By Gary Abbott
USA Wrestling/Themat.com
[email protected]
The wrestling community is coming off an exciting weekend, when the 2006 U.S. World Teams in men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman were determined at the World Team Trials in Sioux City, Iowa. A weekend of outstanding competition was completed with 14 wrestlers earning the right to represent the United States at the World Wrestling Championships in Guangzhou, China in late September.
Missing this weekend from the competition were the top U.S. women’s freestyle wrestlers, which has become a traditional part of the World Team Trials each year. The U.S. women’s team will be determined at the Women’s World Team Trials at the Colorado Springs Christian School in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 30.
The decision to hold the women’s trials event at a different time and location from the men was just for this year. The international wrestling schedule created a situation that make it necessary for the women’s tournament to be held later in the year than the men’s competition. The women will be included in the World Team Trials next year, and in future years.
The key factor was the date of the Women’s World Cup, a major competition that was held in Nagoya, Japan, May 20-21. This tournament is one of the most important competitions each year on the women’s schedule, a must for the U.S. to enter with their best athletes. With the World Cup just a few days prior to the originally scheduled World Team Trials, the timing was not conducive to allowing the U.S. athletes the proper preparation for the Trials event.
As it turned out, the World Cup featured the top six teams in women’s wrestling, all with competitive lineups. The U.S. brought its 2006 U.S. Nationals champions to Japan, and finished third in the tournament. The only loss came in the first round, a 6-1 defeat to host Japan. National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner used this event as a chance to assess where the U.S. athletes were in their development and training. Japan dominated the tournament, with six World or Olympic champions in their starting lineup. There is still ground to be made up by the U.S. team in its quest to be the world’s top women’s wrestling program, and the World Cup was very important in that process.
Two other events, the Pan American Championships in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in early June, as well as the University World Championships in Ulan Bator, Mongolia in mid June, will include many of the other athletes who compete in the Women’s World Team Trials. Pushing the tournament back a month made tremendous sense in the big picture for Women’s Team USA.
The World Team Trials for the women will have a different format than used at the recent event in the men’s competition. The Women’s Sports Committee agreed to allow all of the 2006 U.S. Nationals champions to advance directly into the Championship Series at every weight class. That means the Challenge Tournament during the morning on June 30 will determine one challenger, who will face the national champion in a best-of-three series later in the day during the second session.
With the development of women’s wrestling in the United States continuing each season, the level of competition and the depth of the field is stronger and stronger. Those who have an opportunity to attend the World Team Trials in Colorado Springs will see some spectacular wrestling, as well as be able to follow some compelling story lines. Some of the key things to watch at the Women’s World Team Trials follow.
The battle at 48 kg between Chun and Murata “There was a new twist added to the drama at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. when Clarissa Chun of the Gator WC won her first U.S. Nationals title after many years on the circuit. Chun defeated past World medalist and veteran Stephanie Murata of the Sunkist Kids in the finals. Murata had put together a strong season, winning a number of medals during winter international tours. Murata dropped down to this division this season, after making the World Team at 51 kg/112.5 lbs. last year. Can Chun hold her spot at the top, or will Murata or another athlete topple her from her new position?
Battle of past medalists between Miranda and Wong “This year marks the return of 2004 Olympic silver medalist Patricia Miranda of the Sunkist Kids, who took a year off as a first year law student at Yale. Miranda is now competing at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., after winning her Olympic medal down at 105.5 pounds. She has started a battle for the team with 2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong of the Sunkist Kids, who was on the 2005 World Team at 105.5 pounds. Wong beat Miranda at the New York AC Holiday Open early in the season, but Miranda came back to win showdowns at the Dave Schultz Memorial International and the U.S. Nationals. The spot on the World Team could come down to another Miranda vs. Wong finals. Who will emerge this time?
Will Tina George be ready? “Two-time World silver medalist Tina George of the U.S. Army has been a dominant force at 55 kg/121 lbs. for many years. With talented Marcie Van Dusen of the Sunkist Kids out for the season with an injury, George was a heavy favorite to win the U.S. Nationals this year. However, George was pinned in the early rounds by Leigh Jaynes, and placed third in the tournament. She has a history of saving her best wrestling for the World Team Trials each year. Will George be at her best in Colorado Springs?
Can anybody challenge Sara McMann “The most dominant U.S. women’s wrestler on the domestic scene in recent seasons has been Sara McMann of the Sunkist Kids, who has owned the 63 kg/138.75 lbs. division within the United States. During the 2003 and 2004 seasons, she had a competitive battle with two-time World champion Kristie Marano of the New York AC, but when Marano moved back up in weight, nobody has emerged that has threatened McMann’s control. She has won an Olympic silver, plus a World silver and World bronze in the last three years. For a few seasons, Alaina Berube of the New York AC placed second behind McMann. This year at U.S. Nationals, high school star Jackie Cataline made the finals, but was no threat to McMann’s reign. Will anybody emerge to push McMann this season or in the foreseeable future?
Will World champion Iris Smith be ready? “Iris Smith of the U.S. Army made big news last year by winning the World gold medal at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in Budapest, Hungary, the top U.S. performance for the year. She came into the new season looking for an encore on the world stage. However, an injury during a winter tour to Russia took her off the mats all spring and caused her to miss the U.S. Nationals. Smith is reportedly planning to enter the World Team Trials after doing rehab on her leg. Will Smith be in the tournament, and will she be able to perform after missing most of the season?
What weight will Kristie Marano choose? “Kristie Marano of the New York AC is the most successful international wrestler in U.S. history, with seven World medals to her credit, including two gold medals. However, it has been a few years since Marano has had a chance to compete at the World Championships, going back to her gold medal at the 1993 World meet in New York City. Last year, Marano wrestled at 67 kg/147.5 lbs., and lost in the World Team Trials to Katie Downing of the Sunkist Kids. At the U.S. Nationals this year, Marano jumped up to 72 kg/158.5 lbs and won the U.S. Nationals title, a weight she also competed at during the Women’s World Cup. Will Marano stay up at the World Team Trials, possibly to face 2005 World Champion Iris Smith, or will she drop back down to face Downing?
Is Katie Downing ready for more medals? “After many years of toiling behind Marano on the national scene, Katie Downing of the Sunkist Kids had a breakthrough year, beating Marano then capturing a bronze medal at the World Championships. When Marano chose to move up in weight this spring, Downing dominated the field at the U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas. What is the next step for Downing? Should she make another World Team, will she be ready to add another medal to her collection with a year more experience and confidence in her resume?
What high school star will make the biggest impact? “When Jackie Cataline made the U.S. Nationals finals this year, she became the most prominent high school wrestler on the women’s national scene so far this year. There has been a tradition of outstanding high school wrestlers who have success on the national and international levels. Will Cataline be the top star from the prep ranks in Colorado Springs this year? Or will U.S. Nationals placewinners such as Joey Miller, Whitney Conder, Nicole Woody, Caitlyn Chase, Leanne Barney or Kelli Rasmussen make a big splash at the World Team Trials.
Can Sharon Jacobson hold on to the top? “Sharon Jacobson of the Gator WC had a tremendous U.S. Nationals tournament at 55 kg/121 lbs., beating two-time U.S. Nationals champion Malinda Ripley of the Sunkist Kids in the finals by pin. Jacobson was named Outstanding Wrestler at the tournament, and became the first U.S. Nationals champion for the USOEC program at Northern Michigan Univ. from their women’s program. Now Jacobson will have to defend the top position on the ladder. Will she be able to hold off the top contender from the Challenge Tournament to make her first World Team?
Ultimately, just like for the men, the World Team Trials is created to identify the best wrestlers in the nation, and to form the strongest possible team for the World Championships. However, the action in the men’s divisions at the World Team Trials in Sioux City proved that anything is possible at this level. Fans are encouraged to come out to Colorado Springs and enjoy the action.
Gary Abbott is the Director of Communications and Special Projects for USA Wrestling and is a founder of the National Wrestling Media Association and is a 2005 recipient of the NWCA Meritorious Service Award.
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