynne Pringle (Hugo, Minn./Minn. Storm), 2-2, 1-0 in bout one and 5-0, 2-0 in bout two.
George is a two-time World silver medalist, who placed second at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She has won three U.S. Nationals titles, and has qualified for five U.S. World Teams.
Van Dusen was a 2004 University World champion, and was a 2005 University Nationals champion. She placed second at the 2005 U.S. National Championships.
The winner of this Special Wrestle-off will represent the United States at the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 26-Oct. 2. The rest of the U.S. World Teams in all three styles were determined at the World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa.
World Team Wrestle-Off - 55 kg/121 lbs.
7/11/2005
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Entered by John Fuller
Team Scoring
Results By Weight
1st MATCH: Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) def. Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 2-1, 6-4
First Period:
0:12 - George takedown (1-0 George)
0:57 - George out of bounds (1-1)
1:16 - George takedown (2-1 George)
Second Period:
0:14 - George takedown to back (3-0 George)
0:32 - Van Dusen takedown (3-1 George)
0:34 - Van Dusen two-point exposure (3-3)
0:36 - George reversal (4-3 George)
0:37 - George two-point exposure (6-3 George)
1:35 - Van Dusen takedown (6-4 George)
2nd MATCH: Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) def. Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-4, 2-2
First Period:
1:11 - Van Dusen out of bounds (1-0 George)
Second Period:
0:37 - George takedown (1-0 George)
1:10 - Van Dusen takedown (1-1)
1:26 - Van Dusen takedown (2-1 Van Dusen)
1:29 - Van Dusen two-point turn (4-1 Van Dusen)
1:56 - George takedown (4-2 Van Dusen)
Third Period:
0:11 - Van Dusen takedown (1-0 Van Dusen)
0:58 - George takedown (1-1)
1:24 - Van Dusen takedown (2-1 Van Dusen)
1:56 - George takedown (2-2)
*Note: George wins period on criteria of last point scored.
Two-time World silver medalist Tina George earns final spot on U.S. World Team
7/11/2005
John Fuller/USA Wrestling
Photos
Colorado Springs, Colo. - Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) will compete at the World Championships for the sixth time after winning a Special Wrestle-Off against Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. on Monday at the Olympic Training Center.
The second match came down to the final seconds, with a tired George scoring a takedown with just four seconds left in the bout to take the series instead of going to a third bout. George won the second match 1-0, 2-4, 2-2 and the first bout 2-1, 6-4.
“I was thinking ‘I don’t want to go to a third match. I better hurry up and score.’ I didn’t want her to gain momentum going into a third match and to get that confidence,” George said after the bout.
The winning takedown tied the third period at 2-2 in the second bout, but due to the tiebreaking criteria of the last point scored wins the period, George was awarded the victory.
George took the first period, fighting off an aggressive Van Dusen to force her out of bounds and score the only point of the period.
In the second period, George opened with a takedown, but Van Dusen then added two takedowns and a two-point turn for a 4-1 lead. With only four seconds remaining in the period, George scored a takedown to cut the lead to 4-2, but she was unable to score from par terre.
In the decisive third period, Van Dusen scored the first takedown just 11 seconds into the period. George tied the score with a takedown midway through the period. Van Dusen then scored another takedown nearly 30 seconds later to take a 2-1 advantage before George scored the winning takedown.
“She feels that she can beat me. Part of her strategy was to press me a lot and get me out of position,” George said. “She did a pretty good job of doing that.”
George won a U.S. Nationals title in May, but did not compete at the U.S. World Team Trials due to injuries to her knee and hand. She took an extension on her championship series due to injury, something that only national champions may do.
“They felt fine. You can’t really feel anything when your adrenaline is rushing,” George said of her injuries during the matches against Van Dusen.
George will represent the United States at the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 26-Oct. 2. The rest of the U.S. World Teams in all three styles were determined at the World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa.
George is a two-time World silver medalist, who placed second at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She has won three U.S. Nationals titles, and has qualified for five U.S. World Teams.