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2/5/06 live time
103 Michealla Hutchison, Skyview, V. Aaron Boss, Colony
First period
Michealla tries a snap-down...Boss counters well...she moves to a front headlock...stalemate call
High-C attempt by Hutchison...Boss transitions to a front headlock...another quick stalemate call
Shot by Hutchison...good sprawl by Boss...Boss works to a front headlock...thirty seconds left...stalemate
Time runs out, score 0-0
103, second period
Boss chooses down
Michealla a claw-ride...action goes out of bounds, reset center
Hutchison gets an arm bar and tries to turn...Boss defends it well...She still has the bar...stall warning on Boss
Boss defending the bar well, thirty seconds left...another stalemate
coach Mckinney approaches the table and wants an explanation on the stall warning
103, second period
Michealla is riding tough...boss stands up and hand fights, but it goes out of bounds, reset center
restart with twelve seconds
Michealla almost exposed...boss...the refs confer...no points awarded
third period, score 0-0
Boss gets high and Michealla tries to hip over...Boss sinks a leg to save his position and gets a potential dangerous call for a reset
Boss gets two legs in...he is awful high, but holds it...stalemate
blood time on Michealla
103, third period, 1:22 left
Score 0-0
Boss hits a spiral ride and Michealla steps over his leg...great scramble, leads to a stand-up...excellent action by Boss to save it
Micehalla steps over his leg again...boss works a forced half...close, but no exposure...twenty-five seconds left...boss out of position, one point escape, fifteen seconds left
Boss not shooting, time expires, the gym goes nuts,
Michealla Hutchison, state champ, the first girl in America to do it!!!!!!!!
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Alaska prep wrestler makes national history
By VAN WILLIAMS 2/4/06
Anchorage Daily News
Published: February 4, 2006
Last Modified: February 4, 2006 at 10:46 PM
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Armed with cameras and video camcorders, nearly 2,000 people packed Chugiak High on Saturday night to watch Skyview's Michaela Hutchison make history.
Flash bulbs popped when Hutchison took the mat in the 103-pound final of Alaska's big school wrestling championships. When the wrestlers were introduced, Hutchison received a roaring applause.
But the best was yet to come.
Led by chants of "C'mon Michaela" and "Girl Power", Hutchison blew the roof off the place when she earned a thrilling 1-0 victory over Colony's Aaron Boss to become the first girl wrestler in the nation to win a state title against boys.
Hutchison, a sophomore who entered the state tournament ranked No. 1 in her weight class, completed her historic run by scoring an escape with 16 seconds left in the match to beat Boss for the second time in as many weeks.
As time winded down and Hutchison and Boss locked together in the middle, the crowd started counting down "3 … 2 … 1" before letting out a deafening roar. Hutchison didn't show much reaction — she was more concerned with stopping her nose from bleeding.
Family and friends mobbed Hutchison after she walked off the mat while the crowd honored her accomplishment with a standing ovation.
"They were helping me," Hutchison said of the crowd's support. "It was awesome."
Hutchison was a crowd favorite before she even took the mat, in large part because she was trying to do what no girl had ever done — beat the boys.
Skyview coach Neldon Gardner said Hutchison's victory was one of the highlights of his coaching career. He has coached countless state champions, but this one stood out.
"After 23 years of coaching you remember a lot of things. I'll never forget this one," he said. "I can't think of anybody more deserving than Michaela. She works as hard as any boy I've ever had."
Lathrop's Leah Bachert, a girl wrestler at 112 pounds, called Hutchison a role model.
"I look up to her because she's proving everybody wrong," Bachert said. "She's showing everybody that girls can be just as tough as guys."
Beating the boys has been something Hutchison has dreamed about since she started working out with the Skyview High as a seventh grader. She was close last year, losing to in the 103-pound final.
Across the nation have been close, too.
Last year, 17 girls nationwide qualified for high school state championships that included boys. One of them, Deanna Rix of Maine, finished second at 130 pounds. Michaela's sister, Melina, placed third at state six years ago.
Now Hutchison is in a class by herself.
"I don't care about (the significance) right now," she said. "I was excited to get done with the season. I'm been waiting for this for a while."
Hutchison's victory rivals other historic wins by women in male-dominated sports. Remember Libby Riddles? In 1985, she became the first women musher to win the world-famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Riddles, along with four-time winner Susan Butcher, changed the rules of the game forever.
And Hutchison might do the same — at least in Alaska.
Kent Bailo, director of the U.S. Girls Wresting Association, believes Hutchison's victory will help girls wrestling become a varsity sport. Right now, only Hawaii and Texas offer it. But Alaska might be next.
"I think coaches would want girls to have their own varsity sport," Bailo said. "Their boys would be so embarrassed if a girl won state. The coaches don't want girls taking away their medals."
Boss shouldn't feel embarrassed about losing to Hutchison because she's been No. 1-ranked at 103 all season. Hutchison finished the season with a 45-4 record that included 33 pins, one shy of the state single-season record.
Other boys who have wrestled against Hutchison said it was no big deal to lose to a girl, especially one as talented and tough as Hutchison. Kodiak's Tucker VanMatre was pinned by her in 47 seconds at the region championships two weeks ago.
"It was quick," VanMatre said. "She got me in an arm bar and turned me (over)."
Did she catch you by surprise?
"No," VanMatre added. "I expected it. She's good."
Hutchison was born to wrestle. She's one of 10 kids, and the third in her family to win a state title, joining brothers Zeb and Eli.
"They love the sport more than any other family I know," Gardner said. "This is a result of that dedication."
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NOTES: Michaela Hutchinson of Skyview became the first girl in the nation to win a state wrestling title. Hutchinson defeated Colony's Aaron Boss 1-0 with an escape with 15 seconds left in the match.
Michaela's older brother, Eli, earned his fourth state title with a 14-4 win over South Anchorage's Matt Blakeslee.
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Michaella Hutchison is the final AKMat Wrestler of the Week for the season.
www.akmat.org/ 2/5/06
I know Michallea and her father personally, and from my experience, they have both always bristled at term or implication of “girl wrestler.” I think they have always preferred that Michaella be though of as a “wrestler,” and to let her accomplishments on the mat speak for themselves. Last night Michaella proved herself once again to be one of Alaska’s great “wrestlers” with her thrilling last second escape for a 1-0 victory over a very tough and talented Aaron Boss.
Having said all that, Michaella has become one of Alaska’s Darlings, and she is also respected and admired because she is a female competing and winning against males. I can’t get over what I saw last night, and the national implications it has. America has its first female State Champion, and she is an Alaskan …Thanks, Michaella!
P.S. If ever there was to be an AKMat Wrestler for a career, it would be you, Eli. Undefeated in Alaska for you High School career is an incredible accomplishment, and all your years of training in the Shaolin temples of Tibet learning the art of the Preying Mantis have served you well. But lets face it: #1, Michaella is much better looking than you, and #2, you kicked the crud out of my son so many times, I'm giving this to her! Do you like apples??? How do you like those apples?!
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Hutchison steals thunder
HISTORIC: Girl's state title overshadows two wrestlers becoming four-time champs, Wasilla's 3rd straight crown.
By RON WILMOT
Anchorage Daily News Published: February 5, 2006
Last Modified: February 5, 2006 at 05:57 AM
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Skyview sophomore Michaela Hutchison wasn't the only wrestler to make history Saturday night at Chugiak High.
Her older brother Eli and West Valley's David Wiese joined an elite group of Alaska wrestlers with four straight state titles.
The biggest roars of the 2,000 fans came when Michaela Hutchison escaped for a 1-0 win over Colony's Aaron Boss, becoming the first girl in U.S. history to win a state wrestling championship while competing against boys.
As historic as that was, the two four-peats and Wasilla High's third consecutive Class 4A team championship will always live long in Alaska wrestling history too.
By winning in dominating fashion, Wasilla joined West Valley, Service, Kenai, and Skyview as teams that have won three or more large-school state titles.
"It feels like a lot of stress is off," said Wasilla head coach Shawn Hayes, who was named coach of the year. "The first year, we were wrestling tough but we were underdogs. This year, we were second to South at the first tournament, and we were first in every tournament after that.
"We were wondering how long we would be able to keep it up. Being on top is a different kind of pressure."
Eli Hutchison and Wiese joined Chugiak's Gary Steeby, West Valley's Matt Mattson and Wasilla's Jed Wade are the only four-time champions in state history.
But before Eli Hutchison could win his match, he had to sit courtside and nervously watch his sister.
Eli said he and Michaela grapple each other at home.
So who wins?
"Well, I do," Eli said. "But I've got 40 pounds on her."
Skyview coach Neldon Gardner beamed like a proud papa afterward.
"Those two work as hard as any wrestlers I've coached in 20 years," he said. "It's nice to see good things happen to good people."
Eli scored a 14-4 major decision over South's Matt Blakeslee to win the 135-pound title.
Wiese beat Wasilla's Mike Trudeau 14-5 to win the 152-pound title. Wiese, who used to wrestle against Eli when they were kids competing at camps, finished undefeated against Alaska competition the past two years.
"I feel like I've just completed a life goal," said Wiese soon after he got a congratulatory hug from Michaela. "Words can't explain it."
Summaries from the championship finals:
103 pounds -- In an incredible way to start off the night, Skyview's Michaela Hutchison slowly breaks free of Colony's Aaron Boss to pull an escape with 15 seconds left for a 1-0 victory. Hutchison, a sophomore and runner-up at 103 last season, finished 41-4 with 33 pins.
112 pounds -- Wasilla's Alan Bartelli won his second consecutive state title with a 3-2 decision over Kodiak's Jimmy Eggemeyer. Bartelli, who defeated Michaela Hutchison for the 103-pound title last year, led 3-1 but was called for stalling in the final seconds. Eggemeyer finished the season 39-2, with both losses coming against Bartelli.
119 pounds -- In a match that was closer than the score indicated, Wasilla's Sam Miller scored a 5-0 decision over Juneau's Dante Santos. It was the first state title for Miller, who was able to successfully fend off Santos' attack every time. Santos was the Crimson Bears' only finalist.
125 pounds -- Homer's Simeon Daigle fended off a late takedown attempt to win a 7-4 decision over Kodiak's Steven Gauna. Daigle, the No. 1 seed most of the season, lost to Gauna in the semifinals of last week's Northern Lights Conference tournament.
130 pounds -- Colony's Hollan Gravley had little trouble in winning his third straight state title in a 15-5 major decision over Ted Nelvis of West. Gravley, a junior, finished the season 29-2.
135 pounds -- Skyview senior Eli Hutchison capped off one the greatest wrestling careers in state history by winning his fourth straight state title with a 14-4 major decision over South's Matt Blakeslee. Hutchison finished his high school career with a record of 192-5, undefeated against Alaska opponents. One of just three Alaska wrestlers to win a title at the Reno Tournament of Champions, a prestigious national tournament, Hutchison is bound for Boise State University next fall. He won his previous titles at 112, 119 and 135.
140 pounds -- West's Max Rosefigura won the Eagles' only title of the evening with a 15-8 decision over Wasilla's Duane Carpenter. Rosefigura, a state runner-up last season, won his first title.
145 pounds -- Skyview's Clark Buffington escaped three seconds into the second overtime to defeat Wasilla's Trevor Pempek 2-1. Buffington, a three-time state placer, finished 42-3 with 31 pins. Pempek, a senior, is a three-time state finalist.
152 pounds -- West Valley's David Wiese scored a 14-5 major decision over Wasilla's Mike Trudeau to become the second four-time state champ of the night. Wiese, who won his previous titles at 130, 145 and 160, finished his high school career with a 128-8 record. Trudeau, a senior, is a two-time Northern Lights Conference champion.
160 pounds -- West Valley's Jeremy Fulk won the Wolfpack's second title of the night in a 6-3 decision over Sitka's Dylan Bergman.
171 pounds -- Chugiak's Cayle Byers scored the first big upset of the night. He rolled West Valley's Dustin Baxter, a defending state champion, to his back with seven seconds left to win a 7-4 decision before a raucous home crowd.
189 pounds -- South's Scott Lucas pinned Wasilla's Jake Wade at 4:21 in the other big upset. Wade, a two-time defending state champ, led 5-1 late in the second round, but Lucas scored a reversal and nearfall at the buzzer to tie it 5-5. He quickly gained control in the third and pinned Wade, who entered the match with a 161-18 career record. Lucas, a two-time state finalist, won his first state championship.
215 pounds -- South's Mike Petrovich won his first state title in dramatic fashion, scoring an escape five seconds into the second overtime to defeat Bartlett's Jess Hessock, 2-1. Petrovich was a finalist at heavyweight last season.
Heavyweight -- In the final match of the night, West's Steven McDonald scored a takedown six seconds into overtime to defeat Sitka's Tyler Holmlund 7-5. Holmlund's takedown at the buzzer tied the match 5-5 to send it to overtime.
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Anderson twins two of four girls in Grand Haven wrestling program
Sunday, February 05, 2006
By Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
Alyssa Anderson admitted her parents weren't all that excited to hear last year that she wanted to join the Grand Haven wrestling team.
Her twin sister, Sarah, sure thought it was a great idea, though.
The Buccaneers wrestling program features four female wrestlers this season, including the Anderson sisters, who are sophomores, and sophomore Cindy Kaffenberger and freshman Molly Boersma. The four are quickly changing the perceptions of female wrestlers in Grand Haven, from parents to competitors to coaches.
"It caught me by surprise," said Dan Anderson, the father of Alyssa and Sarah. "I was never a wrestler. I remember wrestling in seventh and eighth grade in (physical education class), but that was about it. It really came out of the blue when she said she wanted to wrestle.
"Both have been involved in athletics, playing soccer and softball. I went with her and observed a practice, and I saw the coaches work with them and I was very impressed. I was very impressed with the Grand Haven coaches."
Alyssa is dividing her time between wrestling the 103 and 112 weight classes. She has competed in approximately 10 varsity matches as well as junior varsity. Sarah Anderson, Kaffenberger and Boersma are wrestling on junior varsity.
All-girl tournament
Not only do the girls participate for their high school team, they recently competed in the United States Girls Wrestling Association's all-girl tournament in Manistee. Sarah Anderson won the 90-97 weight class while Alyssa Anderson and Boersma were second and third, respectively, in the 102-116 class. Kaffenberger was second at 125. The girls also are eyeing the USGWA National Championships set for April 1-2 at Lake Orion.
"I had a friend who is wrestling with the team and he would show me a lot of moves, and I wanted to join but I first had to convince my parents," Alyssa said. "But there was another girl on the team, so they let me join, and after a couple of weeks, they got used to it and they enjoy watching it."
Like Dan Anderson, Grand Haven coach James Richardson said he has changed his perception about girls wrestling, too.
"This is my 14th year here, and last year was the first year that I had a girl on the team, we had a senior," Richardson said.
"My perspective on girls wrestling has changed, without question. The young ladies work just as hard as the guys, and they are just as dependable. Sometimes we forget that we have females. We have 41 wrestlers. If you ask me, I don't think of them as girls, they are wrestlers.
"I always thought it was difficult when one of our boys had to wrestle a girl. But the girls on our team are tough and they work hard. They know how hard our girls work and they have immediate respect for our opponent because our teammates."
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Stiles impressive in district wrestling championships
By JAVIER BECERRA Caller-Times
February 5, 2006
Jackie Stiles had a rough go the first time she stepped on a wrestling mat.
Things have since changed for the Ray High School senior.
Stiles pinned Beeville's Maribel Cano to claim the 128-pound title Saturday night at the District 30-5A wrestling championships. The top two boys and girls in each weight class advance to the Region IV tournament set for Feb. 10-11 in San Antonio.
"My first practice was a killer," Stiles said. "I pretty much got beat on by the older girls. Even after all that I decided that this was the thing for me."
That much was evident on Saturday, as Stiles (23-2) needed only 1 minute, 35 seconds to halt the match. Stiles is eyeing a return trip to the state meet in Austin and plans to use next week's regional meet as motivation.
"I'm pretty excited about the regional meet because that's where I see the competition that helps prepare me for state," Stiles said.
By now, Stiles knows what to do to make it happen.
"It takes a lot of work, especially mental toughness," Stiles said. "You have to be strong, fast and athletic, but you also have to be mentally prepared." "It's just such an exciting experience," Stiles said.
Beeville continued its dominance of the area wrestling scene by winning its sixth straight boys championship.
The Trojans scored 264.5 points, well ahead of second-place Victoria Memorial with 139.5. King finished third with 114.5 points, followed by Carroll with 114.
Beeville also captured the girls title with 78 points, 50 more than King. Ray finished third with 16 points.
"All of our kids believe in tradition and I think we've built a little bit there in Beeville," coach Terry Foster said. "They wanted to defend that title. That's what they've been working up to and the really did awesome."
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Prep wrestling: Reedsville's Ebert does well battling the boys
By Steve Clark 2/5/06
Herald Times Reporter
Reedsville's Amberlee Ebert (top) waits for the whistle to start the second period in her 140-pound match against Wrightstown's Eric Verhagen on Saturday. Sue Pischke/HTR |
MANITOWOC — Amberlee Ebert wasn't any different than every other wrestler who walked out of Manitowoc Lutheran High School on Saturday afternoon without an Olympian Conference individual championship medal in tow.
She was disappointed.
"I wish it could have went better," said Ebert, a senior at Reedsville High School who finished 1-2 on the day and took fourth at 140 pounds at the OC meet. "I thought I would do better than fourth. My last match was tough. I wish I could redo that one."
Ebert, who is 15-12 this season, lost the third-place match to Valders' Jared Hutterer, 11-2, after getting pinned in the third period by eventual champion Eric Verhagen of Wrightstown in the semifinals. She opened the tournament with a 6-4 decision over Mishicot's Aaron Geiger.
Some might believe she would take some level of a moral victory out of wrestling against boys. But to Ebert, who possesses a strong competitive drive, losing is still losing.
"She gets very upset about losing," Reedsville head coach Troy Kunz said. "She doesn't mope around at all after a loss, and she never needs a pick-me-up after a loss. She just looks forward to getting back into the wrestling room and working hard to improve."
Ebert is one of the most decorated girl wrestlers in the state, having finished in the top three in two prestigious tournaments over the summer.
At the 2005 Asics USA Wrestling Championships in Fargo, N.D., in August, Ebert posted a 4-0 record with four pins for Team Wisconsin in the dual competition and then won her first four matches in the individual portion of the tournament to reach the 148-pound finals. She lost 3-2 to an Ohio wrestler to finish second.
Before that, Ebert wrestled at the United States Girls Wrestling Association National Tournament in Michigan, where she finished third at 152 pounds.
"That was my first big tournament and nobody knew who I was," said Ebert, who wrestled in the 152-pound division despite weighing only about 142 pounds. "I'm really excited for Michigan. This year, I just want to take (the title there).
"Wrestling the high school season will definitely help me. Last year, I didn't wrestle on the guys team and I just went into the girls season. I think it will be beneficial because I wrestled all year."
Ebert figures that some of her opponents know her resume — "I'm sure they love beating me," she said — but coming off her successful summer she didn't feel any added pressure once the high school season started.
In fact, she's used to having a lot of spectator eyes — and a lot of opponents' best efforts — on her when she wrestles.
"That just comes with wrestling," Ebert said. "I'm used to it here because I'm the only girl in the conference."
Kunz said he would normally see Ebert's opponents take to the mat expecting to simply overpower her. It didn't always work out that way, though.
"She was wrestling against a kid from Oshkosh Lourdes and he had some fire in him. He thought he would come out, grab her and throw her for a pin just like that," Kunz said. "He was trying to be very physical with her, and then she just head-threw him and buried him. It was pretty impressive."
Unlike many of her female counterparts that wrestle with their high school teams, Ebert isn't residing in one of the lighter weight classes.
She's wrestled at or near 145 pounds all season, which means she is often going up against upperclassmen who have an edge in experience and strength.
"Wrestling at 145, it was tough," Ebert said. "My goal was to get to 135. I was going to just wrestle one match at 145, but I stayed there all year. I did better than I thought I would do."
Now she turns her attention to the WIAA state series and will join her Reedsville teammates at the Wrightstown regional next Saturday.
At one point, she had dreamed of being the first female wrestler to make it onto a state tournament mat — something that was accomplished by Team Wisconsin teammate Alyssa Lampe of Tomahawk last year. Even if she isn't the first, she still wouldn't mind stepping onto the Kohl Center floor later this month with the chance to do what she loves.
"Definitely, in my head I want to be there (at state)," Ebert said. "My next goal is to get to sectionals and I really want to get there. I have a chance, and hopefully I'll succeed."
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If it ain’t broke … Cougar boys, Mustang girls extend run at district meet
By Nick Georgandis
Sports Editor, February 4, 2006 7:22 PM CST
It was a different venue, but the same result Saturday as the Taylor High girls and Cinco Ranch boys’ wrestling squads won the District 21-5A Wrestling Meet.
The victory was the Cougar boys’ fifth straight, as they racked up 273 points to second-place Taylor’s 218.
“This was the widest margin of points any team has ever won district by,” Cougar head coach Bill Dushane said. “That’s huge.”
Mayde Creek finished third with 204 points, Katy was fourth with 195.50, Morton Ranch fifth with 121 and newcomer Seven Lakes took sixth with 93.50. Strake Jesuit brought up the rear with 88 points.
The Taylor High School girls won their third straight championship by a narrow margin, edging Katy 160-152. Cinco Ranch finished third and Mayde Creek fourth.
It was no surprise when Dushane captured district coach of the year honors for his efforts.
Katy High School’s Matt Morgan, who claimed gold at 103 pounds, was named Male Wrestler of the Year for the lighter weight classes, with Cougar Jamie Sheets, who won the 140-pound class, winning Wrestler of the Year for the heavier weights.
Taylor’s Lara Hamilton, who won the girls’ 119-pound class to improve to 31-2 on the season, was named District Female Wrestler of the Year.
The girls’ champions (listed by weight class) were: 95 n Heather Manhart, Taylor; 102 n Courtney Hole, Taylor; 110 n Brandi Sence, Katy; 119 n Lara Hamilton, Taylor; 128 n Raquel Vasquez, Cinco Ranch; 138 n Alex Bradshaw, Katy; 148 n Robin Adams, Taylor; 165 n Venus Barron, Taylor; 185 n Kacee Ravenburg, Katy; 215 n Kiki Williams, Katy.
The boys’ champions (listed by weigh class) were: 103 n Matt Morgan, Katy; 112 n Thomas Glenn, Katy; 119 n Kyle Brown, Taylor; 125 n Damon Cole, Mayde Creek; 130 n Jon Paul Bubb, Mayde Creek; 135 n Kevin Holden, Katy; 140 n Jamie Sheets, Cinco Ranch; 145 n Zach Lowery, Morton Ranch; Rollie Williams, Katy; 160 n Matt Harris, Cinco Ranch; 171 n Joseph Depew, Taylor; 180 n Will McNair, Cinco Ranch; 189 n Cody Koenig, Taylor; 215 n Matt Stewart, Cinco Ranch; 275 n John Gioffre, Cinco Ranch.
The top two wrestlers in each weight class advance to the Region III Meet which will be held in two weeks at Allen High School.
Check the Wednesday, Feb. 8 edition of The Katy Times for complete coverage and results from the district meet.
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Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
02/04/2006
The United States claimed eight individual champions on the final night of the 8th Annual Dave Schultz Memorial International held at Sports Center I at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 4.
Combined with the six gold medals earned by U.S. athletes on Friday night, the United States captured 14 of the 21 weight classes contested during the weekend.
The eight U.S. winners on Saturday included four women freestyle wrestlers, three men’s freestyle wrestlers and one men’s Greco-Roman wrestler.
All seven weight classes in the women’s division were held on Saturday. The four U.S. winners were:
• Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
• Patricia Miranda (New Haven, Conn./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs.
• Alaina Berube (Escanaba, Mich./USOEC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
• Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
Murata, a past World silver medalist, defeated Angela Mott of Canada, 6-0, 5-4 in the finals. Murata was a member of the 2005 U.S. World Team, but has dropped a weight class from last year.
Miranda, a 2004 Olympic bronze medalist and two-time World silver medalist, won her first international tournament since winning her Olympic medal at the 2004 Athens Games. She defeated Julieta Okot (New York, N.Y./New York AC), 5-0, 1-0 in the finals. Okot, a recent U.S. citizen who previously competed internationally for Bulgaria, was wrestling in her first event as an American.
Miranda was named Outstanding Wrestler in the women’s division for the competition.
Berube, who was second in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, pinned Elena Pirozhkov (Colorado Springs, Colo./NE Elite) in the third period, with a score of 3-4, 6-0, 0:54. Berube won the Dave Schultz Memorial International for the second straight year.
Marano, a two-time World champion and seven-time World medalist, also secured a pin in the finals, stopping Megan Buydens of Canada, 0-2, 1:59.
All three weight classes contested in men’s freestyle were captured by U.S. wrestlers:
• Matt Azevedo (Arroyo Grande, Calif./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs.
• Mike Zadick (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye TC) at 60 kg/132 lbs.
• Tolly Thompson (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Azevedo won the Dave Schultz Memorial International for the second straight year. He defeated 2005 Junior World silver medalist Yasuchiro Inaba of Japan, 7-1, 2-3, 3-0.
Zadick defeated the No. 1 ranked U.S. wrestler in his division, 2005 World Team member Michael Lightner (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 0-3, 2-1 in the finals.
Thompson, a 2005 World bronze medalist, stopped Michael Irving (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), 2-0, 5-0 in the gold-medal match. Thompson won the Dave Schultz Memorial for the second straight year.
The Outstanding Wrestler in the men’s freestyle division was Joe Williams (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids), who won the 74 kg/163 lbs. class on Friday night.
The U.S. champion on Saturday in Greco-Roman was 2005 Greco-Roman U.S. World team member Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. Durlacher stopped Kohei Hasegawa of Japan, 6-1, 2-1 in the finals.
Durlacher was named the Outstanding Wrestler in the Greco-Roman division.
Champions from other nations on Saturday were men’s Greco-Roman wrestlers Dilshod Aripov of Uzbekistan at 60 kg/132 lbs. and David Vala of the Czech Republic at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., plus women wrestlers Tonya Verbeek of Canada at 55 kg/121 lbs., Breanne Graham of Canada at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Stanka Hristova of Bulgaria at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
This competition is held in memory of 1994 Olympic champion and 1993 World champion Dave Schultz, who was murdered 10 years ago. Schultz was an ambassador of goodwill around the world, and one of the nation’s greatest wrestling champions.
QUOTES FROM U.S. CHAMPIONS
55 kg - Matt Acevedo, Arroyo Grande, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
“I felt I wrestled pretty good. My leg attack was working well and my defense was tough. I have been working on my defense. I didn’t let anybody get to my leg except for in the finals. It feels good to win. I went to the Sunkist International this year and took third; I was first there last year so it was disappointing. I was looking forward to wrestling here. I wanted to wrestle a lot of foreign competitors here, and I didn’t wrestle a single American. That is good. I need more foreign competition. It was great to wrestle these opponents and to repeat as champion.”
60 kg - Mike Zadick, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye TC)
“Most importantly, I am excited to be here to compete. It has been a long time. I’m not by any means content. But for where I am now, I accomplished what I came to do. This is something to build off and to improve. I am glad to come in, compete and win. I am in better condition. I train hard, and I feel I am in better shape than the opponents. I know I will wrestle hard the whole time. I won’t be denied. I always work hard to score. I put myself in position to make my own breaks.”
120 kg - Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
“I feel pretty solid. I am not 100%, probably 70%. I’m not doing all my offense, but I am hand fighting, moving my feet. What else do you need? I want to improve on last year’s results. That has got to be the goal. Improve every time you wrestle. It felt good. I got stronger as the day went on.”
48 kg - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
“It was alright. I came back from Russia sick. In every tournament, you learn something from it. That is why I am here. The reason I wrestled here was to get more competition, more matches in. If you go all the way to Russia for matches, you might as well wrestle in your own back yard.”
51 kg - Patricia Miranda, New Haven, Conn. (Sunkist Kids)
“I think I made some improvement from my first one back (the New York AC Holiday Open). It’s clear to see the results of time and persistence, and believing that the timing will come back. Wrestling is more than what you do on the mat. I forgot about what all the other things were. There were a couple of things in the right direction, and a couple of things I still need to bring out. I am glad I got some matches. I am not out just to compete. I want to stay on the top of the podium. I’ll need some big improvements without being in optimal situations. Slowly, I am coming back.”
63 kg - Alaina Berube, Escanaba, Mich (New York AC)
“Overall, I felt I wrestled allright. I’m glad to be on the mat to get experience before Nationals. In the finals, I came out a little flat and didn’t wrestle well. As I warmed up, I felt better. It has been going pretty good this year. I’ve gotten a lot of matches in. I am looking forward to the bigger tournaments going ahead.
67 kg - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
“It went pretty good. I felt good out there and was consistent on the mat. I want to compete in as many tournaments as I can to prepare for the World Team Trials again.”
(about losing the first period) “Coach Terry Steiner tells us to take it one period at a time. So I was not too concerned. The pin happened so fast. I don’t know how I turned her. It was in a scramble.
55 kg - Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
“I wrestled a strong tournament. We had a competition last week and a training camp. As a team we were beat up a little bit. We are training so hard. It’s starting to pay off for me. It doesn’t get any easier as you get older. There were good wrestlers in this tournament. I work hard. Sometimes I don’t have enough confidence in myself. This proves I am doing the right things. I am happy the way it turned out. I work hard to represent my country to the best of my ability.”
DAVE SCHULTZ MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL
At Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 4
Women’s freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold medal – Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Angela Mott (Canada), 6-0, 5-4
Bronze medal - Mary Kelly (Mahomet, Ill./USOEC/New York AC) dec. Anne Catherine Delunsche (France), 2-0, 2-0
5th (tie) – Lindsay Rushton (Canada) and Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC)
51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Gold medal – Patricia Miranda (New Haven, Conn./Sunkist Kids) dec. Julieta Okot (New York, N.Y./New York AC), 5-0, 1-0
Bronze medal - Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Erica Sharp (Canada). 1-0, 5-3
5th (tie) – Erica Sharp (Canada) and Clair du Pont (Leadville, Colo./CO School of Mines)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold medal – Tonya Verbeek (Canada) dec. Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 6-0, 3-3, 2-0
Bronze medal - Sharon Jacobsen (El Cajon, Calif./USOEC/Gator WC) pin Anna Gomis (France), 1:12
5th (tie) – Olena Malyshko (Ukraine) and Malinda Ripley (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
59 kg/130 lbs.
Gold medal – Breanne Graham (Canada) pin Deanna Rix (Berwick, Maine/New York AC), 4-0, 0:31
Bronze medal - Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) dec. Emily Richardson (Canada), 8-0, 3-0
5th (tie) – Othella Lucas (San Diego, Calif./New York AC) and Leigh Jaynes (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold medal – . Alaina Berube (Escanaba, Mich./USOEC) pin Elena Pirozhkov (Colorado Springs, Colo./NE Elite), 3-4, 6-0, 0:54
Bronze medal - Erin Tomeo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) pin Audrey Prieto (France), 5-3, 1:38
5th (tie) – Martina Zyklov (Czech Republic) and Stephanie Shaw (Waterford, Conn./USOEC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Gold medal –Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) pin Megan Buydens (Canada), 0-2, 1:59
Bronze medal - Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo/Sunkist Kids) pin Randi Miller (Marquette, Mich./USOEC), 0-3, 0:16
5th (tie) - Valeriya Zlatova (Bulgaria) and Heather Martin (Wellington, Ohio/New York AC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold medal – Stanka Hristova (Bulgaria) pin Pam Wilson (Canada), 5-0, 1:00
Bronze medal –Rosangela Conseicao (Brazil) dec. Nina Sklenkova (Czech Republic), 1-0, 1-0
5th (tie) - Mariana Kolic (France) and Ayako Murishima (Japan)