Bernard sweeps major awards and U.S. World Team set at FILA Junior Women's Nationals in St. Joseph,
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
04/12/2003
Event Photos Ali Bernard of the New Ulm Rolling Thunder club in Minnesota captured the major individual awards after winning the 67 kg/147.5 pounds at the FILA Junior National Championships in St. Joseph, Minn., April 12. Bernard pinned Stephany Lee of the Wahine WC in Hawaii in 5:30 to claim the largest and most balanced weight division in the tournament. Bernard dominated the field, also earning the Most Falls award with four falls in 14:45. Claiming the FILA Junior Nationals for the second straight time was Brandy Rosenbrock of Team Michigan, who scored a technical fall over Brooke Bogren of Cumberland College, 10-0 in 5:21 at 59 kg/130 lbs. Rosenbrock, a high school senior, is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation on the Senior level. The winners in eight weight divisions qualified for the U.S. team for the Junior World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey in August. The U.S. team should be very talented and experienced, based upon the results of the competition. Capturing the 44 kg/97 lbs. division was Erica Dye of West Virginia, who won a competitive division. Dye actually lost her match to runner-up Liz Short of UM-Morris. Short was defeated by Dhanujini Hordagoda of the Dave Schultz WC. Dye's technical fall win over Hordagoda gave her enough points to win the roundrobin tie-breaker and make the U.S. team. The champion at 48 kg/105.5 lbs was Mary Kelly of Neosho County CC, who dominated her weight class. She scored an 11-0 technical fall over runner-up Gina Heinzelmann of the Minnesota Storm. Debbi Sakai of the Wahine WC in Hawaii dominated the 51 kg/112.25 lbs. class, winning both of her matches by technical fall. She clinched the win with a 14-2 win over runner-up Colleen McKenney of Cumberland College. Cumberland College claimed two individual titles, with Jessi Shirley at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Alaina Berube at 63 kg/138.75 pounds Shirley pinned Cathy Migita of the Wahine WC of Hawaii in 2:40 in the gold-medal match. Berube scored a 14-6 victory over Ashley Sword of the New York AC in the finals. Capturing the 72 kg/158.5 lbs. class was Juanita Russell of the TNT club of New York, who won a best-of three series over Megan Goldsmith of UM-Morris. Russell won two tight bouts, 8-6 and 14-10. The final champion was Samantha Lang of Oregon, who captured the 175-pound division with a two-match sweep over Alicia Mena of Neosho County College. Lang won by a 10-0 technical fall and a pin. This is not a FILA weight class, and does not qualify for the World Championships.