Downing, Hazewinkel among surprise finalists as U.S. Olympic Team Trials kick off in Las Vegas
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by Craig Sesker
LAS VEGAS - The U.S. Olympic Team Trials traditionally offer some of the best, and most hard-fought, wrestling you will see in any national-level tournament.
With so much at stake, this year's Olympic Trials offered plenty of drama when it kicked off on Friday at the UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center. This is the first of three days of competition in Las Vegas.
Two-time World bronze medalist Katie Downing capped an entertaining first session when she pinned two-time World champion Kristie Marano to advance to the finals at 72 kg/158.5 pounds in women's freestyle.
Downing will meet U.S. Nationals champion Ali Bernard in the finals. Downing won the Challenge Tournament while Bernard sat out during the first session by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals. The Downing-Bernard winner advances to the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Another upset of a World medalist came in Greco-Roman at 55 kg/121 lbs. when Sam Hazewinkel upset 2006 World bronze medalist Lindsey Durlacher in the semifinals of the Challenge Tournament. Hazewinkel will meet No. 1 seed and past World University champion Spenser Mango in the best-of-3 finals. The finals are set for 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
Durlacher had made three straight World Teams in Greco-Roman. In addition to placing third in the World in 2006, Durlacher delivered a key fifth-place finish to help the U.S. win the team title at the 2007 World Championships.
Marano, a record nine-time World medalist who placed second in the World in 2007, was looking to make her first Olympic Team. Marano was seeded third in the mini-tournament and outlasted past World champion Iris Smith in a gritty semifinal bout.
Marano then came back a short time later and lost to Downing, her friend and rival for years. Downing moved up a weight after winning a World bronze medal last year at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Marano placed second at the 2004 Olympic Trials, the year women's wrestling debuted in the Olympics.
Another loaded women's class, 48 kg/105.5 lbs., saw past World Team member Clarissa Chun emerge to win the Challenge Tournament. Chun downed past World Team member Mary Kelly to win the first-session tournament and advance to the finals against 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda.
Kelly beat past World silver medalist Stephanie Murata, who took fifth in the World in 2007, in the semifinal round of the Challenge Tournament. Chun then came out aggressively to down Kelly in the finals of the Challenge Tournament. Chun fell to Miranda in the finals of the 2004 Olympic Trials.
2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann looked strong in reaching the finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. McMann will try to advance her loss from the U.S. Nationals finals when she takes on Randi Miller in the finals. Miller owns three wins over McMann over the last two years. Miller advanced to tonight's finals by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals in April.
Two-time World bronze medalist Sally Roberts advanced to the finals at 55 kg/121 lbs. Roberts, who moved down a weight this year, will face 2007 World Team member Marcie Van Dusen in the finals.
Joe Betterman advances to meet Glenn Garrison in the Greco-Roman finals at 60 kg/132 lbs. The U.S. did not qualify for the Olympics at 60 kilos. The top three finishers in that weight class will still make the U.S. National Team for 2008-09.
FRIDAY NIGHT'S FINALS MATCHUPS (BEST-OF-3)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs.
Spenser Mango (USOEC/Gator WC) vs. Sam Hazewinkel (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Joe Betterman (USOEC/New York AC) vs. Glenn Garrison (U.S. Army)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Patricia Miranda (Sunkist Kids) vs. Clarissa Chun (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Marcie Van Dusen (Sunkist Kids) vs. Sally Roberts (Gator WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Randi Miller (Gator WC) vs. Sara McMann (Sunkist Kids)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Ali Bernard (Gator WC) vs. Katie Downing (Sunkist Kids)
With so much at stake, this year's Olympic Trials offered plenty of drama when it kicked off on Friday at the UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center. This is the first of three days of competition in Las Vegas.
Two-time World bronze medalist Katie Downing capped an entertaining first session when she pinned two-time World champion Kristie Marano to advance to the finals at 72 kg/158.5 pounds in women's freestyle.
Downing will meet U.S. Nationals champion Ali Bernard in the finals. Downing won the Challenge Tournament while Bernard sat out during the first session by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals. The Downing-Bernard winner advances to the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Another upset of a World medalist came in Greco-Roman at 55 kg/121 lbs. when Sam Hazewinkel upset 2006 World bronze medalist Lindsey Durlacher in the semifinals of the Challenge Tournament. Hazewinkel will meet No. 1 seed and past World University champion Spenser Mango in the best-of-3 finals. The finals are set for 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
Durlacher had made three straight World Teams in Greco-Roman. In addition to placing third in the World in 2006, Durlacher delivered a key fifth-place finish to help the U.S. win the team title at the 2007 World Championships.
Marano, a record nine-time World medalist who placed second in the World in 2007, was looking to make her first Olympic Team. Marano was seeded third in the mini-tournament and outlasted past World champion Iris Smith in a gritty semifinal bout.
Marano then came back a short time later and lost to Downing, her friend and rival for years. Downing moved up a weight after winning a World bronze medal last year at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Marano placed second at the 2004 Olympic Trials, the year women's wrestling debuted in the Olympics.
Another loaded women's class, 48 kg/105.5 lbs., saw past World Team member Clarissa Chun emerge to win the Challenge Tournament. Chun downed past World Team member Mary Kelly to win the first-session tournament and advance to the finals against 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda.
Kelly beat past World silver medalist Stephanie Murata, who took fifth in the World in 2007, in the semifinal round of the Challenge Tournament. Chun then came out aggressively to down Kelly in the finals of the Challenge Tournament. Chun fell to Miranda in the finals of the 2004 Olympic Trials.
2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann looked strong in reaching the finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. McMann will try to advance her loss from the U.S. Nationals finals when she takes on Randi Miller in the finals. Miller owns three wins over McMann over the last two years. Miller advanced to tonight's finals by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals in April.
Two-time World bronze medalist Sally Roberts advanced to the finals at 55 kg/121 lbs. Roberts, who moved down a weight this year, will face 2007 World Team member Marcie Van Dusen in the finals.
Joe Betterman advances to meet Glenn Garrison in the Greco-Roman finals at 60 kg/132 lbs. The U.S. did not qualify for the Olympics at 60 kilos. The top three finishers in that weight class will still make the U.S. National Team for 2008-09.
FRIDAY NIGHT'S FINALS MATCHUPS (BEST-OF-3)
Greco-Roman
55 kg/121 lbs.
Spenser Mango (USOEC/Gator WC) vs. Sam Hazewinkel (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Joe Betterman (USOEC/New York AC) vs. Glenn Garrison (U.S. Army)
Women's freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Patricia Miranda (Sunkist Kids) vs. Clarissa Chun (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Marcie Van Dusen (Sunkist Kids) vs. Sally Roberts (Gator WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Randi Miller (Gator WC) vs. Sara McMann (Sunkist Kids)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Ali Bernard (Gator WC) vs. Katie Downing (Sunkist Kids)
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