U.S. WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS: Azevedo falls in final
Eldorado graduate beaten by Henson in 121-pound battle
By TODD DEWEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Maybe by the 2008 Olympics, Sammie Henson will have finally retired from wrestling.
That would be welcome news for Matt Azevedo, a former two-time state champion at Eldorado High School who was manhandled by the 34-year-old in the 121-pound men’s freestyle final Saturday at the United States National Wrestling Championships at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The 27-year-old Azevedo, a three-time NCAA qualifier at Arizona State and Iowa State, has aspirations of making the U.S. World or Olympic team, but he still has some work to do after losing to Henson, 2-0, 5-0.
“I’ve still got a long way to go, “Azevedo said. “He’s a tough competitor and he’s been around. He’s really strong and he puts a lot of pressure on your head. He gets you out of your game and he doesn’t let you do what you want to do.”
Still, second place was the highest finish at nationals for Azevedo, an assistant coach at Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo) whose previous best was fourth place last year.
Azevedo dominated his first two matches, winning them both, 6-0, 6-0, then beat sixth-seeded Jason Powell 1-1, 2-0 to advance to the title match.
“I’m pleased with my performance overall, “Azevedo said. “It’s the second time I’ve wrestled him, so I’ll have that much more to work on.”
Henson, a former Olympic silver medalist and world champion, eliminated Azevedo from last year’s U.S. Olympic Trials.
“He’s getting better every time, “Henson said.
Henson, who dislocated his finger and popped it back into place during the match, didn’t allow a point en route to his third national title, his first since 2000.
“This is great. I needed this. It’s a big monkey off my back, “Henson said. “I want to win one more world title and go from there. I don’t know why I’m still here. My heart wasn’t in it before, but it is now.”
Tina George’s heart is definitely on the mat. George, who won her third national title — at 121 pounds in women’s freestyle — already is focused on the 2008 Olympics after missing the Athens Games when she was upset in the finals of last year’s Olympic Trials.
“It was devastating, to say the least. People don’t really understand what it’s like to train and sacrifice your whole life for something, “George said. “To me, it was like losing your favorite aunt. That’s what it really felt like, and all the stages of grief associated with it. It was that traumatic. I think about it all the time.
“But it’s helped mold me and shape me as a wrestler, as disappointing as it was and as much as it still hurts.”
Other women’s freestyle winners were Iris Smith (158.5), Alaina Berube (138.75) and Sara Fulp-Allen (105.5).
Other men’s freestyle champions were Tolly Thompson (264.5), Lee Fullhart (185) and Chris Bono (145.5).
Dremiel Byers won his fourth straight greco-roman national title at 264.5 pounds.
Other greco-roman champions were Brad Vering (185), Sam Hazewinkel (121) and Harry Lester (145.5).
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