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2003 U.S. Women’s Nationals preview at 59 kg/130 lbs.
5/3/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The top athlete at this division is veteran Lauren Lamb, a six-time World team member who won her first U.S. Nationals title as a teenager. Lamb claimed the U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials last year. She also won a major international meet in Sweden this winter, showing that she will not easily let go of her spot at the top. Lamb is very tough to score on and uses her experience once she gets a lead in a match. Lamb has still not won a World medal, with her highest placement being fifth. She will have some decisions to make if she wants to try out for an Olympic spot next year, whether to go up or down.
Michigan high school sensation Brandy Rosenbrock of Shamrock placed second to Lamb in the World Team Trials, her top Senior-level achievement. She has dominated the age-group wrestling scene and qualified for a number of U.S. youth teams, including this year’s Junior World team. Rosenbrock won TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year award last year as a junior.
Ranked at No. 3 is veteran Tonya Evinger of Stars and Stripes, who has been near the top of the national ladder since competing in high school. Evinger won a silver medal at the 2002 Pan American Championships. Also in the hunt is two-time U.S. Nationals runner-up Erin Tomeo of the Sunkist Kids, who has battled injuries this season but has a long history of national-level achievements. Tomeo is a USOTC resident athlete, which could help her develop more consistency in future performance
If she drops to this weight, Sally Roberts of the Gator WC has shown tremendous skill, including a gold medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial International, where she pinned Lamb in the finals. Roberts did not make this division at the University Nationals, but jumped up and still won the tournament. Kiersten Hyatt and Leigh Jaynes, teammates at Missouri Valley College, placed at this weight last year in both the U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials. Jaynes may be up a weight this season, and Hyatt may move down. Both are national-calibre competitors when they are wrestling well.
Among the college wrestlers expected to be in the race are Brooke Bogren of Cumberland, Sharon Jacobsen of UM-Morris, Lindsey Owens of Menlo and Jaimie Alvesteffer of Cumberland. Bogren was second to Rosenbrock at the FILA Junior Nationals this year, and was a national placewinner last year at a lower weight class. Owens won a gold medal at the first ASICS Junior Nationals last year, defeating a number of talented competitors, and has continued her improvement in college.
This weight class may suffer some defections, either down or up in weight, and young newcomers may make their mark at this year's U.S. Nationals. As a non-Olympic weight, it will be interesting to see who chooses to stay here and who does not.
2002 U.S. Women’s Nationals results at 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
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2003 U.S. Women’s Nationals preview at 63 kg/138.5 lbs.
5/4/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Controlling her weight division for three years has been Sara McMann of the Sunkist Kids, who is still in search of her first World-level medal. At last year's World meet, McMann lost in her pool to the eventual champion from Japan, an athlete McMann beat this year in Europe. She has beaten most of the world's top athletes in her class, but has yet to put it all together at the World Championships. McMann is defending a three-year run of U.S. Nationals titles and World Team Trials victories, a sign of dominance against American opponents.
Last year, her top challenger was six-time World medalist Kristie Marano of ATWA, who lost to McMann for the World Team spot. Marano won a Wrestle-off for the World team competing up at 147.5 pounds, then claimed a bronze medal at the World Championships there. She has won more World medals than any other U.S. female wrestler. When Marano started collecting World medals, it was at the highest weight division. She has dropped in weight, and will be making a run at the first Olympic Games for women wrestlers at this division.
Also on the National Team is No. 3 Tori Adams of the Gator WC, a former Junior World medalist and age-group national star. Adams left college wrestling to become a USOTC resident athlete, and will have McMann and Marano also training there. Another resident athlete who may compete here, Sally Roberts of the Gator WC is very strong. Roberts beat Adams at this year's University Nationals, but could be making the move down to 59 kg.
College star Alaina Berube of Cumberland College is seeking success on the Senior level, after winning the FILA Junior Nationals. Berube comes from good wrestling stock, as her cousin Jackie was a Women’s World silver medalist before switching to Olympic weightlifting. Veteran Tina Arnds of Missouri Valley is a factor if she drops to this class. Arnds competed the entire college season up at 67 kg.
Veteran Grace Magnussen of the Dave Schultz WC is always a factor, but may also drop down a division. Ashley Sword of the New York AC has made the commitment to train in Colorado Springs, and has emerged as a contender. Sword placed second behind Berube at the FILA Junior Nationals this year.
College wrestlers Leigh Jaynes of Missouri Valley, Ranae Faaborg of UM-Morris and Linse Meadows of Neosho County CC will add depth. Jaynes may make the move down to 59 kg, where she has also had success. Ginele Lee of South Sound was a national placewinner last year, taking seventh in Las Vegas. High school athlete Chelynne Pringle of Minnesota was third in the FILA Junior Nationals this year, and has potential to continue her improvement.
2002 U.S. Women’s Nationals results at 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
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Canadian Senior nationals
5/4/03
48 kg. (9)
1. Lindsay Belisle - BMWC
2. Belinda Chou - Cattown
3. Carol Huynh - BMWC
4. Krista Wells - Kingston W.C.
5. Julie Harris - UCWC
6. Vanessa Brown -Rebels
51 kg. (4)
1. Teresa Piotrowski - Guelph W.C.
2. Sarah White - BMWC
3. Shelley Morten - BMWC
4. Angela Mott - BMWC
55 kg. (10)
1. Jennifer Ryz - BMWC
2. Tonya Verbeek - Brock W.C.
3. Erica Sharp - UCWC
4. Jessica Petersen - BMWC
5. Heather Sweezey - Brock WC
6. Leslee Laverdure - UCWC
59 kg. (7)
1. Emily Richardson - BMWC
2. Breanne Graham - UCWC
3. Helen Hennick - UCWC
4. Katie Patroch - Thunderwolves
5. Amy Dyck - Saskatoon W.C.
6. Laura Ostrander - Saskatoon W.C.
63 kg. (6)
1. Viola Yanik - Saskatoon W.C.
2. Tamara Medwidsky - Montreal W.C.
3. Tara Hedican - Guelph W.C.
4. Melody McCague - Thunderwolves
5. Salpi Mgrdichian - CYC
6. Trish Leibel - UCWC
67 kg. (9)
1. Shannon Samler - BMWC
2. Martine Dugrenier - Montreal W.C.
3. Megan Dolan - Brock W.C.
4. Samantha Johnson - Guelph W.C.
5. Megan Buydens - Saskatoon W.C.
6. Carla Binning - LWWC
72 kg. (6)
1. Akuffo Ohenewa - Guelph W.C.
2. Pam Wilson - Hamilton W.C.
3. Christine Nordhagen - UCWC
4. Rachelle Pinet - CLAB
5. Becky Borashawn - Saskatoon W.C.