News Page
11/14/2003
Mike Aylward/Lakehead Sports Information
Cumberland College to compete in first Women’s Championships Cup of Wrestling at Lakehead University in Canada
The first Women's Championship Cup of Wrestling this Saturday November 15th at Lakehead University's C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse in Thunder Bay, Ontario will be the largest university women's duals tournament ever staged in Canada, featuring nine universities from Canada and one from the United States.
Joining host Lakehead will be Simon Fraser University, the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, McMaster University, Brock University, Memorial University, the University of Western Ontario, the University of Saskatchewan, and Cumberland College from Kentucky.
The tournament will be in the duals format, meaning it is run in head to head team competition with each individual match adding up to a final team score against each opponent school. There will be two seeded pools of five teams and each pool will wrestle a round robin schedule. There will be wrestling on four mats at the same time with duals beginning at the start of each hour, beginning at 9 a.m.
There are 7 wrestlers per team and each team will wrestle all the opponents in its pool once. The teams will then be place in their pool from 1 to 5 based upon their win/loss record in their four matches. The No. 1 finishers in each pool will then wrestle for the tournament championship, the
No. 2 pool finishers for 3rd and 4th places, No. 3 pool finishers for 5th and 6th, No. 4 pool finishers for 7th and 8th, and No. 5 pool finishers for 9th and 10th.
Live updates of the meet will be given by realtimescorebook.com. Their webcasting of the meet will give university wrestling fans in Canada and the US instant access to the results as they happen.
The two seeded round robin pools are:
Pool 1:
1. Calgary
2. Western
3. Lakehead
4. Saskatchewan
5. Memorial
Pool 2:
1. Simon Fraser
2. McMaster
3. Brock
4. Cumberland College
5. Alberta
Pool 1 Team Previews:
No. 1: Calgary Dinos
The Calgary Dinos bring a formidable team to the Championship Cup. The Dinos were CIS National Champions the first three years of CIS women's wrestling; from 1999-2001and Canada West Conference Champions from 2000-2002. Calgary was second at the CIS Nationals for the last two years and were second in the conference championship last year as well.
Leading the Dinos this year is team captain and 5th year wrestler Breanne Graham at 65kg. She recently won an individual bronze medal for Canada at the Women's World Cup of Wrestling in Tokyo, Japan as well as contributed strongly to a team bronze medal amongst the elite field of Japan, USA, Russia, China, Germany, and Greece. New on the Dinos squad is Laura McDougall at 61kg. Laura is in her first year of CIS wrestling and comes off a summer of competing for
Canada at the Junior Worlds. McDougall is a hard nosed wrestler with the drive to succeed at the CIS level. Rounding out the lineup is; 48 kg Brandy Ens (2nd year), 53kg Andrea Ross (2nd yr) '03 Junior National silver medallist at 55kg, 57kg Brittanee Laverdure (4th yr), 70kg Germaine Watkins (2nd yr), and 80kg Kelsey Andries (2nd yr) or Alternate Elisa Howes (1st yr).
Head Coach Mitch Ostberg is looking forward to the innovative duals tournament. "The Dinos Women Wrestling Team and I are very excited to be part of this initiative by Lakehead and Coach Francis Clayton. The women's division of the CIS wrestling is growing and improving so this will be an exciting competition. I recently was at the Women's World Cup in Tokyo, Japan coaching our women's national team to a third place finish in the world. The dual meet format for this event, which is the same as the World Cup, is a great way to present wrestling to spectators and very motivating for the athletes. I think we'll see some very intense matches, because the team performance is carried by each competitor. The amount of cheering by teammates and spectators also adds to the atmosphere. Lakehead has a long tradition of hosting great wrestling events and I believe this event will only add to that reputation."
Head Coach: Mitch Ostberg
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No. 2: Western Mustangs
The Western Mustangs come to the Championship Cup fielding a squad of seven wrestlers. Wrestlers to watch are defending OUA champion Terri McNutt, who also placed second at the McMaster open last month and Jessi Fitzgerald who placed fourth at McMaster. Sarah Gil was third in the OUA championships last season.
Western Head Coach Ray Takahashi said the tournament will be a great challenge for Western's young team. "Western is happy to be included in this inaugural Dual-meet tournament for women. There is a strong tradition of wrestling in Thunder Bay and Francis Clayton has done an outstanding job with the program. He has also developed an excellent women's program and this dual tournament will further build upon the wrestling tradition in Thunder Bay. "
Western Roster For Championship Cup:
48kg Katie Wilson, Third year, Psychology, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
53kg Terri McNutt, Third year, Nursing, OUA champ '03 (MVP) Joyceville
57kg Shannon Smart, First year Health Sciences, OFSAA 5th, Ont. Provincials
2nd, Kingston, Ont.
61kg Sarah Gil, Third year, Biology, 3rd OUA 02, Kingston, Ont.
65kg Jessi Fitzgerald, First year, MVP HS, top 8 OFSAA, Bancroft, Ont.
70kg Jill McCallum, First year, Social Sciences, OFSAA champ '03, London, Ont.
77kg Jennifer Scheid, Third year, Kinesiology, Elmira, Ont.
Team Coach: Chris Capangyarihan
Trainer: Derek Butterwick
No. 3: Lakehead Thunderwolves
The host Lakehead University Thunderwolves are fresh off a fifth place finish at the McMaster Invitational. Head Coach Francis Clayton wants to build upon that strong finish at the Championship Cup as his team faces very tough competition. Coach Clayton is very proud that Lakehead is hosting this new women's tournament. "Anytime you can host a high level event like this you bring a lot to the university and the community and I know this will be a great
event for women's university wrestling in Canada."
Wrestlers to watch are Emily McCague who placed second at McMaster and rookie Rachel Dean who placed third.
No. 4: Saskatchewan Huskies
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies team comes to the Championship Cup with solid group of returning athletes and talented new comers that continue to be the backbone of a solid team. Lead by Head Coach Todd Hinds, The Huskies continually field teams that are filled with strong and technically sound wrestlers in all weight classes. Coach Hinds is very happy to be in Thunder Bay for the first Championship Cup tournament. "Francis Clayton has been a coach, mentor, and friend of mine since 1985. He has always been there to lend a hand or give advice, for which, I have nothing but the greatest respect, for this man and for what he stands for. The Lakehead University Women's Championship Cup of Wrestling duals tournament is another example of his commitment to the sport of wrestling. It takes people like Francis to pave new
roads, which makes the sport of wrestling better for all of us. Thanks, Francis."
Third year wrestler, and team leader, Megan Buydens continues to prove why she is one of the best in Canada West. Buydens, a two time CIS medallist, finished second at the junior nationals this season, and placed 7th at the Junior Worlds in her weight division this season. Buydens returns to the Huskies looking and competing better then ever. Buydens is joined by third year wrestlers Laura Ostrander and Joanne Yanke, who both had outstanding matches at the Univerisity of Calgary Dino Open.
The Huskies squad is rounded out be newcomers Megahn Hobman, Shelby Wells, and Lianne Desjarlais who all bring youth and enthusiasm to the program. The newcomer to watch is Ellen Fritz who placed second in her first Canada West meet. Coach Hinds is excited about the upcoming season as he has a solid group of athletes that are dedicated to making the Huskies a contender in Canada West and the CIS.
Head Coach: Todd Hinds
No. 5: Memorial Seahawks
The Memorial Seahawks are the East Coast contingent at the Championship Cup. Head Coach Glen Clark is bringing a squad of six wresters to Thunder Bay. Clark is very happy to be a part of this new tournament. "I think that Francis has put together a great tournament here. He has done all of us who are interested in women's wrestling a real favour. I am very much looking forward to the competition."
Memorial lost three of its real veterans from last year's squad and has a very young team. Clark feels his team is unlikely to perform as well as his team from last year that placed 8th in the CIS tournament, but also feels it will be a great learning experience for his young charges. "There is plenty of talent among them and a good work ethic, so I expect good things in the long term."
Wrestlers to watch are the three second year athletes; Lisa Martin at 18 kg, Joanne Hall at 61kg, and Kerri-Ann Evely. Another strong wrestler is rookie Carla Bryant at 57 kg.
Memorial University Championship Cup Roster:
48kg - Lisa Martin - Second year. Was a very good high school wrestler who is just now getting strong enough to compete at the university level.
53kg - Kayla Harper - Rookie with some high school experience. This will be her first major competition.
57kg - Carla Bryant - Rookie with an excellent background. Placed 4th last year at Juvenile nationals. Best national placement 1st.
61kg - Joanne Hall - Second year. She should be very competitive here.
65kg - Laura Smith - A first year wrestler with some high school experience. This will be her first major competition.
70kg - Kerri-Ann Evely - Second year. Placed 5th in CIS tournament last year.
Head Coach: Glenn Clark
Pool 2 Team Previews:
No. 1: Simon Fraser - The Clan
The Simon Fraser Clan bring a powerhouse squad to the Championship Cup. They are the defending CIS national champions, a feat made even more impressive since it was the Clan's first season in the CIS. Head Coach Mike Jones said his team is looking forward to taking on the competition in Thunder Bay. "I am excited to participate in this inaugural women's event and sincerely hope that the men's division of the CIS will follow the example with a similar event. I
would eventually like to see this become a national collegiate dual meet championship!!!! It is a great idea and it is a pleasure to support the efforts of Coach Clayton!
The majority of the SFU championship team has returned this season. However, national champion Carol Huynh will not wrestle as she is preparing for the Canadian Olympic team trials in December. Huynh may not wrestle at all this season for SFU, depending upon her results at the trials. Athletes to watch are senior Kathleen Takeda or freshman Miranda Dick. Takeda was the number one ranked CIS wrestler at her weight last year but when SFU entered Huynh, Takeda was not allowed to enter due to CIS rules which allow only one entry per weight
class per team. At 53kg SFU will return Sarah White, who was second in the CIS last year as well as finishing second in the Junior worlds this past summer.
59kg sees first year SFU student Jessica Paterson, a transfer from Douglas College. Douglas was third at the senior nationals and just won the Calgary open. National Junior champion Angela Mah is out until Christmas with an injury so SFU will wrestle Emily Richardson at 63kg although she could cover 59 as well if needed. Richardson was the CIS champion at 61kg, national senior champion at 59kg and seventh in the senior world championships. Wrestling at 67kg will be Junior Jenica Day who was 5th in the CIS last season. At 70kg will be Ashlea McManus who was 3rd at the CIS and 3rd at the summer Junior world games. At 77kg will be CIS runner-up Kristina Wolff. SFU may also consider bringing Jeraldine Chan at 59/63kg. Chan was a provincial champion and gives the Clan the ability to adjust their lineup if there were an injury.
SFU has been undefeated in dual meets the past three years, they would have lost to Calgary at the Dinos Open if it weren't a combined men's and women's event.
Head Coach: Mike Jones
No. 2: McMaster Marauders
The McMaster team comes to the Championship Cup fresh off a first place team finish at their own McMaster Invitational Meet. McMaster features Pam Wilson, defending CIS national champion, and Ellen Macro who finished second at the CIS last year. Another wrestler to watch is the up and coming Stef Howorun, a judoka turned wrestler who has the talent and desire to upset everyone.
Head Coach Nick Cipriano said his team will be ready for the Championship
Cup. "Our women compete with considerable heart, and it won't be long before
they combine heart with skill to raise eyebrows".
McMaster Roster for Championship Cup:
48 kg Krista Howard
53 kg Tamara Kostya
57 kg Lindsey Yule
61 kg Ellen Macro
65 kg Lulu Bursztyn
70 kg Spehanie Howorun
80 kg Pam Wilson
Coach: Nick Cipriano
Trainer: Nikki Del bel
No. 3: Brock Badgers
The Brock Badgers come to the Championship Cup fresh off a third place team finish at the McMaster Invitational. Brock is a traditional powerhouse in OUA and CIS Women's wrestling and they are the defending OUA champions and placed third at the CIS national championships last year. Brock will be counting on three-time Canadian Champion Stephanie Szmiett and two-time defending CIS gold medallist Heather Sweezey to lead the way at the Championship Cup.
Brock Wrestlers to Watch:
Heather Sweezey (57kg)
- Fourth year, 3-time OUA Champion, 2-time defending CIS gold medalist (2002, 2003), CIS bronze medalist (2000-01)
Jen Hanson (80kg)
- Second Year, 2002-03 OUA Silver, 2002-03 CIS 4trh Place, 2nd Place at 2003 Junior Provincial Championships (77kg)
Golda Parahoo (65 kg)
- Second Year, 2nd Place at 2003 Junior Provincial Championships (63kg)
Liz Martindale (53kg)
- First year, 2003 OFSAA Champion, 2002 OFSAA Silver Medallist
Stephanie Szmiett (48 kg)
- First year, 3-time OFSAA Champion (2000, 01, 03), 3-time Canadian Champion
(1999, 2000, 2002)
Jessie Bondy (51kg)
- First year, 2003 OFSAA Silver Medallist, 2001 OFSAA Bronze Medallist, 2002
OFSAA 4th Place, 5th at 2003 Nationals
No. 4: Cumberland College Patriots
Cumberland College from Kentucky is the sole American team at the Championship Cup. Cumberland College is a member of the Mid-South Conference, which is one of the toughest leagues in the NAIA. The Patriot ladies are gearing up for a new season and their sights are set on improving an outstanding season last year. Cumberland is coming off a second place finish at the McMaster Invitational Meet. Head Coach Kip Flanik said the Championship Cup will be a good test for his young squad of wrestlers. "I feel it's a privilege to be invited to this tournament and to wrestle against some of the top teams in Canada. I will be bringing a largely untested and young team, and we hope to gain some valuable experience."
Cumberland welcomes back its outstanding returnees, while embracing a very talented freshman class. Coach Kip Flanik said, "This year's team has the potential to equal that of last year's team and go beyond." Returning will be two-time world silver medallist and 2004 Olympic hopeful Toccara Montgomery, and Junior World team Members Alaina Berube and Jesse Shirley. Alaina is coming off a fourth place finish at the Junior World Cup, and Shirley is returning from an ACL surgery this summer. Also returning will be Jamie Alvesteffer, Shelly Ruberg, Issa Alvarez, Aja Smith and Jesse Clifton. These girls have improved tremendously since last year and, "They will strengthen the team greatly," stated Coach Flanik. Also returning from a year off will be junior
Becky D'Ambrosia at 48 kilos, looking to make that weight class one of the most competitive on the team.
This year's freshman class already possesses the talent to lift Cumberland to a new level of competition. The class is the largest in Cumberland's women's wrestling history with recruits from Texas, California, Michigan, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Alaska. Joining the team from Texas are Daisy Coallado, Lauren Lindsey, Suekoilya Shelly, Allison Hooper and Diana Mato. Four of the five competed on the Texas Junior National Team, where Shelly finished fourth in the tournament. Rene Mortenson and Othella Lucas have traveled from California to take part in the Cumberland wrestling tradition. Lucas comes to Cumberland after an impressive high school career and a sixth place finish at the Senior World Team Trials. Sheris Hilliard, a two-time placer at the Junior National Tournament, joins Cumberland from North Dakota. Aquilla Hills, from Pennsylvania, is an extremely talented wrestler and should play a vital role in Cumberland's success. Ashley Sturgeon comes to Cumberland after a successful high school career competing against boys and looks forward to the transition to women's freestyle. Kristin McKenna and Maggie Klauck bring their wrestling talents from Florida while Iris Mucha travels from Alaska to try her hand in the competition for starting positions at Cumberland.
With a strong schedule to match a strong team the Patriot ladies look forward to competing against some of the best wrestlers in the country and also in International competition. As they prepare to face new challenges, Coach Flanik stated, "I am extremely excited about this year's team. We will have weight classes with depth, that should make us even stronger!" Don't miss the Patriot Ladies as they write their chapter in Cumberland's women's wrestling history, with high hopes of obtaining a #1 ranking."
Head Coach: Kip Flanik
No. 5: Alberta Pandas:
The 2003-04 edition of the University of Alberta Pandas Wrestling has lost a lot of athletes to graduation so this season is a rebuilding year for Head Coach Vang Ioannides. The Pandas are coming off a fourth place team finish at the Dinos Invitational.
Last year's team, while loaded with talent, did not meet goals set at the beginning of the year due to a rash of injuries. The team even had to recruit athletes as the season went on just to compete, and lost many default matches because they lacked a wrestler in some classes. A small team of four athletes, three of whom won medals, attended on behalf of the U of A at last year's nationals at Brock.
Fourth-year standout Heidi Kulak will be leading the way this season for the Pandas. Kulak first competed at nationals in March 2001, when she finished fourth, but she improved to a Silver medal performance in 2002 and took a Bronze, last season. Kulak finished first this year at the Calgary Open with a 3-0 record. The Pandas other best performer at Calgary was Jacylyn Hedges who finished 1-3 for sixth place in the 70kg class.
The team is thin on experience, but does have a talented new wrestler in Erin Rainville (53 kg), who was a Provincial champion in high school. Coach Ioannides is hopeful that she can now step it up a notch and be competitive at the CIS level and at the Championship Cup.
Head Coach: Vang Ioannides
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Miranda named USOC Female Athlete of the Month for October; Women’s World Cup team second in team voting
11/14/2003
Diana Kersbergen/USOC
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) today named Women’s wrestler Patricia Miranda as the October Female Athlete of the Month.
Miranda (Saratoga, Calif.) had a perfect 6-0 record, won a gold medal at 48kg/105.5 lbs. and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2003 Women’s World Cup of Wrestling in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 11-12. Miranda helped lead the U.S. to the team title, as Team USA swept all six dual meets.
Her sixth and final win was a 4-3 victory over Japan’s Makiko Sakamoto, which got the U.S. squad started on its way to a 14-13 upset of host Japan. Miranda controlled her other five matches, defeating Fani Psatha of Greece by pin, then stopped two-time World medalist Carol Huyhn of Canada, 7-1. She then overpowered Loriza Oorzak of Russia, 6-1, and Zuying Yang of China, 10-7. Her other victim was Sigrun Dobner of Germany, who Miranda defeated with a 12-1 technical fall.
Sixteen-year-old judo athlete Ronda Rousey (Santa Monica, Calif.) was runner-up among the female candidates for the honor. Rousey took over Judo’s No. 1 spot in the women’s 63kg Olympic weight category from 39-year-old veteran and 1992 Olympian Grace Jividen. Rousey shined in October, winning a gold medal at the Rendez Vous Championships in Montreal, Canada, on Oct. 18 and a silver medal at the U.S. Open International Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., on Oct. 11.
Third in the voting among the women was elite USA triathlete Shelia Taormina (Minneola, Fla.). Taormina won the ITU World Cup in Madeira,Portugal, on Oct. 19, beating U.S. teammate and world No. 1 Barb Lindquist in a sprint to the finish. It was Taormina’s first World Cup victory of the season and it moved her up in the world rankings to No. 2.
The USOC Team of the Month honor was awarded to beach volleyball duo Misty May and Kerri Walsh. Misty May (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and Kerri Walsh (Saratoga, Calif.) became the first team from the U.S. to claim a title at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships by defeating two-time World champions Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede in the finals at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 12. Combined with their domestic play on the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tour, where they became the first team to go through a season undefeated (39-0), May and Walsh won 13 titles at 16 events with a 90-4 match mark. The pair won their last 52 matches this season, including 28-straight internationally.
Finishing second in the Team of the Month voting was the 2003 U.S. Women’s Wrestling World Cup Team, which claimed the team title at the 3rd Women’s World Cup in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 11-12. With the meet going down to the final match, the United States edged host Japan, 14-13, for the win. The victory over Japan in the World Cup could be considered one of the greatest achievements for Team USA in women’s wrestling history. Both teams entered the gold-medal round with perfect 5-0 records.
At 48 kg/105.5 lbs., 2003 World silver medalist Patricia Miranda stopped Makiko Sakamoto, 4-3. 2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong upset 2003 World Champion Chiharu Icho, 4-2, at 51kg/112.25 lbs. Japan responded by winning the next three matchesand taking over the team lead at 12-7. The U.S. then put itself in positionto win with a big victory by two-time World champion Kristie Marano at 67kg/147.5 lbs. Marano pinned Norie Salto, giving Team USA four match points. With Japan leading 12-11 going into the final match, Tocarra Montgomery scored a 5-3 decision over five-time World champion Kyoko Hamaguchi at 72kg/158.5 lbs. That gave the U.S. three team points, and Japan received one point for Hamaguchi scoring at least one technical point, giving the U.S. the razor-thin 14-13 win. Earlier in the competition the U.S. swept through the rest of the field, opening with an impressive 28-0 victory over Greece, then stopped Canada, 18-9. The U.S. women defeated two very powerful teams, stopping Russia, 19-9, and edging China, 16-12. Team USA hammered Germany, 23-3, to set up the team finals showdown with Japan. Four U.S. women claimed individual gold medals: Miranda, Sally Roberts, Marano and Montgomery.
Rounding out the team of the month ballot in third place was the U.S. Ice Dance Team of Tanith Belbin (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and Benjamin Agosto (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.). Belbin and Agosto won their first ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating title at the 2003 Smart Ones Skate America, Oct. 25 in Reading, Pa. It was also the first Grand Prix title for a U.S. ice dancing team since Elizabeth Punsian and Jerod Swallow captured Skate America in 1997.
The Male Athlete of the Month was speed skating sensation Apolo Anton Ohno (Seattle, Wash.), who set three American short track speedskating records during the month of October. At the Conematic Heating short track event in Calgary, Oct. 10-12, Ohno’s 500-meters time of 41.518 seconds bettered his previous record of 41.628. The following weekend (Oct. 17-19) at the first World Cup event of the season in Calgary, Ohno won a bronze medal in the 1500-meters and placed sixth overall. He finished the month in a flurry by setting two American records at the Oct. 24-26 World Cup event in Marquette, Mich. His time of 1:25.83 in the 1000-meters lowered the previous record of 1:26.67, and his clocking of 2:11.28 in the 1500-meters shattered the mark of 2:13.34. Ohno won gold in the 500-meters, bronze in the 1500-meters and placed third overall at the Marquette World Cup.
Finishing second among the men nominated for October achievements was USA Judo’s Chuck Jefferson (San Jose, Calif.). Jefferson successfully defended his U.S. Open title on Oct. 12 in Las Vegas, Nev., by winning the gold medal at 73kg in spectacular fashion. Jefferson went 5-0, defeating athletes from Canada, the USA and Australina. In the final and most exciting match of the event, Jefferson upset No. 1-ranked and 1999 World Champion Jimmy Pedro.
U.S. men’s water ski racer Martie Wells (Colton, Calif.) finished in third place on the men’s ballot after he became the first U.S. Men’s Open division water ski racing athlete in a decade to win the world water ski racing title. He knocked off two-time defending World Champion Stephen Robertson of Australia to win his first career World title at the 2003 Water Ski Racing World Championships, Oct. 11-18 in Long Beach, Calif. Wells won three of the event’s four races, including the finale.
Results (first place votes in parentheses)
WOMEN
1. Patricia Miranda, wrestling, 36 (9)
2. Ronda Rousey, judo, 18 (2)
3. Sheila Taormina, triathlon, 15 (1)
Also receiving first place votes: Caitlin Benyi (Softball), Sasha Cohen (Figure Skating)
MEN
1. Apolo Anton Ohno, speedskating, 24 (4)
2. Chuck Jefferson, judo, 16 (4)
3. Martie Wells, waterskiing, 12 (2)
Also receiving first place votes: Darren Chiacchia (Equestrian), Jim Gruenwald (Wrestling), Mike Peters (Paralympic Soccer), Soren Thompson (Fencing), Michael Weiss (Figure Skating)
TEAM
1. Misty May/Kerri Walsh, Beach Volleyball Team 32 (8)
2. Women’s Wrestling World Cup Team 28 (6)
3. Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto, Ice Dance Team 11 (2)