Roberts beats Van Dusen, 6-3, to qualify for 59 kg/130 lbs. Special Wrestle-off against Tomeo; Three
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/28/2003
Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) defeated Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 6-3, in a Challenge Tournament match for the Special Wrestle-off at 59 kg/130 pounds on the U.S. Women's World Team. The match was held in the wrestling room at the U.S. Olympic Training Center on Monday, July 28 at 11:00 a.m. The victory qualifies Roberts for the best-of-three series against World Team Trials champion Erin Tomeo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) on Tuesday. There will be three best-of-three series on Tuesday, July 29 at Doherty High School located at 4515 Barnes Rd. in Colorado Springs, Colo. 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. Medalists at the Olympic weight classes have a right to challenge for the U.S. World Team spot in a Special Wrestle-off at the three non-Olympic weights. Roberts placed third at 63 kg/138.75 pounds, one of the four Olympic weights. She dropped to 59 kg/130 lbs. for the Special Wrestle-off. Van Dusen placed third at 55 kg/121 lbs. and moved up to enter the Special Wrestle-off. The other two Special Wrestle-offs on Tuesday are: 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 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. 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) Challenger - Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) 67 kg/147.5 lbs. World Team Trials champion Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) Challenger - Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)