TheMat.com interview with Stephanie Murata, the 2002 U.S. Nationals women's freestyle champion at 55 kg

6/5/2002
Gary Abbott/TheMat.com

Stephanie Murata is one of the true veterans of U.S. women’s wrestling. In April, she won her seventh straight U.S. Nationals gold medal, one of the most impressive streaks in history. Last year, Murata claimed a silver medal at the Women’s World Championships, her first World medal after a number of near misses in the past.

Murata has moved up in weight class to 121 pounds, after competing well at 112 pounds for the last few years. Although she already has many impressive achievements, Murata still has some high goals for her wrestling career. TheMat.com caught up with Murata after a workout at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in preparation for the World Team Trials in Saint Paul.

TheMat.com: After many years and some close calls, you won your first World medal in 2001. What did this mean to you, and what was different about last year than the other years?
Murata: Alot of it had to do with just being prepared for the World Championships. I started my career later than many of the other girls, and I didn’t have those years of high school experience. I almost needed to play catchup and get all of those match under my belt. I found a weight class that I was comfortable at, and felt very comfortable at the World Championships. It all fell together at the right time and place for me, although I can’t say why it didn’t happen before that.

TheMat.com: So, how did winning the medal feel to you?
Murata: It was very satisfying, although I wanted to win the gold medal. I had been there so many times and had been so close before. I knew that I deserved it. It shows everybody else that it was not unfounded, it was something that I could work towards and could achieve.

TheMat.com: This year, you moved up from 112 pounds to 121 pounds, which will be one of the Olympic weight classes. Was it difficult wrestling the heavier athletes and how do you feel you have performed there?
Murata: I like it. I was pleasantly surprised the first time I was at this weight class competing in Venezuela. I feel stronger and just as fast. The difference for me was that I was comfortable at that weight class, so this was a change. I’m thinking now that I should have stayed at 56 kg all all the time, and may have performed even better there.

TheMat.com: Evaluate your performance at the U.S. Nationals this year.
Murata: I was a little disappointed in my performance. I felt I was capable of wrestling better than I did. Yes, I won and got the job done. What I am capable of doing and what I did just did not match up.

TheMat.com: One of your World Team teammates, Tina George, is now in your weight class. She missed her match in Las Vegas and did not complete the tournament. Do you feel you might face her in Saint Paul and what are your thoughts about wrestling her?
Murata:The more tough competition we have here in the United States, the better it prepares you to face the world. You are a much better wrestler once you make the USA team. For the men, that has been the case. Sometimes, it is more difficult just to get out of the nation. I’m excited about wrestling Tina. Anytime anyone can challenge you and push you have to achieve your goals, it’s very good.

TheMat.com: What has the support from the Sunkist Kids club meant to you?
Murata: It has been very helpful. (Art Martori’s) belief in my ability before anyone else knew my name or who I am, it was very important to me. He is a leader, a great person who supports wrestling and individuals. He makes a difference in the lives of those people he believes in.

TheMat.com: As a veteran, the opportunity to compete in the Olympics must be very exciting. What are your thoughts about women’s wrestling in the Olympics?
Murata:I’d like to go. And if I am going, I’d like to win. The importance of being in the Olympics is the impact it has on other girls coming up. It gives them a goal. If you are going to have dreams or goals, you can’t shoot small. You have to dream big. The Olympics is the best of the best. It is a phenominal thing to be involved in and to have as a goal. I hope to be part of that first group.

TheMat.com: What do you feel that you need to improve on as a wrestler?
Murata:Everybody has different areas to work on. It’s not moves, it is skills. Whatever it is, you have to work on it every day. It never stays the same. You need to continue to improve on whatever you do. If you stop working on an area, that is where you will have difficulty.

TheMat.com: Have you considered your future after 2004?
Murata: I have made the commitment for 2004 and the Olympic Games. After that, you have to evaluate where you are with your life. It is a big sacrifice and commitment involved to compete at this level. I’m not sure what the future holds for me after that, but I am definately committed through the Olympics.

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2002 World Team Trials preview for 55 kg in women's freestyle wrestling

6/5/2002
Gary Abbott/TheMat.com

This is one of the most talented groups of women athletes in the nation, with a wide variety of experience and potential. Leading the parade is Stephanie Murata of the Sunkist Kids, a 2001 World silver medalist who has won the U.S. Nationals for seven straight years. Murata is one of the veterans who have helped the United States become a World power in the sport. After twice placing fourth in the World, just one excrutiating win away from a medal, Murata’s silver medal at 112 pounds last year was a worthy reward for all of her hard work and talent. She has moved up in weight to compete in this Olympic weight class, and continues to use strength and technique to defeat her foes.

An athlete who did not qualify through the U.S. Nationals may be the favorite to win the Challenge Tournament and go toe-to-toe with Murata. Tina George of the U.S. Army has competed on the last three U.S. World Teams in this weight class, a World teammate of the lighter Murata. George had her best World meet by placing sixth in 1999, when the U.S. claimed the World Team title. George is very strong and has great speed and skills, and is now in the respected Army World Class Athlete Program. She arrived late for her opening match at the U.S. Nationals this year and lost by forfeit, forcing her to withdraw. Her opponents had better be ready for her in Saint Paul, where it is doubtful that she will miss the opening whistle.

No athlete has faced the frustration of just missing her goals as much as Malissa Sherwood of Stars and Stripes, who lost to Murata in a rugged 6-2 gold-medal match this year in Las Vegas. Sherwood has placed second at the U.S. Nationals six times and second in the World Team Trials another time. She has great talent, winning the Outstanding Wrestler at the Dave Schultz International in 2000, and taking three straight gold medals early in the 2002 season. Sherwood physically pounds on her opponents and has impressive upper-body throwing techniques. To make a U.S. World Team would be a tremendous reward for years of competing at a high level.

Two of America’s top young athletes were in the bronze-medal match at Las Vegas, third-place Marcie Van Dusen of the MFWC and fourth-place Brooke Bogren of the Santa Fe WC. Van Dusen filled her trophy case with age-group national titles and World medals as a phenom out of California, but has been away from the mats for a few season. Bogren, a national champion on the FILA Cadet and FILA Junior levels, is a graduating high school senior from Kansas who competed at her first U.S. Senior Nationals. Both have the goods to become future stars on the Olympic scene.

Two athletes from Pacific University were next in the standings in Vegas, fifth-place Tela O’Donnell and sixth place Jill Remiticado. O’Donnell has shown great talent, including a victory at the NAIA Coaches Association event early this year. She had Murata in danger of a fall during the U.S. Nationals semifinals, but Murata righted herself and took over the match. Remiticado has qualified for the World Team Trials for the second straight year, and her involvement in the Pacific program is one of the reasons the college has chosen to build a strong women’s club.

Pacific also boasted the seventh place athlete, young Desi Lockhart, who was followed by Lisa Ward of Missouri Valley in eighth place in Las Vegas. Neither are expected to challenge for the World Team spot, but both could continue their improvement by competing in Saint Paul. Three other qualifiers for the event may be in the field, all who qualified by placing at a major international event: Medalist at FILA A event - Jessica Shirley of Cumberland College, Sarah Tolin of the Dave Schultz WC and Hillary Wolf of the New York AC. Wolf is the most intriguing, a two-time Olympic judo athlete who tried wrestling for the first time this year and has shown great skill.

As an Olympic weight class, this division could see some more athletes moving in from either below or above. Athletes who might consider dropping down are 2001 World Team member Erin Tomeo, veterans Tonya Evinger and Grace Magnussen or high school star Brandy Rosenbrock. They enter this division at great peril, considering the tremendous talent and depth in the field.

The only thing certain about this division is that veteran star Stephanie Murata will be in the gold-medal finals. The Challenge Tournament will be fiercely contested, with George and Sherwood favored to emerge but many others with legitimate chances. Many fans might wish to see a Murata vs. George finals, but there will be no guarantees in this rugged weight class.

55 kg (121 lbs.) qualifiers
National champion - Stephanie Murata, Minden, Nev. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals #2 - Malissa Sherwood, Bates City, Mo. (Stars and Stripes)
U.S. Nationals #3 - Marcie Van Dusen, Twin Peaks, Calif. (MFWC)
U.S. Nationals #4 - Brooke Bogren, Carbondale, Kan. (Sante Fe WC)
U.S. Nationals #5 - Tela O’Donnell, Homer, Alaska (Pacific)
U.S. Nationals #6 - Jill Remiticado, Forest Grove, Ore. (Pacific)
U.S. Nationals #7 - Desi Lockhart, Forest Grove, Ore. (Pacific)
U.S. Nationals #8 - Lisa Ward, Woodinville, Wash. (Missouri Valley)
Team USA member - Tina George-Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Medalist at FILA A event - Jessica Shirley, Galion, Ohio (Cumberland College)
Medalist at FILA A event -Sarah Tolin, Casper, Wyo. (Dave Schultz WC)
Medalist at FILA A event -Hillary Wolf, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

Women’s Freestyle criteria: 1. Top eight at the 2002 Senior National Championships; 2. Current National Team Member - Top three; 3. Top three Finisher in a FILA A Championship in the past three years, including the Pan Ams, but not Sunkist; 4. 2002 University National Champion; 5. Past World Team Member; 6. 2002 Regional Tournament Champion from the Northeast and Northern Plains Regionals; 7. Medalist at Junior World Championships in the past two years

Note 1: Some athletes qualified in more than one way, although just one is noted in this list.
Note 2: Other wrestlers who meet qualifying criterion may identify themselves, and will be added to this list leading up to the event. Some of the anticipated qualifiers may choose not to attend.

Starting on May 30, TheMat.com will feature a daily interview with one of the 2002 U.S. Nationals champions, as well as a preview of that weight class for the upcoming World Team Trials, set for Saint Paul, Minn., June 21-23. Visit TheMat.com daily to read about America’s best international athletes and learn about the exciting action expected at this year’s World Team Trials.

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Airdate For U.S. Women's Nationals on Oxygen Changed To Sunday, June 30

6/7/2002
John Fuller/USA Wrestling

The broadcast date of the 2002 Women’s U.S. Nationals on Oxygen has been changed to Sunday, June 30. The broadcast will air at 5 pm (EST). This is a change from the last rescheduled date of June 16.

The Oxygen Network will combine match coverage from the gold-medal finals in Las Vegas with feature stories on the top American competitors during the 60-minute show. The Oxygen Network has distinguished itself with creative and entertaining coverage of major women’s sports events in recent years.

Calling the gold-medal matches will be the broadcast team of veteran play-by-play announcer Larry Nugent, working with color analyst Shannon Yancey, a four-time World silver medalist and top women’s wrestling coach.

The event, originally held in Las Vegas, Nev. in April, featured some tremendous action in the seven weight classes in the women’s division. The Oxygen Network spent the weekend covering the U.S. Women’s Nationals, interviewing numerous athletes and coaches and filming a variety of feature materials.

Women’s wrestling is the newest sport added to the official program of the Olympic Games, and will make its debut at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

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