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Q&A with 2000 World Champion Kristie Marano
2/16/01
Heather Van Peursem/USA Wrestling
Q&A with Kristie Marano - 2000 World Champion
1) Did you take any time off after you won the World Championships?
“No I didn’t get the chance to take any time off. I had the special wrestle-off with Sandra [Bacher] in November for the No. 1 spot, so I had to get ready for that immediately.”
2) You have won a World silver medal four times. You finally have the gold - is that a feeling of relief?
“Winning the championship definitely feels a lot different, a lot better. I finally won it. I felt a lot more comfortable at the lower weight class (68 kg/149.75 pounds). I felt a lot better about winning this one, a lot better. It still takes time to process and let sink in. It’s a great feeling.”
3) Why did you wait to drop to the lower weight?
“I never really had the opportunity to drop down before. With Sandra going to the Olympics for Judo last fall, it seemed like the perfect time for me to go down. And then I won the wrestle-off in November for the No. 1 position at that weight class over Sandra.”
4) Do you want to try and stay down at 149.75 pounds?
“Yes. It is definitely more my true weight. I could tell how much more comfortable I felt wrestling at the World Championships, I want to keep that feeling.”
5) What did your daily routine consist of when you got back?
“Well, I went right back to New York and started my usual training schedule. I waitress during the day, train at the gym after that, then practice every night. After that is when I have my personal time. My daughter Kayla will be three years old in April, so I’m busy with her as well.”
6) Describe your weekly training schedule.
“I wrestle five nights a week from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and take the weekends off from being on the mat. I cross train on the weekends, and lift weights two to three times a week.”
7) Did you change your training at all this past year?
“I’ve done a lot more wrestling this past year, I would usually take some time off. I didn’t this year and not taking time off helped me in the wrestle-off in November. It made me a better wrestler.”
8) What are your short-term goals this year?
“My goals right now are to just continue where I am right now in how I’m wrestling. I have to keep myself motivated and concentrate on staying at the lower weight.”
9) When will your first competition be?
“The U.S. Nationals is going to be my first competition in April. I’m very anxious to get back on the mat in that competition setting. I had no off-season, so I’m ready.”
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New York to host 2001 World Championships for wrestling; Ticket information and event format announced
2/16/01
Tanya Benson/M Streets Media
NEW YORK (Feb. 16, 2001) - The 2001 World Championships for Wrestling - the largest and most prestigious wrestling event in the world this year - will be held at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden, Sept. 26-29.
The four-day event, which will boast over 600 competitors representing approximately 50 countries, will feature both male and female freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Countries with strong wrestling teams who are expected to participate in the event include the United States, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Ukraine, Korea and many others.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the city of New York to host one of the world’s premiere amateur athletic events,” said Dan Doctoroff, President of the NYC2012 Olympic bid committee. “This is an event that has been held in the United States just once in the last 20 years (1995 in Atlanta), and we expect the largest attended international wrestling event in U.S. history. We are very excited to play host to the top amateur wrestlers in the world.”
Said Rulon Gardner, who stunned the world by defeating seemingly invincible Russian Alexander Kareline for the Greco-Roman super-heavyweight Olympic gold medal last summer: “I’m currently training very hard, with an eye at competing at the Worlds. This is a chance any wrestler would love. To compete against the world’s best in a place like Madison Square Garden - this is what you dream about as a wrestler.”
Tickets for the event go on sale Feb. 23, with single session ticket prices starting as low as $10. All-session passes are priced as low as $99 for the eight total sessions, with family packages (four all session passes) starting at just $308. Tickets can be purchased by dialing TicketMaster at 1-866-NYC-2001 or 212-307-7171.
“The best tickets for this event will go fast,” said Rich Bender, Executive Director of USA Wrestling. “The volume of calls to our office regarding this event has been tremendous. We’ve advised everyone who has called to order tickets early to ensure the best possible seats.”
Discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more. Special hotel rates are also being arranged for fans traveling from out-of-town.
In addition to the discounted tickets, the ticket plan in also highlighted by a special all-session Gold Pass, which allows the ticket holder unprecedented access to an event of this type. The Gold Pass guarantees all session premiere seating (first six rows in the center of the arena), invitations to official parties, VIP credentials, admission to VIP Hospitality areas at Madison Square Garden, the ticket holderíss name on his or her seat at Madison Square Garden for the event, and a World Championships Gift Pack.
“This is an event that the New York wrestling community has waited a long time for,” said Setrak Agonian, President of the Metropolitan Wrestling Association (MWA). “To have the World Championships here is a lifetime dream of most MWA members. We will work tirelessly in association with USA Wrestling and NYC2012 to ensure this event’s success.”
For more information on the World Championships, check out the event’s homepage on TheMat.com (http://www.themat.com).
Ticketed Session Starting Times & Descriptions
Regular Sessions
Wed. Morning , 9 AM, Greco-Roman*
Wed. Evening, 5 PM, Freestyle
Thurs. Morning, 10 AM, Greco-Roman
Thurs. Evening, 6 PM, Freestyle
Fri. Morning/Aft., 10 AM, Greco-Roman/Freestyle
Medal Round Sessions
Friday Evening, 8 PM, Bronze Matches, Greco-Roman and Freestyle
Sat. Morning/Aft., 10 AM , Gold Matches, Greco-Roman and Freestyle
Sat. Evening, 4 PM, Gold Matches, Greco-Roman and Freestyle
* Women’s matches will be held at an outside venue (TBA) on Monday and Tuesday. Women’s finals will be on Wednesday at 2pm at Madison Square Garden as part of the Wednesday morning session. Anyone with a ticket to any session at Madison Square Garden gets in free to the women’s matches at the outside venue.
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