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4/27/2002
Gary Abbott/Jaimie Millward/TheMat.com
Championship Finals Quotes from U.S. National Championships
FREESTYLE CHAMPIONS
55 kg - Teague Moore, Gator WC
“I wanted to focus on getting the first takedown and controlling the action and pace. I felt if I could do that early, I could do it throughout. In the first period, I was more defensive. In the second period, I was more confident and I was more offensive and was able to finish my shots. I’ve wrestled him before. We are both from Pennsylvania. In freestyle I get nervous wrestling guys as big as him. They have so much leverage.”
60 kg - Eric Guerrero, Sunkist Kids
“Wins are always good. I’m glad to win tonight. But I want to do more and do different things. I’m looking for a combination of old and new. I want to get better and build on what I have now. I’m glad to get it. I’m looking forward to the Trials and everything after that.”
66 kg - Bill Zadick, Hawkeye WC
“I feel good I won, but I feel I could’ve wrestled better. This is a national tournament; there are always tough competitors. It’s good to win this. I could have put more points on the board, and made it a better match for the fans. I don’t know what his game plan was or if he had one. He tried to do what he does best. I tried to do what I do best.”
74 kg - Joe Williams, Sunkist Kids
“The match went like I thought it would. I made him shut down. I felt in control and wrestled the match the way I wanted to. I have to keep training and getting better. I need to work on the areas that I have not mastered. Winning this keeps things in perspective for me. I know that what I’ve done in training is working, but I think about what if I had lost and I still need to improve.”
84 kg - Cael Sanderson, Sunkist Kids
(About wrestling freestyle after college season) “I’m getting there. The rest of my life is now freestyle and I’m excited about that. I need to get stronger, control the tie-up and get turns in par terre. I need to get better at everything.”
(About the match) “He’s so strong. I had to come up with ways to finish my takedowns. That’s something I’ll have to work on.”
“It’s been a hectic few weeks since the national tournament. I didn’t know if my head would be in it like I need it to be. I really can’t complain with my performance. I’m looking forward to taking some time off. I’m getting married in two weeks, then I’m going on a honeymoon for a week in the Dominican Republic.”
96 kg - Tim Hartung, Minnesota Storm
“I was not looking for the cradle. I had several opportunities with the front headlock earlier, and when I saw his leg, the cradle was there and I went for it. I had my hands locked and I wouldn’t let go until the time ran out. My par terre has been great. I have worked a lot with the Greco guys, and with coaches Gordy and Marty Morgan. Lamer is one of the guys who tries to stop me from getting on the top. On the winter tours, when I was on the top, I was confident. It has changed my wrestling. I was getting hurt at 184 pounds. My coaches talked me into going up and it worked out great. It has been real different.”
120 kg - Kerry McCoy, New York AC
“Every match is difficult. Tolly is a great competitor. I knew he was a guy I’d have to beat. He gave me everything he had. He did a good job defending my attacks; he’s done a good job of getting better. I feel I wrestled well this weekend. I didn’t make any mistakes. To be a World or Olympic champion you can’t make any mistakes. I’ve lost in the past and it’s because I’ve made mistakes.”
“Going into the Olympics and World Championships I made a point to get better at the clinch. At the World Championships and Olympics I didn’t get there. I’ve only been in it twice, at last year’s World Team Trials.”
GRECO-ROMAN CHAMPIONS
55 kg - Brandon Paulson, Minnesota Storm
(On the clinch) “I knew I wanted to stay in good position. If I stayed strong, he had to try something. I was comfortable in that position. There were 20 seconds left in the clinch, I put some pressure on him. He tried something not very smart and I took advantage of him. I had the conditioning edge in the second period. I own it. I feel I can lift anybody in the second period because of my conditioning.”
(Comparing now to 1996 when he won an Olympic medal) I’m older and more mature now. In 1996 I was a different person. I scored a lot on my feet. Now, I’m a much more mature Greco-Roman wrestler. Now I score on the mat.”
60 kg - Glenn Nieradka, U.S. Army
“I was going to try and go into the clinch earlier, but in the first period it didn’t work out. I got in it in overtime. I wanted to score from there. “
(About his new weight class) “In the first tournament overseas, when I came down, I wrestled poorly. It made me nervous, but I’ve kept my weight down and I feel good now. One of the reasons I came down was to face Dennis Hall and Jim Gruenwald. They are the best at this weight. They are who I want to compete with.”
(About winning his second National title) “It feels better this time. I got my feet wet with the first one, but there was a three year gap. It was real sweet tonight.”
66 kg - Kevin Bracken, New York AC
“It’s the first time we’ve wrestled since 1993. Marcel’s a tough opponent, he’s one of the best in the nation. Once I scored a three-point move, I thought I could hit it again. He knew it was coming, so I just let things happen. What I want to see is me winning at the World Championships. I expect to be in the number one spot in the world this year.”
74 kg - Keith Sieracki, U.S. Army
“I had a terrible tournament, with the exception of that last match. I don’t know how to put it. I know, of all the competitors, T.C. makes me rise to the occasion the most, because of the athlete and the wrestler he is. We both could be World Champion. This is the kind of wrestling I need to do to be the World Champion. Now, I have to stay in shape, get ready for the World Team Trials, enjoy spending some time with my daughter and do some walleye fishing.”
84 kg - Ethan Bosch, New York AC
“It has been a long time. This is my 10th year here. I can’t believe that I won. I put my time in. I’m thankful for the (U.S. Olympic) Training Center, my wife... this is the first time I’m married, and my first title. Is there any coincidence?... and I’m thankful to God. I don’t feel any better this year than I have in the past. I stepped over on his gut wrench and I got him on a trapped arm near the edge. After the flurry, it was 6-1. Last year, I was ahead 8-0 against Matt Lindland in the semis and I lost, and seriously, the thought went through my mind, especially with Lindland in his corner. I buckled down, went at it, and didn’t do anything stupid. I was able watch the last couple of seconds and have a smile on my face.”
96 KG - Garrett Lowney, Minnesota Storm
“I knew it would be a battle. Justin is a go-er. I wanted to score earlier in the match. I got a 5-0 lead. I had to be active but not take any risks and make any mistakes. I felt I could have done some damage last year at the World Championships. I’m looking forward to going again and doing my best.”
“I’m getting more and more confidence in Greco-Roman. I’m expanding my knowledge and repertoire. I’m feeling I’m getting better each year. If I was at my best at 20 years old, why am I in it? It’s also nice to compete against people my size now (rather than against college heavyweights).”
120 kg - Dremiel Byers, U.S. Army
“Billy Pierce comes from the Rulon Gardner, Matt Ghaffari mold. He’s right there with them. He has the strongest shoulders in the nation. I needed to stop his pummel. I’ve been working on my body lock. Now I can use my body lock and be comfortable in the clinch. I appreciate what Coach Shon Lewis has taught me about the clinch. I have to do whatever it takes to win. A lot of people know where they want to be in life. I don’t want to be somebody who has to live the rest of his life not reaching his goals.”
WOMEN CHAMPIONS
48 kg - Patricia Miranda, Dave Schultz WC
“It was intense out there. I just started feeling the rhythm and it just went from there. Strategy-wise I knew that had to get used to the crowd and had to stay focused to win. Next up is World Team Trials and hopefully I’ll do well there and then move on to the World Championships. You never know what’s going to happen though, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
51 kg - Jenny Wong, Sunkist Kids
“I definitely wasn’t at my top form. I didn’t get my shots off like I wanted to but I’ll definitely take this win. This is a big one and it means a lot to me.”
55 kg - Stephanie Murata, Sunkist Kids
“Four weight classes in seven years is definitely a challenge and that is what keeps me going, the challenge. I wetn to this weight class to compete at the Olympic weight and it’s going really well for me. I would like to try for the Olympics and this will definitely help. The match was really physical. I’ve wrestled Malissa (Sherwood) four times in the past and beaten her every time. With the old weights, she couldn’t beat me so she moved up. Now with 55 kilos being the Olympic weight we’re facing each other again. I guess she’ll have to move again.”
59 kg - Lauren Lamb, Michigan WC
“At the end I knew she (Erin Tomeo) was coming after me so I knew I had to be aggressive and go after her. I’ve worked too hard to lose in overtime and that really motivated me. Now my next goal is to win the World Championships.”
63 kg - Sara McMann, Sunkist Kids
“She’s (Kristie Stenglein-Marano) tough and strong but luckily I got a couple of escapes and got away from her. We both know things don’t happen right away and you have to be patient and wait for it to develop. We’ve wrestled on the same team before and so we know what each other can do. One thing that really keeps me motivated is that I can hear my mom in the background and that that support is always there. It feels great to know that she’s here and cheering me on.”
67 kg - Toccara Montgomery, Sunkist Kids
“She got the first score and I knew I had to come back strong. I did want I do best, I went to the double leg. When I had her up in the air, my instincts took over and I just threw her. I felt good and I accomplished my goals here. Now it’s on to the World Team Trials.”
72 kg - Iris Smith, U.S. Army
“Everyone thought that I wasn’t serious about wrestling anymore when I missed the World Championships for basic training, but I came here and kicked tail. I just decided during basic training that I was going to win the Open this year and did it. I wouldn’t trade it (U.S. Army) for anything. It’s a great program and I’m setting a great example for kids. People can do anything they put their minds to. I practice against guys and they pound me into the ground but it’s worth it!”
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21 champions crowned at exciting 2002 U.S. National Championships in Las Vegas
4/27/2002
Gary Abbott/TheMat.com
The 2002 United States National Wrestling Championships was an outstanding showcase of the best that wrestling has to offer, in all three styles of international wrestling. Those who attended the gold-medal finals of the competition will have many memories to enjoy.
It was a tournament that featured a number of established stars continuing to move forward with successful international careers. However, in many weight divisions, new stars have emerged with first-time victories and are setting the stage for a run at the a spot in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Ga.
Let’s take a look at each style, beginning with men’s Greco-Roman...
Established stars ruled the day in Greco-Roman, as you might expect in a style that is currently ranked No. 3 in the world. Of the seven champions, six have won previous national titles.
Leading the pack was 1996 Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson of the Minnesota Storm, who claimed his second national title with a 6-1 win over Lindsay Durlacher of the Wildcat WC at 121 pounds. Paulson was a 2001 World silver medalist, and broke the match open with a three-point throw in the second period.
Other past Olympians to win gold medals this year in Greco-Roman were 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Garrett Lowney of the Minnesota Storm at 211.75 pounds and 2000 Olympian Kevin Bracken of the New York AC at 145.5 pounds. For Lowney, it was a second national title, while Bracken has now claimed the title four times, including three in a row.
Lowney stopped Justin Ruiz of the Dave Schultz WC in the finals, 5-0. Ruiz had beaten Lowney on the age-group level back in 1999, but Lowney’s Greco-Roman career has blossomed since. In a battle of 2001 World Team members, Bracken beat Marcel Cooper of the Marines, 4-1 in the finals. It was Bracken’s third straight U.S. Nationals title
Past World Team members who captured golds were U.S. Army stars Keith Sieracki at 163 pounds and Dremiel Byers at 264.5 pounds. Another Army champion was Glenn Nieradka at 132 pounds, who was selected as the Outstanding Greco-Roman wrestler.
Sieracki defeated his top rival in recent years, T.C. Dantzler of the New York AC, 4-1 in the finals. Byers used a powerful bodylock throw from the clinch position to break a 0-0 tie and pin Billy Pierce of the Minnesota Storm in 3:14. It was Sieracki’s third career U.S. Nationals title, while Byers won his second career gold.
Nieradka won the Outstanding Wrestler after beating two of the nation’s best athletes in a row. In the semifinals, he beat Dennis Hall of the Sunkist Kids, a 10-time national champion, Olympic silver medalist and World Champion in overtime. In the finals, he beat Olympian Jim Gruenwald of the Sunkist Kids by a 4-2 margin, again in overtime. It was Nieradka’s second career title.
By capturing three of the seven individual titles the Army won the Div. I team race, with 45 pts. with the U.S. Marines in second with 40 pts.
The only new Greco-Roman champion was Ethan Bosch of the New York AC, who scored a 6-2 win over Brad Vering of the Sunkist Kids in the finals. Bosch, who has been close many times, has been competing in this event for 10 years before getting his title.
The freestyle field for men also featured a mix of new talent and veteran stars. Two wrestlers won their third career National crowns: Joe Williams of the Sunkist Kids at 163 pounds and Kerry McCoy of the New York AC at 264.5 pounds.
Williams captured his gold medal with a 9-1 decision over Casey Cunningham of the Sunkist Kids and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler. McCoy, who has won his three titles in a row, needed overtime (and three winning clinches) to stop Tolly Thompson of the Sunkist Kids, 3-0. McCoy was the only past Olympian to win a freestyle national title.
Taking their second U.S. National titles were Eric Guerrero of the Gator WC at 132 pounds, Bill Zadick of the Hawkeye WC at 145.5 pounds and Cael Sanderson of the Sunkist Kids at 185 pounds. All three beat their opponents in the finals by 4-0 scores.
Guerrero defeated Eric Akin of the Dave Schultz WC in the finals in regulation. Zadick went into overtime before beating Jamill Kelly of the Gator WC. Sanderson scored four one-pointers on his way to a win in regulation over Lee Fullhart of the Hawkeye WC.
The two new freestyle champions were Teague Moore of the Gator WC at 121 pounds and Tim Hartung of the Minnesota Storm at 211.25 pounds. Moore was in control for a 7-2 win over Jody Stittmatter. Hartung, trailing 2-1, locked up a cradle late in the match and did not let go, scoring a 4-2 win over Chad Lamer of the Hawkeye WC.
The Div. I champions in freestyle was the Sunkist Kids, followed by the Dave Schultz WC. In Div. II, the New York AC took the prize, followed by the Gator WC.
In women’s freestyle, two of the sport’s veteran stars won titles again, as Stephanie Murata of the Sunkist Kids captured the 121 pound title and Lauren Lamb of the Michigan WC grabbed the 130-pound title.
Murata won her seventh National tournament with a 6-2 win over rugged Malissa Sherwood of Stars and Stripes. Lamb, who won her first National event as a teenager in 1991, scored in overtime to top Erin Tomeo of the Sunkist Kids, 6-5.
Two wrestlers claimed their third straight titles, Sara McMann of the Sunkist Kids at 138.75 pounds and Iris Smith of the U.S. Army at 158.25 pounds.
McMann defeated five-time World medalist Kristie Stenglein-Marano 7-1 in the finals match. Smith, the first woman champion for the U.S. Army, stopped Kaci Lyle of Pacific, 6-0 in the championship.
Winning her second straight gold, as well as her second straight Outstanding Wrestler award was Toccara Montgomery of the Sunkist Kids, who put away Katie Downing of Minnesota-Morris in a 12-1 technical fall. Included was a double leg takedown to a five-point throw that excited the crowd.
The two lightest weight classes featured new champions, Patricia Miranda of the Dave Schultz WC at 105.5 pounds and Jenny Wong of the Sunkist Kids at 112 pounds. Miranda won a 10-0 technical fall over Julie Gonzales of the Schultz club, while Wong stopped another Dave Schultz Club athlete Danielle Hobeika by a 9-4 margin.
The Sunkist Kids edged Missouri Valley College for the team title by one point, 41 to 40 points.
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Complete Medal Results - 2002 U.S. National Championships
4/27/2002
Gary Abbott/TheMat.com
WOMEN’S FREESTYLE
48 kg (105.5 lbs.) *
1st - Patricia Miranda, Stanford, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) won by tech. fall over Julie Gonzalez, Vallejo, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC), 10-0, 5:02
3rd - Miriam Jenkins, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines) dec. Clarissa Chun, Kapolei, Hawaii (Missouri Valley), 3-1
5th - Sara Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif. (SF Peninsula Grapplers) dec. Katrina Betts, Milan, Mich. (UM-Morris), 4-1
7th - Malinda Ripley, Antioch, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) won by tech. fall over Kristen Fujioka, Kaneohe, Hawaii (Pacific), 10-0
51 kg (112 lbs.)
1st - Jenny Wong, Stillwater, Minn. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Danielle Hobeika, Cambridge, Mass. (Dave Schultz WC), 9-4
3rd -Jillian Yost, Manchester, Conn. (New York AC) pin Audrey Pang, Princeton, N.J. (PFW), 2:31
5th - Katie Kunimoto, Kaneohe, Hawaii (Pacific) dec. Kera Pemberton, Manhattan, Kan. (Dave Schultz WC), 10-4
7th -Sarah Hayes, Aurora, Colo. (Cumberland College) pin Laura Obuhanych, Ewa Beach, Hawaii (Rainbow Wahines), 3:34
55 kg (121 lbs.) *
1st - Stephanie Murata, Minden, Nev. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Malissa Sherwood, Bates City, Mo. (Stars and Stripes), 6-2
3rd - Marcie Van Dusen, Twin Peaks, Calif. (MFWC) dec. Brooke Bogren, Carbondale, Kan. (Sante Fe WC), 11-3
5th - Tela O’Donnell, Homer, Alaska (Pacific) dec. Jill Remiticado, Forest Grove, Ore. (Pacific), 8-5
7th - Desi Lockhart, Forest Grove, Ore. (Pacific) pin Lisa Ward, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley), 2:31
59 kg (130 lbs.)
1st -Lauren Lamb, Farmington, N.Y. (Michigan WC) dec. Erin Tomeo, Volant, Pa. (Sunkist Kids), 6-5, ot, 6:49
3rd - Tonya Evinger, Bates City, Mo. (Stars and Stripes) pin Brandy Rosenbrock, Warren, Mich. (Shamrock), 4:32
5th - Kiersten Hyatt, Carmichael, Calif. (Missouri Valley) dec. Leigh Jaynes, Burlington, N.J. (Missouri Valley), 4-0
63 kg (138.5 lbs.) *
1st - Sara McMann, Lock Haven, Pa. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Kristie Stenglein-Marano, Albany, N.Y. (ATWA), 7-1
3rd - Tori Adams, Amarillo, Texas (Missouri Valley) dec. Grace Magnussen, Walnut Creek, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC), 6-0
5th - Sally Roberts, Federal Way, Wash. (Pacific) dec. Tina Arnds, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Missouri Valley), 5-2
7th - Ginele Lee, Olympia, Wash. (South Sound) won by forfeit
67 kg (147.5 lbs.)
1st - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) won by tech. fall over Katie Downing, Pendleton, Ind. (UM-Morris), 12-1, 4:24
3rd -Lisa Bisers, Baltimore, Md. pin Brandy Golt, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley), 3:20
5th -Cindy Herceg, Los Angeles, Calif. (Spartak) dec. Mollie Keith, Aurelia, Iowa (Missouri Valley), 11-3
7th - Jimi-Dawn Hornbuckle, State College, Pa. (NLWC) pin Stephanie Bolton, Honoluku, Hawaii (Cumberland College), 1:38
72 kg (158.5 lbs.) *
1st - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Kaci Lyle, Eureka, Calif. (Pacific), 6-0
3rd - Satrinina Vernon, Rodeo, Calif. (Missouri Valley) won by tech. fall over Samantha Branka, Lincoln Park, Mich. (UM-Morris), 14-4
5th - Donnell Bradley, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley) pin Randi Miller, Arlington, Texas (Dave Schultz WC), 3:33
7th - Rachel Glogowski, Mechanicsburg, Pa. (Messiah WC) pin Alicia Wilson, Morris, Mo. (Minnesota Storm), 2:25
* - Olympic weight class
Outstanding Wrestler - Toccara Montgomery (Sunkist Kids)
Most Falls - Becky D’Ambrosia (Cumberland College), three falls in 4:01
Teams - 1. Sunkist Kids, 41 pts.; 2. Missouri Valley College, 40 pts.
