Top wrestlers seek age-group national titles at Body Bar Women's National Championships April 8-10

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Josi Carlson (USA Wrestling)
04/05/2005


USA Wrestling is hosting the Body Bar Women's National Championships in San Diego, Calif., April 8-10.    One of the top tournaments in the nation for women, 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.    The tournament will be held at Grossmont High School in the city of El Cajon, in the San Diego Community.     A combined national championships for young women provides tremendous competition for a variety of age groups featuring the nation's best wrestlers.    The University division athletes are ages 18-24 years-old, including many of the best college wrestlers in the nation. FILA Junior athletes are 17-20 years-old and the FILA Cadet athletes are ages 15-17 years-old. There will be a team competition on the University level only, with awards for the top two teams entered in the tournament.    The Body Bar FILA Junior Women's National Championships is the qualifying event for the U.S. Junior World Team. The World Team will compete in the FILA Junior World Championships in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 5-10.    In addition to the three national championships, there will be a major girls wrestling competition held during the tournament. Competition will be held in freestyle in two age divisions: Grades 3-6 and Grades 7-8.     "A few years ago, USA Wrestling decided to move all the women's age-group tournaments to one location," said National Women's Coach Terry Steiner. "This is the best way to showcase women's wrestling now. It allows the younger girls to see what their future holds, and to witness the stars of women's wrestling. Any time you can place heroes in front of young people, it is great for the sport."    The tournament is scheduled to run as follows:    Saturday, April 9  8 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Session 1 Girls freestyle (Grades 3-8), FILA Cadet Nationals, University Nationals  1 p.m. - Conclusion: Session 2 Girls freestyle (Grades 3-8), FILA Cadet Nationals, University Nationals    Sunday, April 10  9 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Session 1 FILA Junior Nationals  1 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Session 2 FILA Junior Nationals    An exciting addition to this year's Women's Body Bar National Championships will be an appearance and clinic by 2003 World Bronze medalist Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC).    Currently ranked No. 1 at 59 kg/130 lbs., Roberts will be a special guest at the championships as part of Body Bar's sponsorship of this major national women's competition.    The technique clinic and Body Bar demonstration will be held at the conclusion of the second session of wrestling on Saturday at approximately 3:30 p.m. Roberts, along with one of her U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete teammates, will teach young women athletes during the clinic. At the conclusion of her presentation, Roberts will sign autographs for those in attendance.    Roberts won a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships in New York City, helping lead Team USA to a second-place finish. She was a 2003 World Cup champion, as well as a 2003 U.S. Nationals champion and 2003 University Nationals champion. She placed fifth in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials competing up a weight class. In both 2003 and 2004, Roberts won Special Wrestle-offs to claim the No. 1 spot on Women's Team USA.    Roberts has won a number of international medals, including gold medals at the Yarygin  Memorial in Russia and the Dave Schultz Memorial in the United States. She is originally from Federal Way, Wash., and competed at Pacific Univ. and UM-Morris before joining the USOTC resident program in Colorado Springs.    For more information on the 2005 Body Bar Women's National Championships, contact event director Richard Bailey at (619) 303-6886 or by email at rrbailey@cox.net.    2004 Body Bar Women's National Champions    University Nationals  48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun (Gator WC)  51 kg/112 lbs. - Mary Kelly (New York AC)  55 kg/121 lbs. - Malinda Ripley (Sunkist Kids)  59 kg/130 lbs. - Erin Tomeo (Sunkist Kids)  63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Tori Adams (Gator WC)  67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Mollie Keith (Missouri Valley)  72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Toccara Montgomery (New York AC)  77 kg/169.5 lbs. - Megan Goldsmith (UM-Morris)  Outstanding Wrestler  Erin Tomeo (Sunkist Kids) 59 kg/130 lbs.    FILA Junior Nationals  97 lbs. - Aquila Hills (Cumberland College)  105.5 lbs. - Sara Fulp-Allen (California)  112.25 - Tabithia Ramsey (UM-Morris)  123.25 lbs. - Danyelle Hedin (Hawaii)  130 lbs. - Alaina Berube (Cumberland College)  138.75 lbs. - Stefanie Shaw (Connecticut)  147.5 lbs. - Heather Martin (Ohio)  158.5 lbs. - Stephany Lee (Missouri Valley)  175 lbs. - Samantha Lang (Oregon)  Outstanding Wrestler  Danyelle Hedin (Hawaii) 123.25 lbs.     FILA Cadet Nationals  94.75 lbs. - Joey Miller (Oklahoma)  101.25 lbs. - Kelli Masmussen (Minnesota)  108 lbs. - Caitlyn Chase (Illinois)  114.5 lbs. - Nicole Darrow (New York)   123.25 lbs. - Cheyenne Stokes (Oklahoma)  132.25 lbs. - Kayla Chambers (Minnesota)  143.25 lbs. - Sheila McCabe (California)  154.25 lbs. - Melissa Simmons (Washington)  170 lbs. - Lizz Sanders (Iowa)  Outstanding Wrestler  Cheyenne Stokes (Oklahoma) 123.25 lbs.     For more information on The Body Bar go to:  www.bodybars.com