South 58, West 12
Published: November 16,
2007
Last Modified: November 16, 2007 at 03:23 AM
WRESTLING RANKINGS
As of Wednesday
Compiled by AKmat.org
Class 4A
Team -- 1) Colony; 2) Lathrop; 3) Chugiak; 4) East; 5) North Pole.
103 -- 1) Charles Coisman, Colony; 2) Mathew Malnoski, East; 3) Skyler Moore, East; 4) Eric Tupper, Lathrop; 5) Isaac Wilson, Colony.
112 -- 1) Anthony Ricketts, Service; 2) Kuani Tilman, West Valley; 3) Jeremy Simmons, Lathrop; 4) Michael Abt, Sitka; 5) Steven Temple, Lathrop.
119 -- 1) Nathan Hoffe, East; 2) Kyle Wilson, Colony; 3) Michaela Hutchison, Skyview; 4) Mike Chafin, Wasilla; 5) Kyle Foote, Ketchikan.
www.chinaview.cn  2007-11-17 14:57:34
|
 |
|
BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese brought home two golds in women's Sanshou at the 9th World Wushu Championships here on Saturday. Nguyen Thi Bich beat Jennifer P. Lagilag of the Philippines 2-0 to win the women's 48kg category. "It is not hard for me," she said. "I controlled the rhythm, and I caught my chance." "I'm much taller and stronger than my opponent. And I fully used my advantages." "I'm much shorter than her," said the silver medallist. "It's difficult for me to use my wrestling techniques." "Besides, she is much more powerful. My height is the main reason." The bronze went to Naw Mar Htun of Myanmar. In women's 60kg category, Luong Thi Hoa of Vietnam beat Zahra Karimi Vardanjani from Iran 2-0 to win the second gold in Sanshou for her country. Russian Kristina Naumova took the bronze. |
by B.B. Branton
posted November 16, 2007
Soddy Daisy opened with four straight pins and cruised to a 69-23 win against arch-rival Red Bank Thursday night at the Soddy Daisy Wrestling Arena, in the annual girls wrestling match known as the "Rumble on Highway 27."
The Trojans, who lead 8-1 in the series, won 12 of the 18 matches, including 11 via fall, for their sixth straight win against the Lions.
"I am very proud of the way the girls wrestled tonight and they fought their tales off," said a happy Trojan coach Steve Henry after the match. "The match shows me what we need to work for as we look to qualify for the state invitational in February."
The TSSAA will host a girls invitational duals tournament, February 2 in Clarksville, Tenn., in conjunction with the boys TSSAA Division I state duals finals.
Trojans Melissa Downs, Brooke Hensley, Taylor Lewis and Hailey Moreno recorded the falls for the quick 24-0 lead before the near capacity crowd.
Lions’ Kacey White and Caressa Moyer stopped the Trojan run, with a pin and regular decision, respectively, to trail 24-9 after half dozen matches. White, 2-0 on the night, returned to the mat a dozen matches later for a technical fall triumph.
"The Red Bank girls wrestled tough in every match and this gives us something to build on," said Lions coach Kevin Emily. "Tonight’s match is great exposure for girls wrestling and we will continue to work towards the state invitational."
Trojan senior leaders Lyndsey Cross and Lewis stayed unbeaten with career marks of 5-0 and 4-0 records, respectively.
"Coach told us to go in strong and come out a winner and that’s what we did," said Cross who recorded the night’s quickest fall in 20 seconds against Lion foe Katie Wolfe.
"The team has high expectations and Lyndsey and I needed to make a strong showing," said Lewis. "I think we did just that."
Yet, freshman teammate Melissa Downs looked like the veteran in the night’s opening match by stopping Red Bank’s Erica Banus in 1:27 for a 6-0 team lead and the Trojans never looked back.
Two Wins: Red Bank’s Kacey White and Caressa Moyer each had a pair of wins on the night.
Hard Day’s Night: Red Bank’s Erica Banus is to be commended as she wrestled in the first and the 11th matches, plus an exhibition in a little more than an hour … She was 1-1-1 on the night.
Officials: Don Elsea, Eddie Davis
Match-by-Match
Melissa Downs (SD) pinned Erica Banus, 1:27 … Downs scored the initial takedown for a 2-0 lead, but Banus led 3-2 after one period … Downs had an escape and a, takedown before recording the fall … 6-0.
Brooke Hensley (SD) pinned Sara Williams, 1:32 … Hensley used a takedown and 2-point near fall and led 4-0 after one minute … She scored a reverse in the second before stopping Williams …12-0.
Taylor Lewis (SD) pinned Storey Reddick, :59 … Lewis had a takedown and recorded the pin one second before the end of the opening period ...18-0.
Hailey Moreno (SD) pinned Brooke Reed, 1:59 … Moreno used a takedown and 3-point near fall for a 5-0 first period advantage … She also recorded a second period escape followed by a takedown and the pin … 24-0.
Kacey White (RB) pinned Sara Jones, 1:59 … In a high scoring first minute, both wrestlers had a near fall and White led 6-4 … Jones scored a reverse and 3-point near fall for a 9-6 lead after two … White rallied to take the lead for good at 10-9 with a takedown and 2-point near fall … added a 3-point near fall before the pin … 24-6.
Caressa Moyer (RB) dec. Tara Ridge, 5-4 in the first match to go the distance … Ridge led 2-1 after one and 4-2 after two … Moyer rallied with a 3-point near fall for the win … 24-9.
Madison Murray (SD) pinned Katie Wolfe, 3:24 OT … In the most exciting match of the night, Murray rallied from down 6-2 in the second to tie it at 8-8 to force overtime … Murray scored a takedown and a fall in the extra minute for the win … 30-9.
Brittany Davenport (SD) dec. Lauren Reed, 7-5 … Davenport led 4-1 after one … Reed tied it (4-4) with a 3-point near fall in the second … Davenport used a late third period takedown to win … 33-9.
Shelby Garren (SD) pinned Danah Tatum, :59 … Garren used a takedown and a fall for the win … 39-9.
Katie Hall (SD) pinned Jami Scoggins, 2:51 … Scoggins led 2-1 on a third period takedown, but Hall used an escape and a takedown before the late pin … 45-9.
Erica Banus (RB) pinned Simone Stewart, 3:08 OT … In her second match of the night, Banus trailed 3-0 in the third period before rallying with a takedown and 2-point near fall to force the second overtime match of the night … The Lion scored a takedown and a fall eight seconds into overtime … 45-12.
Blakely Morgan (SD) pinned Sara Williams, 1:30 … Morgan led 5-1 after one and scored a takedown and fall to win … 51-12.
Lyndsey Cross (SD) pinned Katie Wolfe, :20 … Cross posted the quickest fall of the night after the opening takedown … 57-12.
Laura Lee Clark (SD) pinned Danah Tatum, 1:29 … After a scoreless first period, Clark used a reverse before recording the fall … 63-12.
Caressa Moyer (RB) dec. Savannah Hartman, 9-8 … Moyer won her second, 1-point match of the night … Hartman led 5-2 after one ... Moyer used a takedown and near fall for a 7-6 lead after two… Hartman then used a penalty point and escape to go up 8-7 before Moyer scored the winning takedown with 10 seconds remaining …63-15.
Lauren Reed (RB) dec. Taylor Oakes, 13-7 … the high scoring match had four reverses, a pair of takedowns and a pair of 3-point near falls … The match was tied 6-6 in the second, before Reed scored a reverse and 3-point near fall for an 11-6 lead which she never relinquished ... 63-18.
Kacey White (RB) tech. fall Jordan Marlow (15-0) … After recording a fall in match No. 5, White returned to the mat in match No. 17 for the night’s only technical fall … White used a trio of 3-point near falls, a pair of takedowns and a 2-point near fall to stop the match mid-way in the third … 63-23.
Taylor Wilson (SD) pinned Jami Scoggins, :41 … Wilson used a takedown followed by a fall to end the match … 69-23.
Wins: SD, 12-6
Pins: SD, 11-2
Technical Falls: RB, 1-0
Major Decisions: None
Regular Decisions: Red Bank, 3-1
Takedowns: SD, 21-13; Erica Banus (3), RB
Reverses: RB, 6-5; Lauren Reed (4), RB
Escapes: SD, 11-4; Savannah Hartman (3), SD
2-Point Near Falls: SD, 5-3; Kacey White (2), RB
3-Point Near Falls: RB, 10-3; Kacey White (3), RB,
Exhibition:
Erica Banus (RD) vs. Katherine Albrecht (SD) … 0-0 tie …
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net
| Martial-artists’ injuries worry SEA Games coaches |
| 16:27' 16/11/2007 (GMT+7) |
|
VietNamNet Bridge – The 24th SEA Games is set to begin in the next two weeks but many Vietnamese martial-artists are suffering from injuries. The latest is female wrestler Le Thi Trang.
After football, martial art has the highest risk of injuries. While the coach of the men’s national football squad Alfred Riedl and his assistants have told their footballers to avoid getting hurt before the SEA Games, the coaching board of the martial arts team is worried about the current injuries of their players.
On November 12, female wrestler Le Thi Trang suffered a broken knee ligament, forcing her to say goodbye to the SEA Games. This is a huge loss to the national wrestling team.
Trang was also unable to take part in last year’s SEA Games due to injury. Trang won a gold medal at the 22nd SEA Games, a silver medal at the Asian Wrestling Championship 2004 and a bronze medal at the Asian Wrestling Championship 2006.
On November 6, judo artist Nguyen Thi Sau broke her collar-bone during a training trip to China. Though the girl was operated on immediately, she cannot attend the SEA Games, doctors said. Sau is a young artist who is a recent addition to the national team and competes in the under 78kg category. She is a potential powerhouse.
In 2003, a male martial-artist, Tran Thanh Ngoi, had an accident while training and died. Female judo artist Phan Thi Cam Nguyen, who is the leader of the women’s under 52kg category, could not participate in a training trip to China after suffering a should injury.
“Any coach must pay attention to the safety of their players during training to avoid injuries. The death of Tran Thanh Ngoi before the 22nd SEA Games was a harsh lesson,” said Phan Vuong Huy Dong, a top athletic health expert in Vietnam. |
GAMES OF THE XXIX OLYMPIAD, BEIJING 2008
WRESTLING
Original version: French 17/FILA/DECEMBER06/page
1/4
International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
(FILA)EVENTS WOMEN’S WRESTLING
Women (4 events)
1. Up
to 48kg
2. From 48 to 55kg
3. From 55 to 63kg
4. From 63 to 72kg
ATHLETE/NOC QUOTA In principle: 64 women
· 7 places (for which male/female allocation is not fixed) for Oceania
· 7 final qualification places (for which male/female allocation is not
fixed)
Maximum per NOC: An NOC can enter no more than 1 qualified athlete per event.
QUALIFICATION SYSTEM
Attribution of places:
For each wrestling discipline – freestyle,
Greco-Roman and women’s wrestling - the places obtained for the Olympic Games
will be awarded to the athletes. At the end of each phase, FILA will confirm
thenames of the qualified athletes to the NOCs concerned. The NOCs are, however,
authorised to replace a qualified wrestler who is injured or performing poorly
at the moment of the final entry, but only in the event concerned.
GAMES OF THE XXIX OLYMPIAD, BEIJING 2008
WRESTLING
Original version: French 17/FILA/DECEMBER06/page 2/4
SYSTEM IN DETAIL
For all the wrestling competitions which
are part of the qualification system for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, all
the NOCs concerned (for the first, second, third and fourth qualification
phases) may enter no more than one male or female wrestler per style and per
event. The same applies to the Olympic Games.
1st phase: World Championships (17-23 September 2007)
In
this phase, wrestlers will be qualified as follows:
The first eight (8) male and first eight (8) female wrestlers in each Olympic event in the 2007 World Championships rankings will qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games.
· 7 events x 8 wrestlers = 56 freestyle wrestlers
· 7 events x 8 wrestlers
= 56 Greco-Roman wrestlers
· 4 events x 8 wrestlers = 32 female wrestlers
2nd phase: 2008 Continental Championships (according to programme)
In this phase, the wrestlers will be qualified as follows:
The
first-ranked wrestler at the European, Asian, African and Pan-American
Continental
Championships in each weight category will qualify for the
Beijing Games.
In the event that a wrestler(s) who already qualified at the World Championships is at the top of this ranking, the next highest ranked wrestler in each weight category will qualify.
N.B. Countries are obliged to participate in the 2007 World Championships in order to participate in the 2008 Continental Championships. They will be able to participate in the Continental Championships only in the weight categories in which they participated in the World Championships.
This provision guarantees the integrity of the Continental Championships’ results. To take into account the small number of NFs from Oceania, the continent will not be attributed a place by weight category, but a quota of 7 places (sex not specified) will be allocated to the various events and categories by a special FILA commission and the Oceania continental committee, at the end of the Oceania Continental Championships.
3rd phase: 1st 2008 qualification tournament (according to programme)
The wrestlers who qualify at the World and Continental Championships will not have the right to take part in this third qualification phase, and countries will not have the right to enter other participants in the events in which they already have a qualified wrestler.
All the other countries of all the continents can compete in this third phase.
In this phase, wrestlers will be qualified as follows:
· 7 events x 4
wrestlers = 28 wrestlers in Freestyle
· 7 events x 4 wrestlers = 28 wrestlers
in Greco-Roman
· 4 events x 2 female wrestlers = 8 wrestlers in women’s
wrestling
4th phase: 2nd 2008 qualification tournament (according to programme)
The wrestlers who qualify in the first, second and third phases will not have the right to take part in this fourth qualification phase, and countries will not have the right to enter other participants in the categories in which they already have a qualified wrestler.
All other countries from all the continents may take part in this fourth phase.
In this phase, wrestlers will be qualified as follows:
GAMES OF THE XXIX OLYMPIAD, BEIJING 2008
WRESTLING
Original version: French 17/FILA/DECEMBER06/page 3/4
The
top three (3) male wrestlers and top two (2) female wrestlers in each event in
this tournament will qualify for the Olympic Games in 2008, i.e.:
· 7 events
x 3 wrestlers = 21 wrestlers for Freestyle
· 7 events x 3 wrestlers = 21
wrestlers for Greco-Roman
· 4 events x 2 female wrestlers = 8 wrestlers in
women’s wrestling
5. Places allocated to the host country
Wrestlers from
the host country (China) must participate in all qualification phases to obtain
their places at the Olympic Games in the same way as all other countries.
In
the event that wrestlers from the host country fulfil these conditions but do
not qualify, priority will be given on the quota of seven (7) places remaining,
as set out in article 6 below, in order to guarantee optimal participation.
6. Final qualification places
The seven (7) places
remaining to reach the quota of 344 will be at FILA’s disposal to guarantee
universal and continental representation.
These places will be allocated by FILA, in collaboration with ANOC and the IOC, to the NOCs which have participated in all the qualification phases but which have not succeeded in qualifying a wrestler.
QUALIFICATION TIMELINE
1. 15 November 2007 Deadline for
the submission of invitation requests by all NOCs
2. 31 January 2008 Deadline
for the setting up by the Tripartite Commission of a list of priority invitation
requests
WOMEN’S WRESTLING
1. 18 – 23 September 2007 Senior World
Championships, (F, GR, W) Baku (AZE)
2. 28 February – 2 March 2008 Senior
Pan-American Championships (F, GR, W)
3. 6 – 9 March 2008 Senior African
Championships (F, GR, W)
4. 18 – 23 March 2008 Senior Asian Championships (F,
GR, W)
5. 1 – 6 April 2008 Senior European Championships (F, GR, W), Tampere
(FIN)
6. 17 – 18 May 2008 1st qualification tournament for women’s wrestling,
Edmonton (CAN)
7. 31 May – 1 June 2008 2nd qualification tournament for
women’s wrestling, Happaranda (SWE)
The exact venues for the qualification tournaments will be decided in October 2007, after the 2007 Senior World Championships.
· 15 June 2008 FILA, in collaboration with ANOC and the IOC, to confirm allocation of the final qualification places
· 30 June 2008 Deadline for confirmation by NOCs that they will use the places obtained
· 10 July 2008 FILA to confirm final allocation of places
· 23 July 2008 Deadline for the Beijing 2008 Organising Committee to receive entry forms submitted by the NOCs
DATES / PROCESS OF CONFIRMATION OF PLACES
At the end of
each qualification phase, FILA will confirm to the NOCs concerned the athletes
who have qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
By 15 June 2008, FILA will confirm the final allocation of places to the
NOCs.
The NOCs must confirm to FILA by 30 June 2008 at the latest that their
athletes will be participating in the Olympic Games, failing which FILA will
reallocate the free places in accordance with the procedure described below.
REALLOCATION OF UNUSED QUOTA PLACES
Any places not
confirmed by the NOCs by 30 June 2008 will be reallocated to the next-best
placed wrestlers in the category concerned in the respective qualification
phases.
Source: http://www.wrestling.ca/pdf/2008Olympics-QualSystem.pdf
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
11/16/2007
Top athletes from around the world are expect to compete at the New York Athletic Club Holiday International Championships in New York City, N.Y., November 17-18.
The New York AC Holiday International is a major early season international wrestling event, held at the historic New York Athletic Club facility in mid-town Manhattan. Competition will be held in all three Olympic styles of the sport, men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle.
Nations that have indicated that they may compete against the strong American field at the New York AC Holiday International Championships include Russia, Romania, Canada, Kyrgysztan, Japan, Ukraine, Albania, Australia, Israel, France and Pelau.
This event is an important competition as athletes prepare for the Olympic year. Many of those who compete in New York are expected to participate in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling in Las Vegas, Nev., June 13-15.
Preliminary entry information indicates that numerous World and Olympic medalists are expected to participate.
Among the U.S. stars expected to compete are:
• 2002 World champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. (Greco-Roman)
• 2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. (Greco-Roman)
• 2006 World bronze medalist Donny Pritzlaff (Madison, Wis./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. (freestyle)
• 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. (women’s freestyle)
• Two-time World bronze medalist Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. (women’s freestyle)
Among the international stars expected to compete are:
• 2005 World champion Alan Dudaev of Russia at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. (freestyle)
• Two-time World medalist Ramil Islamov of Russia at 60 kg/132 lbs. (freestyle)
• Three-time World bronze medalist Eusebiu Diaconu of Romania at 60 kg/132 lbs. (Greco-Roman)
• Three-time World medalist Carol Huhyn of Canada at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. (women’s freestyle)
• 2007 World bronze medalist Mayalis Caripa of Venezuela at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. (women’s freestyle)
Many other stars who have not registered are expected to compete.
For more information, visit:
http://www.nyacwrestlingopen.com/
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
11/17/2007
During the Olympic year, athletes often make sacrifices in order to attempt to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. For many, it includes changing weight classes.
This is most prominent in the women’s freestyle division, because there are only four weight classes in the Olympics, rather than the normal seven in the World Championships. However, even in the men’s styles, athletes are willing to make a move up or down in weight to achieve a lifelong dream.
The weight drop is a little easier this week, because the NYAC Holiday International has a 2 kg allowance (about 4.4 lbs.). However, some of these athletes have made the drop with the commitment to get the extra weight off and compete at the Olympic Trials at this division. Others are looking to move up in weight and add size and strength.
In women’s freestyle, Leigh Jaynes of the U.S. Army made her first World Team in 2007, competing at 59 kg/130 lbs. However, this is not an Olympic weight class. So, this year at the New York AC Holiday International, Jaynes has dropped down to 55 kg/121 lbs., one of the Olympic weights.
Jaynes was down at 55 kg during the 2005 season. She upset two-time World silver medalist Tina George in the first round at the U.S. Nationals that year, but lost to George in the bronze-medal bout to take fourth. At the World Team Trials, she had a disappointing performance and did not make the national team.
“It didn’t go well at all,” said Jaynes of her previous drop to 55 kg. “I didn’t drop properly and recover properly. I had no juice.’
This time, she expects things to be different.
“This is my plan. I knew I could make 121 pounds. What was most important was to wrestle up in 2007 and learn as much as I can. I wanted to dominate the 130 pound weight class and get in World-level competition. I was glad to get the World Championships experience,” she said.
In fact, when Jaynes wanted to get accepted into the Army World Class Athlete Program, they required that she write down her plan. She has followed that plan completely.
Jaynes said that she wakes up every morning at scratch weight, 130 pounds, which made the drop to 55 kg, plus 2 kg allowance, possible at this time. However, when the Women’s World Cup is held in China, she will remain at 59 kg at least one more time as part of the U.S. team. Jaynes has had less trouble getting down in weight this time around.
“I felt fantastic,” said Jaynes of her weight loss this tournament. “People told me they didn’t even notice. I have stayed leaner. The last time I was down at 121 pounds, I was weighing 142. Now that I am going down to 121 pounds, I start at 132 pounds. I am 10 pounds lighter now which makes it easier. It has been a really disciplined diet. I am disciplined about what I put in my body. If I crave something, I only have a little bit and then I’m done.”
Jaynes will not be the only women’s wrestler who changes weight for the Olympic quest, but some are going to wait a little longer to make the change.
Katie Downing of the Sunkist Kids has won two World bronze medals at 67 kg/147.5 lbs., a non-Olympic division. During the 2004 season, Downing went up to 72 kg/158 lbs., and was unable to qualify for the Olympic team.
This time around, Downing considered a drop to 63 kg/138.75 lbs. for the 2008 Olympic quest. However, just recently, she decided it was in her best interest to go up in weight again for the Olympic year.
“For awhile, I though I would go down, but that is not going to happen,” said Downing. “After this tournament, I will go up. I have a lot of frustration. I am not a 63 kg wrestler, not since 14 years old. Since I have been a woman, I have been this weight. I am not a 72 kg wrestler either.”
“When I am training, I am a light heavyweight. I will get this tournament in at my weight class, and also wrestle at 67 kg at an international tournament. I will get to be a better wrestler as a lighter heavyweight than being a weight cutter. This decision has come around the last couple of weeks.”
Like many others, Downing was aware that FILA, the international federation, has made it a public priority to get all seven women’s weight classes at the Olympics. However, this change, if it comes at all, would not be possible until the 2012 Olympics in London, at the earliest.
“It is frustrating. There was so much talk about it; they said it was a good chance it might change to seven weights. Perhaps it is a good decision to elevate the sport first. But it is a raw deal for me,” said Downing.
In the men’s Greco-Roman division, longtime Greco-Roman contender Glenn Garrison of the U.S. Army has also changed weight. Garrison is a past U.S. Nationals champion, and has been ranked as high at No. 2 on the National Team at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. For this season, and for this event, Garrison is now down at 60 kg/132 lbs., based upon a decision he made more than two months ago.
“Unfortunately, I’m kind of an up and down wrestler. Sometimes I show up, and sometimes I make a mistake and can’t overcome it,” said Garrison. “At 66 kg, everyone is so close in skill. I was pretty light at that weight class. Because of that, one mistake will cost me there. For me to get my best chance to make the Olympics, I have to get down.”
Garrison has the support of his coaches, since he is doing the weight loss over time and with a specific diet and training plan.
“They are alright with it, because I am doing it right. Now I have to get used to this weight class. I lose a lot of muscle, not that I have a lot. In the room at the USOTC, I don’t feel much bigger than the 60 kg wrestlers, just a pinch bigger. But the 66 kg guys feel much bigger right now. I have always been skinny. I had to work hard to get the weight down.”
Garrison is 33 years old, and the last time he weighed 132 pounds was his junior year in high school in 1991.
“This is probably my last year,” said Garrison. “I figured, ‘what am I doing waiting around to wrestle my best.’ Now is the time, to give my best for one year.”
On Sunday, veteran freestyle wrestler Danny Felix of the Sunkist Kids will be competing at a new weight class for this season. For many years, Felix competed up at 60 kg/130 lbs. He has already made the drop to 55 kg/121 lbs., and won the Sunkist Kids International at his new division.
When he arrived on Friday, Felix looked relaxed and healthy, even though he is much lighter than he has been in years. Felix said that the weight has come off well. He credits a change in diet and lifestyle, which has helped him remain competitive even with the challenge of getting lighter.
Keep an eye out for additional weight class changes for top U.S. contenders as the year progresses.