Seven defending Women’s Junior Nationals champions ready to repeat after Day 1 of competition

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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
07/29/2005


Fargo, N.D. - Seven of last year's Junior National champions in the women's division are undefeated and looking to repeat following the first day of action at the FargoDome.    Two of those wrestlers, Nicole Woody of Maryland at 95 lbs. and Melissa Simmons of Washington at 160 lbs., have already earned trips to the finals.    Woody won back-to-back 12-1 bouts to get to the finals, where she will face Amy Whitbeck of New York. Simmons pinned three of her four opponents, and recorded a 9-2 win. Her opponent has not yet been determined.    At 102 lbs., the finals match from last year is on pace to happen in pool competition between defending champion Rachael Holthaus of Minnesota and 2004 runner-up Alyssa Lampe of Wisconsin.    At 110 lbs., defending champion Caitlyn Chase of Illinois posted a 4-0 record. In the opposite pool, Kelli Rasmussen of Minnesota, who placed second to Chase last year, also posted a 4-0 record and is looking for a finals rematch.    The three other defending champions still undefeated after the first day of competition are Nicole Darrow of New York at 119 lbs., Deanna Rix of Maine at 128 lbs. and Na'Tasha Umemoto of Oregon at 138 lbs.    Vanessa Oswalt of Ohio and Toni Copeland of New York, both runners-up last year, have also earned trips to the finals after day 1.    Oswalt did not allow a single point in four matches at 148 lbs. She will face Amberlee Ebert of Wisconsin. Copeland pinned all three of her opponents at 175 lbs. Her opponent has not been determined yet.    Women's competition will resume on Saturday morning. TheMat.com will provide complete coverage.    Complete brackets in each weight class can be found posted in the special section on TheMat.com at: www.themat.com/specialevents/2005/fargo/default.asp.    WOMEN'S ATHLETES STILL ALIVE  95 A  1st - Nicole Woody (MD)  Vanity Vasquez (FL)  Helen Timmons (TX)  4th - Shelby Stevens (MI)    95 B  1st - Amy Whitbeck (NY)  Lene Wood (TX)  Deanie Panganoran (CA)    102 A  Alyssa Lampe (WI)  Carla Watase (HI)  Camie Yeik (WA)  Rachael Holthaus (MN)  Christina Varland (WY)    102 B  Joey Miller (OK)  Whitney Conder (WA)  Chelsea Fuller (PA)  Joleen Oshiro (HI)    110 A  Schuyler Brown (VA)  Dianna Acors (NY)  Kelli Rasmussen (MN)  Michalla Hutchison (AK)    110 B  Julie Kirk (OR)  Caitlyn Chase (IL)  Amnorina Porter (MI)  Kathrine Fulp-Allen (CA)  Amanda Breezley (OH)    119 A  Trinity Plessinger (CA)  Chelynne Pringle (MN)  Hillary Liebman (WA)  Nicole Darrow (NY)  Amber Miracle (WI)    119 B  Chandra Peterson (IA)  Tatiana Padilla (CA)  LeAnn Barney (TX)  Dana LaMonica (WA)  Heather Thompson (NY)    128 A  Trisha Kulas (MI)  Deanna Rix (ME)  Ashley Johnson (MN)  Jessica Jauck (CA)    128 B  Christine Cunningham (CA)  Kara Takasaki (HI)  Bethany Harris (CA)  Cheyenne Stokes (OK)    138 A  Stefenie Shaw (CT)  Paige Storm (IA)  Krissa Timbs (GA)  4th - Stella Brown (CA)    138 B  Erin Clodgo (CT)  Vanessa Epps (TX)  Na'Tasha Umemoto (OR)  Krystal Kiylina (HI)    148 A  1st - Vanessa Oswolt (OH)  2nd - Paige Rife (MI)  3rd - Lindsey Brooks (TX)  4th - Leila Maloff (FL)    148 B  1st - Amberlee Ebert (WI)  Elene Pirozhkov (CT)  Ashlee Evan-Smith (CA)  4th - Shelia McCabe (CA)    160 A  Amy Havens (CA)  Amanda Chittenden (MI)  3rd - Qadriyah Simmons (OH)  4th - Monica Gonsalez (CA)    160 B  1st - Melissa Simmons (WA)  2nd - Lacey Novinska (WI)  3rd - Georgetta Lamon (CA)  4th - Toni Rogers (TX)    175 A  Dallas Monreal-Berner (IL)  Desiree Memea (HI)  Carrie Clark (TX)  4th - Libby Bowser (KS)    175 B  1st - Toni Copeland (NY)  Sara English (OH)  Lindsey Poraczky (PA)  4th - Clarissa Dalke (TX)    195  Erica McClendon (TX)  Juanita Russell (NY)  Beittany Delgado (SC)  Kelsey Crane (TX)    220  Lakia Henderson (FL)  Paloma Basulto (CA)  Lauren Birks (TX)