ERIKSON, GARDNER AND WOLFE WIN 1997 CHAMPIONSHIP BELT SERIESFreestyle wrestler Tom Erikson (W. Lafayette, Ind./Sunkist Kids), Greco-Roman wrestler Rulon Gardner (Mesa, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) and women's wrestler Lauren Wolfe (Okemos, Mich./Michigan WC) have won the 1997 Championship Belt Series on the Senior level in their respective styles.
The series is sponsored by USA Wrestling and honors the top point scorers among U.S. wrestlers, based upon actual success in competition during the year. The point system is based upon results from events on the regional, national and international levels and gives greater credit for success in the major competitions. The top point scorer in the series for each style receives a handsome plaque. The top 10 point scorers in each style receive a certificate.
Freestyle champion - Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind./Sunkist Kids
Erikson won the Championship Belt in freestyle for the second straight year. He scored 296 points, beating runner-up John Fisher (Ypsilanti, Mich./Sunkist Kids) by 21 points.
Erikson placed fifth in the World Championships at 286 pounds. He claimed four gold medals during the 1997 year, including the U.S. Nationals, the World Team Trials, the Slovakia Grand Prix and the Kiev Grand Prix in Ukraine.
Fisher won two major international events, and placed second in three other events at 138.75 pounds. He won gold medals at the Freestyle World Cup and at the Cerro Pelado Tournament in Cuba. He claimed silver medals at the U.S. Nationals, the World Team Trials and the Sunkist Kids International Open.
Greco-Roman champion - Rulon Gardner, Mesa, Ariz./Sunkist Kids
Gardner dominated the Greco-Roman Championship Belt race with a whopping 464 points, a full 91 points ahead of runner-up Marcel Cooper (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marines). Gardner becomes only the third winner of the Greco-Roman belt in eight years, joining stars Matt Ghaffari and Shawn Sheldon as award winners.
Gardner placed fifth in the World Championships at 286 pounds, the top finish of all U.S. Greco-Roman athletes. He won four gold medals, including the U.S. Nationals, the World Team Trials, the Pytlasinski Grand Prix in Poland and the Sunkist Kids International Open. He was second at the Pan American Championships and the Concord Cup and third at the Granma Cup in Cuba.
Cooper was a very active wrestler, claiming medals in eight events at 152 pounds. His golds were at the Sunkist Kids International Open and the Michigan Open. Cooper was second at the U.S. Nationals, Winter Classic, Armed Forces and the Haparanda Cup in Sweden. He was third at the Concord Cup and the World Team Trials.
Women's champion - Lauren Wolfe, Okemos, Mich./Michigan WC
Wolfe won the closest women's finish in history, as the top three placewinners were within nine points, Wolfe had 357 points, followed by Stephanie Murata (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) with 352 points and Kristie Stenglein (Albany, N.Y./ATWA) with 348 points.
Wolfe placed fifth in the World Championships at 136.5 pounds. She claimed six gold medals, including the U.S. Nationals, the World Team Trials, the Pan American Championships, the Northern Plains Regionals and the Saunders Cup.
Murata also had six gold medals, winning the U.S. Nationals, the World Team Trials, the Pan American Championships, the Sunkist Kids International, the Aggie Open and the Winter Classic. She also added a silver medal at the Klippan Cup in Sweden.
1997 Freestyle Championship Belt Series Top Ten
1. Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind., Sunkist Kids, 286 pounds, 296 pts.
2. John Fisher, Ypsilanti, Mich., Sunkist Kids, 138.75 pounds, 275 pts.
3. Townsend Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids, 152 pounds, 248 pts.
4. Terry Steiner, Madison, Wis., Team Excel, 152 pounds, 245 pts.
5. Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa., Dave Schultz WC, 138.75 pounds, 242 pts.
6. Lou Rosselli, Edinboro, Pa., New York AC, 119 pounds, 240 pts.
7. Kevin Jackson, Gilbert, Ariz., Sunkist Kids, 187.25 pounds, 230 pts.
8. Steve Marianetti, Champaign, Ill., New York AC, 167.5 pounds, 198 pts.
9. Trevor Lewis, Malvern, Pa., Dave Schultz WC, 167.5 pounds, 196 pts.
10. Troy Steiner, Madison, Wis., Team Excel, 138.75 pounds, 195 pts.
1997 Greco-Roman Championship Belt Series Top Ten
1. Rulon Gardner, Mesa, Ariz., Sunkist Kids, 286 pounds, 464 pts.
2. Marcel Cooper, Quantico, Va., U.S. Marines, 152 pounds, 373 pts.
3. Shawn Sheldon, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC, 119 pounds, 345 pts.
4. Randy Couture, Corvallis, Ore., Sunkist Kids, 213.75 pounds, 325 pts.
5. Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb., Sunkist Kids, 167.5 pounds, 310 pts.
6. Broderick Lee, Tarzana, Calif., Peninsula WC, 119 pounds, 303 pts.
7. Brian Keck, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC, 286 pounds, 286 pts.
8. Ethan Bosch, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC, 187.25 pounds, 285 pts.
9.(tie) Duaine Martin, Quantico, Va., U.S. Marines, 127.75 pounds, 275 pts.
9.(tie) Chris Saba, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC, 152 pounds, 275 pts.
1997 Women's Championship Belt Series Top Ten
1. Lauren Wolfe, Okemos, Mich., Michigan WC, 136.5 pounds, 357 pts.
2. Stephanie Murata, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids, 123.25 pounds, 353 pts.
3. Kristie Stenglein, Albany, N.Y., ATWA, 165.25 pounds, 348 pts.
4. Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif., Dave Schultz WC, 149.75 pounds, 321 pts.
5. Jackie Berube, Evanston, Ill., Wildcat WC, 123.25 pounds, 314 pts.
6. Dominique Smalley, Iowa City, Iowa, UM-Morris, 165.25 pounds, 309 pts.
7. Vickie Zummo, Hamburg, N.J., New York AC, 123.25 pounds, 306 pts.
8. Satrinina Vernon, Fairfield, Calif., UM-Morris, 165.25 pounds, 291 pts.
9. Shannon Williams, Simi Valley, Calif., Sunkist Kids, 112.25 pounds, 283 pts.
10. Kristy Jeffrey, Deland, Fla., UM-Morris, 149.75 pounds, 274 pts.
CHAMPIONSHIP BELT SERIES HISTORY
Freestyle
1990 - Kevin Jackson; 1991 - John Smith; 1992 - Townsend Saunders; 1993 - Chris Bollin; 1994 - Melvin Douglas; 1995 - Terry Brands; 1996 - Tom Erikson; 1997 - Tom Erikson
Greco-Roman
1990 - Matt Ghaffari; 1991 - Matt Ghaffari; 1992 - Matt Ghaffari; 1993 - Shawn Sheldon; 1994 - Matt Ghaffari; 1995 - Shawn Sheldon; 1996 - Matt Ghaffari; 1997 - Rulon Gardner
Women
1994 - Shannon Williams; 1995 - Tricia Saunders; 1996 - Jackie Berube; 1997 - Lauren Wolfe