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Four of six U.S. Women Nationals champions are past winners, but the Outstanding Wrestler is newcomer Montgomery

4/15/01
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

Although four of the six champion are past winners, rookie champion Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) stole the show and claimed the Outstanding Wrestler award at the 2001 U.S. Women's Nationals at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, April 14.

Montgomery, a high school athlete, defeated a pair of World Champions on the way to the gold medal at 149.75 pounds. In the championship finals, Montgomery defeated 2000 World Champion Kristie Marano (Albany, N.Y./ATWA), 8-3. In the semifinals, Montgomery also stopped 1999 World Champion Sandy Bacher (San Jose, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) in a wide-open match.

The other new champion also grew up in the Cleveland area, and competed for the same club coaches: 123.25-pound champion Tina Wilson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids). Wilson pinned Erin Tomeo (Volant, Pa./Sunkist Kids), in 3:16 in the finals. Wilson has competed on three U.S. World Teams, but had never not won a previous U.S. Nationals gold.

Two of the champions are veterans, and have won the event many times: Tricia Saunders (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) at 101.25 pounds and Stephanie Murata (Lansing, Mich./Sunkist Kids) at 123.25 pounds.

Saunders, a four-time World Champion, won her record 11th U.S. Nationals gold medal. She defeated Julie Gonzales (Vallejo, Calif./Dave Schultz WC), 8-0 in the finals.

Murata won the U.S. Nationals for the sixth straight year, defeating Jenny Wong (Stillwater, Minn./Sunkist Kids), 9-3 in the finals.

The other two champions claimed U.S. Nationals titles for the second straight year: Sara McMann (Lock Haven, Pa./Sunkist Kids) at 136.5 pounds and Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 165.25 pounds.

McMann pinned Tonya Evinger (Bates City, Mo./Missouri Valley), in the gold-medal finals in 4:18. Smith also won by pin, stopping top-seeded Satrinina Vernon (Rodeo, Calif./Missouri Valley), in 5:20.

The team title was one of the closest in history, with Missouri Valley College placing first with 63 points, just one point ahead of runner-up Sunkist Kids with 62 points.

The Most Falls Award went to Alicia Mena (St. Paul, Minn./Minnesota Storm), with four pins in a combined 4:17.

Team Scoring
Outstanding Wrestler Women – Toccara Montgomery (Sunkist Kids)

Most Falls Women – Alicia Mena (Minnesota Storm), four in 4:17

Women Teams – 1. Missouri Valley College, 63 pts.; 2. Sunkist Kids, 62 pts.

Results By Weight
101.25 pounds
1st - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Julie Gonzales, Vallejo, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC), 8-0
3rd – Clarissa Chun, Kapolei, Hawaii (Missouri Valley College) won by tech. fall over Erica Dye, Elizabeth, W.Va. (unattached), 12-2, 3:29
5th – Sandra Padron, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley) pin Tanya Miyasaka, Kaneohe, Hawaii (Rainbow Wahines), 0:51

112.25 pounds
1st - Stephanie Murata, Lansing, Mich. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jenny Wong, Stillwater, Minn. (Sunkist Kids), 9-3
3rd – Patricia Miranda, Saratoga, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) won by tech. fall over Mary Kelly, Mahomet, Ill. (unattached), 13-2, 2:24
5th – Melina Hutchinson, Soldotna, Alaska (Alaska WC) pin Miriam Jenkins, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines), 4:33

123.25 pounds
1st - Tina Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist) pin Erin Tomeo, Volant, Pa. (Sunkist Kids), 3:16
3rd – Lisa Bisers, Allison Park, Pa. (TAPS) dec. Grace Magnussen, Walnut Creek, Calif. (Missouri Valley College), 10-4
5th – Carrie Birge, Omaha, Neb. (Missouri Valley College) pin Cathilee Albert, Boulder, Colo. (Fairview WC), 3:36

136.25 pounds
1st - Sara McMann , Lock Haven, Pa. (Sunkist Kids) pin Tonya Evinger , Bates City, Mo. (Missouri Valley), 4:18
3rd – Tori Adams, Amarillo, Texas (Missouri Valley College) dec. Jimi Dawn Hornbuckle, Poteau, Okla. (unattached), 4-2, ot, 5:27
5th – Tina Arnds, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Missouri Valley College) dec. Cindy Herceg, Los Angeles, Calif. (Spartak), 5-2

149.75 pounds
1st - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio (Sunkist) dec. Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y. (ATWA), 8-3
3rd – Katie Downing, Pendleton, Ind. (UM-Morris) dec. Kaci Lyle, Eureka, Calif. (Missouri Valley College), 3-2
5th – Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) dec. Melani Macari, Fremont, Calif. (Missouri Valley College), 9-3

165.25 pounds
1st - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) pin Satrinina Vernon , Rodeo, Calif. (Missouri Valley), 5:20
3rd – Dominique Smalley, Iowa City, Iowa (Missouri Valley College) pin Alicia Mena, St. Paul, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 1:34
5th – Elena Mena, St. Paul, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) pin Donell Bradley, Aiei, Hawaii (Missouri Valley College), 1:17