Downing knocks off Marano in battle of World medalists to reach finals of U.S. Nationals in women's freestyle
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by Craig Sesker
LAS VEGAS - Katie Downing's weight class of 67 kg/147.5 lbs. is not one of the four Olympic divisions in women's freestyle wrestling.
But that hasn't stopped Downing in her quest to make her first Olympic Team.
The fourth-seeded Downing delivered in Thursday morning's semifinals, knocking off two-time World champion and 2007 World silver medalist Kristie Marano 1-0, 1-0 at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Downing now advances to the finals to meet Ali Bernard, who knocked off past World champion Iris Smith in the semifinals. The U.S. Nationals champion at 158.5 earns a spot in the best-of-3 finals at June's U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas.
"This was a huge win for me," said Downing, a two-time World bronze medalist at 147.5 lbs. "I wasn't really one of the favorites coming in here. I'm essentially only three wins away from achieving my dream of wrestling in the Olympics. If I win Nationals, it puts me in the finals of the Trials and that will be real big for me."
U.S. Nationals champions in the four Olympic weight classes for women - 48 kg/105.5 lbs., 55 kg/121 lbs., 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and 72 kg/158.5 lbs. - advance to the best-of-3 finals for the Olympic Team Trials.
The match between Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and the top-seeded Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) came down to the clinch in the first period and Downing pulled out the win. Downing then scored a takedown in the second period to win.
Downing and Marano met for the first time since Downing beat Marano to make the 2005 U.S. World Team at 147.5 lbs. Marano moved up to 158.5 in 2006 and won a World bronze medal that year before placing second in the World last year.
"I've been working really hard and preparing myself for all four of the top girls at 72 kilos," Downing said. "We all practice at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, so that really helps. Kristie and I wrestle very much alike. I knew I couldn't give her anything and I tried to push the pace. I had to wrestle my best against her."
Downing will now turn her focus to meeting Bernard, a two-time Junior World champion, in the finals.
"I have wrestled Ali a lot less than I've wrestled the other girls," Downing said. "I know I have to do everything really clean because she can pull off a lot of big moves out there. She has some strength and some flexibility."
Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann and Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda took their first steps toward making a second straight Olympic team by advancing to the finals.
McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids) swept Elena Pirozhkov (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) in the semifinals at 63 kilos. Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dropped the first period before coming back to top past World Team member Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in the semis at 48 kilos.
Only the top four wrestlers in each weight class were seeded in women's freestyle. That set up some tough early matches. Past World silver medalist Stephanie Murata pinned past World Team member Mary Kelly in the second round at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Murata was seeded second and Kelly was not seeded in the top four. Kelly won the first period, but was then caught and pinned in the second period in a rematch of the 2007 U.S. Nationals. Murata also won that match.
U.S. NATIONALS WOMEN'S FREESTYLE FINALS MATCHUPS
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda (Sunkist Kids) vs. Stephanie Murata (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jessica Medina (New York AC) vs. Helen Maroulis (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen (Sunkist Kids) vs. Jenny Wong (Sunkist Kids)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Othella Lucas (New York AC) vs. Erin Tomeo (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara McMann (Sunkist Kids) vs. Randi Miller (Gator WC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Sara Hilliard (OCU Stars) vs. Stefenie Shaw (New York AC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Katie Downing (Sunkist Kids) vs. Ali Bernard (Gator WC)
But that hasn't stopped Downing in her quest to make her first Olympic Team.
The fourth-seeded Downing delivered in Thursday morning's semifinals, knocking off two-time World champion and 2007 World silver medalist Kristie Marano 1-0, 1-0 at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Downing now advances to the finals to meet Ali Bernard, who knocked off past World champion Iris Smith in the semifinals. The U.S. Nationals champion at 158.5 earns a spot in the best-of-3 finals at June's U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas.
"This was a huge win for me," said Downing, a two-time World bronze medalist at 147.5 lbs. "I wasn't really one of the favorites coming in here. I'm essentially only three wins away from achieving my dream of wrestling in the Olympics. If I win Nationals, it puts me in the finals of the Trials and that will be real big for me."
U.S. Nationals champions in the four Olympic weight classes for women - 48 kg/105.5 lbs., 55 kg/121 lbs., 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and 72 kg/158.5 lbs. - advance to the best-of-3 finals for the Olympic Team Trials.
The match between Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and the top-seeded Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) came down to the clinch in the first period and Downing pulled out the win. Downing then scored a takedown in the second period to win.
Downing and Marano met for the first time since Downing beat Marano to make the 2005 U.S. World Team at 147.5 lbs. Marano moved up to 158.5 in 2006 and won a World bronze medal that year before placing second in the World last year.
"I've been working really hard and preparing myself for all four of the top girls at 72 kilos," Downing said. "We all practice at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, so that really helps. Kristie and I wrestle very much alike. I knew I couldn't give her anything and I tried to push the pace. I had to wrestle my best against her."
Downing will now turn her focus to meeting Bernard, a two-time Junior World champion, in the finals.
"I have wrestled Ali a lot less than I've wrestled the other girls," Downing said. "I know I have to do everything really clean because she can pull off a lot of big moves out there. She has some strength and some flexibility."
Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann and Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda took their first steps toward making a second straight Olympic team by advancing to the finals.
McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids) swept Elena Pirozhkov (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) in the semifinals at 63 kilos. Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dropped the first period before coming back to top past World Team member Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in the semis at 48 kilos.
Only the top four wrestlers in each weight class were seeded in women's freestyle. That set up some tough early matches. Past World silver medalist Stephanie Murata pinned past World Team member Mary Kelly in the second round at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Murata was seeded second and Kelly was not seeded in the top four. Kelly won the first period, but was then caught and pinned in the second period in a rematch of the 2007 U.S. Nationals. Murata also won that match.
U.S. NATIONALS WOMEN'S FREESTYLE FINALS MATCHUPS
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda (Sunkist Kids) vs. Stephanie Murata (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jessica Medina (New York AC) vs. Helen Maroulis (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen (Sunkist Kids) vs. Jenny Wong (Sunkist Kids)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Othella Lucas (New York AC) vs. Erin Tomeo (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara McMann (Sunkist Kids) vs. Randi Miller (Gator WC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Sara Hilliard (OCU Stars) vs. Stefenie Shaw (New York AC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Katie Downing (Sunkist Kids) vs. Ali Bernard (Gator WC)
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