Kelly and Ripley on collision course in 110-pound finals at ASICS-Vaughan Junior Nationals for girls

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/26/2002


The first day of the ASICS-Vaughan Junior Nationals made history, as America's best high school female freestyle wrestlers met for the first time at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D.    The quality of the competition was outstanding, featuring 103 entries from 24  states in nine weight classes. A total of 12 of the 14 TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School All-American First Team members entered the meet, and they performed very well.    Some of the weight classes have already determined their medal match pairings, while others will be sorted out during final preliminary bouts on Saturday morning.    One of the most anticipated finals will be at 110 pounds, where Mary Kelly of Illinois, a Junior World medalist and Cadet World Champion, will battle Malinda Ripley of California in the finals. Kelly placed third at the 2002 World Team Trials on the Senior level, while Ripley placed fifth at the World Team Trials.    Kelly crushed the opposition in her pool, winning five matches all by pin. Four of the pins were in less than a minute, and the other took just 1:46. Ripley had four wins, two by pin, a technical fall and a 12-8 win.     Gold-medal finals have been set at 119 pounds between Rachel Groft of Pennsylvania and Amberle Montgomery of Washington, at 165 pounds between Ashley Gaspar of Hawaii and Samantha Lang or Oregon, and at 175 pounds between Alicia Mena of Minnesota and Misty Stalley of California.    The most decorated athlete in the tournament may be Brandy Rosenbrock of Michigan, who placed second at the World Team Trials on the Senior level this year. Rosenbrock also owns FILA Cadet and FILA Junior National titles. She is competing at 138.75 pounds here, and won her first four bouts by technical fall. She'll have to beat Chelynne Pringle of Minnesota in the final pool match to make the finals. The other pool has been complete, with Wendy Casey of New York making it to the gold medal round.