U.S. wrestlers win five gold medals at Mohawk Valley International Festival, March 23Wrestlers from the United States won five of the six gold medals in the Senior division at the Mohawk Valley International Festival of women's wrestling, held in Canastota, N.Y., March 23.
Danielle Hobelka (Quincy, Mass./Harvard WC) upset Women's Team USA member Angela Hesener (Ann Arbor, Mich./U of Michigan) in the finals at 101 pounds, 3-0. Hesener is ranked No. 3 in the United States at the weight classes.
Two of the champions were from the host Mohawk Valley Wrestling Club, Danielle Bennett (Fulton, N.Y./Mohawk Valley) at 112 pounds and Jayme Pierce (E. Syracuse, N.Y./Mohawk Valley) at 136.5 pounds. Bennett defeated Lauralee Summer (Quincy, Mass./Harvard WC) in the finals, 6-5. Pierce pinned Ammi Keller (Scarsdale, N.Y./NYU) in 33 seconds for the title.
The final U.S. champion was Siobhan Bower (Cassadaga, N.Y./NY Super Six), who won the 149 pound class by pinning Jillian Pierce (E. Syracuse, N.Y./Mohawk Valley) in 1:55.
Winning the 165 pound title was Tamara Medvidsky (Montreal, Canada/Montreal WC).
A Cadet division was also held, featuring many talented 14-16 year old female wrestlers. The New York Super Six Club won the team title, edging host Mohawk Valley WC by one point.
MOHAWK VALLEY INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL at Canastota, N.Y., March 23
Senior Division results
101 - 1st - Danielle Hobelka, Quincy, Mass. (Harvard WC) dec. Angela Hesener, Ann Arbor, Mich. (U of Michigan), 3-0; 3rd - Mary Cycon, Stamford, Conn. (Wilton WC)
112 - 1st - Danielle Bennett, Fulton, N.Y. (Mohawk Valley) dec. Lauralee Summer, Quincy, Mass. (Harvard WC)
123 - 1st - Anne-Marie Melingui, New York City, N.Y. (NYU) dec. Beth Suppa, Morris, Minn. (UM-Morris)
136.5 - 1st - Jayme Pierce, E. Syracuse, N.Y. (Mohawk Valley) pin Ammi Keller, Scarsdale, N.Y. (NYU); 3rd - Joan Klimkiewicz, New York, N.Y. (NYU); 4th - Sara Nobis, Syracuse, N.Y. (Mohawk Valley)
149.75 - 1st - Siobhan Bower, Cassadaga, N.Y. (NY Super Six) pin Jillian Pierce, E. Syracuse, N.Y. (Mohawk Valley), 1:55; 3rd - Tarimotimi Awipi, New York, N.Y. (NYU)
165 - 1st - Tamara Medvidsky, Montreal, Canada (Montreal WC) pin Melovie Porter, Schenectady, N.Y. (TNT Wrestling)
Cadet Division
88 - 1st - Jennifer Wells, Barker, N.Y. (NY Super Six) pin Kelly Jordan, Burt, N.Y. (NY Super Six), 2:28; 3rd - Jennifer Cycon, Stamford, Conn. (Wilton WC); 4th - Marisa Trapasso, Warrensburg, N.Y. (Warrensburg WC); 5th - Jessica Pierce, Syracuse, N.Y. (Mohawk Valley)
108 - 1st - Marilee Fairbank, Ashville, N.Y. (NY Super Six) dec. Becky Huether, Geneva, N.Y. (Geneva WC), 7-2; 3rd - Katie Jordan, Burt, N.Y. (NY Super Six); 4th - Erin Meharg, Cazenovia, N.Y. (Mohawk Valley)
132 - 1st- Audra Smith, Panama, N.Y. (Panama WC) pin Jayme Glover, E. Syracuse, N.Y. (Mohawk Valley), 2:51; 3rd - Susan Harper, Buffalo, N.Y. (NY Super Six)
Teams - 1. New York Super Six, 40 pts.; 2. Mohawk Valley WC, 39 pts.; 3. New York University, 22 pts.; 4. Harvard Wrestlers, 17 pts,; 5. Wilton WC, 15 pts.; 6. Montreal WC, 10 pts.