Bernard, Rix, Holthaus win second career titles at ASICS/Vaughan Girls Junior Nationals; Umemoto nam
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/31/2004
Three athletes won their second career Junior National titles with victories at the ASICS/Vaughan Girls Junior National Championship in Fargo, N.D., July 31. In a rematch of the 2004 U.S. Senior National gold-medal finals, Ali Bernard of Minnesota defeated Heather Martin of Ohio, 7-1. Martin scored the first point, but Bernard scored a two-point reversal and never trailed again. At the U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas in April, Bernard pinned Martin in the finals. It was Bernard's second straight Junior Nationals title. In the 2002 Junior National finals, Martin defeated Bernard. Bernard was a 2003 Junior Nationals champion. Prior to the finals, it was announced that Bernard was TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year. In a competitive battle of past Junior National champions, 2003 Junior National champion Deanna Rix of Maine defeated 2002 Junior National champion Amberle Montgomery of Washington at 128 pounds, 9-0. Rix sealed the win with a three-point hip toss late in the second period which she held until the final buzzer. Rachel Holthaus of Minnesota, a 2002 Junior Nationals champion, claimed the title at 101 pounds with an exciting 5-4 overtime win over Alyssa Lampe of Wisconsin. The match was tied at 4-4 at the end of regulation. Holthaus scored a spin behind takedown just 26 seconds into overtime to win the match. Holthaus has been a Junior Nationals finalist three times, also winning a silver medal in 2003. Na'Tasha Umemoto of Oregon, who captured a U.S. Senior Nationals title this year, won her first career Junior Nationals title with an 5-2 victory over Vanessa Oswalt of Ohio. Based on winning one of the most competitive divisions in the field, Umemoto was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Umemoto was third at last year's Junior Nationals. All of the finals were very competitive, and featured some very talented young stars. Claiming their first Junior National titles with impressive technical fall victories were Nicole Woody of Maryland at 95 pounds and Caitlyn Chase of Illinois. Woody used a variety of takedowns and turns to score a 10-0 technical fall over Norine Cruz of California midway through the first period. Woody is a past FILA Cadet National champion. Chase also was able to turn her opponent for exposure a number of times on the way to a 10-0 technical fall over 2003 Junior National champion Kelli Rasmussen of Minnesota. Chase was one of the six high school athletes who were able to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and has also won two FILA Cadet National titles. Also capturing their first Junior National titles were Nicole Darrow of New York at 119 pounds Malissa Simmons of Washington at 165 pounds and Juanita Russell of New York at 175 pounds. Darrow fell behind Sarah Peasley of Wisconsin 3-2 midway through the second period, but came back with three straight points to take a lead for good on the way to a 5-4 win. Darrow has won two FILA Cadet National titles. Simmons scored the only pin of the finals, stopping Toni Copeland of New York in the finals in 2:31. Copeland hit a headlock for an early 4-0 lead, but came back to run a bar arm and pin Copeland in the first period. Simmons was a FILA Cadet Nationals champion this year. Russell won a five-athlete pool to claim her title. She won four matches, all by pin, and all in less than a minute. Her fall times were 33 seconds, 26 seconds, 18 seconds and 34 seconds. Placing second was Ashley Benzio of Pennsylvania. Russell has won USA Wrestling national titles on the FILA Cadet and FILA Junior levels. The Most Falls award was won by Danyelle Hedin of Hawaii with five falls in 21:54.