Erin Tomeo (Volant, Pa./Sunkist Kids) defeated Malissa Sherwood (Rocklin, Calif./Missouri Valley College), two match to none, in the championship series 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.    Tomeo won the  best-of-three series and will represent the USA at the World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, Nov. 22-25. The competition was held in Gym #9 of Sports Center II at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.    Tomeo won the first match of the series, 8-3. She opened the bout with a three-point underhook whipover, and led 3-0 at the mid-break. Sherwood tied the bout at 3-3 late in the second period with a three-point headlock. Tomeo immediately stormed back with a three-point throw just 11 seconds later for a 6-3 lead, and scored two more points as time ran out on a counter.    "I thought I was sharp," said Tomeo after the first match. "I stayed in good position throughout the match."    Tomeo said that she was not concerned after Sherwood tied the match with the headlock. "I thought, 'It doesn't matter; I'm coming back.' I didn't let it phase me," said Tomeo. "I have been blessed with this opportunity. Things worked out, like they should have. It is great to have a second chance, and I'm not taking it for granted."    In the second match, Tomeo scored a fall with just 13 seconds left, leading by 10 points at the time. Tomeo led 5-0 after the first period, and broke the match open with two counter throws in the second period.    "I am very grateful," said Tomeo after the second win. "I knew I had it in me. I had to find the focus and I did. In this match, I was trying to score one point at a time. I knew she had good throws. I tried to stay in position and take what was there. In the end, I knew she was tired and knew she was going to try her throws."    "I'm really focused now," she said. "I am ready to go to the worlds and wrestle like I am capable. I want to go, have a great experience and show the world what I have."    Sherwood, who was injured during the entire 2001 season, returned to competition this month.    "I'm out of shape; I haven't done anything for a year," said Sherwood. "I don't know what I was thinking. My brain told me I could do it, but my body told me I couldn't. She is a good candidate for the team, because she has been training well. My body is not working to its ability yet. I thought I'd come here and test myself. Obviously, I am not back yet."    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, then rescheduled.    Sherwood qualified for the finals with a 9-0 win over her college teammate Grace Magnussen (Missouri Valley College) in the semifinals. Tomeo advanced with an 11-0 technical fall over Jessi Shirley (Galion, Ohio/Cumberland College).    The event opened with a quarterfinal match, where Shirley pinned Brandy Rosenbrock (Warren, Mich./Shamrocks) in 49 seconds.