USOC honors Cejudo, Miller and 2008 University Women’s World Team as Wrestlers of the Year
Share:
by Gary Abbott
The U.S. Olympic Committee honored its 2008 Wrestling Male and Female Athletes of the Year, as well as its Wrestling Team of the Year.
The Male Wrestler of the Year is 2008 Olympic champion Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids). The Female Wrestler of the Year is 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Randi Miller (Marquette, Mich./Gator WC). The Wrestling Team of the Year is the 2006 U.S. Women's University World Team.
It is the first time that either Cejudo or Miller have won this prestigious award.
Each year the USOC recognizes the top male and top female athletes and the top team as selected by their respective member organizations. The names of the athletes and teams are placed on ballots used to select the USOC SportsMan, SportsWoman and overall Team of the Year.
Today, the USOC named Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps as its USOC SportsMan of the Year. Sharing the USOC SportsWoman of the Year were Olympic champion swimmer Natalie Coughlin and Olympic champion gymnast Natasha Liukin. The USOC Team of the Year was the U.S. Men's Volleyball Team, which captured the Olympic gold medal. Swimmer Erin Popovich was named USOC Paralympian of the Year.
Cejudo captured the gold medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. in men's freestyle at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China at the age of 21, becoming the youngest U.S. Olympic wrestling champion in history. He was the only U.S. men's freestyle wrestler to win a medal at the 2008 Olympics.
Cejudo defeated Tomohiro Matsunaga of Japan in the gold-medal match, 2-2, 2-0. Among his four wins was an opening round victory over 2006 World champion Radislav Velikov of Bulgaria. Cejudo lost the first period of his first three Olympic matches, but came back strong to win them all in the full three periods.
Cejudo won a gold medal at 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev. in June, defeating 2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas in the championship series, two matches to one.
He also won a gold medal at the Pan American Championships in Colorado Springs in February, qualifying the USA to compete in the Olympics at his weight class. He defeated 2007 World bronze medalist Andy Gonzalez of Cuba in the finals.
Cejudo placed second at the 2008 U.S. Nationals, his third straight year in the national finals.
After the Olympics, Cejudo received major international attention for his victory, appearing on major media shows such as the Tonight Show, the Today Show, the Oprah Winfrey Show, ESPN Sports Center, Ninja Warrior and many others.
Cejudo, 21, was a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete during the 2008 season. He came directly to the USOTC as a high school junior, and trained there for four years leading up to his Olympic title. He captured two state titles for Maryvale High School in Phoenix, Ariz. as a freshman and sophomore and two state titles for Coronado High School in Colorado Springs, Colo. as a junior and senior.
Miller won a bronze medal at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in women's freestyle at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She was the only U.S. women's wrestler to win a medal at the Beijing Games.
She become only the third U.S. women's wrestler in history to capture an Olympic medal, joining 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda.
She won four of her five matches at the Olympics, losing only to two-time Olympic champion Kaori Icho of Japan in the quarterfinals. Miller defeated three-time World silver medalist Martine Dugrenier of Canada in the bronze-medal match.
Miller won the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev. in June, defeating 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann in the championship series in two straight matches. She also won her first U.S. Nationals title in Las Vegas in April, defeating McMann in the championship finals.
She won three other medals in major international events during the year, winning a silver medal at the Medved International in Belarus in March, a bronze medal at Dave Schultz Memorial in Colorado Springs in February and a bronze medal at the Ivan Yarygin International in Russia in January.
Miller, now 25, was a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete during the 2008 season. She attended college at Neosho County CC in Kansas, MacMurray College in Illinois and Northern Michigan Univ. prior to moving to the USOTC. Miller was a high school star at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. After the Olympic Games, Miller returned to Northern Michigan to coach and train with the U.S. Olympic Education Center women's team there.
The University Women's World Team captured the team title at the 2008 University World Championships in Thessalonika, Greece. It was the only U.S. World Team to win a World title during the 2008 season.
The team was led by University World champions Katherine Fulp-Allen at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Elena Pirozkhova at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and Stephany Lee at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.. For Lee, it was a second career University World title.
In total, the U.S. won six medals and all of the seven-athlete team finished in the top five of their weight classes, an incredible effort.
Capturing a silver medal was Sara Fulp-Allen at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., and winning bronze medals were Othella Lucas at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Alaina Berube at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Placing fifth for the USA was Chelynne Pringle at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Coaches for the team were Assistant National Women's Coach Izzy Izboinikov, USOEC Women's head coach Shannyn Gillespie and World Team Coach Trevor Kieffer.
2008 U.S. Women's Freestyle University World Team
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 2nd
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Katherine Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif. (Menlo College), 1st
55 kg/121 lbs. - Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 5th
59 kg/130 lbs. - Othella Lucas, San Diego, Calif. (New York AC), 3rd
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Alaina Berube, River Falls, Wis. (New York AC), 3rd
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 1st
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 1st
Coaches - Shannyn Gillespie, Marquette, Mich., Trevor Keiffer, San Diego, Calif., Izzy Izboinikov, Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Male Wrestler of the Year is 2008 Olympic champion Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids). The Female Wrestler of the Year is 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Randi Miller (Marquette, Mich./Gator WC). The Wrestling Team of the Year is the 2006 U.S. Women's University World Team.
It is the first time that either Cejudo or Miller have won this prestigious award.
Each year the USOC recognizes the top male and top female athletes and the top team as selected by their respective member organizations. The names of the athletes and teams are placed on ballots used to select the USOC SportsMan, SportsWoman and overall Team of the Year.
Today, the USOC named Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps as its USOC SportsMan of the Year. Sharing the USOC SportsWoman of the Year were Olympic champion swimmer Natalie Coughlin and Olympic champion gymnast Natasha Liukin. The USOC Team of the Year was the U.S. Men's Volleyball Team, which captured the Olympic gold medal. Swimmer Erin Popovich was named USOC Paralympian of the Year.
Cejudo captured the gold medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. in men's freestyle at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China at the age of 21, becoming the youngest U.S. Olympic wrestling champion in history. He was the only U.S. men's freestyle wrestler to win a medal at the 2008 Olympics.
Cejudo defeated Tomohiro Matsunaga of Japan in the gold-medal match, 2-2, 2-0. Among his four wins was an opening round victory over 2006 World champion Radislav Velikov of Bulgaria. Cejudo lost the first period of his first three Olympic matches, but came back strong to win them all in the full three periods.
Cejudo won a gold medal at 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev. in June, defeating 2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas in the championship series, two matches to one.
He also won a gold medal at the Pan American Championships in Colorado Springs in February, qualifying the USA to compete in the Olympics at his weight class. He defeated 2007 World bronze medalist Andy Gonzalez of Cuba in the finals.
Cejudo placed second at the 2008 U.S. Nationals, his third straight year in the national finals.
After the Olympics, Cejudo received major international attention for his victory, appearing on major media shows such as the Tonight Show, the Today Show, the Oprah Winfrey Show, ESPN Sports Center, Ninja Warrior and many others.
Cejudo, 21, was a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete during the 2008 season. He came directly to the USOTC as a high school junior, and trained there for four years leading up to his Olympic title. He captured two state titles for Maryvale High School in Phoenix, Ariz. as a freshman and sophomore and two state titles for Coronado High School in Colorado Springs, Colo. as a junior and senior.
Miller won a bronze medal at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in women's freestyle at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She was the only U.S. women's wrestler to win a medal at the Beijing Games.
She become only the third U.S. women's wrestler in history to capture an Olympic medal, joining 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda.
She won four of her five matches at the Olympics, losing only to two-time Olympic champion Kaori Icho of Japan in the quarterfinals. Miller defeated three-time World silver medalist Martine Dugrenier of Canada in the bronze-medal match.
Miller won the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev. in June, defeating 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann in the championship series in two straight matches. She also won her first U.S. Nationals title in Las Vegas in April, defeating McMann in the championship finals.
She won three other medals in major international events during the year, winning a silver medal at the Medved International in Belarus in March, a bronze medal at Dave Schultz Memorial in Colorado Springs in February and a bronze medal at the Ivan Yarygin International in Russia in January.
Miller, now 25, was a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete during the 2008 season. She attended college at Neosho County CC in Kansas, MacMurray College in Illinois and Northern Michigan Univ. prior to moving to the USOTC. Miller was a high school star at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. After the Olympic Games, Miller returned to Northern Michigan to coach and train with the U.S. Olympic Education Center women's team there.
The University Women's World Team captured the team title at the 2008 University World Championships in Thessalonika, Greece. It was the only U.S. World Team to win a World title during the 2008 season.
The team was led by University World champions Katherine Fulp-Allen at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Elena Pirozkhova at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and Stephany Lee at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.. For Lee, it was a second career University World title.
In total, the U.S. won six medals and all of the seven-athlete team finished in the top five of their weight classes, an incredible effort.
Capturing a silver medal was Sara Fulp-Allen at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., and winning bronze medals were Othella Lucas at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Alaina Berube at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Placing fifth for the USA was Chelynne Pringle at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Coaches for the team were Assistant National Women's Coach Izzy Izboinikov, USOEC Women's head coach Shannyn Gillespie and World Team Coach Trevor Kieffer.
2008 U.S. Women's Freestyle University World Team
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 2nd
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Katherine Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif. (Menlo College), 1st
55 kg/121 lbs. - Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 5th
59 kg/130 lbs. - Othella Lucas, San Diego, Calif. (New York AC), 3rd
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Alaina Berube, River Falls, Wis. (New York AC), 3rd
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 1st
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 1st
Coaches - Shannyn Gillespie, Marquette, Mich., Trevor Keiffer, San Diego, Calif., Izzy Izboinikov, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Read More#
McKenna, Parker, Wick, Hidlay, Rademacher, Hendrickson to go for gold in men’s freestyle at Pan American Championship
Forrest, Lockett, Valencia claim gold in men’s freestyle at Senior Pan American Championships
Kilty, Welker to go for women’s freestyle gold at Pan American Championships, Gallegos, Nette in medal hunt
Thomas, Davino among unexpected semifinalists in men’s freestyle at CLAW U.S. Open
