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University of Western Ontario -Mustang Women Pin down Gold

Josip MRKOCI 1/15/07

front - left to right - Laura Skopelianos (51kg- Gold), Lesley McCallum (55 kg-Gold), Stephanie Szmiett (48 kg-Gold), Jenn Nguyen (55 kg-Silver) back - Katrina Huszarik (59 kg- Silver), Jessica Belchos (72 kg-Gold), Jessica Fitzgerald (67 kg-Gold), Lauren MacDonald (82 kg-Silver), Jill McCallum (67 kg-Silver), Kirby Steinhoff (72 kg - Silver).

The University of Western Ontario mustang women’s wrestling team won the overall team title at the Brock University Open Wrestling Tournament winning 10- individual medals that included five gold and five silver individual medals to score 65 points, well ahead of second place Brock University with 36 points. Lakehead University was third with 20 points. This competition was the first wrestling tournament for University and Club athletes for the year 2007. The competition also had team entries from club teams from New York and Michigan and Team Impact from Toronto as well as participants from Guelph University, McMaster University, Queen's University and University of Toronto.

It was the best performance by the UWO mustang women for 2006/2007 season and a solid start after the Christmas Holiday break. The women have continued their strong performance from their Ontario Senior Provincial Championships team title they captured in November. The mustang women are currently ranked 5th in the Canadian University standings and 7th on the North American University poll.

The depth of the mustangs showed with some of the toughest matches being between teammates, where three individual gold match-ups where contested. Jessica Fitzgerald defeated Jill McCallum in tie-breaking clinch in the third and deciding round of the 67 kg final with a score of, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0. Similarly, Lesley McCallum beat teammate Jennifer Nguyen to take the 55 kg individual gold in two straight rounds, 4-0, 2-1. In the 72 kg weight class, first year Kinesiology student, Jessica Belchos a National Juvenile Silver medalist defeated teammate Kirby Steinhoff by pin.

Two other mustang women that won gold medals in a dominant fashion were Stephanie Szmiett at 48 kg and Laura Skopelianos at 51kg weight class. Skopelianos who is ranked 4th nationally met Liz Martindale (ranked 1st) of Brock University in semi finals. This was one of most exciting matches of the women's competition with Martindale winning the 1st period from a tie-breaking clinch. Skopelianos, a tough competitor came through by winning the second and third period and thus securing a spot for the gold medal match against Lakehead University opponent which she won in a dominant fashion.

“We look good going into the last half of the season,” remarked coach, Josip Mrkoci. “But we still need some improvement in our technique.” Other medalists were Katrina Huszarik (59 kg) and Lauren MacDonald (82 kg) who both placed 2nd in their respective divisions.

Fitzgerald, the mustang captain was selected and attended the National US-Canada camp in Colorado Springs at the USOTC (United States Olympic Training Centre) Jan 2-9, along with former mustang Terri McNutt and London-Western teammate, Katie Patroch. Terri and Katie did not compete at this tournament as they just returned from Colorado Springs camp and are preparing for Guelph Open.

The mustangs and London-Western Wrestling Club next tournament is the prestigious Guelph Open, January 20, 2007 which is regarded as one of the most difficult Canadian domestic tournaments since it is used to gain National Carding points for National team selection.

Results - Brock Open Wrestling Tournament, Jan 13, 2007

Women’s Individual Results:

1st Stephanie Szmiett -48 kg
1st Laura Skopelianos -51 kg
1st Lesley McCallum -55 kg
1st Jessica Fitzgerald -67 kg
1st Jessica Belchos -72 kg

2nd Jenn Nguyen -55 kg
2nd Katrina Huszarik -59 kg
2nd Jill McCallum -67 kg
2nd Kirby Steinhoff -72 kg
2nd Lauren MacDonald -82 kg

Team Result:

University of Western - 65 points
Brock University - 36 points
Lakehead University - 20 points