O'Donnell, Wong among stars to win titles at Women's University Nationals in St. Joseph, Minn.

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
04/13/2003


Tela O'Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo,/Dave Schultz WC) captured the 121-pound title and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Women's University National Championships in St. Joseph, Mo., April 13.    O'Donnell  won all four of her bouts by technical fall, including a 13-3 victory in the gold-medal finals over Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. Van Dusen is ranked No. 3 on the Senior WomenÕs National  Team.    Also claiming a technical  fall win in the finals was Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who stopped Belinda Chow (Cattown, Canada/U of Regina-Cattown), 11-0 at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. Wong won all three of her bouts by technical fall. Wong is ranked No. 1 in the nation at this weight class, while Chow is one of Canada's top college wrestlers.    One of the most exciting finals bouts was at 48 kg/112.25 pounds, where Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) scored a come-from-behind 11-6 win over Mary Kelly (Chanute, Kan./Neosho County). Kelly led the match early after turning Chun twice in the first period. Chun tied up the match with a headlock throw, then was able to turn Kelly to take the match.    The Gator WC won the team title with three individual champions, scoring 25 points, led by three champions. Missouri Valley College was second with 24 points. The Univ. of Regina/Cattown  was third with 13 points, followed by UM-Morris with 11 points.    The other two individual champions from the Gator WC were Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Satrinina Vernon (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 77 kg/169.5 lbs.    Roberts scored a 4-0 decision over Tori Adams (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) in the finals. Roberts also had a pin and a technical fall during the event.    Vernon won a four-athlete division, and scored three wins including a 12-3 decision over runner-up Donnell Bradley (Marshall, Mo./Missouri Valley). She also scored two technical falls.    Other U.S. individual champions were Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 pounds and Toccara Montgomery (Williamsburg, Ky./Cumberland) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.    Downing won a tight 4-2 finals match against Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids). Downing won the Most Falls Trophy, with three falls in 3:23.    Montgomery won a three-athlete division, including an 11-1 technical fall win over runner-up Stephany Lee (Honolulu, Hawaii/Wahine WC).    The 130-pound champion was Canadian wrestler Korie Menegb o (Cattown, Canada/U of Regina-Cattown), who won three bouts on the way to gold. Her closest bout was an 8-7 win over runner-up Lindsay Owens (Atherton, Calif./Menlo College).    Six of the eight individual champion are full-time U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athletes, who train under National WomenÕs Coach Terry Steiner in Colorado Springs, Col,o.    There were no repeat champions from last year. The top American placewinner at each weight class have qualified for the World Team Trials in Indianapolis, Ind. June 20-22.