News Page
By David Kiefer and Dennis Knight
Mercury News 4/4/06
WRESTLING: Oak Grove sophomore Michelle Jimenez and Half Moon Bay senior Katherine Fulp-Allen traveled to Michigan for the United States Girls Wrestling Association National championships and walked away as All-Americans on Sunday. Jimenez beat Tiffany Sluik of Iowa 5-4 to win a bronze medal at 100 pounds and Fulp-Allen beat Samantha Lopez of West Covina 13-4 to take third at 110 pounds.
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U.S. Nationals preview at 55 kg/121 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
03/31/2006
Tina George of the U.S. Army has been the dominant athlete at the 55 kg/121 lbs. division for many years in women’s wrestling. She is strong, fast, talented and experienced. Beating Tina George is the first step for anybody to reach their wrestling goals. A two-time World silver medalist, George has proven she can compete among the best in the world. However, George has also fallen short of some of her goals. She did not make the 2004 U.S. Olympic team, losing to Tela O’Donnell in the Olympic Trials finals. George has not yet won a World title, either, something that fuels her passion for continuing to compete.
For much of this season, it looked like this might be the year for Marcie Van Dusen of the Sunkist Kids to topple George from the top spot and to pursue World medals of her own. Van Dusen, who lost to George in a Special Wrestle-off last year for the World Team spot, made a big statement by beating George at the Sunkist Kids International Open. She then won three straight gold medals at other international meets, the New York AC Holiday International, the Henri Deglane Challenge in France and the Ivan Yarygin Memorial in Russia. Her final event of the winter season was a silver medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial, losing only to Olympic silver medalist Tonya Verbeek of Canada.
However, Van Dusen was injured in training and requires surgery, knocking her out the U.S. Nationals and possibly ending her season. While she goes into rehab in the coming months, it will be up to others in the division to push George and attempt to become the new star at this weight class.
Emerging as a top talent in this division is Sharon Jacobson of the Gator WC, who is a member of the USOEC Women’s team at Northern Michigan Univ. She was a disappointing fifth in the World Team Trials process last year, after winning a bronze medal at the U.S. Nationals a year ago. But Jacobson has rebounded with a strong season so far this year, winning medals at the New York AC Holiday International and the Dave Schultz Memorial.
Taking the No. 3 spot on the U.S. Women’s National team was high school star Chelynne Pringle of the Minnesota Storm, who has been very active on the national and international circuit this year. Pringle has competed in five international tournaments this season, with a best finish being a bronze medal at the Vebhi Emre Grand Prix in Turkey.
One of the top wrestlers who has been out of action this year is Danyelle Hedin of the USOEC, who is expected to return to action in the spring. Hedin was seventh at the U.S. Nationals last year, and qualified for the Junior World Team for the second straight time. Her silver medal at the Junior World Championships marked her as a hot prospect, and she should be very difficult if she is at full strength in the tournaments ahead.
Among those who are always competitive in this division is veteran Tina Pihl, who trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. She wrestled well last year at the World Team Trials, getting a No. 4 national ranking on Women’s TeamUSA. In 2004, Pihl tried out for both the U.S. and Canadian Olympic teams, because of dual citizenship. This year, her best finish was a gold medal at the Vehbi Emri Grand Prix in Turkey.
The USOEC has other wrestlers who are having solid seasons. Amy Borgnini has a victory over Pihl at the Dave Schultz Memorial. Nicole Darrow is a freshman at Northern Michigan, and is showing potential at some international tournaments.
A high school star to watch is Tatiana Padilla of the California Grapplers, who won the FILA Cadet Nationals last year, then also claimed a gold medal at the Junior Nationals in Fargo, beating Darrow in the finals of both tournaments. Still another tough high school star is Sara Peasley of Team Intensity, who has placed high at many age-group national events and is testing herself regularly on the Senior level.
A surprise fourth-place finish was turned in at the U.S. Nationals last year by Texas high school star LeAnn Barney of Rock Wrestling. Barney competed in the World Team Trials and did not earn a placement, but has already shown the toughness needed to win matches at this level. Another placewinner from last year’s U.S. Nationals, Clarissa Calibuso of Missouri Valley, should not be overlooked.
The college programs will provide some new faces, all who are young and developing. The Women’s College National champion at this division is Sharlie Solis of Missouri Balley, followed by Courtney Martell of Missouri Valley and Tara Williams of the Univ. of the Cumberlands. It will be difficult for one of these athletes tomake it to the medal rounds, but they are certainly wrestlers to watch on the national level in years to come.
The question at 55 kg/121 lbs. in women’s wrestling remains the same as it has for many years. Can anybody beat Tina George? It seems the best shot belongs to Sharon Jacobson, but a number of other young wrestlers would love to have the chance to give George a tough tussle. With Van Dusen on the sidelines, this could be a year to see somebody break from the pack and become a serious contender for years to come.
2005 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS AT 55 KG/121 LBS.
1st – Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) dec. Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 4-0, 2-1
3rd – Sharon Jacobson, El Cajon, Calif. (USOEC) dec. LeAnn Barney, Austin, Texas (Rock Wrestling), 7-0, 6-6
5th – Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Amy Borgnini, Terre Haute, Ind. (USOEC), 3-1, 2-2
7th - Danyelle Hedin, Honolulu, Hawaii (USOEC) pin Clarissa Calibuso, Waipahu, Hawaii (Missouri Valley), 0-3, 1:06
THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR MARCH 2006
1. Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
3. Sharon Jacobsen, El Cajon, Calif. (USOEC/Gator WC)
4. Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
5. Danyelle Hedin, Kailua, Hawaii (USOEC)
6. Tatiana Padilla, Laverne, Calif. (California Grapplers)
7. Nicole Darrow, Lanesboro, Mass. (USOEC)
8. Amy Borgnini, Terre Haute, Ind. (USOEC)
9. Sara Peasley, Escanaba, Mich. (Team Intensity)
10. Tina Pihl, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
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U.S. Nationals preview at 59 kg/130 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
04/04/2006
The dominant athlete in the 59 kg/130 lbs. division in women’s wrestling in recent seasons has been two-time World bronze medalist Sally Roberts of the Gator WC. She took this weight class over in 2003, the year she won her first World medal. In 2004, this weight class was not contested at the Olympics, so Roberts went up to 63 kg/138.75 lbs. for the U.S. Olympic Trials. However, a national team ranking tournament was held after the Olympics, and Roberts won, retaining her top spot. In 2005, Roberts won the U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials and captured her second World medal. This is Roberts’ weight class to win, and everybody else in the field will be pointing at her as the person to beat.
This winter, Roberts has been a bit inconsistent in her international events, where she has won a few medals, but also lost some matches. One of her losses was to another American, Marcie Van Dusen of the Sunkist Kids, who moved up into her weight for the Yarygin Tournament. However, Roberts has shown her ability to beat American opponents when it most counts, and the U.S. Nationals is another chance to display her control of this division.
The U.S. Nationals runner-up last year was 2004 Olympian Tela O’Donnell of the Sunkist Kids, who moved up into this division and reached the finals against Roberts. O’Donnell is currently not even being ranked by TheMat.com because she has not been competing for many months and is not expected to be in the field in Las Vegas.
Actually, if you look at the wrestlers who placed second through fifth in Las Vegas last year, none of them have been on the mats this season.U.S. Nationals bronze medalist Brandy Rosenbrock of the USOEC has been injured, and will be expected to be a threat if she can recover in time for the U.S. Nationals. Suekoilya Shelly of the New York AC, who was fourth in Las Vegas and third in the World Team Trials last year, did not wrestle at the Univ. of the Cumberlands this year and is not expected at the U.S. Nationals. Brooke Bogren of Missouri Valley College, fifth at last year’s U.S. Nationals, has been injured, and may be back in time to compete in Las Vegas.
The athlete who has stepped up to be a challenger here, based upon performance this winter, is young Deanna Rix of the New York AC, a three-time Junior Nationals champion in her first year out of high school. Rix had a No. 6 ranking on Women’s Team USA last season, and has been active in international events. She won silver medals at the New York AC Holiday Championships and the Dave Schultz Memorial, and also competed at the Sunkist Kids International and in an overseas tournament in Belarus. Rix is continuing to improve as she gains experience, and could be considered a favorite to make the finals in Las Vegas.
Veteran Erin Tomeo of the Sunkist Kids has inserted herself as another top contender for the U.S. Nationals title this year. She has wrestled in recent years up at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., but dropped down to 59 kg/130 lbs. for the Medved International and won a silver medal, beating Rix in the semifinals. Tomeo was a member of the 2001 U.S. World Team, and has been second at the U.S. Nationals two times, which gives her tremendous experience and confidence at this weight class.
A veteran at this division who has shown improvement is Leigh Jaynes of the U.S. Army, who was seventh at the U.S. Nationals last year and placed fourth in the World Team Trials. Jaynes is training fulltime in Colorado Springs, Colo. now, and has wrestled in two international tournaments.
A talented college star is Othella Lucas of the New York AC, who wrestles for the Univ. of the Cumberlands and is one of the top wrestlers on the North American college circuit. Lucas had a very successful season on the college level this winter, and won the gold medal at the Sunkist Kids International in the fall. She has the skills and potential to reach the championship round of the U.S. Nationals if she can get on a roll in Las Vegas.
An athlete to watch if she is at this division is 2004 U.S. Nationals champion Na’Tasha Umemoto of the Sunkist Kids. She has been back and forth between this weight class and 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in recent seasons. Umemoto was second behind Lucas at the Sunkist Kids International, and lost to both Lucas and Rix at the New York AC Holiday Championships. If this is the weight that she enters in Las Vegas, Umemoto also has the potential to be in the gold-medal match with a strong performance.
Rachel Billerbeck of Missouri Valley College earned a No. 4 national team ranking at 63 kg/136.75 lbs., but has moved down into this division during the college season, where she is rated right behind Lucas in the national college rankings. This will be a chance for Billerbeck to see where she stacks up at the U.S. Nationals at her new weight class.
The rest of the field in this division is still working to move up on the national scene. Bethany Harris of No Mercy, Michelle Ludwig of Pacific Univ., Laurin Daniels of Menlo College and Erica Chew of Missouri Valley College are ranked nationally this year, but each have to show that they belong there with a strong effort at the U.S. Nationals. Jen Chu of the WOW club of Pennsylvania was eighth at the U.S. Nationals last season, and is also still trying to make a name for herself in the big picture. Another collegian, freshman Jessica Jauck of the Univ. of the Cumberlands, has the potential to have an impact at this weight class in Las Vegas this year.
The fact remains that Sally Roberts is the proven star at this division, and everybody else is trying to catch up to her. Top contenders for the U.S. Nationals finals include young Deanna Rix and experienced Erin Tomeo. Others that could be a factor are Leigh Jaynes, Othella Lucas, Brandy Rosenbrock and Na’Tasha Umemoto. Don’t be surprised if a few new names make their mark this year and earn All-American status for the first time in Las Vegas.
2005 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS AT 59 KG/130 LBS.
1st – Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Tela O'Donnell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 4-0, 0-1, 2-1
3rd – Brandy Rosenbrock, Harrison, Mich. (USOEC) dec. Suekoiyla Shelly, Hurst, Texas (New York AC), 1-0, 0-3, 3-1
5th – Brooke Bogren, Burlingame, Kan. (Missouri Valley) pin Deanna Rix, South Berwick, Maine (SMT), 1:06
7th – Leigh Jaynes, Burlington, N.J. (New York AC) dec. Jen Chu, Philadelphia, Pa. (W.O.W.), 4-0, 5-1
THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR MARCH 2006
1. Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
2. Deanna Rix, South Berwick, Maine (New York AC)
3. Leigh Jaynes, Burlington, N.J. (U.S. Army)
4. Othella Lucas, San Diego, Calif. (New York AC)
5. Na’Tasha Umemoto, Portland, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Brooke Bogren, Carbondale, Kan. (Missouri Valley)
7. Bethany Harris, Valley Center, Calif. (No Mercy)
8. Michelle Ludwig, San Diego, Calif. (Pacific Univ.)
9. Laurin Daniels, Vashon Island, Wash. (Menlo College)
10. Erica Chew, Houston, Texas (Missouri Valley College)
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Univ. of the Cumberlands holds No. 1 spot in TheMat.com U.S. Women’s College Poll for March
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
03/30/2006
The March 30, 2006 TheMat.com U.S. Women’s College Wrestling Rankings for teams and individuals have been released.
The Univ. of the Cumberlands, a NAIA school in Kentucky, captured the No. 1 position in the poll, with all three first-place votes. The Univ. of Cumberlands is coached by Kip Flanik. The Cumberlands won the team title at the U.S. Women’s College Nationals, in both the dual meet and individual tournaments, and also competed well at the recent Missouri Valley Showcase.
Missouri Valley College, a NAIA team coached by Carl Murphree, held down the No. 2 spot with all three second-place votes. Missouri Valley was second behind the Univ. of the Cumberlands at the U.S. Women’s College Nationals.
Coming in at No. 3 is Pacific Univ., a Div. III team in Oregon, coached by Scott Miller. The No. 4 team is Lassen College, a junior college program in California, and the No. 5 team is Menlo College, a NAIA program from California.
Rounding out the top 10 were No. 6 Cal-State Bakersfield, No. 7 WOW club of Pennsylvania, No. 8 Univ. of Florida, No. 9, the Univ of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine WC and No. 10 Oregon State.
The poll can be found at:
http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=902
The team ranking poll is elected by a panel of three U.S. women’s college coaches. Eligible for ranking are college varsity and club women’s wrestling programs.
The Univ. of the Cumberlands had five No. 1 ranked wrestlers in the individual rankings. The athletes from Cumberland who are ranked No. 1 are:sophomore Jessica Medina at 112.25 pounds, junior Othella Lucas at 130 pounds, senior Alaina Berube at 138.75 pounds, sophomore Heather Martin at 147.5 pounds and senior Toccara Montgomery at 176 pounds. All were ranked No. 1 in their divisions in the last ranking, except Medina, who has moved up in weight and won the U.S. Women’s College Nationals at that division.
Missouri Valley College featured two No. 1 ranked wrestlers: freshman Sharlee Solis at 121 pounds and sophomore Stephany Lee at 158.5 pounds. Lee has been ranked No. 1 all year, while Solis grabs the top ranking for the first time.
At 105.5 pounds, junior Sara Fulp-Allen of Menlo College retained the top ranking..
The March 30, 2006 TheMat.com U.S. Women’s College Individual rankings can be found at:
http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=903
The individual rankings are selected by TheMat.com. Athletes who are considered for ranking are eligible full-time college students, and are members of their college women’s varsity or club program, or a member of their college men’s wrestling team.
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LiveSportsVideo.com to provide live webcast of the 2006 U.S. National Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas on April 15
Mike Raite LiveSportsVideo.com
04/03/2006
LiveSportsVideo.com will live web cast USA Wrestling’s U.S. National Wrestling Championships’ Finals, from Las Vegas to your computer.
Live Sports Video will cap off the week of wrestling with a live web cast of the final rounds on Saturday, April 15th starting 6:00-8:30pm (PST).
The event is the highlight of a week of wrestling action, which will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center April 12-15th, 2006.
Saturday’s finals will be wrestled on two mats with LiveSportsVideo.com providing two live streams for your viewing choice of:
Senior Greco-Roman Championship Finals: 6:00-8:30pm (PST) or 9:00pm-11:30 (EST)
Senior Freestyle Championship Finals: 6:00-8:30 (PST) or 9:00pm-11:30 (EST)
Senior Women’s Freestyle Championship Finals: 6:00-8:30 (PST) or 9:00pm-11:30 (EST)
Enjoy the live video, with commentating, of the U.S Nationals from the comfort of your home, work, or computer anywhere in the world for the nominal subscription of $4.95. Pre-subscribe for your guaranteed seat in this wrestling cyber arena.
Web cast Pre-registration will begin one week prior to live web cast on Friday April 7th, 2006 and conclude at the wrestling start time on April 15th, 2006 6:00pm (PST).
For more information visit:
www.livesportsvideo.com
www.themat.com
About Live Sports Video.com
Live Sports Video is the official web casting partner of USA Wrestling, USA Judo, National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA), in addition, LSV has proliferate web casting rights for 15 collegiate programs and numerous top events for Wrestling and Judo, such as: NCAA Division II and III Wrestling Championships, Beast of the East Tournament, National Duals, U.S. Open Judo Championships, All Star Classic, Midlands, World Team Trials, Senior National Championships, Prep National Wrestling Championships, Beach Wrestling, Junior and Cadet Nationals, U.S.A Judo National Junior Olympic Championships, RENO Tournament of Champions, All-Academy Tournament, Final Four, USACFC Fencing and much more. LiveSportsVideo.com prides in being a clearing house of amateur sports web casting via the Internet, delivering end users over 350 archived Wrestling and Judo videos. Be part of the excitement by visiting www.livesportsvideo.com or our affiliated websites.