FEATURE: 2004 Olympic medalists McMann and Miranda one step closer to a berth to Beijing
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by Elizabeth Wiley
Silver medalist Sara McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids) and bronze medalist Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) are both set to compete in the finals for their respective weight classes at the 2008 Senior Women's Freestyle Nationals in Las Vegas.
McMann will take on Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., a match up the could very well be a preview of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials finals.
To reach the finals, McMann pinned Karen Howe (The Woodlands, Texas/Missouri Valley) 11 seconds into the first period and Nena Garcia (Clyde, Ohio/Cumberlands) after 35 seconds had gone by in the second. She then took down Elena Pirozkhova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), 14-2, 3-1. Pirozkhova has dropped down from 67 kg/147.5 lbs. to have a shot at making the Olympic Team.
"I faced some young girls early in the tournament and then I wrestled Elena who was ranked second in the weight class above me," said McMann. "She had has some really good performances in international competitions and is tough."
Miranda will face Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in a featured championship bout, with the first and second-seeded wrestlers in the 48 kg/105.5 lbs. weight class.
Miranda wrestled less than a minute and a half in her first two matches combined. She pinned Lauren Tallman (Norwalk, Conn./Menlo) 44 seconds into the first match and Carnie Yeik (Unattached) in 45 seconds in the second match. Then she faced Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in a match that needed all three periods to decide the victor, 0-1, 4-1, 1-0.
While this tournament, and these championship bouts, are important for McMann and Miranda as they work towards a second trip to the Olympics, both women know this is just part of the journey.
"Overall, this tournament is just a step in the process of getting to the Olympics," said McMann. "It's nice to have that top seed and sit out the first day while everyone else battles. As an Olympic medalist I know that I can go through the challenge tournament and win if I need to."
That doesn't mean McMann or Miranda is going to take it easy. They both have their eye set on the ultimate prize, an Olympic gold medal, and they plan on winning every match it takes to get there.
"I'm 100 percent confident," said McMann. "That's how I train. I wouldn't be doing this if I wasn't. You don't give up everything that you have to for wrestling if that's not your mind set."
McMann will take on Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., a match up the could very well be a preview of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials finals.
To reach the finals, McMann pinned Karen Howe (The Woodlands, Texas/Missouri Valley) 11 seconds into the first period and Nena Garcia (Clyde, Ohio/Cumberlands) after 35 seconds had gone by in the second. She then took down Elena Pirozkhova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), 14-2, 3-1. Pirozkhova has dropped down from 67 kg/147.5 lbs. to have a shot at making the Olympic Team.
"I faced some young girls early in the tournament and then I wrestled Elena who was ranked second in the weight class above me," said McMann. "She had has some really good performances in international competitions and is tough."
Miranda will face Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in a featured championship bout, with the first and second-seeded wrestlers in the 48 kg/105.5 lbs. weight class.
Miranda wrestled less than a minute and a half in her first two matches combined. She pinned Lauren Tallman (Norwalk, Conn./Menlo) 44 seconds into the first match and Carnie Yeik (Unattached) in 45 seconds in the second match. Then she faced Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in a match that needed all three periods to decide the victor, 0-1, 4-1, 1-0.
While this tournament, and these championship bouts, are important for McMann and Miranda as they work towards a second trip to the Olympics, both women know this is just part of the journey.
"Overall, this tournament is just a step in the process of getting to the Olympics," said McMann. "It's nice to have that top seed and sit out the first day while everyone else battles. As an Olympic medalist I know that I can go through the challenge tournament and win if I need to."
That doesn't mean McMann or Miranda is going to take it easy. They both have their eye set on the ultimate prize, an Olympic gold medal, and they plan on winning every match it takes to get there.
"I'm 100 percent confident," said McMann. "That's how I train. I wouldn't be doing this if I wasn't. You don't give up everything that you have to for wrestling if that's not your mind set."
