A group of Missouri Valley College wrestlers recently made history as they became the first women's college team to participate in a training tour in China. After four months of fierce fundraising efforts, the wrestlers finally arrived in Beijing on June 6 to begin a week of intense workouts with China's National Team, Army Team, and University Team. Missouri Valley College was the No. 1 women's college program in the United States this year. Many of the athletes on the China tour will be competing this weekend at the World Team Trials. "China's Women's Team, the 2001 World Champions, is very disciplined and talented," said Mike Machholz, Missouri Valley Wrestling Coach. "They are great wrestlers in par terre position, which is why this trip was an excellent opportunity for our women to gain experience, pick up technique, and trade secrets." During their first practice session, Team China, currently preparing for the Asian Games (similar to our Pan-Am Games), put Missouri Valley's endurance to the test. While a few of the Missouri Valley women had been training for the upcoming World Team Trials, others had not seriously trained since their college season ended a few months back. China's coach had designed the practice in such a way that the Missouri Valley girls were constantly sparring while China team members switched their members in and out, a form of "sharkbait" training. "It was funny to watch from my end," Machholz admitted. "However, I know the girls did not find it quite as enjoyable. They just had so many more team members than we did, all of whom were in great training shape. The next day I designed a practice that would not be as exhausting for us." "Yeah, they shark-baited us that first day," said Satrinina Vernon, who placed third in the U.S. Nationals at 72 kg. "Other than that, though, it was a very enjoyable and beneficial experience. All of their wrestlers were very friendly and training with them gave us exposure to a wide variety of styles." In the mornings, the practice sessions consisted mainly of technique and drilling, but in the afternoons the women faced off in live competition. "China takes their women's wrestling very seriously," said Machholz. "They have a lot more participants in their programs and unlike our girls who are limited to their training time during the school year, China's University team members are actually wrestling students who devote all of their study to the sport." Despite China's advantages, several of the Missouri wrestlers competed very well. In fact, Tori Adams, who took third in the U.S. Nationals at 63 kg, compiled a 3-1 record including a victory over World Champion Hai Tan Xu, 3-2. "This trip was excellent mental preparation for the World Team Trials," Adams expressed. "It's not often you get the opportunity to train and learn techniques from top competitors in other countries." Although wrestling was the focus of the trip, Coach Machholz arranged for plenty of sightseeing and cultural adventures. With their own private tour guide and interpreter, the team experienced such activities as a boat ride on Lake Kunming, a visit to the ornate Temple of Heaven, a tour of the famed Ming Tombs, and even a workout of climbing the Great Wall. "The entire trip was a lot of fun," said Clarissa Chun. "I had a great time training and making friends with the various China teams. The sightseeing was unbelievable, and bargaining with vendors while we were shopping was an interesting experience." With the trip being scheduled so close to the World Team Trials, some of the girls were a little worried about the time difference and jet lag. However, upon their return, Vernon, Adams, and Chun expressed nothing but confident anticipation and feelings of being more focused than ever. "I think this trip really helped bring the team together," Machholz reported. "It gave us all exposure to a completely new culture, and despite a few bouts of sickness from the food, we ate enough rice to power a couple of Hondas." "The China teams were also very happy with the experience and invited us back in the future," said Machholz. "Traveling internationally is definitely a worthwhile experience, and we will certainly look into returning to China at some point. As for next year, we are strongly leading toward Paris, France." In addition to the women wrestlers, three members of Missouri Valley College's men's team also attended the trip and participated in matches against top Chinese freestyle wrestlers. MVC vs CHINESE NATIONAL TEAM 6/08/02 WOMEN'S COMPETITION Monica Harris vs Yuan Zhi Gao L 0-10 Clarissa Chun vs Hui Lee L 0-10 Marianne Volmer vs Yan Liang L 0-10 Erin Soli vs Li Yun Chu L fall3:50 (losing 1-2) Kierstin Hyatt vs Li Quing Tang L 2-10 Tori Adams vs Hai Tan Xu (World Champ) W 3-2 Mollie Keith vs Ting Liu L 13-2 Nina Vernon vs Hui Hua Sue W fall 4:12 (leading 8-0) MEN'S COMPETITION MATCH #1 Lukie Christian vs Chao Han W fall :33 (leading 3-0) Jory Dick vs Quan Lee L 4-5 Adam Nuru vs Bao An Ying L 0-10 MATCH #2 Lukie Christian vs Chao Han W fall 1:14 (leading 5-0) MVC vs CHINESE ARMY TEAM 6/09/02 WOMEN'S COMPETITION MATCH #1 Monica Harris vs Xiu Lian Wang L 0-10 Rachel Bernardes vs Shan Shan Yang L 9-11 Clarissa Chun vs Jing Nie W 9-7 Marianne Volmer vs Li Wang L 0-10 Erin Soli vs Xiao Shuang Zhang L 3-12 Kierstin Hyatt vs Yan Pang L 1-11 Tori Adams vs Qian Song W fall 2:00 (leading 8-0) Nina Vernon vs Rong Chen W fall 2:50 (leading 5-0) MATCH #2 Erin Soli Xiu Lian Wang L 0-11 Kierstin Hyatt Xiho Shuang Zhang W fall 5:00 (leading 11-5) Tori Adams Xu Wang L 0-11 Nina Vernon Xu Wang L 2-7 MVC vs CHINESE ARMY TEAM 6/09/02 MEN'S COMPETITION MATCH #1 Lukie Christian vs Quan Hue W fall :20 Jory Dick vs Zheng Chuang Chen L 3-13 Adam Nuru vs Bao An Yin W fall 5:30 (leading 13-5) MATCH #2 Lukie Christian vs Chao Han W fall 1:14 (leading 5-0) Jory Dick vs Lui Tao Yang W 10-0 Adam Nuru vs Hai Wen Liu W fall 2:25 (leading 8-2) MVC vs CHINESE NATIONAL TEAM 6/08/02 WOMEN'S COMPETITION Monica Harris vs Yuan Zhi Gao L 0-10 Clarissa Chun vs Hui Lee L 0-10 Marianne Volmer vs Yan Liang L 0-10 Erin Soli vs Li Yun Chu L fall3:50 (losing 1-2) Kierstin Hyatt vs Li Quing Tang L 2-10 Tori Adams vs Hai Tan Xu (World Champ) W 3-2 Mollie Keith vs Ting Liu L 13-2 Nina Vernon vs Hui Hua Sue W fall 4:12 (leading 8-0) MEN'S COMPETITION MATCH #1 Lukie Christian vs Chao Han W fall :33 (leading 3-0) Jory Dick vs Quan Lee L 4-5 Adam Nuru vs Bao An Ying L 0-10 MATCH #2 Lukie Christian vs Chao Han W fall 1:14 (leading 5-0) MVC vs CHINESE ARMY TEAM 6/09/02 WOMEN'S COMPETITION MATCH #1 Monica Harris vs Xiu Lian Wang L 0-10 Rachel Bernardes vs Shan Shan Yang L 9-11 Clarissa Chun vs Jing Nie W 9-7 Marianne Volmer vs Li Wang L 0-10 Erin Soli vs Xiao Shuang Zhang L 3-12 Kierstin Hyatt vs Yan Pang L 1-11 Tori Adams vs Qian Song W fall 2:00 (leading 8-0) Nina Vernon vs Rong Chen W fall 2:50 (leading 5-0) MATCH #2 Erin Soli Xiu Lian Wang L 0-11 Kierstin Hyatt Xiho Shuang Zhang W fall 5:00 (leading 11-5) Tori Adams Xu Wang L 0-11 Nina Vernon Xu Wang L 2-7 MVC vs CHINESE ARMY TEAM 6/09/02 MEN'S COMPETITION MATCH #1 Lukie Christian vs Quan Hue W fall :20 Jory Dick vs Zheng Chuang Chen L 3-13 Adam Nuru vs Bao An Yin W fall 5:30 (leading 13-5) MATCH #2 Lukie Christian vs Chao Han W fall 1:14 (leading 5-0) Jory Dick vs Lui Tao Yang W 10-0 Adam Nuru vs Hai Wen Liu W fall 2:25 (leading 8-2) MVC vs CHINESE BEIJING UNIVERSITY TEAM 6/11/02 WOMEN'S COMPETITION Monica Harris vs Xiu Lan Lee L 0-12 Rachel Bernardes vs Xiao Yi Zhoi L 0-10 Clarissa Chun vs Lin Lin Zhao L 2-12 Marianne Volmer vs Yan Feng Guo L 3-11 Erin Soli vs Ziao Juan Wu L 2-12 Kierstin Hyatt vs Shuang Xu L 3-14 Tori Adams vs Xiao Na Yang W 10-1 Mollie Keith vs Xiao Ming Lee L 0-10 MEN'S COMPETITION