Matt Lindland, Toccara Montgomery and Brandon Paulson named as finalists for AAU James E. Sullivan Award, presented to the top amateur athlete in the nation

1/16/2002
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) has announced the names of the fourteen finalists for the 72nd Annual AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award which recognizes the top amateur athlete in the nation.

Three of the finalists are amateur wrestling stars: men’s Greco-Roman wrestler Matt Lindland (Oregon City, Ore./Sunkist Kids), women’s freestyle wrestler Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) and men’s Greco-Roman wrestler Brandon Paulson (Golden Valley, Minn./Minnesota Storm).

All three wrestlers claimed silver medals at their weight classes at the 2001 World Championships of Wrestling. All three wrestlers are finalists for the AAU James E. Sullivan Award for the first time. Montgomery becomes the first women’s wrestler to be named as a Sullivan Award finalist.

Wrestling is the only sport with three finalists. The only other sport with more than one finalist was track and field, which had two finalists.

Narrowed from a field of 30 nominees, the first-round finalists will be reduced to five athletes and their names will be released in mid-March. From the five names, the National winner will be formally recognized in early April.

The other finalists are Tony Azevedo (waterpolo), Natalie Coughlin (swimming), Michelle Kwan (figure skating), Stephen Lopez (taekwondo), Ryan Miller (hockey), Mark Prior (baseball), Jason Reed (rowing), Sean Townsend (gymnastics), Allen Webb (track and field), Angela Williams (track and field), and Roy Williams (football).

The reigning James E. Sullivan Award winner is Greco-Roman wrestler Rulon Gardner, who received the award after winning a gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games. Three wrestlers have won the award, considered one of amateur sport’s top honors: John Smith (1990), Bruce Baumgartner (1995), Rulon Gardner (2000).

Lindland claimed a silver medal at 85 kg/187.25 pounds at the World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships in Patras, Greece.

Montgomery won a silver medal at 68 kg/149.75 pounds at the World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Paulson captured a silver medal at 54 kg/119 pounds at the World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships in Patras, Greece.

The award, given to the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States, is based on qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism. Both athletic accomplishment and strong moral character are considered by a 800 member panel of AAU board of directors, the U.S. Olympic Committee board of directors, the AAU Sullivan Committee, past Sullivan Award winners, and a select members of the sports media.

“These individuals exemplify the best amateur athletes in all of sport with their commitment to sportsmanship, community, and education,” said AAU President Bobby Dodd. “The AAU represents 34 sports from the grass roots to the national level and they are the role models for our athletes to follow.”
Considered the “Oscar” of sports awards, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been presented to prominent athletes of our time including last year’s recipient Olympic Golf Medalist, Rulon Gardner. Others include: Chamique Holdsclaw (1998), Peyton Manning (1997), William “Bill” Bradley (1965), Dan Jansen (1994), Janet Evans (1989), Jim Abbott (1987), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1986), Greg Louganis (1984), and the late Florence Griffith-Joyner (1988).

The AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to founder and past president of the AAU, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan. The winner of the AAU Sullivan Award receives a bronze replica of the original trophy that depicts the figure of a runner carrying a laurel branch mounted on a black pedestal.

MATT LINDLAND

Lindland won a silver medal on the Olympic level for the second straight season, after claiming an Olympic silver medal at 76 kg/167.5 pounds at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Lindland moved up one weight class in 2001, and was still able to qualify for the gold-medal finals. His performance helped lead the USA to a third-place finish as a team at the World Greco-Roman Championships, its best-ever performance.

Lindland had an impressive performance at the World Championships. He won four matches to qualify for the championship match. His quarterfinal victory was a commanding 11-0 technical fall over talented Evgeniy Erofaylov of Uzbekistan. His semifinal victory was also impressive, a 5-2 decision over Alexandre Menshikov of Russia. Lindland was defeated in the gold-medal match by Olympic bronze medalist Mukhran Vakhrangadze of Georgia, 2-1 in overtime.

He claimed three other gold medals during the 2001 season: the Takhti Cup in Iran, the U.S. National Championships and the World Team Trials. He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the U.S. National Championships in Greco-Roman.

Lindland beat Olympians in the finals of both the U.S. Nationals and the World Team Trials. At the U.S. Nationals, he defeated 2000 Olympian Quincey Clark for the title. At the World Team Trials, he defeated 1992 and 1996 Olympian Dan Henderson in the finals.

Lindland is an entrepreneur in his native Oregon, and is involved in a number of businesses. He wrestled in college for the Univ. of Nebraska and Clackamas CC.

TOCCARA MONTGOMERY

She was one of two U.S. silver medalists, leading the USA to a seventh-place team finish. It was her first Senior World Championships appearance, earning her spot on the U.S. team as an 18-year-old high school senior.

Her only loss at the World Championships came in the gold-medal finals to six-time World Champion Christine Nordhagen-Vierling of Canada, 4-1. She pinned her other four opponents in the tournament, dominating the action in every match.

During the 2001 year, Montgomery claimed seven gold medals at major Senior women's events. She won the Yasar Dogu Tournament in Turkey, the Manitoba Open in Canada and the Sunkist Kids International in the USA. Domestically, she was also the U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials champion, as well as the Hoover/Geller Keystone Open champion and the University Nationals champion. Montgomery won Outstanding Wrestler awards at the U.S. Nationals and the Sunkist Kids International Open.

During the 2001 season, Montgomery defeated three past Women's World Championships. She beat Nordhagen-Vierling in the finals of the Sunkist Kids International Open in October. Montgomery also defeated 2000 World Champion Kristie Marano of the United States at both the U.S. Nationals and the World Team Trials. She also scored a victory over 1999 World Champion Sandra Bacher of the United States at the U.S. Nationals.

Montgomery also claimed a silver medal at the Junior World Championships. She qualified for the U.S. Junior World Team by winning the FILA Junior Nationals title, her second straight Junior World team appearance.

She was named the 2001 International Women's Wrestler of the Year by FILA, the international wrestling federation. Montgomery becomes the first U.S. women's wrestler to win this prestigious award and only the third American to win a FILA International Wrestler of the Year honor, joining men freestyle wrestlers John Smith (1995) and Stephen Neal (1999).

Montgomery also received a number of other top wrestling honors. She received the 2001 USA Wrestling Championship Belt Series for Senior women, recognizing the most successful and active women's wrestler on the Senior level. She was also the winner of the 2001 TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year award, recognizing the top U.S. high school female wrestler.

Montgomery is now a freshman at Cumberland College in Kentucky, competing on its women's varisty wrestling team. In June, she completed her high school career at East Technical High School in Cleveland.

BRANDON PAULSON

Paulson, like Lindland, won his second career World-level silver medal. He also captured an Olympic silver medal at 52 kg/114.5 pounds at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga. This was Paulson’s first appearance on a U.S. World team since his medal performance at the Atlanta Games. His performance helped lead the USA to a third-place finish as a team at the World Greco-Roman Championships, its best-ever performance.

Paulson won four very competitive bouts to qualify for the gold-medal finals. His quarterfinal victory came over Rakymzhan Assembekov of Kazakstan, 3-0, in overtime. He made the gold-medal finals with a tight and competitive 1-1 overtime referee’s decision over Uran Kalilov of Kyrgyzstan. In the gold-medal finals, Paulson lost an 8-4 decision to Hassan Rangraz of Iran. Trailing 5-0 early, Paulson closed the gap to 5-4, but fell just short of a comeback.

Paulson, who retired in 2000, made a comeback from retirement at the 2001 World Team Trials and captured the gold medal. He won the preliminary Challenge Tournament against some talented competitors, including 1988 and 1992 Olympian Shawn Sheldon. In the finals, he defeated 2001 U.S. Nationals champion Jeff Cervone in two straight matches.

Paulson placed fourth in the 2001 Greco-Roman World Cup, his only other major international event of the year. This was a tune-up event for him prior to the World Championships.

Paulson is a sales executive for a wrestling products company in Minnesota. He was an All-American for the Univ. of Minnesota in college.

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USOC Re-Launches U.S. Olympic Team Web site usolympicteam.com

1/17/2002
U.S. Olympic Committee/

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Catch a Hollywood-like glimpse of the "Olympic 11," and get the low-down and nicknames of your favorite athletes. Listen to The Air Bergy Show, hosted by gold medal-winning freestyle aerialist, Eric Bergoust. Create a screen saver with one-of-a kind photos of your favorite athletes. Looking to dress like an Olympian? Order a jacket from the official 2002 U.S. Olympic Team clothing line. All this can be found on the newly re-designed official web site of the U.S. Olympic Team ? www.usolympicteam.com.

Announced today by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the unveiling of the updated and expanded site is filled with unique content for U.S. Olympic Team fans, including information, unique images and fun downloads that get you in the spirit of the Games and the 2002 U.S. Team. Visitors will find the Olympic store with over 200 items of official U.S. Olympic Team apparel, Salt Lake 2002 and Classic USA merchandise, along with fun features such as photo galleries of more than 70 athletes, video interviews with top athletes from Michelle Kwan to Picabo Street to Jonny Moseley, downloadable wallpaper of over 30 athletes, and biographies of U.S. Olympic Team members.

"All of our athletes have unique stories and personalities," notes Lloyd Ward, chief executive officer of the USOC. "We've given our web site a new look that reflects the energy, attitude and the personalities that embody the 2002 U.S. Team. Olympic enthusiasts, sports fans, parents and kids will have fun with our newly designed site. It's created for the kid at any age," added Ward.

In an effort to include athlete input into the project, more than 30 top U.S. athletes were given a sneak preview of the site in October. "It's definitely geared more toward athlete interests and non-athletes will get the scoop on us," said bobsledder Jean Racine.

Olympic Winter Games Coverage
New content and features will be added during the Winter Games, which begin February 8, 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visitors to the site will be taken "behind the ropes" to get an exclusive insight into the life of the U.S. Olympic Team and will see what happens to athletes after they win a medal.

Daily e-mail previews, photo galleries of the day's top images and wallpaper images of top U.S. performances will all be available. The site also will offer in-depth information about athletes, their performances, medal counts and a daily spotlight on Olympic legends.

Auction Items
In addition, an auction of approximately 75 items of signed memorabilia from U.S. athletes, including: an autographed banner from Picabo Street, an autographed jersey from 35 U.S. Olympic Team members and NHL stars, autographed team banners from the U.S. luge and figure skating, plus multiple items from the 1996 and 2000 basketball Dream Teams.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the USOC's Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere (F.L.A.M.E.) program as well as individual sport programs.

During the Games, usolympicteam.com will also offer visitors a chance to register to win a weekend with the U.S. Olympic Team in Washington, D.C. following the completion of the Winter Games.

For Kids: Interactive Section
For young children and parents there will be a special cartoon-like kids section (available starting Feb. 4) dedicated to engaging kids to learn about the Olympic Games, the ideals and values behind the Olympics and the U.S. Olympic Movement. Through interactive reading books, cartoons and games, kids can learn first-hand about the athletes and the making of an Olympian.

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Missouri Valley Women’s International Open set for Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. , January 26; New international women’s weight classes to be used

1/18/2002
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

For the second straight year, the Missouri Valley Women’s International Open will be hosted on the campus of Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. The competition will be held at Georgia Burns Athletic Center on Saturday, January 26.

Many top U.S. women’s college wrestling teams and clubs have committed to participate, and international athletes have been invited.

Missouri Valley College is one of the five U.S. colleges to sponsor a varsity women’s wrestling team. Missouri Valley College is currently the No. 1 ranked team in both TheMat.com North American Women’s College Wrestling Poll, as well as TheMat.com U.S. Women’s College Wrestling Team Rankings.

During the 2001 season, Missouri Valley College claimed the team title at the U.S. Women’s National Championships and the University National Championships.

This will mark the first international women’s wrestling tournament held in the United States that will utilize the new international weight classes. Athletes and coaches should note that the event flyer lists the old weight classes, because it was printed before FILA announced the new weights.

These new weight classes are:
48 kg (105.5 lbs.)
51 kg (112 lbs.)
55 kg (121 lbs.)
59 kg (130 lbs.)
63 kg (138.5 lbs.)
67 kg (147.5 lbs.)
72 kg (158.5 lbs.)

In addition, the event organizers have added an extra eighth weight, the 77 kg class. This weight is used by Canadian and U.S. college programs as the top weight class in their college competitions.

77 kg (169.5 lbs.)

Athletes, please note that there will be a 2 kg weight allowance added to each of these eight weight classes at weigh-in.

The U.S. college programs that are expected to enter the tournament include Missouri Valley College, the Univ. of Minnesota-Morris, Cumberland College and Neosho County CC. In addition, individual athletes from USA Wrestling’s top women’s wrestling clubs are also expected to attend.

The Missouri Valley International Open is a Senior-level event, which provides the opportunity for some top high school athletes to test themselves against Senior-level competitors, as well as visit the Missouri Valley College campus. The Senior age level includes athletes born in 1982 or before, with those born in 1983-1985 permitted to participate with a medical certificate. This means that any athlete who turns 17 years old during the 2002 calendar year may wrestle in this event with the medical certificate.

Registration is at 4:00 p.m., with weigh-ins at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 25. There is a $30 entry fee, and all participants must be USA Wrestling members. On Saturday, January 26, preliminaries will begin at 9:00 a.m., and the women’s finals will begin at 2:00 p.m. (A men’s open college tournament will be held alongside the women’s international event).

For information on the tournament, contact Missouri Valley College wrestling coach Mike Machholz at (660)831-4158 or (660)831-4119.

2001 Missouri Valley International Open champions
46 kg/101.25 lbs. - Clarissa Chun, Kapolei, Hawaii (Missouri Valley)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong, Minneapolis, Minn. (Sunkist Kids)
56 kg/123.25 lbs. - Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Sara McMann, Lock Haven, Pa. (Sunkist Kids)
68 kg/149.75 lbs. - Melanie Macari, Fremont, Calif. (Missouri Valley)
75 kg/165.25 lbs. - Satrinina Vernon, Rodeo, Calif. (Missouri Valley)
Outstanding Wrestler - Clarissa Chun, 46 kg
Most Falls - Ingrid Cuellar, 46 kg, 3 falls in 7:00 min.
Team Standings - 1st - Missouri Valley - 104 pts.; 2nd - Sunkist Kids - 39 pts.; 3rd - Cumberland College - 22 pts.

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TheMat.com U.S. Women’s college rankings expanded to eight weight classes; Missouri Valley maintains No. 1 team ranking for January

1/22/2002
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

Due to the change in women’s international weight classes, and an adjustment suggested by U.S. college coaches, there are now eight weight classes under consideration for TheMat.com U.S. Women’s college rankings, released on January 21, 2002. Previous rankings used the previous six international weight classes.

FILA, the international wrestling federation, has changed the women’s weight classes for the Senior level, starting on January 1st. The new weight classes will be 48 kg (105.5 lbs.), 51 kg (112 lbs.). 55 kg (121 lbs.), 59 kg (130 lbs.), 63 kg (138.5 lbs.), 67 kg (147.5 lbs.), 72 kg (158.5 lbs.). U.S. college coaches also agreed to add an eighth weight class, 77 kg (169.5 lbs.), which is a weight division used in Canadian colleges.

All six of the top-ranked wrestlers from the December rankings are still in No. 1 positions, even though their weight classes have changed.

These No. 1 ranked individuals who have retained the top ranking are Clarissa Chun, a junior at Missouri Valley (105.5), Patricia Miranda, a senior at Stanford (112), Erin Tomeo, a freshman at Lock Haven (130), Sara McMann, a senior at Lock Haven (138.5), Toccara Montgomery, a freshman at Cumberland College (147.5) and Jenna Pavlik, a freshman at Lock Haven (169.5).

The new No. 1 ranked individuals in the rankings, with the expansion to eight weight categories, are
Jessica Shirley, a freshman at Cumberland College (121) and Samantha Branka, a junior at UM-Morris (158.5).

U.S. coaches have agreed to use these eight weight classes for dual meet and tournament competition throughout the rest of this year’s competition season.

In the team rankings, Missouri Valley College remains at No. 1. The Vikings participated in a series of dual meets in Oregon in January, and also had a strong team effort at the Guelph Open in Canada this month.

Moving up to the No. 2 ranking is the Univ. of Minnesota-Morris, which won the team title at the Gord Garvie Memorial Festival in Canada in early December, with four individual champions.

The next teams in the rankings are No. 3 Lock Haven, No. 4. Pacific, No. 5 Cumberland College and No. 6 Neosho County, All of these teams were involved in competitions in the last month.

Holding their rankings are No. 7 American International College and No. 8 Menlo College. Moving up to the No. 9 position is Messiah College of Pennsylvania, followed by No. 10 the Univ. of Hawaii.

Complete individual and team rankings are posted on TheMat.com, in the rankings section.

TheMat.com U.S. College Women’s Wrestling rankings will be published monthly on the following dates: Oct. 20, Nov. 20, Dec. 20, Jan. 20, Feb. 20, March 20, April 20, May 20.

Teams who are considered for ranking include both college varsity programs and college-affiliated club programs.

Athletes who are considered for ranking are eligible full-time college students, and are members of their college women’s varsity or club program, or a member of their college men’s wrestling team.

TheMat.com has created a composite schedule for women’s college wrestling, which includes events from the U.S. and Canadian programs. Results from these events will be posted on a regular basis throughout the season.

Media outlets may reproduce these rankings only if they identify them as TheMat.com U.S. Women’s Wrestling College Rankings

TheMat.com U.S. College Women's Teams

Released 1/21/2002
Ranked by TheMat.com

1. Missouri Valley College
2. UM-Morris
3. Lock Haven
4. Pacific
5. Cumberland College
6. Neosho County
7. American International College
8. Menlo College
9. Messiah
10. Univ. of Hawaii

Dates of publication: Oct. 20, Nov. 20, Dec. 20, Jan. 20, Feb. 20, March 20, April 20, May 20

Eligibility: Teams who are considered for ranking include both college varsity programs and college-affiliated club programs.

TheMat.com U.S. college women's individuals

Released 1/21/2002
Ranked by TheMat.com

48 kg (105.5 lbs.)
1. Clarissa Chun, junior (Missouri Valley)
2. Katrina Betts, freshman (UM-Morris)
3. Kristen Fujioka, freshman (Pacific)
4. Audrey Carrasco, sophomore (Missouri Valley)
5. Kera Pemberton, freshman (Neosho County)
6. Becky D’Ambrosio, freshman (Cumberland College)
7. Rachel Bernardes, junior (Missouri Valley)
8. Liz Short, freshman (UM-Morris)

51 kg (112 lbs.)
1. Patricia Miranda, senior (Stanford)
2. Jenny Wong, junior (Lock Haven)
3. Jillian Yost, sophomore (AIC)
4. Katie Kunimoto, junior (Pacific)
5. Bior Guigni, freshman (Menlo College)
6. Keli Hinton, freshman (UM-Morris)
7. Patrice Crenshaw, freshman (UM-Morris)
8. Marianne Vollmer, sophomore (Missouri Valley)

55 kg (121 lbs.)
1. Jessica Shirley, freshman (Cumberland College)
2. Melina Hutchison, freshman (Menlo College)
3. Cheryl New, junior (Missouri Valley)
4. Lisa Ward, freshman (Missouri Valley)
5. Sarah Tolin, freshman (Neosho County)
6. Jill Remiticado, junior (Pacific)
7. Lisa Bisers, freshman (Johns Hopkins)
8. Lisa Neuberger, freshman (UM-Morris)

59 kg (130 lbs.)
1. Erin Tomeo, freshman (Lock Haven)
2. Malissa Sherwood, senior (Missouri Valley)
3. Tonya Evinger, sophomore (Missouri Valley)
4. Tela O’Donnell, freshman (Pacific)
5. Kiersten Hyatt, junior (Missouri Valley)
6. Katie Ross, sophomore (UM-Morris)
7. Leigh Jaynes, junior (Missouri Valley)
8. Phoebe Liles-Wilkins, freshman (Menlo College)

63 kg (138.5 lbs.)
1. Sara McMann, senior (Lock Haven)
2. Sally Roberts, junior (Pacific)
3. Tori Adams, sophomore (Missouri Valley)
4. Tina Arnds, junior (Missouri Valley) at 62
5. Jennifer Wormwood, freshman (AIC)
6. Stephanie Bolton, sophomore (Cumberland College)
7. Emily Black, freshman (Neosho County)
8. Peggy Van De Mark, freshman (UM-Morris)

67 kg (147.5 lbs.)
1. Toccara Montgomery, freshman (Cumberland College)
2. Katie Downing, senior (UM-Morris)
3. Kaci Lyle, sophomore (Pacific)
4. Mollie Keith, sophomore (Missouri Valley)
5. Hillary Broad, sophomore (Hawaii)
6. Ashley Sword, freshman (Missouri Valley)
7. Brandi Golt, freshman (Missouri Valley)
8. Kelli Hewitt, freshman (Truman State)

72 kg (158.5 lbs.)
1. Samantha Branka, junior (UM-Morris)
2. Donnell Bradley, junior (Missouri Valley)
3. Randi Miller, freshman (Neosho County)
4. Emily Barna, junior (Messiah)
5. Issa Alvarez, sophomore (Cumberland College)
6. Katie Babits, sophomore (Missouri Valley)

77 kg (169.5 lbs.)
1. Jenna Pavlik, freshman (Lock Haven)
2. Nina Vernon, junior (Missouri Valley)
3. Alicia Wilson, freshman (UM-Morris)
4. Hillary Leith, freshman (Missouri Valley)
5. Wendy Hunter, freshman (Cumberland College)
6. Dana Tate (Messiah)

Dates of publication: Oct. 20, Nov. 20, Dec. 20, Jan. 20, Feb. 20, March 20, April 20, May 20

Eligibility: Athletes who are considered for ranking are eligible full-time college students, and are members of their college women’s varsity or club program, or a member of their college men’s wrestling team.