WORLD CHAMPION SAUNDERS, WORLD SILVER MEDALISTS BACHER AND STENGLEIN WIN TITLES AT WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM TRIALS IN ST. PAUL, MINN., AUG. 15
Two-time Women's World Champion Tricia Saunders (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) led the field of champions at the 1998 Women's World Team Trials, held at the Salvation Recreation Center in St. Paul, Minn., Aug. 15.
The competition featured the best women freestyle wrestlers in the United States. The winners at each weight class will represent the United States at the 1998 Women's World Championships in Poznan, Poland, Oct. 8-10.
A best-of-three series was held at six weight classes, featuring the 1998 U.S. Nationals champion and the winner of Friday¹s Mini-Tournament at each weight.
Saunders claimed the title at 101.25 pounds, dominating Julie Gonzales (Vallejo, Calif./Peninsula Grapplers) in a pair of technical falls, 11-0 in 3:29 and 10-0 in 4:00.
Saunders won World gold medals in 1992 and 1996, and was a World silver medalist in 1993. She did not compete in the 1997 season, due to a knee injury and the birth of her second child.
A pair of 1997 World silver medalists qualified to return to the World Championships this year: Sandra Bacher (San Jose, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) at 149.75 pounds and Kristie Stenglein (Albany, N.Y./ATWA) at 165.25 pounds.
Bacher defeated Satrinina Vernon (Rodeo, Calif./UM-Morris), in two straight bouts, 5-4 and by referee¹s decision, 2-1, in overtime.
Bacher was second in the 1997 World Championships and fourth in the 1996 World Championships. She is a two-time U.S. Olympian in judo.
Stenglein defeated Diana Wesendunk (Hillsborough, Calif./Peninsula Grapplers) in two straight, with a 27 second pin in bout one and an 8-0 decision.
Stenglein won World silver medals in both 1996 and 1997. She was also a Junior World Champion just one week ago in Fredrikstad, Norway,
Bacher had to compete in the Mini-Tournament on Friday, because she had moved up to 165.25 pounds at the U.S. Nationals and lost in the finals to Stenglein. Bacher returned to her normal 149.75 class for the World Team Trials.
Two 1998 U.S. Nationals champions dropped down from their weight class at the national tournament, and made the U.S. World team: Stephanie Murata (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) at 112.25 pounds and Lauren Wolfe (Okemos, Mich./Michigan WC) at 136.5 pounds.
Murata defeated 1996 World silver medalist Jackie Berube (Evanston, Ill./Wildcat WC) in the championship finals in a three-match series. Berube won the first match 3-2 in overtime, but Murata rebounded with 4-0 and 3-0 wins.
Murata competed at 123.25 pounds last year, and was a member of the las two U.S. World teams. She has won three career U.S. Nationals titles.
Wolfe swept her two match series over 1998 National Champion Jimi-Dawn Hornbuckle (Lawrence, Kan./Dave Schultz WC) in the finals series, 6-3 and by technical fall, 10-0
Wolfe qualified for her fourth straight World Team. Wolfe placed fifth in the 1995 and 1997 World Championships.
Tina George (South Euclid, Ohio/UM-Morris) made her first U.S. World team, beating Patricia Miranda (Stanford, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) at at 123.25 pounds. Miranda won bout one by pin, but George rebounded with 4-0 and 9-0 wins.
George placed fifth in the 1998 U.S. Nationals, but was able to qualify for the championship series after winning Friday¹s Mini-Tournament.
The 1998 U.S. Women's World team will be led by head coach Joe Corso of Phoenix, Ariz., assistant coach Doug Reese of Morris, Minn. and Freestyle Developmental Coach Mike Duroe of Colorado Springs, Colo.
1998 WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM TRIALS at St. Paul, Minn., Aug. 15
Championships series results
46 kg/101.25 lbs. - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Julie Gonzales, Vallejo, Calif. (Peninsula Grapplers), tech. fall, 11-0, 3:29 and tech. fall, 10-0, 4:00.
Saunders wins series, two matches to none.
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Stephanie Murata, Phoenix, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jackie Berube, Evanston, Ill. (Wildcat WC), lost 3-2, ot, 4:33, won 4-0 and won 3-0.
Murata wins series, two matches to one.
56 kg/123.25 lbs. - Tina George, South Euclid, Ohio (UM-Morris) dec. Patricia Miranda, Stanford, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC), lost pin 3:55, won 4-0 and won 9-0.
George wins series, two matches to one.
62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Lauren Wolfe, Okemos, Mich. (Michigan WC) dec. Jimi-Dawn Hornbuckle, Lawrence, Kan. (Dave Schultz WC), 6-3 and tech. fall, 10-0, 2:58
Wolfe wins series, two matches to none
68 kg/149.75 lbs. - Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) dec. Satrinina Vernon, Rodeo, Calif. (UM-Morris), 5-4 and by ref. dec., 2-1, ot, 7:00
Bacher wins series, two matches to none
75 kg/165.25 lbs. - Kristie Stenglein, Albany, N.Y. (ATWA) dec. Diana Wesendunk, Hillsborough, Calif. (Peninsula Grapplers), pin 0:27 and 8-0
Stenglein wins series, two matches to none