Women’s National Team Trials in three non-Olympic weight classes set for July 20-21 in Colorado Spri

<< Back to Articles
Gary Abbott (USA Wrestler)
07/16/2004


USA Wrestling will hold a special Women's National Team Trials in three non-Olympic weight classes at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 20-21.    The three weight divisions are 51 kg/112.25 lbs., 59 kg/130 lbs. and 67 kg/147.5 lbs. The competition will be held in Gym 9 of SportsCenter II on the USOTC campus, the upstairs gym in the same building where the wrestling room resides.    There are only four weight divisions contested in women's wrestling at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Normally, there are seven weight classes for women's wrestling at the World Championships during the other years. Competition in just the four Olympic weight classes were held at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling in Indianapolis, Ind., May 21-23.    This Women's National Team Trials is being held in order to set the rankings and the national team support for athletes who compete in the non-Olympic weight classes.  In addition, the winner of the event in each weight class will represent the United States at the Women's World Cup in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 8-9.    All athletes who qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, regardless of weight division, are eligible to participate in the Women's National Team Trials if they choose.    The champions from the U.S. Women's National Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., April 9-10, will receive the No. 1 seed at the National Team Trials. The national champions will not participate in the Challenge Tournament portion of the event, moving directly into the best-of-three Championship Series on the second day.    The 2004 U.S. Nationals champions in the non-Olympic weight classes are:  Malinda Ripley, (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Na'Tasha Umemoto (Portland, Ore./Sunkist Kids) at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.    It will be a two-day competition. The first day will be the Challenge Tournament on Tuesday, July 20, with all of the qualified athletes entered, except for the U.S. Nationals Champion. USA Wrestling has contacted the athletes who are eligible to compete, and has created a tentative list of Challenge Tournament participants. The Challenge Tournament begins at 9:30 a.m. and will continue until completion.    The second day of the event is the Championship Series on Wednesday, July 21st, where the U.S. Nationals champion will wrestle against the winner of the Challenge Tournament in a best-of-three series. Session times for the Championship Series are 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.    Similar to the format of other Team Trials events, the U.S. Nationals champion may request an extension of the Championships Series due to injury. This series will have to be held in time to determine the team member for the World Cup team, or else the U.S. Nationals champion will automatically place in the No. 2 position in the National Team rankings.    If a U.S. Nationals champion does not attend the Women's National Team Trials, the next highest placewinner from the 2004 U.S. Nationals at that weight class will assume the No. 1 seed, and move into the Championship Series.     Spectators are encouraged to attend the event, and admission is free.    WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS  At Colorado Springs, Colo., July 21-22    Tentative list of participants    51 kg/112.25 lbs.  U.S. Nationals champion - Malinda Ripley, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  Expected Challenge Tournament participants (alphabetically) -  Hana Askren, Los Angeles, Calif. (Santa Monica Bay); Caitlyn Chase, Hanover Park, Ill.; Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids); Laura Felix, Bakersfield, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC); Katie Kunimoto, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC); Debbi Sakai, Mililani, Hawaii (Missouri Valley)    59 kg/130 lbs.  U.S. Nationals champion - Na'Tasha Umemoto, Portland, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)   Expected Challenge Tournament participants (alphabetically) - Alaina Berube, Escanaba,Mich. (New York AC); Lauren Lamb, Farmington, N.Y. (Michigan WC); Iris Mucha, Williamsburg, Ky. (Cumberland College); Stephanie Murata, Minden, Nev. (Sunkist Kids); Tina Pihl, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC); Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC); Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids);     67 kg/147.5 lbs.  U.S. Nationals champion -Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)  Expected Challenge Tournament participants (alphabetically) - Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC); Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids); Kaci Lyle, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids); Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC); Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio (Cleveland State)    Other qualified athletes may attend.