USA Wrestling awards Body Bar Women’s Nationals to San Diego, Calif., April 8-10, 2005

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
10/19/2004


The major age-group national championships for girls has moved to a new location, as USA Wrestling announced that the Body Bar Women's Nationals will be hosted in San Diego, Calif., April 8-10.    This competition provides USA Wrestling national championships for female wrestlers at three different age levels, the University division, the FILA Junior division and the FILA Cadet division.    University athletes are ages 18-24, including many of the best college wrestlers in the nation. FILA Junior athletes are ages 17-20. FILA Cadet athletes are ages 15-17.    There will be a FILA Junior World Championships for women this year, held in Vilnius, Lithuania from July 5-10. The Body Bar FILA Junior Women's National Championships are part of the qualification process for the U.S. Junior World Team.    The last two years, the Body Bar Women's Nationals were hosted in St. Joseph, Minn. A combined national championships for young women provides tremendous competition for a variety of age groups featuring the nation's best wrestlers.    The site has yet to be finalized, but will be announced shortly. The local organizing committee is California USA Wrestling, the state association in California.    "USA Wrestling is pleased to award this major age-group women's event to San Diego," said National Events Director Pete Isais. "California USA Wrestling will do a great job hosting the event, and we expect talented athletes of all ages from across the nation to challenge for national titles."    "The San Diego Wrestling Association is excited to have been selected by California USA Wrestling to host this combination of three national women's events, and two California State events," said San Diego Wrestling Association Director Richard Bailey.    The Outstanding Wrestler at the 2004 Body Bar University Nationals was Erin Tomeo of the Sunkist Kids, the individual champion at 130 pounds. Among the other University Nationals champions last year was Toccara Montgomery of the New York AC, the 158.5-pound champion, who went on to earn a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team.    Other 2004 University Nationals champions were Clarissa Chun of the Gator WC (105.5), Mary Kelly of the New York AC (112.25), Malinda Ripley of the Sunkist Kids (121), Tori Adams of the Gator WC (138.75), Mollie Keith of Missouri Valley (147.5) and Megan Goldsmith of UM-Morris (169.5).    The Outstanding Wrestler at the 2004 Body Bar FILA Junior Nationals was Danyelle Hedin of Hawaii at 121 pounds.     Other 2004 FILA Junior Nationals champions were Aquila Hills of Cumberland College (97), Sara Fulp-Allen of California (105.5), Tabithia Ramsey of UM-Morris (112.25), Alaina Berube of Cumberland College (130), Stefanie Shaw of Connecticut (138.75), Heather Martin of Ohio (147.5 lbs.), Stephany Lee of Missouri Valley (158.5) and Samantha Lang of Oregon (175).    The Outstanding Wrestler at the 2004 Body Bar FILA Cadet Nationals was Oklahoma's Cheyenne Stokes, the champion at 123.25 pounds.     Other 2004 FILA Cadet Nationals champions were Joey Miller of Oklahoma (94.75), Kelli Rasmussen of Minnesota (101.25), Caitlyn Chase of Illinois (108), Nicole Darrow of New York (114.5), Kayla Chambers of Minnesota (132.25), Sheila McCabe of California (143.25), Mellisa Simmons of Washington (154.25) and Lizz Sanders of Iowa (170).     The competition in 2005 will be held alongside two major California USA Wrestling state championships, the FILA Cadet State Championships, and the FILA Junior State Championships, in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.    For information, contact event director Richard Bailey of the San Diego Wrestling Association at 619-303-6886 or via e-mail at rrbailey@cox.net    Additional information on the event will be posted when available on TheMat.com, as well as at the following internet address:  http://sdwa.silverbackswrestling.com