Olympians O’Donnell and Montgomery to lead 2004 U.S. Women’s World Cup Team
<< Back to Articles
John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
09/15/2004
USA Wrestling has announced its roster for the 2004 Women's Freestyle World Cup to be held in Tokyo, Japan, October 8-9. The U.S. will compete against teams from host Japan, Canada, China, Germany and Russia. The U.S. team will be led by Olympians Tela O'Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/New York AC) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. O'Donnell placed sixth at the 2004 Olympic Games. She was a 2003 U.S. Nationals champion. Montgomery placed seventh at the 2004 Olympic Games. She won a gold medal at the 2003 World Cup. She won silver medals at the 2001 and 2003 World Championships and has captured four U.S. Nationals titles. Also on the squad is 2001 World silver medalist Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. Murata has competed in six World Championships in she is a seven-time U.S. Nationals champion. 2003 World Cup gold medalist Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) will compete at 59 kg/130 lbs. Roberts also captured a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships. She was also a 2003 U.S. Nationals champion. 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runners-up Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) and Alaina Berube (Escanaba, Mich./New York AC) will also compete. Chun will wrestle at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. She competed in the 2000 World Championships. She is a four-time U.S. Nationals runner-up and won a bronze medal at the 2002 Pan American Championships. Berube will compete at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. She currently attends Cumberland College in Kentucky. She placed fourth at the 2003 Junior World Championships and placed fourth in the 2003-04 U.S. Nationals. Rounding out the U.S. roster will be Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Downing was a 2003 U.S. Nationals champion and won the U.S. World Team Trials in 2002 and 2003. She also won a gold medal at the 2001 World Cup. Murata, Roberts and Downing all won the 2004 Women's National Team Trials for the non-Olympic weights. The team will be coached by USA Wrestling National Women's Coach Terry Steiner (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and USA Wrestling Freestyle Developmental Coach Dave Bennett (Colorado Springs, Colo.). In this year's Olympic Games, Japan won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze. Canada won one silver medal and had two women place fifth. China captured one gold medal. Germany had two women place sixth. Russia won one silver medal and had one woman place fifth. In the 2003 Women's Freestyle World Cup also held in Tokyo, the U.S. team upset Japan in the gold-medal dual, winning 14-13. The U.S. had four individual gold medalists: Roberts, Montgomery, Patricia Miranda at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Kristie Marano at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Click here for 2003 Women's Freestyle World Cup results 2004 U.S. Women's World Cup Team at Tokyo, Japan October 8-9 48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) 51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 55 kg/121 lbs. - Tela O'Donnell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC) 59 kg/130 lbs. - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Alaina Berube, Escanaba, Mich. (New York AC) 67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio (New York AC) Coaches: Dave Bennett, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Terry Steiner, Colorado Springs, Colo.