Session times set for Special Wrestle-off for the 123.25-pound position on the U.S. Women’s World Te
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
11/02/2001
A Special Wrestle-off for the 123.25-pound position on the U.S. Women's World Wrestling Team will be held in Gym #9 of Sports Center II at the U.S. Olympic Training Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Session times for the competition will be at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and spectators may attend the Special Wrestle-off free of charge. The Special Wrestle-off became necessary when World Team member Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) notified USA Wrestling that she will not be able to compete at the 2001 Women's World Championships. George has joined the U.S. Army, and has started her basic training assignment. The Women's World Championships were originally scheduled for Madison Square Garden in New York City, Sept. 26-29. Due to the terrorist attacks on the United States, the event was postponed. It has been rescheduled to take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, Nov. 22-25. USA Wrestling invited all the athletes who originally had met the qualification standards to compete in the 2001 World Team Trials at this weight class. The qualifications for the participants include: 1. Top eight at 2001 U.S. Nationals; 2. 2000-2001 National Team Member - top three; 3. Top-three finish in a FILA A Championship in the past three years, including Pan Ams, but not Sunkist; 4. 2001 University National Champions; 5. Past World Team member. As of October 31, five athletes have indicated to USA Wrestling that they expect to participate in the Special Wrestleoff. Two of the participants placed in the top four of the 2001 U.S. National Championships at the weight division: runner-up Erin Tomeo (Volant, Pa./Sunkist Kids) and fourth-place finisher Grace Magnussen (Walnut Creek, Calif./Missouri Valley College). Tomeo was the 2001 University Nationals champion, and is a student at Lock Haven Univ. Magnussen placed third in the 2001 Women's World Team Trials, qualifying for Women's Team USA. Three other qualified for the Wrestle-off based upon a top-three finish in a FILA A Championship: Malissa Sherwood (Rocklin, Calif./Missouri Valley College), Brandy Rosenbrock (Warren, Mich./Shamrocks) and Jessi Shirley (Galion, Ohio/Cumberland College). Sherwood was injured during the 2001 season and did not compete in the U.S. Nationals or World Team Trials. She has placed second in the U.S. Nationals five times during her career. Rosenbrock, a senior at East Detroit High School in Michigan, was a member of the 2001 U.S. Junior World Team. Shirley is a freshman at Cumberland College, and placed seventh at the 2001 U.S. World Team Trials at this weight class. Anticipated Special Wrestle-off Participants (listed by 2001 U.S. Nationals finish at 56 kg) 2. Erin Tomeo, Volant, Pa. (Sunkist Kids) 4. Grace Magnussen, Walnut Creek, Calif. (Missouri Valley College) Additional qualifier: Malissa Sherwood, Rocklin, Calif. (Missouri Valley College) Additional qualifier: Brandy Rosenbrock, Warren, Mich. (Shamrocks) Additional qualifier: Jessi Shirley, Galion, Ohio (Cumberland College)