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Top age-group women wrestlers to compete in USA Wrestling’s FILA Cadet National Championships; FILA Junior Nationals; World Team Trials

5/23/01
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

The best young women freestyle wrestlers in the United States will travel to Dayton, Ohio to compete in two major USA Wrestling national championship events.

The Women’s FILA Cadet National Championships, as well as the Women’s FILA Junior Nationals and World Team Trials will be held Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio, June 1-3.

The FILA Cadet age level includes athletes who are 15-17 years old. Top young high school and middle school wrestlers from across the nation will battle for coveted national championships and All-American honors.

Both of these tournaments are open, meaning there are no pre-qualification requirements. Athletes who wish to compete must meet age requirements. For additional information, contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181.

Returning FILA Cadet National champions include Erica Dye of West Virginia (94), Sara Fulp-Allen of California (101), Malinda Ripley of California (108), Brooke Bogren of Kansas (114), Brandy Rosenbrock of Michigan (121) and Devin Kelly of Pennsylvania (143).

The FILA Junior World age level includes athletes from 17-20 years old. FILA, the international federation, hosts a World Championships at this age group each year. The champions from this event will be eligible to represent the United States at the FILA Junior World Championships in Martigny, Switzerland, Aug. 16-19.

Returning champions include Mary Kelly of Illinois (94.75), Clarrisa Chun of Hawaii (101.25), Melina Hutchison of Alaska (110), Erin Tomeo of Pennsylvania (119), Carrie Birge of Nebraska (127.75), Toccara Montgomery of Ohio (149.75) and Dominque Smalley of Iowa (165.25).

Many of these athletes are already stars on the Senior level in the United States. Some of these athletes compete on U.S. women’s college wrestling teams, and others are members of some of the major freestyle wrestling clubs in the United States.

Montgomery was the 2001 U.S. Nationals champion on the Senior level, and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the national championships. She was also the Outstanding Wrestler at last year’s FILA Junior Nationals and World Team Trials.

Smalley won a gold medal at the 2000 FILA Junior World Championships. All seven of the returning FILA Junior Nationals champions have been nationally ranked on the Senior level in the United States.

This competition will be held alongside the Central Kids/Cadet Regional Championships, featuring the top youth athletes from ages 9-16 from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia.

A variety of ticket prices are available. All-session passes for adults are $12. The price is $5 a day for adults and $3 a day for senior citizens. Special rates include $15 a day for a family of four and $25 for an all-session pass for a family of four. Children 12 years old and under attend free.

PRESEASON WOMEN’S AGE-GROUP FREESTYLE NATIONAL RANKINGS

FILA Cadet (1984-85, 1986 with medical certificate)
83 - none ranked
88 - none ranked
94 - 1. Erica Dye (WV); 2. Tabitha Coffey (CA); 3. Maika Watanabe (CA)
101 - 1. Sara Fulp Allen (CA); 2. Melissa Moore (CA); 3. Deanna Rix (ME); 4. Lenci Landacker (CA)
108 - 1. Malinda Ripley (CA); 2. Veronica Martinez (NM); 3. Keristen LaBelle (MI); 4. Lindsay Baltusaitis (MI)
114 - 1. Brooke Bogren (KS); 2. Teresa Dalben (CA); 3. Lindsey Orabona (NC); 4. Sara Bergman (MN); 5. Jennifer Smith (SC); 6. Rachel Monroe (IN); 7. Emily Rinehart (CA)
123 - 1. Brandy Rosenbrock (MI); 2. Alaina Berube (MI); 3. Suzanne Kivi (NV); 4. Evin Murphy (NC) ; 5. Tiffany West (IN); 6. Erica Montoya (CA)
132 - 1. Wendy Casey (NY); 2. Monica Clay (IN); 3. Alisha Kreisel (MN); 4. Dana Kearney (FL); 5. Jammi Johnson (MN); 6. Anna Matteson (NC)
143 - 1. Devin Kelly (PA); 2. Heather Martin (OH); 3. Hanna Robbins (WA); 4. Dawn Schweiderwent (WI)
154 - 1. Melyssa Fuqua (MA); 2. Elizabeth DeRoy (CA); 3. Angela Bergman (MN); 4. Monique Patino (CA); 5. Tricia Mora (NV)

FILA Junior (1981-83, 1984 with medical certificate)
94.75 - 1. Mary Kelly (IL); 2. Lindsay Torrance (CA); 3. Erica Dye (WV); 4. Tabitha Coffey (CA)
101.25 - 1. Clarissa Chun (HI); 2. Lisa Ward (WA); 3. Sandra Padron (MI); 4. Rachel Bernardes (NJ); 5. Jennifer Donahoe (MN); 6. Micah Kelly (PA); 7. Arielle Bradbury (WA); 8. Rachel Salazar (CA)
110 - 1. Jenny Wong (MN); 2. Melina Hutchison (AK); 3. Jessica Shirley (OH); 4. Katie Kunimoto (KY); 5. Shelley-Ann Tomita (HI); 6. Marianne Volmer (MI); 7. Amy Alvaro (NY); 8. Cheryl Wong (NY)
119 - 1. Erin Tomeo (PA); 2. Tela O’Donnell (AK); 3. Katrina Betts (MI); 4. Jessica Bixby (NY); 5. Brook Bogren (KS); 6. Elizabeth Domagas (CA); 7. Teresa Dalbert (CA); 8. Brook Hareema (CA)
127.75 - 1. Carrie Birge (NE); 2. Cathilee Albert (CO); 3. Lisa Bisers (PA); 4. Rosaria DeCola (MI); 5. Brandi Rosenbrock (MI); 6. Lauren Alderson (TX); 7. Michelle Domegas (CA); 8. Sara Tolin (WY)
138.75 - 1. Megan Andrews (CA); 2. Tori Adams (TX); 3. Peggy Vandemark (MN); 4. Megan McHattie (MN); 5. Brandy Beayon (VT); 6. Jessica Martin (MI); 7. Devin Kelly (PA); 8. Rebekka DeCola (MI)
149.75 - 1. Toccara Montgomery (OH); 2. Katie Downing (IN); 3. Kaci Lyle (CA); 4. Melanie Macari (CA); 5. Elena Mena (MN); 6. Teri Kleinberg (CA); 7. Jenna Pavlik (DE); 8. Reeah Winkle (CA)
165.25 - 1. Dominique Smalley (IA); 2. Alicia Mena (MN); 3. Allison Patrick (ID); 4. Donell Bradley (HI); 5. Samantha Branka (MI); 6. Wendy Hunter (OH); 7. Ann Gerlach (MN); 8. Jennifer Welch (TX)

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USA Wrestling to conduct Women’s Wrestling Development Forum during Women’s FILA Cadet and FILA Junior Nationals in Dayton, Ohio, June 2

5/24/01
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

USA Wrestling will conduct an open forum on the development of women’s wrestling during the Women’s FILA Cadet National Championships, as well as the Women’s FILA Junior Nationals and World Team Trials, both which are held in Dayton, Ohio.

The forum is scheduled for Saturday, June 2 at 6:00 p.m. It will be held in a meeting room at Hara Arena, the site of the competition. This will be immediately after the weigh-ins for the FILA Junior Nationals, and before the evening session for the FILA Cadet Nationals.

The forum will be led by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling’s Director of Special Projects. Abbott has been assigned to work on the development of women’s wrestling for USA Wrestling, and has been setting up opportunities for those interested to help form a national strategy.

Parents, athletes, coaches, fans and wrestling leaders are invited to give their input about the development of women’s wrestling . Opinions about the best strategy to help fuel the growth of women’s wrestling on all levels will be discussed.

USA Wrestling has already conducted open forums at three major events this spring. Four-time World Champion Tricia Saunders of the Sunkist Kids conducted a forum at the USGWA National High School Championships in Lake Orion, Mich., March 24. Mike Duroe, USA Wrestling’s Head Women’s Coach, conducted a forum at the University Nationals in Evanston, Ill., March 31. Abbott led the open forum that was held at the U.S. Nationals Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., April 13. All of the previous forums were well attended and productive.

This meeting will be a followup from the other three meetings, which provided opportunity for input on developing the sport on all levels.

“Our open forums have been very successful in providing an opportunity for those interested in women’s wrestling to share ideas and opinions,” said Abbott. “We are hoping that this meeting can help us to shape a short-term and long-term strategy for building women’s wrestling. We are working to encourage more women to participate in wrestling, and provide better programs for those interested in the sport.”

All interested in this issue are invited to attend these meetings if they can. Those who have opinions and input are also encouraged to visit TheMat.com, and post their thoughts on the Women’s bulletin board.

The best young women freestyle wrestlers in the United States will travel to Dayton, Ohio to compete in these two major USA Wrestling national championship events. These tournaments are open, meaning there are no pre-qualification requirements. Athletes who wish to compete must meet age requirements.

This competition will be held alongside the Central Kids/Cadet Regional Championships, featuring the top youth athletes from ages 9-16 from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia.

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Neosho County College adds women's varsity wrestling team

Neosho County College in Chanute, Kansas, will be offering women’s wrestling as a varsity sport with 10 full scholarships this season. They have already signed 6 women and are searching to fill a team of 15 to 20.
Thank you.
Terry Pack, Head Coach
tlpack@neosho.cc.ks.us

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ESPN challenges wrestling community to prove that wrestling should be broadcast on TV by watching events

5/23/01
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

ESPN has challenged the wrestling community and the general public to prove its support of amateur wrestling by viewing two major international-style wrestling events in the upcoming weeks.

ESPN has indicated to USA Wrestling that the ratings results from the 2001 U.S. National Wrestling Championships and the 2001 World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling will be reviewed to determine programming plans on ESPN and ESPN2 for the 2001 World Championships in New York City.

This is a perfect opportunity for wrestlers, coaches, fans and supporters to make a difference in helping promote wrestling.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WRESTLING FANS WATCH THESE TWO BROADCASTS, OR SET THEIR VCR TO TAPE THESE TWO BROADCASTS. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT WAY THAT THE WRESTLING COMMUNITY CAN VOICE THE DESIRE TO SEE MORE WRESTLING ON TELEVISION.

The U.S. National Wrestling Championships, originally held in Las Vegas, Nev., will air on ESPN2 on Friday, May 25th at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Action in freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s wrestling will be featured on the telecast.

The World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling, originally held in Baltimore, Md., will air on Tuesday, June 19th at 3:00 p.m. EDT.

Both of these shows are one-hour in length, and will including highlighted matches from the competitions. Fans are requested to write down these broadcast dates and make sure that the shows are watched or videotaped from their homes.

ESPN has aired a number of major international wrestling events each season in recent years. Television networks continuously review and adjust the programming that they broadcast. If wrestling fans wish to see more wrestling, or maintain the amount of wrestling currently aired, they must make sure to view these two events on May 25 and June 19.