Katie Downing has been poised for international success for several years, but a win last weekend may give the female wrestler her best shot yet.
Downing, a graduate of Pendleton Heights High School, beat nemesis Kristie Marano to win the 67-kilogram (147.5-pound) weight class in the U.S. World Team Trials at Ames, Iowa.
That earned Downing a spot in the 2005 World Championships that will be staged Sept. 26-Oct. 2 at Budapest, Hungary.
“For the last three to four years, I had to wrestle (Marano) at some point, “Downing said in a statement released through USA Wrestling after she won a best-of-three series with a pin and a decision.
“I knew it would be here that I’d have to beat her to accomplish my goal of wrestling at worlds.”
The key, Downing said, was a pin that came with 30 seconds left in the first match.
“It broke the seal I’ve been trying to break for a couple of years, “said Downing, who had lost to Marano in each of the past four years with a major international tournament berth on the line.
The most disappointing of those came last year when Downing lost to Marano 5-1 in the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. Downing reflected on that match following her victory.
“It felt so good to come home and see friendly faces in the crowd, so it made it all the more disappointing when I didn’t make the team, “she said.
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