Murata Defeats Kelly In Challenge Tournament Final; Will Face Wong on Tuesday

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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
08/19/2002


Colorado Springs, Colo. - Stephanie Murata (Minden, Nev./Sunkist Kids) wasted no time in winning her one-match Challenge Tournament final on Monday morning over Mary Kelly (Mahomet, Ill. (Dave Schultz WC) to move on to a best-of-three Championship Series on Tuesday against Jenny Wong (Stillwater, Minn./Sunkist Kids).    Murata won by technical fall over Kelly, 10-0, to advance to tomorrow's Championship Series that will determine who will represent the 51 kg/112 lbs. spot on the 2002 U.S. Women's World Team.    After holding off a deep single-leg shot by Kelly early in the match, Murata settled down and took control, scoring a takedown and two gut wrenches to take a 5-0 lead midway through the first period.    Murata extended her lead to 9-0 with another takedown and two more gut wrenches late in the period, all but putting the match away going into the second period.  "I felt good out there," Murata said after her victory. "It felt good to get some of the bugs out and get good competition in. You can never have too many competitive matches."    Murata finished the technical fall 24 seconds into the second period with a takedown.    "I just wanted to finish it quick in the second period. You never want to let an athlete hang around in a match because you never know what can happen," Murata added.    A new USA Wrestling rule approved by the Women's Sports Committee allows for additional women's wrestle-offs at the three non-Olympic weight classes (51 kg, 59 kg and 67 kg). The athletes that placed second or third in the World Team Trials at the four Olympic weights (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg and 72 kg) are allowed to challenge the winners of the three non-Olympic weights for a spot on the U.S. Women's World team.    Wong won the 51 kg/112 lbs. weight class at the World Team Trials in June by defeating Katie Kunimoto (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Pacific) two matches to none. Therefore, in the Special Wrestle-off, Wong is automatically in the Championship finals. Wong was the 2001 U.S. Nationals champion at this weight class, which is a non-Olympic weight division.    Murata placed second at the World Team Trials to Tina George-Wilson (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 55 kg/121 lbs., an Olympic weight class. Murata was a 2001 World silver medalist and is a five-time member of the Women's World Team (1996-99, 2001). Murata has won seven straight U.S. Nationals titles.    Murata will wrestle Wong in the best-of-three Championship Series on the upper floor of building #2 of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The first match in the will take place at 10:00 am. The second match is scheduled for 1:30 pm and the third match, if necessary, will take place one hour after the conclusion of the second match.    Admission is free to all spectators.    Stephanie Murata, Minden, Nev. (Sunkist Kids) won by tech. fall over Mary Kelly, Mahomet, Ill. (Dave Schultz WC), 10-0 in 3:24  Play-by-play:  0:53 - takedown Murata, 1-0  0:57 - Murata gut wrench, 3-0  1:13 - Murata gut wrench, 5-0  2:43 - Murata spin-behind for a takedown, 6-0  2:47 - Murata gut wrench, 8-0  2:58 - Murata hand-to-hand gut wrench, 9-0  3:24 - Murata takedown, 10-0