Sara McMann rolls to women's freestyle title at Sunkist Kids International Open
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Craig Sesker (USA Wrestling)
10/27/2007
CHANDLER, Ariz. - Sara McMann's approach to the Sunkist Kids International Open was simple.
Have fun and don't put too much pressure on yourself.
The formula worked to perfection.
McMann, coming off a bronze-medal performance last month at the World Championships, continued to look very strong as she dominated the women's freestyle field at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in rolling to the Sunkist Kids title Saturday at the Rawhide Arena.
McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids), a 2004 Olympic silver medalist, overpowered Junior World champion and World fifth-place finisher Anna Polovneva of Russia 3-0, 3-0 in the finals.
"She's definitely a tough wrestler," McMann said. "She has two really good power moves with a fireman's and a double - if you can keep your head low and keep your arm back you can keep her from hitting those moves."
Also winning women's freestyle titles on Saturday were Clarissa Chun of the Sunkist Kids at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Mary Kelly of the New York AC at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Tonya Verbeek of Canada at 55 kg/121 lbs., Anastasia Bratchikova of Russia at 59 kg/130 lbs., Katie Downing of the Sunkist Kids at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and Iris Smith of the U.S. Army at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Canada won the women's team title with 34 points with the Sunkist Kids second with 28 points and Russia third with 24.
Smith, a 2005 World champion, beat Russia's Daria Nazarova 2-0, 2-1 in the finals. Smith downed 2004 Olympic silver medalist and 2007 World bronze medalist Guzel Manyurova of Russia 3-0, 1-2, 1-1 in the semifinals.
Smith was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament in women's freestyle after beating Russia's top two wrestlers at 72 kilos.
McMann outscored her four opponents Saturday by a 36-1 score. She beat Randi Miller 3-0, 2-1 in the first round before shutting out her last three foes. Miller came back to place third.
"I have so many tournaments where I have immense amounts of pressure on me," McMann said. "I need to take tournaments like this and try to have fun and enjoy myself. And then when it's time to wrestle just go out there and do the things I've been working on. I'm trying to get better and this is just practice for the Big Show."
FINAL-ROUND RESULTS
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun (Sunkist Kids) dec. Sara Fulp-Allen (New York AC) 2-0, 2-1
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Mary Kelly (New York AC) dec. LeeAnn Barney (Oklahoma City University) 2-0, 5-1
55 kg/121 lbs. - Tonya Verbeek (Canada) dec. Brittanee Laverdure (Canada) 5-0, 4-0
59 kg/130 lbs. - Anastasia Bratchikova (Russia) dec. Sally Roberts 0-1, 3-0, 1-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara McMann (Sunkist Kids) dec. Anna Polovneva (Russia) 3-0, 3-0
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Katie Downing (Sunkist Kids) dec. Elena Pirozhkova (Gator WC) 6-0, 1-0
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Iris Smith (U.S. Army) dec. Daria Nazarova (Russia) 2-0, 2-1