U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in women's freestyle at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
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by Elizabeth Wiley
Randi Miller won her first U.S. Nationals title in 2008, defeating 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann in the finals. It was her third career win over McMann, and sets Miller up as the top seed at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Miller has shown great progress in the last two seasons since dropping to this weight from 147.5 pounds.
McMann has dominated U.S. wrestling at this division, holding the No. 1 spot for eight straight years. In addition to her Olympic silver medal, McMann has a World silver medal and two World bronze medals. She has tremendous skill and experience, and, for the first time in years, may be considered the underdog. Competing at a high level this year is Alaina Berube, who was third at the U.S. Nationals. Berube was second behind McMann at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials. She looked impressive in winning the Dave Schultz Memorial International this winter.
Elena Pirozkhov, who was second in the 2007 U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials at 147.5 pounds, made the move down this year and placed fourth at the U.S. Nationals. She won a gold at the Pan American Championships this season. Born in Russia, she became a naturalized citizen a few years ago. Veteran Tori Adams, a past Junior World medalist, was second at the 2007 World Team Trials at this weight class and brings tremendous experience to the division.
Three athletes from Missouri Valley College, Jennifer Germany, Samantha Fee and Shamaine Danner, have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at this weight. 2008 U.S. Nationals champion Stefenie Shaw is planning to drop down to this weight. She won Nationals at 147.5 pounds.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo (Gator WC) dec. Sara McMann, Gaffney, S.C. (Sunkist Kids), 2-1, 4-0
3rd - Alaina Berube, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) dec. Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 1-0, 0-6, 5-2
5th - Jennifer Germany, Chula Vista, Calif. (Missouri Valley College) inj. dft. Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
7th - Shamaine Danner, Richmond, Mo. (Missouri Valley College) dec. Nena Garcia, Williamsburg, Ky. (Univ. of the Cumberlands), 8-4, 0-4, 2-1
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
Qualified for best-of-three finals: Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo (Gator WC)
Challenge Tournament seeds
1. Sara McMann, Gaffney, S.C. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Alaina Berube, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
3. Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
4. Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Stefanie Shaw, Waterford, Conn. (New York AC)
6. Jennifer Germany, Chula Vista, Calif. (Missouri Valley College)
7. Sara Hilliard, Lawrence, Kan. (OCU Stars)
8. Samantha Fee, Blairstown, N.J. (Missouri Valley)
9. Lauren Knight, Vallejo, Calif. (Cumberlands)
10. Shamaine Danner, Richmond, Mo. (Missouri Valley)
11. Marina Piccolotti, Pacifica, Calif. (unattached)
McMann has dominated U.S. wrestling at this division, holding the No. 1 spot for eight straight years. In addition to her Olympic silver medal, McMann has a World silver medal and two World bronze medals. She has tremendous skill and experience, and, for the first time in years, may be considered the underdog. Competing at a high level this year is Alaina Berube, who was third at the U.S. Nationals. Berube was second behind McMann at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials. She looked impressive in winning the Dave Schultz Memorial International this winter.
Elena Pirozkhov, who was second in the 2007 U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials at 147.5 pounds, made the move down this year and placed fourth at the U.S. Nationals. She won a gold at the Pan American Championships this season. Born in Russia, she became a naturalized citizen a few years ago. Veteran Tori Adams, a past Junior World medalist, was second at the 2007 World Team Trials at this weight class and brings tremendous experience to the division.
Three athletes from Missouri Valley College, Jennifer Germany, Samantha Fee and Shamaine Danner, have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at this weight. 2008 U.S. Nationals champion Stefenie Shaw is planning to drop down to this weight. She won Nationals at 147.5 pounds.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo (Gator WC) dec. Sara McMann, Gaffney, S.C. (Sunkist Kids), 2-1, 4-0
3rd - Alaina Berube, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) dec. Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 1-0, 0-6, 5-2
5th - Jennifer Germany, Chula Vista, Calif. (Missouri Valley College) inj. dft. Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
7th - Shamaine Danner, Richmond, Mo. (Missouri Valley College) dec. Nena Garcia, Williamsburg, Ky. (Univ. of the Cumberlands), 8-4, 0-4, 2-1
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
Qualified for best-of-three finals: Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo (Gator WC)
Challenge Tournament seeds
1. Sara McMann, Gaffney, S.C. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Alaina Berube, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
3. Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
4. Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Stefanie Shaw, Waterford, Conn. (New York AC)
6. Jennifer Germany, Chula Vista, Calif. (Missouri Valley College)
7. Sara Hilliard, Lawrence, Kan. (OCU Stars)
8. Samantha Fee, Blairstown, N.J. (Missouri Valley)
9. Lauren Knight, Vallejo, Calif. (Cumberlands)
10. Shamaine Danner, Richmond, Mo. (Missouri Valley)
11. Marina Piccolotti, Pacifica, Calif. (unattached)
