Site and dates determined for Special Wrestle-Offs at three women's freestyle non-Olympic weight cla
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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
07/23/2003
The sites and dates for the women's freestyle Special Wrestle-offs have been determined. All three best-of-three series will take place at Doherty High School located at 4515 Barnes Rd. in Colorado Springs, Colo. on July 29, 2003. The first set of matches will take place at 10:00 a.m. (Mountain Time). The second series of matches will begin at 1:00 p.m. and the third matches, if necessary, will take place 30 minutes following the conclusion of the second match. The winners of the Special Wrestle-Offs will represent the United States at the 2003 World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling in New York City, September 12-14. The champions of the Women's World Team Trials in all three non-Olympic weight classes will be challenged for their spot on the 2003 U.S. Women's World Team. At the World Team Trials in Indianapolis, Ind., June 20-22, the winners in the four women's Olympic weight classes (48 kg/105.5 lbs., 55 kg/121 lbs., 63 kg/138.75 lbs., 72 kg/158.5) qualified for both the World Championships team and the Pan American Games team. There are only four women's weight classes at the Pan American Games, the four Olympic divisions. At the other three non-Olympic weight classes (51 kg/112.25 lbs., 59kg/130 lbs., 67 kg/147.5 lbs.), the World Team Trials champions are subject to a Special Wrestle-off for the U.S. World Team from a medalist at an Olympic weight class, based upon USA Wrestling rules. Four medalists from the Olympic divisions have notified USA Wrestling that they will challenge for a spot on the U.S. team, opening challenges at all three non-Olympic weights. At 51 kg/112.25 pounds, World Team Trials champion Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) will face one challenger, Clarrisa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC). Chun placed second at the World Team Trials at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., and will move up in weight for the Special Wrestle-off. At 59 kg/130 lbs., World Team Trials champion Erin Tomeo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) will have two challengers in her division: Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) and Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids). Roberts placed third at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. at the World Team Trials and will drop down in weight for the Special Wrestle-off. She was also the U.S. Nationals champion at 59 kg/130 lbs. before moving up in weight for the U.S. World Team Trials. Van Dusen was third at 55 kg/121 lbs. at the World Team Trials and will move up in weight for the Special Wrestle-off. Roberts and Van Dusen will wrestle-off on July 28 in the United States Olympic Training Center wrestling room. At 67 kg/147.5 lbs., World Team Trials champion Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) will face Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC). Marano placed second at the World Team Trials at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and will move up in weight for the Special Wrestle-off. Last year, Marano defeated Downing two matches to none in a Special Wrestle-Off for the U.S. Women's World Team spot. The format will include a Challenge Tournament on the first day, with all of the Olympic weight medalists wrestling off to determine one challenger (this will occur at 59 kg and 67 kg). On the next day, there will be a best-of-three series between the World Team Trials champion and the Challenge Tournament winner. This system of Special Wrestle-off opportunities within women's wrestling was started last year. There were Special Wrestle-offs in two weight classes in 2002, and in both cases, the top challenger defeated the World Team Trials champion to earn a spot on the U.S. World team. At 51 kg/112.25 lbs., challenger Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) defeated World Team Trials champion Wong for the team spot. At 67 kg/147.5 lbs., challenger Marano defeated World Team Trials champion Downing for the team spot. Marano went on to win a bronze medal at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. at the 2002 World Championships. The outcome of the Special Wrestle-off does not change the Team USA rankings as determined at the World Team Trials, nor the national team support funding that was earned through the placements at the World Team Trials. This Special Wrestle-off only determines the U.S. team members for the 2003 World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling. SPECIAL WRESTLE-OFFS FOR U.S WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM at Doherty High School, Colorado Springs, Colo. July 28-29, 2003 51 kg/112.25 lbs. World Team Trials champion Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) Challenger - Clarrisa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) 59 kg/130 lbs. World Team Trials champion Erin Tomeo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) Challengers - Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) 67 kg/147.5 lbs. World Team Trials champion Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) Challengers - Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)