*** The latest news from the USOC - October 26 ***
(Courtesy of United States Olympic Committee)
Salt Lake City, UT (My Sportsbook) - The following is a recap of events from the United States Olympic Committee.
Bobsled: (Oct. 19) The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation announced the 2005-06 USA Women's Bobsled World Cup Team. Olympians Jean Prahm (Waterford, Mich.) and Vonetta Flowers (Birmingham, Ala.) will lead the squad at its first competition Nov. 5-12 in Calgary, Canada. (Oct. 23) It was a sweep on the final day of the 2006 Verizon 4-man Bobsled National Team Trials competition for the team of Steve Holcomb (Park City, Utah), Ivan Radcliff (Houston, Texas), Brock Kreitzburg (Akron, Ohio) and Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, Neb.) in Calgary, Canada. Holcomb's team claimed the victory for the second day in a row and moved a step closer to earning a spot on the 2005 Men's World Cup Team. In earlier action, the team of Todd Hays (Del Rio, Texas), Pavle Jovanovic (Tom's River, N.J.), Garrett Hines (Atlanta, Ga.) and Steve Mesler (Buffalo, N.Y.) tied Holcomb's team with identical combined times of 1:51.28. For more information, log on to www.usbsf.com.
Bowling: (Oct. 21) The United States Bowling Congress is accepting nominations through Jan. 15, 2006 for four national recognition honors to an exemplary youth coach, USBC youth program volunteer and a male and female USBC youth member. (Oct. 21) The Super Bowl in Canton, Mich. was selected to host the 2008 USBC Women's Championships. (Oct. 25) Team USA's Diandra Asbaty (Chicago, Ill.) leads the American Zone North Region with only two ranking events remaining before the USBC Masters in Milwaukee, Wis. Nov. 15-20. For more information, log on to www.bowl.com.
Boxing: (Oct. 25) Two U.S. boxers took home gold from the 2005 Tammer Tournament in Tampere, Finland. Lightweight Danny Garcia (Philadelphia, Pa.) and light welterweight Willie Nelson (Cleveland, Ohio) each won their first international title at the event. For more information, log on to www.usaboxing.org.
Cycling: (Oct. 25) Seven American riders will represent the United States in the upcoming Union Cycliste Internationale World Cup Nov. 4-6 in Moscow, Russia. For more information, log on to www.usacycling.org.
Equestrian: (Oct. 25) Murray Kessler and All That raced to the top of the class in the North American League Adult Jumper Finals on the final day of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, Pa. Michael Walton (Valley Forge, Pa.) and Elu De La Hardiere also raced to victory and claimed the blue in the NAL Open Jumper Speed Championship. (Oct. 25) Page Tredennick (Littleton, Colo.) rode First Date to the top of the NAL Adult Hunter Championships in Harrisburg. The pair dominated the two-round class scoring an 87 in the first round and 78 in the second to take home the blue ribbon. For more information, log on to www.usef.org.
Fencing: (Oct. 24) Top-ranked junior saber fencer Rebecca Ward (Portland, Ore.) won the Junior "A" World Cup in Sosnowiec, Poland. Ward, also a member of the U.S. senior women's saber team, will use this victory to prepare for competition in the Senior World Cup tour. For more information, log on to www.usfencing.org.
Field Hockey: (Oct. 21) In preparation for the 2005 Pan American Cup, the USA Field Hockey Indoor Men's Team will compete in the International Indoor Hockey Tournament Nov. 5-6 and the HC Heidelberg Indoor Tournament Nov. 12-13 in Handover, Germany. For more information, log on to www.usfieldhockey.com.
Figure Skating: (Oct. 22) The final medals were awarded at the conclusion of Smart Ones Skate America in Atlantic City, N.J. Tanith Belbin (Quebec, Canada) and Ben Agosto (Chicago, Ill.) claimed their third-straight title and Alissa Czisny (Bowling Green, Ohio) won the ladies' free skate and finished second overall. Rena Inoue (Santa Monica, Calif.) and John Baldwin (Santa Monica, Calif.) took second in the pairs competition and Evan Lysacek's (Naperville, Ill.) silver in the men's event brings the U.S. team total to four medals. (Oct. 25) Michelle Kwan (Los Angeles, Calif.), off the ice the past two weeks with a strained ligament in her right hip, has been cleared to resume skating. Complete recovery is expected to take up to one month, so Kwan has withdrawn from the 2005 Cup of China Nov. 3-6 in Beijing, China. For more information, log on to www.usfigureskating.org.
Gymnastics: (Oct. 19) Ryan Lieberman (Lake Forest, Ill.) won the all-around title at the Junior USA-Germany Dual competition in Colorado Springs, Colo. Held in conjunction with a joint international training camp, the USA 1 Team defeated Germany to capture the team title. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.
Judo: (Oct. 19) USA Judo announced the U.S. team that will compete at the Pan American Juvenile and Infantil Championships Nov. 9-13 in San Jose, Costa Rica. (Oct. 25) The Jason Morris Judo Club (Glenville, N.Y.) dominated the podium and claimed 12 medals in the senior division at the Ocean State International in Providence, R.I. For more information, log on to www.usjudo.org.
Luge: (Oct. 20) Samantha Retrosi (Saranac Lake, N.Y.) clocked in at a combined time of one minute, 30.450 seconds to move out front and earn a spot on the 2005 World Cup Team in the women's singles 2005 World Cup Team Trials in Lake Placid, N.Y. (Oct. 21) Erin Hamlin (Remsen, N.Y.), the doubles luge team of Preston Griffall (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Dan Joye (Carmel, N.Y.), men's singles sliders Chris Mazdzer (Saranac Lake, N.Y.), Matthew Mortensen (Huntington Station, N.Y.) and Jonathan Myles (Rumney, N.H.) are the latest names added to the World Cup roster. For more information, log on to www.usaluge.org.
Sailing: (Oct. 21) US Sailing recognized several organizations and volunteers for their contributions and dedication during an awards presentation at its annual meeting in Phoenix, Ariz. President Janet Baxter presented the Gay S. Lynn Trophy to Gene Hinkel (St. Petersburg, Fla.) for his outstanding contribution to disabled sailing. The St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy for excellence in race management was awarded to the California Yacht Club (Marina Del Rey, Calif.). In addition, the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy was presented to Larry White (Niantic, Conn.) for his outstanding contribution to the sport. For more information, log on to www.ussailing.org.
Skeleton: (Oct. 24) The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation announced the 2005-06 USA World Cup Skeleton Team at the conclusion of the 2006 Verizon Skeleton National Team Trials in Calgary, Canada. Leading the men is Eric Bernotas (Avondale, Pa.) and veteran Katie Uhlaender (Breckenridge, Colo.) will guide the women. After two races in Lake Placid, N.Y., the National Team Trials switched venues to Calgary, Canada. While in Calgary, Uhlaender won race three for the women and Zach Lund (Salt Lake City, Utah) took race three for the men. Bernotas captured the victory for the men and Lyndsie Peterson (Taylorsville, Utah) secured the victory on the women's side in race four. (Oct. 25) After she sustained a leg injury at the Calgary Olympic Park, the USBSF announced that 2006 Olympic hopeful and 2005 World Cup Champion Noelle Pikus-Pace (Orem, Utah) is recovering after a successful surgery on her right leg. The USBSF also set up a link on its website for fans and skeleton supporters to send their best wishes to Pikus-Pace, who will soon take up residence at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. For more information, log on to www.usbsf.com.
Skiing: (Oct. 21) The Association of International Ski Journalists awarded defending World Cup Champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, N.H.) the prestigious Skieur d'Or Trophy Serge Lang honoring the Skier of the Year. (Oct. 22) Kristina Koznick (Eagan, Minn.) led the U.S. by placing 17th while Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, Calif.) finished 21st and was the only other American to reach the second run at the World Cup giant slalom in Soelden, Austria. (Oct. 23) Bode Miller finished second behind Austria's Hermann Maier, who earned the 51st victory of his career, in the season-opening men's giant slalom. For more information, log on to www.usskiteam.com.
Soccer: (Oct. 23) The U.S. Women's National Team rolled over Mexico, 3-0, in the final match of 2005. Team USA finished the year with a record of 8-0-1 and did not allow a goal during the calendar year. (Oct. 24) The U.S. U-15 Girl's National Team started training camp in Carson, Calif., and will train through Oct. 28. (Oct. 24) The 2006 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee will operate an internet ticket portal for fans to facilitate ownership transfers and the reselling of World Cup tickets. (Oct. 24) DaMarcus Beasley (Ft. Wayne, Ind.), Landon Donovan (Redlands, Calif.) and Kasey Keller (Lacey, Wash.) were selected as the three finalists for the 2005 Honda Player of the Year Award. The winner will be announced during the award luncheon Nov. 30 in Los Angeles, Calif. (Oct. 24) U.S. Men's National Team Manager Bruce Arena and U.S. Soccer Federation President Dr. S. Robert Contiguglia will speak at the 2005 Honda Symposium Nov. 29 in Los Angeles, Calif. (Oct. 24) U.S. Soccer secured an additional match for the U.S. Men's National Team in 2005 on short notice. The squad will to travel to Scotland to face the Tartan Army Nov. 12 in Glasgow. (Oct. 25) U.S. Soccer introduced its Fitness Level 1 License as part of its goal to increase educational opportunities available to coaches. For more information, log on to www.ussoccer.com.
Speedskating: (Oct. 20) Six-time Olympic speedskating medalist Bonnie Blair (Milwaukee, Wis.) said at a press conference that this year's U.S. Speedskating Team is one of the most powerful she's seen in ages. (Oct. 21) Although she already qualified for the World Cup Team, hometown favorite Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) took the gold in the 1000m and Amy Sannes (St. Paul, Minn.) also earned a spot with her second-place finish on day one of the 2005 Fall World Cup Qualifier/2006 U.S. Single Distance Championships in Milwaukee, Wis. On the men's side, Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill.) skated to a first-place finish in 1:09.14. Joey Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) finished second in 1:09.81. (Oct. 22) On the second day of the Fall World Cup Qualifier, Casey FitzRandolph (Verona, Wis.) recorded a victory in the 500m, clocking in at 35.56. Joey Cheek and Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, Wis.) rounded off the medal podium with second- and third-place finishes. On the ladies' side, Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) dominated the ice with a first-place finish in the 500m in a time of 39.01. Amy Sannes finished second in 39.73 and was the overall winner in the distance with a total of 79.230 points. (Oct. 23) After two days of setting new track records at the Pettit National Ice Center, U.S. speedskaters were at it again when Chad Hedrick (Spring, Texas) soared in the 5000m to a first-place finish and new track record. Finishing in second was Shani Davis in 6:27.14. Jennifer Rodriguez took the victory in the ladies' 3000m in a finish time of 4:18.51. Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr. (Wheaton, Ill.) finished second in 4:19.45. (Oct. 24) U.S. speedskaters ended the four-day competition of the Fall World Cup Qualifier on a high note with another track record. Chad Hedrick continued his success and set a second record in the 10,000m in 13:22.93. Shani Davis followed suit by setting two track records and placed second in the 10,000m behind Hedrick on the final day of World Cup Qualifier action. In the ladies' 5000m, Maria Lamb (River Falls, Wis.) skated to a first-place finish in 7:38.05. Kristine Holzer (Boise, Idaho) finished second in 7:38.10. For more information, log on to www.usspeedskating.org.
Track & Field: (Oct. 25) Team USA finished second behind Canada at the North American 5K Team Championships in Chula Vista, Calif. (Oct. 25) Olympians Lauryn Williams (Miami, Fla.) and Jon Drummond (Philadelphia, Pa.) will speak to the freshman class at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School Oct. 28 in Indianapolis, Ind. as part of USA Track & Field's "Be A Champion" program. (Oct. 25) Jarrod Shoemaker (Sudbury, Mass.) was named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the men's event at the Mayor's Cup Cross Country Race in Boston, Mass. For more information, log on to www.usatf.org.
Volleyball: Beach: (Oct. 22) Brazilian beach duo Juliana Felisberta and Larissa Franca extended Olympic and World Champions Misty May-Treanor (Long Beach, Calif.) and Kerri Walsh (Redondo Beach, Calif.) to three sets before losing to the Americans in the gold-medal match of the SWATCH-FIVB Brazil Open in Salvador, Brazil. In earlier action, May-Treanor and Walsh defeated Brazil's Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede to advance to the semifinals. (Oct. 23) Americans Jake Gibb (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and Stein Metzger (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) captured the bronze in the men's SWATCH-FIVB Brazil Open. Indoor: (Oct. 24) A torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee ended the season for Stanford star freshman volleyball player and 2005 National Team member Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.). For more information, log on to www.usavolleyball.org.
Wrestling: (Oct. 23) Five Americans won gold medals in the men's freestyle competition at the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open in Tempe, Ariz. Local favorite Eric Larkin (Tempe, Ariz.) was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. In earlier action, Olympians Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif.) and Oscar Wood (Fountain, Colo.) reached the semifinals following the first day of men's freestyle and Greco-Roman competition. The Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club dominated the women's competition, crowning four individual champions including Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo.). The U.S. Army World-Class Athlete Program dominated the mat winning three gold medals and eight medals overall. (Oct. 20) 2005 World bronze medalist Sara McMann (Iowa City, Iowa) became the first athlete to receive a payment from a new private donor fund earmarked for U.S. wrestlers who claim multiple medals for the United States. (Oct. 25) USA Wrestling announced its tentative rosters for the Henri Deglane Challenge beginning Nov. 24 in Nice, France. For more information, log on to www.themat.com.
