U.S. announces rosters for 2004 Pan American Championships

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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
04/23/2004


The U.S. rosters have been completed for the 2004 Pan American Championships, which will be held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, May 6-7.    The men's freestyle team includes two current U.S. National Team members: Kirk White (Tacoma, Wash./Dave Schultz WC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Brian Keck (Cleveland, Ohio/New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.    White won a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Championships and Keck won a gold.    Competing at 84 kg/185 lbs. will be Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC), a recent winner of the East Regional Olympic Team Trials Qualifier. Hrovat was a three-time NCAA All-American at Michigan.    Clint Musser (Akron, Ohio/New York AC), a 1999 NCAA finalist for Penn State, will compete at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.    Also competing are college stars Nick Simmons (Williamston, Mich./Michigan WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Tom Clum (Arvada, Colo./Wisconsin WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Dave Schultz WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.    Simmons was an NCAA All-American in 2003 for Michigan State, Clum was the 2004 Big Ten champion for Wisconsin and Rowlands was a two-time NCAA champion for Ohio State.    Coaching the men's freestyle team will be Team Excel coach Steve Knight (Parker, Colo.)    Last year, in men's freestyle competition, the U.S. team captured six medals overall. Winning gold medals were Jesus Wilson at 60 kg/132 lbs., Lee Fullhart at 84 kg/185 lbs., Dean Morrison at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Keck at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.    The Greco-Roman team will be led by 2004 U.S. Nationals runner-up Steve Woods (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force) at 74 kg/163 lbs. Woods is also a two-time Armed Forces champion.    Two-time Armed Forces Championships silver medalist Neal Rodak (Pensacola, Fla./U.S. Navy) will compete at 55 kg/121 lbs.    Three other members of the Greco-Roman team have all recently won Olympic Team Trials Regional Qualifiers. They are Jason Tolbert (Ft. Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) at 60  kg/132 lbs., Ron Muir (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Jeff Funicello (Gilbert, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) at 84 kg/185 lbs.    Rounding out the Greco-Roman roster is Brandon Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./Elite WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.    The Greco-Roman team will be coached by U.S. Air Force coach Rich Estrella (Colorado Springs, Colo.)    The U.S. Greco-Roman team won six medals at last year's Pan American Championships. Winning gold medals were Jim Gruenwald at 60 kg/132 lbs., Kevin Bracken at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Dremiel Byers at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.    The top qualification event for the U.S. women's Pan American Championships team was the 2004 FILA Junior Nationals.    The women's team will be led by two 2004 U.S. Nationals runners-up: Heather Martin (Wellington, Ohio/Cleveland State) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and Stephany Lee (Honolulu, Hawaii/Missouri Valley) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.    Lee is also a current U.S. National Team member after placing third at the 2003 U.S. World Team Trials.    Also on the U.S. roster are U.S. Nationals All-Americans Sara Fulp-Allen (El Granada, Calif./Menlo College) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Alaina Berube (Escanaba, Mich./New York AC) at 59 kg/130 lbs. Both placed fourth at this year's U.S. Nationals.    Fulp-Allen is also a two-time FILA Junior Nationals champion. Berube placed fourth in the 2003 Junior World Championships.    Also competing are 2004 FILA Junior Nationals champions Tabithia Ramsey (Austin, Texas/UM-Morris) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Danyelle Hedin (Honolulu, Hawaii/Wahine WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs.    Stefanie Shaw (Waterford, Conn./Unattached), who captured a title at the East Regional Olympic Team Trials qualifier, will compete at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.    The women's freestyle team will be coached by Cumberland College women's coach Kip Flanik (Williamsburg, Ky.) and Ursinus college coach Ron Tirpak (Collegeville, Pa.)    U.S. women's freestyle wrestlers won three medals at the 2003 Pan American Championships. Toccara Montgomery won a gold medal at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.    Pan American Championships  at Guatemala City, Guatemala, May 6-7  U.S. Rosters  Men's Freestyle  55 kg/121 lbs. - Nick Simmons, Williamston, Mich. (Michigan WC)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Tom Clum, Arvada, Colo. (Wisconsin WC)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Clint Musser, Akron, Ohio (New York AC)  74 kg/163 lbs. - Kirk White, Tacoma, Wash. (Dave Schultz WC)  84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)  96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Dave Schultz WC)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Brian Keck, Cleveland, Ohio (New York AC)  Coach: Steve Knight, Parker, Colo.    Greco-Roman  55 kg/121 lbs. - Neal Rodak, Pensacola, Fla. (U.S. Navy)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Jason Tolbert, Ft. Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Ron Muir, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  74 kg/163 lbs. - Steve Woods, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force)  84 kg/185 lbs. - Jeff Funicello, Gilbert, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)  96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Brandon Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Elite WC)  Coach: Rich Estrella, Colorado Springs, Colo.    Women's Freestyle  48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Sara Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif. (Menlo College)  51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Tabithia Ramsey, Austin, Texas (UM-Morris)  55 kg/121 lbs. - Danyelle Hedin, Honolulu, Hawaii (Wahine WC)  59 kg/130 lbs. - Alaina Berube, Escanaba, Mich. (New York AC)  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Stephanie Shaw, Waterford, Conn. (Unattached)  67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio (Cleveland State)  72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stefanie Lee, Honolulu, Hawaii (Missouri Valley)  Coach: Kip Flanik, Williamsburg, Ky., and Ron Tirpak, Collegeville, Pa.