The Canadian wrestling community determined its Olympic wrestlers for 2004 in freestyle wrestling at their Olympic Trials in Sherwood Park, Alberta, on Saturday, Dec. 13. Heading into the Trials event, Canada had qualified for two spots at the 2004 Olympic Games, based upon the results of the 2003 World Championships. Both top-ranked athletes at these weight classes were able to win their best-of-three series and earn the trip to Athens, Greece. At 63 kg/138.75 pounds for women's freestyle, 2003 World bronze medalist Viola Yanik needed three matches to earn the spot on the Canadian Olympic team, beating Tara Hedican two matches to one. Yanik won the first match by technical fall, 10-0, but lost in the second bout, 9-3. In the third and deciding match, Yanik scored a 10-3 decision. At 66 kg/145.5 pounds, Evan MacDonald, who was eighth at the 2003 World Championships, swept his championship series in two matches over Neil Ewers, winning both matches by 7-3 margins. In the other 12 weight classes contested on Saturday, the winner of the Olympic Trials will represent Canada in the Olympic Qualifying events this winter. If they are able to qualify Canada for the Olympics in their division, then they will be on the Canadian Olympic Team. Canada's two World Champions in the field both won their weight classes: six time World Champion Christine Nordhagen in the women's 72 kg/158.5 lbs. division, and 2001 World Champion Giuvi Sissaouri in the men's 60 kg/132 lbs. division. Nordhagen needed all three matches to win her division. She lost in the opening round to 2003 World Team member Ohenewa Akuffo, 6-2, as Akuffo tossed Nordhagen twice. In the second match, Nordhagen rebounded with a 12-3 decision. In the deciding third match, Nordhagen controlled the bout for a 6-1 victory. Sissaouri swept his series against a talented opponent, Saeed Azarbayjani, winning 5-2 and 6-1 decisions. Two of the weight classes contested on Saturday did not determine the final champion at the weight class. Prior to the tournament, two No. 1 ranked athletes took "injury provisions" and will have to wrestle off later in the new year against the winners of the Trials event. 2000 Olympic champion Daniel Igali took the injury provision at men's 74 kg/163 lbs., as did veteran international star Tonya Verbeek at 55 kg/121 lbs. in the women's division. Winning the 74 kg/163 lbs. division was Zoltan Hunyady, who beat Danny Einhorn in two straight bouts, 6-2 and 10-5. Capturing the women's 55 kg/121 lbs. division was Jennifer Ryz, who needed three bouts to get by Erica Sharp. Ryz won the first bout 7-1, but lost 4-1 in overtime in bout two. In the deciding third match, Ryz scored a 3-0 victory. The date and location of the wrestle-off at these classes has not yet been announced. USA Wrestling's National Women's Coach Terry Steiner attended the Canadian Trials event to watch the Canadian women in action. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't think they were very tough," said Steiner, who was impressed with the action in all four women's weight classes. At 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Lindsay Belisle won her series in two straight matches, pinning Carol Huynh in both bouts. Belisle scored a fall in 4:29 in bout one, then a fall in 5:46 in the second bout. "The Canadian women are as tough as any nation in the world with this lineup," said Steiner. "They are as good as any team out there. Yanik was third in the world. Belisle is one of the top wrestlers at 48 kg, clearly in the top five or six right now. At 55 kg, Ryz is No. 1 now, but Verbeek could be the person who takes the spot. Nordhagen is in the top three in the world at 72 kg now, easily one of the best out there." In the men's weight classes, CFL professional football player Wayne Weathers captured the title at 120 kg/264.5 pounds. He defeated Colbie Bell, 5-1, and 8-1. Winning at 55 kg/121 lbs. was Mikheil Japaridze, who beat Andy Hutchinson 6-0 and 8-5. Winning the other weight divisions were veteran stars Nick Ugoalah at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Dean Schmeichel at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Ugoalah, who was ranked No. 3 coming into the event, swept his finals series with 6-2 and 5-1 decisions over 2003 World Team member Carl Rainville. Schmeichel needed three matches to beat young talent David Zilberman. Schmeichel won the first bout 3-0, but lost in the second round, 3-2. In the decision match, Schmeichel scored a 3-0 victory. "They have some talented athletes on the men's side," said Steiner, who was especially impressed with Japaridze and Sissaouri. "The lightweights are very good wrestlers. They have that Russian influence and are very well coached." Steiner also wanted to note the performance at 55 kg of U.S. resident Tina Pihl, who trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and has Canadian citizenship. Pihl won her first two matches in the pool competition, qualifying for the pool finals against veteran Teresa Piotrowski, who edged Pihl by a 7-6 margin. Pihl led late in the match, before Piotrowski claimed the win. It was clearly the best performance of Pihl's career to date. The Canadian Olympic Trials in men's Greco-Roman will be held on Sunday, Dec. 14. At this time, Canada has not qualified for the Olympics in Greco-Roman at any of the seven weight divisions. RESULTS OF EVERY MATCH CAN BE FOUND ON THE CAWA WEB PAGE (www. wrestling.ca) 2004 Canadian Olympic Trials - 1 ladder vs 2 ladder (best of three series) December 13, 2003 in Sherwood Park, Alberta Round #1 55 kilograms - Jennifer Ryz (Burnaby Mountain W.C.) won a decision, 7-1 over Erica Sharp (U of Calgary W.C.). 84 kilograms - Nick Ugoalah (Burnaby Mountain W.C.) won a decision, 6-2 over Carl Rainville (Montreal W.C.). 48 kilograms - Lindsay Belisle (Burnaby Mountain W.C.) won by a fall at 4:29 of the match over Carol Huynh (Burnaby Mountain W.C.) 96 kilograms - Dean Schmeichel (U of Calgary W.C.) won a decision, 3-0 over David Zilberman (Montreal W.C.) 66 kilograms - Evan MacDonald (Brock W.C.) won a decision, 7-3 over Neal Ewers (Burnaby Mountain W.C.) 63 kilograms - Viola Yanik (Saskatoon W.C.) won a grand superiority, 10-0 at 4:59 of the match over Tara Hedican (Guelph W.C.) 60 kilograms - Gia Sissaouri (Montreal W.C.) won a decision, 5-2 over Saeed Azarbayjani (Brock W.C.) 74 kilograms - Zoltan Hunyady (Guelph W.C.) won a decision, 6-2 over Danny Einhorn (Burnaby Mountain W.C.) 72 kilograms - Ohenewa Akuffo (Guelph W.C.) won a decision, 6-2 over Christine Nordhagen (U of Calgary W.C.) 120 kilograms - Wayne Weathers (Team Impact) won a decision, 5-1 over Colbie Bell (Bears W.C.) 55 kilograms - Mikheil Japaridze (Montreal W.C.) won a decision, 6-0 over Andy Hutchinson (U of Calgary W.C.) Round #2 55 kilograms - Erica Sharp (U of Calgary W.C.). won a decision, 4-1 at 6:17 of overtime over Jennifer Ryz (Burnaby Mountain W.C.). 84 kilograms - Nick Ugoalah (Burnaby Mountain W.C.) won a decision, 5-1 over Carl Rainville (Montreal W.C.) and wins the series 2-0. 48 kilograms - Lindsay Belisle (Burnaby Mountain W.C.) won by a fall at 5:46 of the match over Carol Huynh (Burnaby Mountain W.C.) and wins the series 2-0. 96 kilograms - David Zilberman (Montreal W.C.) won a decision, 3-2 over Dean Schmeichel (U of Calgary W.C.). 66 kilograms - Evan MacDonald (Brock W.C.) won a decision, 7-3 over Neal Ewers (Burnaby Mountain W.C.) and wins the series 2-0. 63 kilograms - Tara Hedican (Guelph W.C.) won a decision, 9-3 over Viola Yanik (Saskatoon W.C.). 60 kilograms - Gia Sissaouri (Montreal W.C.) won a decision, 6-1 over Saeed Azarbayjani (Brock W.C.) and wins the series 2-0. 74 kilograms - Zoltan Hunyady (Guelph W.C.) won a decision, 10-5 over Danny Einhorn (Burnaby Mountain W.C.) and wins the series 2-0. 72 kilograms - Christine Nordhagen (U of Calgary W.C.) won a decision, 12-3 over Ohenewa Akuffo (Guelph W.C.) 120 kilograms - Wayne Weathers (Team Impact) won a decision, 8-1 over Colbie Bell (Bears W.C.) and wins the series 2-0. 55 kilograms - Mikheil Japaridze (Montreal W.C.) won a decision, 8-5 over Andy Hutchinson (U of Calgary W.C.) and wins the series 2-0. Round #3 55 kilograms - Jennifer Ryz (B