O'Donnell named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week

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John Fuller (TheMat.com)
06/02/2004


Tela O'Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for the week of May 25-31.    Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.    O'Donnell captured the 55 kg/121-pound women's freestyle title at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Wrestling at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Ind. With the time of her finish, O'Donnell became the first American women's wrestler to earn a spot on an Olympic Team.    O'Donnell pinned two-time World silver medalist Tina George twice in the best-of-three Championship Series to earn the Olympic birth.    In the Challenge Tournament, O'Donnell battled through a competitive field, defeating 2001 World silver medalist Stephanie Murata 11-0 and 2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong 5-2.    ""I'm very excited right now. When I was little I dreamed of being an Olympian in ice-skating or something like that even though I've never ice-skated. I kind of forgot about that dream (of being and Olympian) though until I started wrestling and now here I am," O'Donnell stated after her win.      Click here to view previous Athletes of the Week