News page
2003 U.S. Women’s Nationals preview at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
4/30/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The top talent in this division is Patricia Miranda of the Dave Schultz WC, a 2000 World silver medalist who made the drop in weight last year from 51 kg and has dominated the American scene. Miranda was upset at the 2002 World meet in her pool, but has turned in some tremendous international performances this winter. Among her victims this year have been three-time World champion Miyu Yamamoto of Japan, reigning World champion Bridget Wagner of Germany and two-time World medalist Carol Huyhn of Canada. Miranda has joined the USOTC resident program, and is focusing full-time on freestyle wrestling through 2004.
Ranked No. 2 is Clarissa Chun of the Gator WC, who beat Miranda in one of the three bouts at the World Team Trials last year. Miranda dominated Chun during an international meet recently. Chun has recovered from knee surgery, and a recent win at the University Nationals gives her momentum going in. Chun is also a USOTC resident athlete, and has considerable experience in comparison to some of the young challengers.
Next on the ladder is college star Mary Kelly, who was ahead of Chun in the University finals but lost in the final period. Kelly won a number of age-group World medals, and has a bright
future on the Senior level. She is the top star at Neosho County CC this season. Many wrestling fans may remember Kelly as the talented girl who competed for Illinois at the Cadet/Junior Nationals in Fargo for a few years. She comes from a great wrestling family, as her dad Jerry was a NCAA runner-up and uncle Bill a NCAA champion.
The rest of the field is a mix of college wrestlers and veteran challengers. Veteran Julie Gonzalez of the Dave Schultz WC is capable of reaching the championship match. Her experience goes back many years, and when she is competing well, can beat many of America’s best. Talented Katrina Betts was injured this year as a collegian at UM-Morris, but when healthy is a contender. Betts has a tremendous upperbody attack with great throwing ability.
Malinda Ripley of the Sunkist Kids has improved as a resident athlete, but may be up a weight class. Ripley came to the training center right out of high school, where she won a Junior National title and was a placewinner on the Senior level. Marine wrestler Miriam Jenkins has not competed since last year, but has high placements on the Senior and University levels in the past.
High school star Sara Fulp-Allen of the Peninsula Grapplers was fifth at last year's U.S. Nationals and had tremendous achievements on the age-group levels. College wrestlers Liz Short of UM-Morris, Amantha Hordagoda of Cal-Bakersfield and Gina Heinzelmann of the Minnesota Storm have shown steady improvement. Short competed in last year’s University World Championships and is always in the medals at most events. Others to watch are Erica Dye, Kristen Fujioka of Pacific and Rachel Bernardes of Missouri Valley College. Dye was a high school state runner-up in West Virginia competing against boys, and also was very successful in USA Wrestling age-group events. After a year off the mats, she returned to qualify for a spot on the U.S. FILA Junior World Team. Dye’s biggest challenge is that she is a bit undersized at this class.
This is one of the four Olympic weight classes, so there is always a chance that some people from 51 kg might make a run at this class in order to chase a spot in the Olympics.
2002 U.S. Women’s Nationals results at 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
-------------------------------------------------
2003 U.S. Women's Nationals preview at 51 kg/112.25 lbs.
5/1/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The defending national champion is Jenny Wong of the Sunkist Kids, who has steadily improved her performance after an impressive age-group career. Wong was dominant in winning the University Nationals in April, and has shown continued progress since becoming a USOTC resident athlete. Her performance against foreign athletes also has been solid, including a medal at the famous Yarygin Memorial in Russia.
Wong was defeated in a Special Wrestle-off for the U.S. World team, however, by 2001 World silver medalist Stephanie Murata of the Sunkist Kids. It was Murata who went to the World Championships, where she placed 10th. Murata was competing at an Olympic weight class, 55 kg/121, and when she placed second in the 2002 World Team Trials, she dropped down for the wrestle-off. Murata is expected to stay up at 121 pounds for the U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials this year, in an attempt to make a run for the Olympic spot there next year..
Young Katie Kunimoto of the Gator WC placed behind Wong at the 2002 World Team Trials, the top performance of her developing career. Kunimoto is also a USOTC resident athlete, and is still learning her trade. Kunimoto finished fifth at the recent University Nationals, a disappointment she wishes to reverse at the U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas.
Veteran Danielle Hobeika placed second at the 2002 U.S. Nationals and is third on the national team ladder at this weight class. Hobeika won a gold against college wrestlers at the Can-Am Freestyle Championships in Michigan this year. She trained with and coached the women wrestlers at Princeton this year. Hobeika has consistently beaten the young wrestlers in this division, but will need
Jillian Yost, third at last year's U.S. Nationals and Audrey Pang, who was fourth, have not been prominent yet this year. Pang is one of the Princeton wrestlers who have been training with Hobeika.
College wrestlers Patrice Crenshaw of UM-Morris, Jill Remiticado of Pacific, Sarah Hayes of Cumberland and Marianne Vollmer of Missouri Valley all have the ability to challenge for the medal rounds. They have been trading places in TheMat.com U.S. college rankings all season. Remiticado, a senior, may the most success of this group on the Senior level. Crenshaw, who has strong skills but has had injury problems, upset Kunimoto during the University Nationals this year. Hayes has shown tremendous consistency in her performances throughout the year.
Laura Obuhanych of the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine WC was eighth at last year's U.S. Nationals. FILA Junior champion Debbi Sakai, also from the Hawaii club, could also be a force. Sakai was a high school national girls folkstyle champion, and has been competing well at USA Wrestling age-group levels.
Others to watch are Colleen McKinney of Cumberland College, Tanya Miyasaki of Menlo College, Yvette Madrid of Neosho County CC and Ophelia Pickard of Missouri Valley. Miyasaki is a past U.S. Nationals placewinner who has moved up in weight. This weight class has the potential to showcase a few new young talents, perhaps some motivated high school stars looking to make a national name for themselves.
2002 U.S. Women’s Nationals results at 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
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2003 U.S. Women’s Nationals preview at 55 kg/121 lbs.
5/2/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Tina George of the U.S. Army has won the U.S. World Team Trials at her weight class for five straight years, and had her best career performance at the 2002 World Championships in Greece, winning the silver medal. She was able to use her strength and talent to her advantage, and had the top U.S. performance of the year. In Greece, George was able to get her offense going in every match, something she has not always done. George weighed in but did not finish the 2002 U.S. Nationals, missing one of her early matches then withdrawing.
Capturing her seventh U.S. Nationals title was Stephanie Murata of the Sunkist Kids, a 2001 World silver medalist. At the World Team Trials, the George vs. Murata final series went all three bouts, with George winning a nailbiter. Murata then dropped in weight and won a challenge at 112.25 pounds, beating Jenny Wong then placing 10th in the World meet last year. Murata has a tremendous advantage in experience over U.S. opponents, and has been training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, something not available when she was younger.
Two young stars training full-time at the Olympic Training Center who expect to push the top two stars are Marcie Van Dusen of the Sunkist Kids and Tela O'Donnell of the Dave Schultz WC. Van Dusen earned the No. 3 spot on the national team at last year's World Team Trials. She gave George a tremendous challenge in a loss at the Dave Schultz Memorial International this winter. Van Dusen was an age-group World medalist coming through the USA Wrestling pipeline, but took a few years off after high school. She returned to the mat by going to UM-Morris for a semester, and is now back on track to be a future World-level star.
O'Donnell won the University Nationals, where she was named Outstanding Wrestler and scored a victory over Van Dusen. Like Van Dusen, O’Donnell has finetuned her craft by joining the Resident Athlete program. Last year, as a collegian at Pacific, O’Donnell made great strides. This season, she has a legitimate chance to take a run for the No. 1 position.
Malissa Sherwood of Stars and Stripes, who was second at the U.S. Nationals last year and is a proven talent with tremendous experience. Sherwood is seeking her first U.S. Nationals gold medal after placing second a number of times. Sherwood wrestles a physical style, and is very competitive when she is in a close bout. U.S. Nationals runner-up Danielle Hobeika of the Dave Schultz WC is considering moving up to 121 pounds, after competing at 112 pounds in recent seasons.
College wrestler Desi Lockhart of Pacific was seventh at last year's U.S. Nationals, and is one of several talented college athletes. Jessica Shirley of Cumberland is currently top ranked among collegians and a winner of the 2003 FILA Junior Nationals. Shirley has competed at the World Team Trials and is showing improvement. Melina Hutchison of Menlo College and Erin Soli of Missouri Valley are also competitive college stars. Hutchison was nationally ranked on the Senior level as an Alaska high school student.
National placer Lisa Ward could challenge if she returns to competition. Cathy Migita of the Rainbow Wahine Club in Hawaii was second at the FILA Junior Nationals, and high school wrestler Jen Chu of Pennsylvania was third. Both look to crack into All-American status on the Senior level.
2002 U.S. Women’s Nationals results at 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
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Darren Zary
The StarPhoenix
Friday, May 02, 2003
Dressed in clothes layered like a onion, Viola Yanik was frantically trying to peel off the pounds Thursday to make her weight class for the Canadian senior wrestling championships this weekend in Saskatoon.
Wearing layer upon layer, including a plastic suit, Yanik sweated buckets as she rode a stationary bike in the afternoon. She pointed to her water bottle, which contained only a small ration.
For elite wrestlers like Yanik, weight loss is a science -- but a mad science.
"It's the part I hate the most," admitted Yanik. "It's not much fun at all."
The 20-year-old University of Saskatchewan student, one of Canada's top up-and-coming female wrestlers, dropped about five kilograms in the final two days to squeak in under the 63-kilogram category.
Her natural weight is 68 kilograms.
"Everybody has to do it," said Yanik, who has always made her weight class. "Most wrestlers know what they're doing. Once they get to a high level, there's hardly any who don't make it."
Yanik will be a medal favourite in the women's freestyle 63-kg event. Among the other top contenders is her chief rival, Tara Hedican of Guelph, and former champion Trish Leibel of Calgary.
"I'm excited, but I'm also pretty nervous," said Yanik. "There's good competition. There's a lot of good people. I'm expected to do well, but everyone in the category is good."
Hedican is a former world junior champ.
"She's beaten me more than I've beaten her," said Yanik, "but we're pretty evenly matched. It just depends on who's on her game and who wrestles better."
The first session runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. today, followed by an evening session from 6-10 p.m.
There are sessions at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, with the freestyle bronze-medal matches from 1-3 p.m. and gold-medal matches from 4-6:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the men's Greco Roman matches take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All action is at the Education Gymnasium.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Lady Panthers wrestling best in state
By Rick Pedone 2/6/02
News-Gazette Staff Writer
The Gateway girls wrestling team won its second consecutive state
championship Saturday over a field of 19 teams at the Panther gym.
The closest challengers to Gateway (165.5) were Ocala Forest (148),
Vero Beach (93) and Lyman (78). Osceola (27) was 13th.
Four Lady Panthers won individual championships. Senior Naomi Santiago
(167-over weight class, 20-1 record) won for the second consecutive
year. Also winning titles were sophomore Candice Pellerin (116, 22-1),
freshman Lauren Pedrosa (140, 14-4) and junior Shannon Gidus (154, 11-1).
Pedrosa, who began wrestling in middle school last year, won her
championship despite a broken pinky finger on her left hand.
“I know I have to get it fixed, but I said, ‘No way until state is
over,’” she said. “I’m very proud that we were able to win the team
championship. Forest was close. They’re a real strong team.”
Pedrosa defeated Grace Talmadge of Lyman, 8-6, for the championship.
Santiago pinned Yzrose Ambroise of Forest in 1:22 to earn her second
state crown. She is one of four seniors on the team.
Pellerin won by technical fall, 17-2, for her first state title after
placing third last year.
Gidus, a team manager until December, pinned Forest’s Cherish
Bielenberg in 2:48 for the clinching points.
“Shannon sealed it for us, although it was a team victory, because she
was going head to head with the second place team (Forest),” said Gateway
Coach Michael Glassburn. “After she won, it didn’t matter whether Naomi won,
or how she won.”
Sarah Elcombe, a 100-pound freshman and the sister of Gidus, was a
runner up for Gateway.
Placing third was senior Courtney Pellerin, Candace’s sister, at 124
pounds. She won her consolation final by pin at 1:55.
Also third was senior Michelle Puig at 165 pounds.
Vanessa Cruz was fourth at 112 pounds.
“It was a close tournament, and we knew it would be,” said Glassburn,
in his first season as the Gateway coach. “I’m real happy with the way the
girls wrestled. They did a great job.”
With 11 of 15 wrestlers returning, there is a good chance that Gateway
will remain among the state’s top teams.
“We’ll start our club program soon and we’re hoping to get a lot more
girls into the program,” said Glassburn.
The Florida High School Activities Association does not officially
recognize girls wrestling, but support for the sport is growing, said Glassburn.
“We’re going to try and get it recognized next year,” he said. “We have
a lot of people working for it.”