FEATURE: Shaw goes from Olympic Trials success back to seek first Fargo title

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/30/2004


One of the big names at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling in Indianapolis, Ind. in May was a tough and talented high school girl named Stefanie Shaw from Waterford, Conn.    She was one of six high school athletes to qualify for the first-ever Olympic Trials event for women wrestlers, and of these young stars, she made the biggest impact. Shaw won a Regional Olympic Trials event to qualify, and was entered at 138.75 pounds.     Shaw caught the attention of the fans and the media in the Challenge Tournament semifinals, where she upset 2003 World bronze medalist Sally Roberts in an exciting 4-2 battle.    With a chance to qualify for the finals, Shaw lost a heartbreaking 5-4 match to college star Alaina Berube. She was just one point away from making the Championship Series against 2003 World silver medalist Sara McMann, and a chance to make the Olympic team.     Shaw fell just short of making Women's Team USA, dropping her final match in a National Team wrestle-off to veteran Kaci Lyle by a 10-0 margin. However, her fourth place finish was the best of all of the high school girls, and moved her into the public eye for the first time.    Stefanie Shaw is one of the 144 entries in the Junior National Girls Championships this year, the largest field for the girls since the tournament was added to Fargo.    So why would somebody that accomplished compete against other high school girls? Well, she still needs to win this tournament. Last summer in Fargo, Shaw was third at 138 pounds.      This year, she is one of 18 wrestlers competing at 138 pounds. And her draw to win the event is very difficult. Also in Pool A at 138, just two places away, is 2004 U.S. Senior Nationals champion Na'Tasha Umemoto of Oregon. The quality of the competition for girls in Fargo has taken a big step up, without a doubt.    Her first match came on mat 15, lost in the sea of 20 mats on the football stadium floor. She was wearing a red singlet with a big CT on the front and picture of a sailboat on the back. Her opponent was Amanda Muncer of Texas. Opening up her offense, Shaw scored a variety of techniques, including three takedowns, a reversal, a tilt, and then a cradle before pinning Muncer in 2:48.    "This is the biggest tournament in the world," said Shaw of the entire Fargo experience. "Nothing compares to Trials, but this is cool too."    Shaw talked with her father Roger, one of her coaches, about how she was pleased with her takedown attacks in the first match.    In her second match, Shaw drew Krissa Timbs of Georgia. Right off the bat, Timbs tossed Shaw for a three and two situation, taking a 3-2 lead. Shaw opened up her offense and scored the next few points, but another Timbs scoring move closed Shaw's lead to 8-6. Shaw took care of business by running a bar arm and pinning Timbs before the first period ended.    Shaw noted that she has been dealing with some injuries lately and may not be at the top of her game right now.    "I'm trying hard and working hard," said Shaw. "I gave up more points than I should, but at the end I got it all together."    She is one of four girls from Connecticut here, three of who have also had success on the national level at age-group USA Wrestling events. These are the young women who are helping build the sport in our nation, traveling to the big events and getting more high-level mat experience.    Winning the ASICS/Vaughan Junior National Tournament is a big deal to Shaw, even though she competed in front of 12,000 fans at the Olympic Trials.    "It was the most exciting and crushing thing I've ever done," said Shaw of her Olympic Trials experience. "I was so close to making my lifelong dream come true. I made one mistake at the Trials (against Berube). I am working to correct that mistake."    Her focus is now on winning in Fargo, an event she has not been able to win yet.    "This is a challenge I have been going after since freshman year in high school," said Shaw. "There are competitors who have been at the Senior level, and some people trying to get some respect. It's the nationals, regardless of age group. It would be cool to stand on the podium and hold that stop sign (award)."    After Fargo, Shaw intends on taking a rest, getting a bit healthier and then going after her Olympic dream again. She is considering entering the women's division at the Sunkist Kids International in the fall, and working her way onto the women's national team and future U.S. World and Olympic Teams.     Then there is the matter of finishing her senior year in high school. And, of course, she will be eligible to compete in Fargo one more time next summer.