*** The latest news from the USOC - May 4 ***
(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.
Archery: (May 3) More than 60 archers, including Olympians and World Champions, from around the country are expected to compete for a spot on the 2005 World Target Championship Team at the 2005 World Target Trials May 12-15 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. The 2005 World Target Championships will be held June 20-26 in Madrid, Spain. For more information, log on to www.usarchery.org.
Baseball: (May 3) USA Baseball announced a list of 13 collegiate players who have accepted invitations to participate in the 2005 USA Baseball National Team Trials June 27-30 in Raleigh, N.C. The USA Baseball National Team will be selected from a pool of 36 players, of which an additional 23 have yet to be determined. The official 20-man team roster will be announced July 1. For more information, log on to www.usabaseball.com.
Basketball: (April 27) The USA Basketball Executive Committee named Phoenix Suns Chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo to the newly-created position of Managing Director of the USA Basketball Senior Men's National Team program for the 2005-2008 quadrennium. Colangelo will assume responsibility for the selection of the USA senior men's team coaching staffs and players through 2008 and will oversee the teams' competitive preparations, including training and exhibition games. (April 28) Duke University head coach Gail Goestenkors has been selected to lead the 2005 USA Basketball Women's U19 World Championship Team, and will be assisted by Hofstra University's Felisha Legette-Jack and the University of Mississippi's Carol Ross. The staff has a combined five summers of USA Basketball coaching experience. For more information, log on to www.usabasketball.com.
Bobsled: (May 2) The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, in cooperation with SportsMark as an official sponsor, announced a raffle for the benefit of the athletes and organization of the USBSF. At a cost of $50.00 per ticket, one raffle ticket holder out of a maximum 2006 will win a trip to Torino, Italy with tickets to Olympic events. For more information, log on to www.usbsf.com.
Bowling: (April 27) An open discussion forum concerning equipment specification modifications under consideration will be hosted by the United States Bowling Congress June 28 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, Fla. The USBC Equipment Specifications Committee requested the forum in hope of gathering input from all interested parties regarding several topics, including three proposed specification changes. USBC is inviting two representatives from each ball manufacturer to participate. The industry forum will also include two IBPSIA board members and two BPAA Board representatives, to be appointed by their respective organizations. (April 28) Debora Dill (La Porte, Ind.) set a new standard for Division 2 singles at the Women's International Bowling Congress Championship Tournament. She rolled a 657 series to take over first place in Division 2 (average 150 thru 169) singles competition. Dill threw games of 234, 199 and 224. The 657 score is 39 pins higher than second place. (April 30) Ashleigh Burns (Pampa, Texas) rolled games of 169, 225 and 251 for a 645 series to take first place in the Classic Division (average 190 and over) of the WIBC Championship Tournament. Her next games were 225 and 251. She threw strikes in the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th frames of her last game to charge into first. Those last strikes also helped Burns move into second place in all-events with a total score of 1,849. Along with her 645 singles score, Burns shot 572 in the team event and 632 during doubles competition. (May 1) Amy Keohen (Bloomington, Minn.) and Dana DeHaan (Owatonna, Minn.) took over the doubles lead of the Classic Division (average 190 and up) at the WIBC Tournament. Keohen rolled games of 149, 201 and 247 for a 597 series. DeHaan added games of 208, 202 and 182 for a 592 series. Together the pair shot 1,189 to move into first place by one pin. (May 1) Jane Locrotondo (Colonia, N.J.) wasn't planning on bowling the singles event at the WIBC Tournament. She changed her mind and finished her set with a stellar 298 game. (May 2) Brenda Pugh (Spring Valley, Calif.) caught fire at just the right time. Pugh threw 21 strikes over her final 24 frames to secure the Division 1 (average 170 thru 189) all-events lead at the WIBC Tournament. Pugh's final two games of the Championship Tournament were 268 and 241, pushing her all-events total to 1,793. The lefty is also in third place in singles competition with a 676 score. For more information, log on to www.bowl.com.
Boxing: (May 2) Sixteen members of USA Boxing's 2005 Elite Team will travel to Budapest, Hungary and Regina, Canada for the first men's international events of the year. For more information, log on to www.usaboxing.org.
Cycling: (April 27) After riding to a gold medal in the individual time trial, Kristin Armstrong (Boise, Idaho) continued her success at the Pan American Championships with a silver medal in the women's individual pursuit. Armstrong completed the 3km event in 3 minutes, 49.712 seconds to place second. Erin Mirabella (La Habra, Calif.) captured the bronze with a time of 3:58.121 in the consolation round. Kevin Belz (Irving, Texas) rode to a bronze medal in the men's keirin. The U.S. National Team narrowly missed a couple of medals in the men's and women's scratch race as Brad Huff (Fair Grove, Mo.) and Mirabella each placed fourth in their respective events. After a late race attack, Laura Van Gilder (Pocono Pines, Pa.) was caught 10 meters from the finish line and eventually placed sixth in the women's scratch race. The United States holds a small advantage over host country Argentina in the overall medal tally, 5-4. (April 29) The trio of Stephen Alfred (Capitola, Calif.), Kevin Belz and Michael Blatchford (Cypress, Calif.) gave the United States its 10th medal of the Pan American Championships with a third-place effort in the team sprint. (April 30) Tina Mayolo-Pic (Dahlonega, Ga.) gave the United States its third continental championship and 11th medal at the Pan American Championships with a win in the 84-kilometer women's road race. Laura Van Gilder was fifth. For more information, log on to www.usacycling.org.
Equestrian: (April 27) The exclusive distributor of Pessoa Saddles in the United States, English Riding Supply continues its sponsorship with the United States Equestrian Federation and the National Hunter Seat Medal Finals, a sponsorship 11 years strong. English Riding Supply and Pessoa continue to align themselves with up-and-coming young riders, with a pledge of support to the USEF and the medal finals through 2008. (April 28) The United States Equestrian Federation announced an exclusive four-year partnership with Farnam and its new line of Platform horse feeds and supplements for the Horse of the Year awards program. Under the new partnership, the program will now be called Farnam®/ Platform "USEF Horse of the Year," and will expand on a number of levels, including the creation of a top honor for the year's most exceptional horse. (April 28) On day one of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Farnam, Virginia's Jan Thompson and Task Force posted the leading score of 48.2 penalty points. (April 29) If Virginia's Kim Severson has her way, she will be adding a third Rolex watch to her growing collection. She and partner Winsome Adante are sitting at first after the second day of dressage competition at the 2005 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. (April 30) Kim Severson and Winsome Adante took another step closer to claiming their third Rolex championship in four years. The pair posted a clear round on the challenging, and somewhat rain-soaked, cross-country course at the Kentucky Horse Park, poising them on a score of 38.2 to tackle the final day of competition - show jumping. (May 1) For the third time in four years, Kim Severson and Winsome Adante know the thrill of taking the championship title at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. For more information, log on to www.usef.org.
Field Hockey: (May 2) Red Rose continued its season-long domination of USA Field Hockey women's club events while Mystery captured the men's title at the 2nd USA Club Championship in Virginia Beach, Va. The 10 women's teams and five men's squads earned selection to the tournament based on performances in their respective club leagues or regional representation. For more information, log on to www.usfieldhockey.com
Figure Skating: (May 2) U.S. Figure Skating announced the resignation of Executive Director Val Belmonte. Belmonte, who took over the executive director position in October 2004, will remain active with the organization, serving as a consultant during the transition process. For more information, log on to www.usfigureskating.org.
Gymnastics: (April 27) USA Gymnastics and 24 Hour Fitness are teaming up to offer membership benefits directly to USA Gymnastics members and their families as part of a unique four-year business development partnership. 24 Hour Fitness will become the Official Fitness Partner of USA Gymnastics and will offer discounted memberships for USA Gymnastics members and families. Also, 24 Hour Fitness will develop a booster club fund-raising opportunity for USA Gymnastics member clubs. (May 2) Alicia Sacramone (Winchester, Mass.) won two gold medals at the World Cup in Ghent, Belgium. Sacramone took gold in both women's vault and floor exercise. Teammate Annie DiLuzio (Folsom, Calif.) earned a silver medal in vault in her first international event. For more information, log on to Www.usa-gymnastics.org.
Hockey: (April 28) Mike Modano (Livonia, Mich.), who has competed for the United States in nine previous international competitions, was named captain of the 2005 U.S. Men's National Team that will compete in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship April 30-May 15 in Innsbruck and Vienna, Austria. (April 28) The Men's National Team finished its four-game pre-World Championship exhibition schedule with a 3-1 record following a 3-1 win over Germany. (May 1) Mike Knuble (Grand Rapids, Mich.) scored twice to lead the U.S. Men's National Team to a convincing 7-0 win over Slovenia in the opening contest for both teams at the 2005 IIHF World Championship. (May 2) Doug Palazzari (Colorado Springs, Colo.), who has spent the last six years as executive director of USA Hockey, resigned his position, effective immediately. A national search will begin immediately to find a successor to Palazarri. (May 2) Nashville Predators prospect Ryan Suter (Madison, Wis.) has been added to the U.S. Men's National Team that is currently competing in the IIHF Men's World Championship in Austria. (May 3) The Men's National Team used a strong third period to capture a 3-1 victory over Latvia in preliminary- round play at the IIHF World Championship. With the win, Team USA assured itself a spot in the qualification round. For more information, log on to www.usahockey.com.
Luge: (April 28) Led by singles sliders Erin Hamlin (Remsen, N.Y.) and Chris Mazdzer (Saranac Lake, N.Y.), USA Luge named five athletes, each 20-years-old and younger, to its fall 2005 Junior National Team. (May 2) Young athletes who want to experience the thrill of luge, The Fastest Sport on Ice®, and train under the guidance of USA Luge national team coaches and athletes can do so when the Verizon-USA Luge Slider Search rolls into Burlington, Vt. June 4-5. The Slider Search, the official athlete recruitment tour of USA Luge, will be looking for boys and girls ages 11-14. For more information, log on to www.usaluge.org.
Modern Pentathlon: (April 29) The United States Olympic Committee announced the 2005 U.S. Pentathlon National Championships will be held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 24-26. For more information, log on to www.usapentathlon.org.
Rowing: (April 29) USRowing's Junior Women's National Team head coach Steve Hargis invited 47 high school women to attend the junior national team selection camp this summer. The invitation list includes 11 members of the 2004 Junior National Team. (May 2) The first 2005 National Selection Regatta will be held May 6-8 on Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J. The national selection regattas are one step towards making the 2005 National Team, which will compete at the 2005 FISA World Rowing Championships Aug. 28-Sept. 4 in Gifu, Japan. NSR I will include races in four boat classes -- the men's and women's single sculls and the men's and women's lightweight single sculls. For more information, log on to www.usrowing.org.
Sailing: (April 28) Thousands of young sailors from across the country will get on the water this sailing season thanks to US SAILING's USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals program. The calendar of Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals includes 24 events hosted by sailing organizations in 18 states. West Marine, continuing its support of youth sailing, is presenting sponsor of the program, as it has been since the program's inception in 1997. The program is also supported by Gill. (April 29) US SAILING and Harken Yacht Equipment announced a five-year strategic partnership naming Harken as the "Official Hardware Supplier" and sponsor of the U.S. Sailing Team. The U.S. Sailing Team is working with its family of sponsors to act on a newly developed 20-year strategic plan to make dramatic increases in the support available to American sailors who are training to represent the U.S. in future Olympic and Paralympic Games. (April 29) U.S. Sailing Team members Sally Barkow (Chenequa, Wis.), Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.) and Carrie Howe (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) won the Yngling fleet at Semaine Olympique Française, an ISAF Grade 1 event. Barkow's team was in the top two the entire event, trading the lead several times with the British squad. (May 2) US SAILING announced the selection process for allocating six Neil Pryde RS:X boards to U.S. sailors before the boards are launched on the mass market. US SAILING is currently accepting applications online from boardsailors nationwide who are able and willing to commit to purchasing the new Neil Pryde RS:X and using it at events throughout the upcoming summer. For more information, log on to www.ussailing.org.
Shooting: (April 27) The ISSF World Cup USA, May 7-15, will bring more than 450 athletes and officials from more than 50 countries to Fort Benning, Ga. to contest the international pistol and rifle disciplines in the second World Cup of the new quadrennium. The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, located at Fort Benning, will hold the competition, while USA Shooting will conduct this event as the official sponsor and host. For more information, log on to www.usashooting.com.
Softball: (May 3) The world's best softball teams will convene in Oklahoma City, Okla., for the first ever World Cup of Softball, July 14-18. Highlighted by the three-time Olympic gold medal-winning USA Softball Women's National Team, the event brings a re-match of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games with the silver medal team from Australia and bronze medalist Japan. 1996 Olympic silver medalist China and the Canadian National Team complete the field of five sqauds set for battle in the nation's softball capital. For more information, log on to www.usasoftball.com.
Soccer: (May 2) The U.S. Under-17 '89 Men's National Team hit the post and crossbar, but couldn't find the back of the net as it fell 1-0 to the Czech Republic in the final of the Ballymena International Tournament in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. The U.S. finished in second place for the third consecutive year. (May 2) Led by coach Sue Patberg, the U.S. U-16 Women's National Team travels to Japan May 6-16 for its first international camp of the year. The U-16s will face several club sides after wrapping up its third training camp of 2005 with a 4-2 victory against the U.S. U-15 Girl's Developmental Team and a 2-2 tie with the U-18 Southern California Blues girl's club. (May 2) The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team will host Trinidad & Tobago Aug. 17 in East Hartford, Conn. to begin the second half of the 10-game final round of qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. vs. Trinidad & Tobago match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET, with fans also able to follow the match live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics. (May 2) The U.S. Under-17 '88 and '89 men's national teams will play games May 7 in Bradenton, Fla. The older U-17s will take on the University of Massachusetts, while the younger U-17s will battle the Temple Terrace FC U-18s. The '88s will travel to Laredo, Texas, for a match May 11 against the Laredo Heat of the Premier Development League. (May 2) The U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team came away with two wins out of three games during its weeklong camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The squad lost its first match to the Chivas USA team. Two days later, the U.S. took on the So Cal United club team and cruised to a 5-0 victory. The final match came against the Southern California SeaHorses of the Premier Development League. (May 2) The U.S. Under-14 Boys National Team came away with two wins during its weeklong camp at Chula Vista, Calif. The 34 players were separated into two teams for their first game in which they defeated the Southern California State Team 3, while the second match was a shutout of the Hot Spurs Academy 3-0. (May 3) Tickets go on sale May 11 at 10 a.m. ET for the U.S. Men's National Team's World Cup qualifying match vs. Trinidad & Tobago Aug. 17 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn. For more information, log on to www.ussoccer.com.
Track and Field: (April 29) The 2005 Outdoor Visa Championship Series features pressure-packed meets, opportunities for great performances, and fields full of Olympic medalists as American athletes prepare for the 2005 World Outdoor Championships. Fans around the country will be able to watch the meets on seven national television broadcasts on NBC and ESPN. Adding to the excitement of competition, the Visa Championship Series features over $2 million in prize and athlete support dollars, including a $50,000 bonus and prize package going to the Visa Champions, the top male and female performers of the Visa Championship series. (April 29) For the first time, track and field fans around the country will have a chance to share in the success of their favorite athletes, picking the male and the female they believe will be crowned Visa Champions as part of the Visa Championship Series "Watch. Click. Win." Online Sweepstakes. Beginning with the Penn Relays, fans can support their favorite athlete on his/her journey by logging onto www.usatf.org/win and voting for the male and female athletes they think will be the Visa Champions at the end of the outdoor season. Fans who select the correct male and female Visa Champions will be placed into a pool, and the winner will be randomly selected. Fans have the opportunity to win great prizes including being a guest of Visa at a Visa-sponsored event. (April 29) Kip Janvrin (Warrensburg, Mo.) won his 15th Drake Relays decathlon title, and in so doing he extended his world record for most decathlon wins to 38. Janvrin won five of the last six events in totaling 7,671 points, finishing 526 points ahead of runner-up Neil Hines (Mores Bluff, Neb.). Ryanne Dupree (San Antonio, Texas) defended her heptathlon title in amassing 5,331 points. (April 30) The 2004 U.S. Olympic marathon team of Deena Kastor (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), Colleen De Reuck (Boulder, Colo.) and Jen Rhines (Ardmore, Pa.) will be reunited in anticipation of repeating the success of their 2002 BolderBOULDER team championship. The 2005 International Team Challenge is scheduled as part of the 27th Celestial Seasonings BolderBOULDER May 30 in Boulder, Colo. (April 30) Team USA's men's and women's 4x100-meter relays re-established themselves as the world's best at the USA vs. The World at the Penn Relays. The women's USA Red team led from the gun, with Angela Daigle (San Francisco, Calif.) getting off to a quick start. She handed off to 2004 Olympic 100m silver medalist Lauryn Williams (Rochester, Pa.), who gave the U.S. a gaping lead with a blazing leg. Inger Miller (Van Nuys, Calif.) kept the Americans in the game, while LaTasha Colander (Portsmouth, Va.) easily ran away from the field to win in a world-leading time of 42.68 seconds. The USA Blue team of Angela Williams (Ontario, Calif.), Allyson Felix (Los Angeles Calif.), Stephanie Durst (Houston, Texas) and Muna Lee (Little Rock, Ark.) was second. In the men's 4x100m relay, the USA Blue team of Mardy Scales (Franklin, Tenn.), Jason Smoots (Gadsden, Ala.), Darvis Patton (Dallas, Texas) and J.J. Johnson (Garland, Texas) took a lead of more than five meters over USA Red team members Coby Miller (Louisville, Miss.), Leonard Scott (Zachary, La.), Shawn Crawford (Van Wyck, S.C.) and Justin Gatlin (Brooklyn, N.Y.), but Gatlin ran down Johnson to give USA Red the win in 38.58, the second-fastest time in the world this year. USA Blue was a close second. The women's USA Red sprint medley relay team of Allyson Felix, Kia Davis, Moushaumi Robinson (Columbus, Ohio) and Hazel Clark (Livingston, N.J.) crushed the existing world best in the sprint medley relay, posting a time of 3:37.42 to break the University of Tennessee's mark of 3:41.78, set at last year's Penn Relays. USA Red team members Leo Bookman (Dickinson, Texas) Kaaron Conwright (Woodland Hills, Calif.), Mitch Potter (St. Micheal, Minn.) and Khadevis Robinson (Dallas, Texas) won the men's sprint medley, while USA Blue was a close third. USA Red won the women's 4x400. Dee Dee Trotter (Decatur, Ga.), Lashinda Demus (Palmdale Calif.), Sanya Richards (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) and Monique Hennagan (Columbia, S.C.) easily out-distanced the Russian team to post the fastest time in the world in 2005. In other relay action at Penn, the University of Michigan set men's collegiate, Penn Relays and Franklin Field records in the 4-mile Championship of America. The team of Andrew Ellerton (Sudbury, Ontario), Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario), Nick Willis (Lower Hutt, New Zealand) and Nate Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario) ran 16:04.54 to break the old record of 16:07.96, set by Arkansas at the 1999 Penn Relays. (May 2) The new Minnesota Distance Invitational, May 21 at Macalester College in St. Paul, has put together a top field for the women's 3000-meter steeplechase. Among the 15 athletes scheduled to compete are eight of the top 10 women steeplechasers in the U.S. (May 2) The Lincoln Half Marathon hosted the inaugural Nebraska LDR Championship event. Race organizers provided several avenues for USATF exposure including a booth at the pre-race expo, newly printed Nebraska Association LDR brochures, $2500 in dedicated prize funds, and signage opportunities throughout the race weekend. Individual and Club championship titles were at stake. In the open categories, Team Nebraska Brooks members Mike (Lincoln, Neb.) and Gina Morgan (Lincoln, Neb.) captured the overall titles. In the Club Championships component of the event, Team Nebraska Brooks took the men's & women's titles. (May 2) In her debut at 10,000 meters, two- time U.S. Olympian Amy Rudolph (Kane, Pa.) ran a world leading 31:18.96 at the Cardinal Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif. The performance also makes her the second-fastest American woman of all time, behind American record holder Deena Kastor (AR 30:50.32). (May 2) Two-time Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene (Kansas City, Kan.) ran the fastest time in the world this year in the 100 meters to win at the Martinique Grand Prix II in Fort de France, Martinique and establish a meet record. Also in Martinique, Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson (Burke, Va.) came from behind to beat two-time Olympic silver medalist Terence Trammell (Atlanta, Ga.). Johnson finished in a wind-aided 13.18 seconds, the fastest time this year under any conditions. In her first Martinique appearance, Marion Jones (Palmdale, Calif.) clocked 11.28 seconds to win the women's 100m. Former Indiana Hoosier Danielle Carruthers (Kennesaw, Ga.) won the women's 100m hurdles in 12.98 seconds while Rose Richmond (St. Petersburg, Fla.) leaped 6.73m/22-1 to win the women's long jump. (May 3) Amy Rudolph has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after she ran a world-leading time during her debut performance in the women's 10,000m at the Cardinal Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif. For more information, log on www.usatf.org.
Triathlon: (May 2) Gatorade has been named the "Official Sports Beverage of USA Triathlon." Gatorade will be providing resources for various USAT programs, including the national teams and coach and athlete development programs. A key component of the agreement is the Gatorade Race Sponsorship Program, which allows race directors of sanctioned events to receive sponsorship and product support from Gatorade. The Gatorade Race Sponsorship Program for USA Triathlon will begin for events on and after July 1, 2005. For more information, log on to www.usatriathlon.org.
Volleyball: (April 28) USA Volleyball, in partnership with The Sports Corp (Colorado Springs, Colo.), will present the Front Range Tour, a series of three matches between the USA Women's National Volleyball Team and Brazil, June 2-6. The matches, pitting the world's second-ranked team (Brazil) against No. 3 Team USA, will be the American women's first international competition of the 2005 season and the first under new head coach "Jenny" Lang Ping (Beijing, China). For more information, log on to www.usavolleyball.org.
Water Skiing: (May 3) USA Water Ski selected Andrea Eggert (Austin, Texas) and Mike Salber (Winter Garden, Fla.) as its Female and Male Athletes of the Month for April. The U.S. Senior Barefoot Water Ski Team was named Team of the Month. For more information, log on to www.usawaterski.org.
Wrestling: (April 27) A group of wrestling leaders has decided to raise money for a special fund that will provide financial rewards to wrestlers who win more than one world-level medal for the U.S. This is additional funding for these athletes beyond what they receive from USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee. In addition, these successful wrestling leaders will also provide counsel to athletes to assist them in transferring their human capital into successful careers outside of wrestling. There will be a mentoring group available to the athletes as they make choices about their future. The goal is to provide the financial incentive and human support for these athletes to commit to an additional Olympic four-year cycle. (April 28) Cael Sanderson (Ames, Iowa) won the 2004 John Smith Award, as Freestyle Wrestler of the Year, awarded by USA Wrestling. It is the second consecutive year that Sanderson has won this prestigious award. (April 30) Two members of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team in freestyle wrestling claimed individual titles at the U.S. National Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, Nev. Joe Williams, (Ames, Iowa) won his sixth career U.S. Nationals, edging Kirk White (Tacoma, Wash) in the finals. Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla.), 96 kg/211.5 lbs., defeated Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio) in the championship finals. It was his third straight U.S. Nationals title. An Olympian was defeated in the finals at 59 kg/130 lbs. in the women's division, however. 2003 World bronze medalist Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo.) edged 2004 Olympian Tela O'Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in three periods. Two-time World champion Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo.) defeated longtime rival and two-time World Team Trials champion Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo.). 2000 World silver medalist Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo.) defeated defending champion Malinda Ripley (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in two straight periods. Claiming the U.S. Nationals title for the second straight year in Greco-Roman was Darryl Christian (Colorado Springs, Colo.), who defeated young challenger Jacob Volkmann (Minneapolis, Minn.). Also winning a second Greco-Roman national title in a row was Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Claiming their first career U.S. Nationals titles were Joe Warren (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in Greco-Roman and Michael Lightner (Norman, Okla.) in men's freestyle wrestling. (May 1) Winning the gold medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. in men's freestyle was 1998 World champion Sammie Henson (St. Louis, Mo.), and 2002 World Champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo.) won the gold medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in men's Greco-Roman. Henson defeated Matt Azevedo (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) in the championship finals. Byers defeated Russ Davie (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in the championship match. 2004 Olympian Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo.) defeated Keith Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo.), to claim the 84 kg/185 lbs. title in Greco-Roman. Repeating as the women's champion at 55 kg/121 lbs. was Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo.), who defeated Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Four of the champions, including Henson, were former U.S. Nationals champions who have returned to champion's row after not winning in recent seasons. Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa) defeated top-seeded Jared Lawrence (Minneapolis, Minn.) in the men's freestyle finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo) won her fourth career U.S. Nationals title, stopping Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn.) in the women's 72 kg/158.5 lbs finals. Tolly Thompson (Cedar Falls, Iowa) won his second U.S. Nationals title, pinning Steve Mocco (North Bergen, N.J.) in the second period of their battle at 120 kg/264.5 pounds. Five champions won the U.S. Nationals for the first time. At 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman, Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio) earned his first U.S. Nationals title with a win over Marcel Cooper (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Lester became the first member of the U.S. Olympic Education Center university program at Northern Michigan University to win a U.S. Nationals title. Lester was named Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman for the U.S. Nationals. The new 84 kg/185 lbs. champion in men's freestyle is Muhammed Lawal (Stillwater, Okla.), who stopped defending national champion Lee Fullhart (Blacksburg, Va.). Capturing a first U.S. Nationals title in the 63 kg/138.75 lbs. division was Alaina Berube (Escanaba,Mich.), who pinned Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in the second period. Berube was named Outstanding Wrestler in the women's division. Winning her first U.S. Nationals title in her first trip to the finals was Sara Fulp-Allen (El Granada, Calif.), who claimed the 48 kg/105.5 lbs women's crown with a second-period pin over high school star Caitlyn Chase (Hanover Park, Ill). The lightest weight class in Greco-Roman also featured a new champion, as college star Sam Hazewinkel (Pensacola, Fla.) defeated Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at 55 kg/121 lbs. The Outstanding Wrestler in men's freestyle was Michael Lightner. For more information, log on to www.themat.com.
