Tomeo, Sherwood qualify for the finals of the Special Wrestle-off for the 123.25-pound position on t

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
11/06/2001


Erin Tomeo (Volant, Pa./Sunkist Kids) and Malissa Sherwood (Rocklin, Calif./Missouri Valley College) won their semifinal matches and qualified for the finals of the Special Wrestle-off for the 123.25-pound position on the U.S. Women's World Team in Colorado Springs, Colo., Nov. 6.    The athletes will have a best-of-three series to determine who will represent the USA at the World Championships.    Tomeo was the 2001 U.S. National Championships runner-up and the 2001 University Nationals champion, and is a student at Lock Haven Univ    Sherwood defeated her college teammate Grace Magnussen, Walnut Creek, Calif. (Missouri Valley College), 9-0 in the semifinals. Sherwood opened the match with a three-point bodylock and never trailed.    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.    Magnussen placed third in the 2001 Women's World Team Trials, qualifying for Women's Team USA.    Tomeo scored an 11-0 technical fall over Jessi Shirley, Galion, Ohio (Cumberland College), in 5:39. Tomeo led 2-0 at the mid-break, then opened it up with takedowns and turns in the second period.    In the opening quarterfinal match, Shirley pinned Brandy Rosenbrock (Warren, Mich./Shamrocks) in just 49 seconds to advance to the semifinals.    Shirley locked up a cradle from a front-headlock position, then drove Rosenbrock to the mat for a takedown, then powered her over to her back for the fall.     Shirley is a freshman at Cumberland College, and placed seventh at the 2001 U.S. World Team Trials at this weight class. Rosenbrock, a senior at East Detroit High School in Michigan, was a member of the 2001 U.S. Junior World Team.     The competition is being held in Gym #9 of Sports Center II at the U.S. Olympic Training. The Session time for the second match of the finals series is at 2:00 p.m.. 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.    WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM WRESTLE-OFF AT 123.25 LBS.  Play-by-plays of each match    Championship Finals Series Match #1    Championship Finals Series Finals Match #2 at 2:00 p.m.    Championship Finals Series Match #3 (if necessary) at 2:45 p.m.    Semifinal - Malissa Sherwood, Rocklin, Calif. (Missouri Valley College) dec. Grace Magnussen, Walnut Creek, Calif. (Missouri Valley College), 9-0  1st period  Slip-throw by Sherwood, 1:49  Sherwood, 3 pt. bodylock to exposure, 0:32 left, 3-0 Sherwood  Sherwood, 1 pt. For holding back exposure,  0:11 left, 4-0 Sherwood  2nd period  Sherwood, 1 pt. counter takedown, 2:15 left, 5-0 Sherwood  Sherwood, 3 pt. hip toss, 1:12 left, 8-0 Sherwood  Sherwood, 1 pt. takedown, 0:18 left, 9-0 Sherwood    Semifinal - Erin Tomeo, Volant, Pa. (Sunkist Kids) won by tech. fall over  Jessi Shirley, Galion, Ohio (Cumberland College), 11-0, 5:39  1st period   Tomeo, 1 pt. spin behind takedown, 2:10 left, 1-0 Tomeo  Tomeo, 1 pt. spin behind takedown, 1:23 left, 2-0 Tomeo  2nd period  Tomeo, 1 pt. single leg takedown, 2:32 left, 3-0 Tomeo  Tomeo, 2 pt. leg ride tilt, 2:14 left, 5-0 Tomeo  Tomeo, 1 pt. for holding back exposure, 2:04 left, 6-0 Tomeo  Tomeo, 2 pt. crotch lift, 1:35 left, 8-0 Tomeo  Tomeo, 1 pt. spin behind takedown, 0:29 left, 9-0 Tomeo  Tomeo, 2 pt. power half tilt, 0:21 left, 11-0 Tomeo    Quarterfinal - Jessi Shirley, Galion, Ohio (Cumberland College) pin Brandy Rosenbrock, Warren, Mich. (Shamrocks), 0:49  1st period  Shirley, cradle to takedown, 1-0, 2:21 left  Shirley, cradle to fall, 2:11 left