McMann wins gold medal at Guelph Open in Canada
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
01/21/2003
Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) claimed the individual gold medal at 63 kg/138.75 pounds, the lone U.S. athlete in the women's division at the Guelph Open in Canada, January 21. In the gold-medal finals, with less than a minute left in the bout, McMann pinned Canadian World Team member and former Junior World champion Tara Hedican. McMann scored a three-point takedown early in the match and was leading 3-0 when Hedican attempted a throw. McMann countered the attempt, putting Hedican on her back for the fall. McMann has competed in the last three World Championships for the United States, and is a USOTC resident athlete. Hedican, who trains in Guelph, placed ninth in the 2002 World Championships. McMann also scored an 11-0 technical fall over Brooke Hilditch of Guelph, which qualified her for the gold-medal finals. "I'm especially excited because some things I have been working on in practice worked well," said McMann. "I was in (Hedican's) hometown and I was the only American there. I wasn't going to give her any positions. I was happy that when I was put down three times that she didn't turn me."