18th Annual Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open

Phoenix, AZ
Oct. 17-19, 2002

Women's Freestyle Results
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1st Place: Carol Huynh (CAN) dec. Ida Hellstroem (SWE), 7-0
3rd Place: Ingrid Medrano Cuellaro (ESA) won by fall over Liz Short (USA), 3:59

Semifinals:
Ida Hellstroem (SWE) dec. Ingrid Medrano Cuellaro (ESA), 7-1
Carol Huynh (CAN) dec. Liz Short (USA), 8-0

Quarterfinals:
Ingrid Medrano Cuellaro (ESA) dec. Julie Gonzalez (USA), 9-4

Pool 1:
Julie Gonzalez (USA) won by fall over Becky D'Ambrosia (USA), 2:04
Julie Gonzalez (USA) won by fall over Sandra Denizario Rosadado (PUR), 1:23
Becky D'Ambrosia (USA) dec. Sandra Denizario Rosadado (PUR), 17-8

Pool 2:
Gina Heinzelman (USA) won by fall over Tabitha Coffey (USA), 3:10
Ingrid Medrano Cuellaro (ESA) won by fall over Gina Heinzelman (USA), 4:51
Ingrid Medrano Cuellaro (ESA) won by tech. fall over Tabitha Coffey (USA), 10-0, 2:21

Pool 3:
Ida Hellstroem (SWE) won by tech. fall over Tanya Mijasaki (USA), 12-0, 2:24
Tanya Mijasaki (USA) dec. Kristin Fujioka (USA), 3-2
Ida Hellstroem (SWE) won by tech. fall over Kristin Fujioka (USA), 11-0, 2:49

Pool 4:
Liz Short (USA) dec. Dhanujini Hordagoda (USA), 8-5
Dhanujini Hordagoda (USA) won by fall over Kiara Baugh (USA), 1:53
Liz Short (USA) won by fall over Kiara Baugh (USA), 2:26

Pool 5:
Mary Kelly (USA) won by fall over Debbi Sakai (USA), 0:45
Carol Huynh (CAN) dec. Katrina Betts (USA), 5-4
Carol Huynh (CAN) won by tech. fall over Debbi Sakai (USA), 10-0, 1:46
Mary Kelly (USA) dec. Katrina Betts (USA), 7-2
Katrina Betts (USA) won by fall over Debbi Sakai (USA), 1:49
Carol Huynh (CAN) dec. Mary Kelly (USA), 10-1

51 kg/112 lbs.
1st Place: Jenny Wong (USA) dec. Belinda Chou (CAN), 5-1
3rd Place: Malinda Ripley (USA) won by tech. fall over Patrice Crenshaw (USA), 10-0, 2:22

Semifinals:
Jenny Wong (USA) dec. Malinda Ripley (USA), 4-3
Belinda Chou (CAN) won by fall over Patrice Crenshaw (USA), 3:41

Pool 1:
Keli Hinton (USA) dec. Yvette Madrid (USA), 3-2
Jenny Wong (USA) won by tech. fall over Yvette Madrid (USA), 10-0, 1:23
Jenny Wong (USA) won by tech. fall over Keli Hinton (USA), 10-0, 1:20

Pool 2: 1:31
Sarah Hayes (USA) won by fall over Tabitha Ramsey (USA)
Malinda Ripley (USA) won by tech. fall over Sarah Hayes (USA), 13-1, 3:59
Malinda Ripley (USA) won by tech. fall over Tabitha Ramsey (USA), 10-0, 2:59

Pool 3:
Danielle Hobeika (USA) dec. Colleen McKenney (USA), 6-2
Belinda Chou (CAN) dec. Katie Kunimoto (USA), 8-2
Belinda Chou (CAN) won by fall over Colleen McKenney (USA), 0:17
Danielle Hobeika (USA) dec. Katie Kunimoto (USA), 3-2
Katie Kunimoto (USA) won by tech. fall over Colleen McKenney (USA), 11-0, 3:26
Belinda Chou (CAN) dec. Danielle Hobeika (USA), 9-2

Pool 4:
Patrice Crenshaw (USA) won by tech. fall over Desiree Lockhart (USA), 10-0, 3:00
Livanis Rivera (PUR) dec. Cathy Migita (USA), 5-0
Patrice Crenshaw (USA) won by fall over Cathy Migita (USA), 2:27
Livanis Rivera (PUR) dec. Desiree Lockhart (USA), 9-4
Patrice Crenshaw (USA) dec. Livanis Rivera (PUR), 5-2
Desiree Lockhart (USA) dec. Cathy Migita (USA), 13-10

55 kg/121 lbs.
1st Place: Tela O'Donnell (USA) dec. Ida Theres Karlsson (SWE), 5-1
3rd Place: Malissa Sherwood (USA) dec. Heather Sweezey (CAN), 10-6

Semifinals:
Tela O'Donnell (USA) won by fall over Heather Sweezey (CAN), 1:49
Ida Theres Karlsson (SWE) dec. Malissa Sherwood (USA), 7-1

Quarterfinals:
Heather Sweezey (CAN) won by tech. fall over Lindsey Owens (USA), 14-2, 5:28

Pool 1:
Lindsey Owens (USA) won by fall over Tennile Daniel (USA), 1:36
Lindsey Owens (USA) dec. Sarah Tolin (USA), 6-1
Sarah Tolin (USA) won by fall over Tennile Daniel (USA), 2:48

Pool 2:
Melina Hutchison (USA) won by forfeit over Maritza Collazo (USA)
Heather Sweezey (CAN) dec. Melina Hutchison (USA), 8-7
Heather Sweezey (CAN) won by forfeit over Maritza Collazo (USA)

Pool 3:
Marcie VanDusen (USA) won by tech. fall over Raquel Magdaleno (USA), 13-3
Tela O'Donnell (USA) dec. Raquel Magdaleno (USA), 6-0
Tela O'Donnell (USA) dec. Marcie VanDusen (USA), 6-1

Pool 4:
Malissa Sherwood (USA) won by tech. fall over Teresa Dalben (USA), 12-0, 2:56
Malissa Sherwood (USA) won by disq. over Tina Pihl (USA)
Tina Pihl (USA) won by fall over Teresa Dalben (USA), 2:51

Pool 5:
Ida-Theres Karlsson (SWE) won by tech. fall over Katie Ross (USA), 11-0
Linse Meadows (USA) won by tech. fall over Alexandra Gonzalez (USA), 11-0, 2:53
Ida-Theres Karlsson (SWE) won by fall over Alexandra Gonzalez (USA), 1:30
Katie Ross (USA) dec. Linse Meadows (USA), 12-6
Ida-Theres Karlsson (SWE) won by fall over Linse Meadows (USA), 0:53
Katie Ross (USA) won by fall over Alexandra Gonzalez (USA), 1:23

59 kg/130 lbs.
1st Place: Tonya Evinger (USA) dec. Brandy Rosenbrock (USA), 9-5
3rd Place: Mabel Fonseca (PUR) won by tech. fall over Jamie Aivesteffer (USA), 11-1, 2:33

Semifinals:
Tonya Evinger (USA) won by tech. fall over Jamie Aivesteffer (USA), 10-0, 3:34

Pool 1:
Jamie Aivesteffer (USA) dec. Amie McNab (USA), 6-2
Sharon Jacobson (USA) won by fall over Amie McNab (USA), 3:51
Jamie Aivesteffer (USA) dec. Sharon Jacobson (USA), 18-12

Pool 2:
Tonya Evinger (USA) dec. Mabel Fonseca (PUR), 7-6
Grace Magnussen (USA) won by fall over Shelly Ruberg (USA), 3:35
Mabel Fonseca (PUR) won by tech. fall over Shelly Ruberg (USA), 11-0, 0:31
Tonya Evinger (USA) won by tech. fall over Grace Magnussen (USA), 11-1, 2:15
Mabel Fonseca (PUR) won by tech. fall over Grace Magnussen (USA), 10-0, 1:53
Tonya Evinger (USA) dec. Shelly Ruberg (USA), 10-7

Pool 3:
Issa Alvarez (USA) won by fall over Ranae Faaborg (USA), 5:00
Brandy Rosenbrock (USA) won by tech. fall over Madeline Briones (USA), 11-0, 1:22
Brandy Rosenbrock (USA) won by fall over Issa Alvarez (USA), 1:23
Madeline Briones (USA) won by tech. fall over Ranae Faaborg (USA), 11-0, 2:31
Madeline Briones (USA) won by tech. fall over Issa Alvarez (USA), 13-3, 4:01
Brandy Rosenbrock (USA) won by tech. fall over Ranae Faaborg (USA), 11-0, 1:28

63 kg/138.5 lbs.
1st Place: Sara Eriksson (SWE) dec. Lotta Anderson (SWE), 3-0
3rd Place: Tori Adams (USA) dec. Sally Roberts (USA), 4-3

Pool 1:
Sara Eriksson (SWE) dec. Tori Adams (USA), 3-2
Tori Adams (USA) dec. Alaina Berube (USA), 6-5
Sara Eriksson (SWE) won by fall over Alaina Berube (USA), 2:03

Pool 2:
Sally Roberts (USA) dec. Leigh Jaynes (USA), 7-5
Lotta Andersson (SWE) won by tech. fall over Dina Tavera (USA), 10-0, 3:16
Leigh Jaynes (USA) won by tech. fall over Dina Tavera (USA), 11-1, 3:22
Lotta Andersson (SWE) dec. Sally Roberts (USA), 8-5
Lotta Andersson (SWE) won by fall over Leigh Jaynes (USA), 0:22
Sally Roberts (USA) won by tech. fall over Dina Tavera (USA), 10-0, 1:03

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Pool 1:
Elena Mena (USA) dec. Randi Miller (USA), 6-2
Katie Downing (USA) won by tech. fall over Aja Smith (USA), 10-0, 1:51
Randi Miller (USA) dec. Aja Smith (USA), 5-2
Katie Downing (USA) won by tech. fall over Elena Mena (USA), 13-1, 3:54
Katie Downing (USA) won by fall over Randi Miller (USA), 1:53
Elena Mena (USA) won by fall over Aja Smith (USA), 1:48

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1st Place: Tocarra Montgomery (USA) dec. Iris Smith (USA), 4-1
3rd Place: Kaci Lyle (USA) won by tech. fall over Alicia Mena (USA), 11-1, 5:48

Pool 1:
Iris Smith (USA) dec. Kaci Lyle (USA), 3-1
Megan Goldsmith (USA) won by fall over Angel Pina (USA), 0:46
Kaci Lyle (USA) won by fall over Angel Pina (USA), 1:30
Iris Smith (USA) won by tech. fall over Megan Goldsmith (USA), 10-0, 2:03
Kaci Lyle (USA) won by tech. fall over Megan Goldsmith (USA), 12-2, 4:05
Iris Smith (USA) won by fall over Angel Pina (USA), 0:53

Pool 2:
Tocarra Montgomery (USA) won by tech. fall over Alicia Mena (USA), 14-1, 3:52
Beth DeRoy (USA) won by fall over Ivelisse Aponte Cruz (USA), 2:55
Tocarra Montgomery (USA) won by fall over Ivelisse Aponte Cruz (USA), 0:47
Alicia Mena (USA) won by fall over Beth DeRoy (USA), 2:35
Tocarra Montgomery (USA) won by tech. fall over Beth DeRoy (USA), 10-0, 1:43
Alicia Mena (USA) dec. Ivelisse Aponte Cruz (USA), 10-1

10/19/2002
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

This new weight class will be very hard to handicap this year. There is really no way in advance to know which athletes will be competing because it is a new division in between two well-established weight classes. The fact that it is a non-Olympic weight class may also play a factor in determining where certain talented athletes compete this year.

The only real way to handicap this division is to look at which athletes competed here during some of the key international events during the season. That does not mean that these athletes won’t switch weights, but it is a good indication of who might show up to battle for the gold in Halkida, Greece at this year’s World meet.

The 2002 European Champion at this division is two-time World Champion Sara Eriksson of Sweden, a veteran with talent and experience. American fans saw Eriksson as the 2001 Dave Schultz International, competing up a weight class and earning a silver medal.

Winning the European silver medal was Monika Michalik of Poland and the European bronze medal was veteran Christina Oertli of Germany. Michalik was a Junior World bronze medalist in 2000. The European Championships have become one of the world’s tougher women’s events each year, and have become a good indication of possible success on the World level.

The Pan American Championships this year featured a veteran star, gold-medalist Mabel Fonseca of Puerto Rico. Fonseca was fifth in the 2000 World Championships down a weight class. American fans may remember Fonseca for winning the U.S. National Championships a few years ago, then deciding to compete for Puerto Rico rather than the United States in the following international competitions.

The University World Championships gold medalist at this division was Japan’s Saori Yoshida, who has dropped down to 55 kg and will be competing at the World Championships. The athlete listed to compete for Japan at this division is Kaori Icho, who was a silver medalist at the 2002 Asian Games competing up at 63 kg.

China’s Huihua Su was the World University silver medalist this summer. Canada’s Emily Richardson won the World University bronze medal. Richardson, who competes for Douglas College in Canada, won a medal at Sunkist International Open in the USA and the Clansman International Open in Canada last fall.

The 2001 European silver medalist at 63 kg was Natalia Ivanova of Russia. This year, Ivanova competed down at 59 kg at the European Championships and placed eighth at her new weight class. She is a true veteran, winner of World silver medals in 1995 and 1996, and a World bronze medal in 1994.

The United States is bringing one of its top veterans to compete at the new weight class, Lauren Lamb, who has competed at five World Championships. Lamb last competed at the World meet in 1999, placing fifth at 63 kg and helping lead the USA to the team title. She has not won a World medal yet, but should have the experience and talent to challenge for high honors at this new weight division.

Placing fourth at this year’s European Championships was Agoro Papavasileiou of Greece. Among the higher placing athletes at the Europeans were Ludmilla Somkina of Belarus, Oxana Shalikova of Ukraine and Kristine Odriva of Latvia. All of these former Soviet republics have strong wrestling traditions which should help these athletes in their preparation.

Some of the other athletes who might participate include 2002 African champion Ahmed Maher Doaa of Egypt and 2002 Oceanic champion Carli Lewis of Australia. At the 2002 Asian Games, women’s wrestling was contested for the first time, but only in the four Olympic weight divisions, meaning that this weight class was not featured in the tournament.

You must also look at some of the FILA Grand Prix international events at this weight class this year to look for potential World contenders. At the Klippan Ladies Open, Sara Eriksson of Sweden won the gold, followed by Faiza Bejaoui of Tunisia in second and Agoro Papavasileiou of Greece in third. Eriksson was also the champion at the Manitoba Open, followed by a pair of Canadians not on the World Team.

Eriksson also claimed the title at the Gilbert Schaub French Open, followed by Ari Suzuki of Japan and Christina Oertli of Germany. At the Ivan Yarygin Tournament, Russia swept the medals, placing Natalia Ivanova, Elmira Mursalov and Maria Smoliakova in the top three. At the Kiev International, Okasana Shalikova of Ukraine won the gold, followed by Ukraine’s Diana Kolesova and Belarus’ Ludmilla Siomkina.

This is a wide open division, that will be difficult to predict until the athletes make their final determination of weight class selection. The new division will provide some veterans with a chance to enhance their careers. However, it is very conceivable that some new international stars are identified now that there is an additional medal opportunity provided in women’s wrestling.

NO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DATA
This is a new international weight class.

2002 European Championships results.
59 kg/130 lbs. - 1. Sara Eriksson (Sweden); 2. Monika Michalik (Poland); 3. Christina Oertli (Germany); 4. Agoro Papavasileiou (Greece); 5. Ludmila Somkina (Belarus); 6. Oxana Shalikova (Ukraine); 7. Kristine Odrina (Latvia); 8. Natalia Ivanova (Russia); 9. Desislava Lyubenova (Bulgaria); 10. Dilek Erdogan (Turkey)

2002 Pan American Championships
59 kg/130 lbs. - 1 . Mabel Fonseca Ramirez (Puerto Rico); 2. Tonya Evinger (USA); 3. Virginia Mendoza (Mexico); 4. Yoseline Rojas (Venezuela); 5. Saira Martinez (El Salvador)

2002 African Championships
59 kg/130 lbs. - 1. Ahmed Maher Doaa (Egypt); 2. Faiza Bejaoui (Tunisia); 3. Jacqueline Biaye (Senegal); 4. Khaiar Chadouni (Algeria)

2002 Oceanic Championships
59 kg/130 lbs. - 1. Carli Lewis (Australia); 2. Maria Dunn (Guam)

Note: This weight class was not contested at the 2002 Asian Games.

2002 World University Championships
59 kg/130 lbs. - 1. Saori Yoshida (Japan); 2. Huihua Su (China); 3. Emily Richardson (Canada); 4. Meryem Selloum (France); 5. Ha-Na Cho (Korea); 6. Filomena Curatella (Italy); 7. Erika Vargas (Mexico); 8. Zonia Molina Barcenas (El Salvador)

Each day this week, TheMat.com will preview a weight class at the 2002 Women’s World Championships, set for Halkida, Greece, Nov. 2-3. Please visit TheMat.com each day for a new preview of the championships. To discuss the World Championships with other fans, please visit the International Board or the Women’s Wrestling Board on TheMat.com Message Boards.