George to face Van Dusen in Special Wrestle-off for Women’s World Team in Colorado Springs on Monday, July 11
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
A Special Wrestle-off for the 55 kg/121 lbs. position on the U.S. Women’s World Team in wrestling will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Monday, July 11.
This best-of-three series will feature 2005 U.S. Nationals champion Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) against Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids).
George took an extension on her championship series due to injury, something that only national champions may do. She suffered hand and knee injuries which prevented her from competing in the World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa, June 18-19.
Van Dusen earned a position in the Special Wrestle-off by winning the title at the World Team Trials. She defeated Chelynne Pringle (Hugo, Minn./Minn. Storm), 2-2, 1-0 in bout one and 5-0, 2-0 in bout two.
The Special Wrestle-off will be held at SportsCenter II at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, in the second-floor gymnasium. The first match of the series is set for 10:30 a.m., with the second and third (if necessary) to be held at 12:30 p.m.
Admission is free to the public.
George is a two-time World silver medalist, who placed second at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She has won three U.S. Nationals titles, and has qualified for five U.S. World Teams.
Van Dusen was a 2004 University World champion, and was a 2005 University Nationals champion. She placed second at the 2005 U.S. National Championships.
The winner of this Special Wrestle-off will represent the United States at the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 26-Oct. 2. The rest of the U.S. World Teams in all three styles were determined at the World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa.
BIOGRAPHIES
TINA GEORGE, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Born: Nov. 5, 1978
* Two-time World silver medalist (2002-03)
* Second in 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
* Five-time U.S. World Team member (1998-99, 2000, 2002-03)
* Three-time U.S. Nationals champion (2001, 2004-05)
* Two-time U.S. Nationals runner-up (1999, 2003)
* Has won five tournaments this season: 2005 Trophe Milone (Italy), 2005 Klippan (Sweden), 2005 Dave Schultz Memorial, 2004 New York AC Christmas International, 2004 Sunkist Kids International
* Four-time University Nationals champion (1998, 2000-02)
* U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete
* Featured in Vogue magazine and Hers Magazine
* Competed for the Univ. of Minnesota-Morris, before joining the U.S. Army
* Missed the 2001 World Championships because of Army Basic Training
MARCIE VAN DUSEN, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Born: June 25, 1982
* Second in 2005 U.S. Nationals
* 2004 World University champion
* Fifth in 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
* Third in 2002-03 U.S. World Team Trials
* 2005 University Nationals champion
* Third in 2005 Medved International (Belarus)
* Two-time Cadet World bronze medalist (1998-99)
* Four-time Cadet Nationals champion (1996-99)
* U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete
* Placed fourth in the men’s CIF Southern Section for Rim of the World High School (1999-2000)
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