U.S. World Team Trials women's preview at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
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by Megan Myers
2009 U.S. National champion Stephany Lee represented Team USA at the 2008 World Championships but was unable to medal. Since then she has been on a quest to make the 2009 World Team. She has had a successful international season, winning the Dave Schultz Memorial International and placing third at the Ukrainian Memorial International.
After winning her first U.S. Nationals title, the two-time World University champion will take on whoever makes it past the Challenge Tournament at the World Team Trials in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Ali Bernard could be Lee's top competitor, making it a must-see match if she makes it through the Challenge Tournament. Since placing fifth at the 2008 Olympics, Bernard competed in a number of event this fall, winning four gold medals. However, she chose to skip the U.S. Nationals and will have to wrestle for the right to challenge Lee.
It will not be easy for Bernard to make it to the final-round series.
Tough contenders also battling Bernard in the Challenge Tournament will be 2001 World Team member Jenna Pavlik, who placed second at the U.S. Senior Nationals this year. Pavlik won a silver medal at 2009 Pan American Championships in Venezuela.
Iris Smith, a 2005 World champion, will also be a threat in this weight class. Smith placed third at Nationals this year. When Smith is wrestling well, she has shown she can compete with anybody in the world.
Lindsey Brooks, who trains with the USOEC program, placed fourth at the U.S. Nationals, followed by WCWA Nationals runner-up Lacey Novinska of the OCU Stars in fifth. Brooks also placed third at the FILA Junior Nationals this year.
Collegians Kendra Lewis, a 2009 University Nationals champion, and University Nationals runner-up Erin Clodgo will look to upset the top competition. Lewis placed third at the WCWA Nationals this year. Clodgo may choose to drop to 67 kg, where she has competed at times in recent years.
CORRECTED 2009 U.S. Nationals Results at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1st - Jenna Pavlik, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOTC)
2nd - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Lindsey Brooks, Spring, Texas (USOEC), 4-0, 6-0
4th - Lacey Novinska, Fennimore, Wis. (OCU Stars)
CORRECTED 2009 World Team Qualifers at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
U.S. Nationals, Champion - Jenna Pavlik, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOTC)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Lindsey Brooks, Spring, Texas (USOEC)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Lacey Novinska, Fennimore, Wis. (OCU Stars)
Northern Plains Trials Champion -
Past U.S. World Team member - Stephany Lee, Colo. Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. Olympic Team member - Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Gator WC)
New York AC International Champion - Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Gator WC)
Dave Schultz Memorial International Champion - Stephany Lee, Colo. Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WCWA Nationals runner-up - Lacey Novinska, Fennimore, Wis. (OCU Stars)
University Nationals Champion -Kendra Lewis, Houston, Texas (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
University Nationals Runner-up - Erin Clodgo, Richmond, Vermont (USOEC)
International Tour medalist -
FILA event champion within year -
After winning her first U.S. Nationals title, the two-time World University champion will take on whoever makes it past the Challenge Tournament at the World Team Trials in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Ali Bernard could be Lee's top competitor, making it a must-see match if she makes it through the Challenge Tournament. Since placing fifth at the 2008 Olympics, Bernard competed in a number of event this fall, winning four gold medals. However, she chose to skip the U.S. Nationals and will have to wrestle for the right to challenge Lee.
It will not be easy for Bernard to make it to the final-round series.
Tough contenders also battling Bernard in the Challenge Tournament will be 2001 World Team member Jenna Pavlik, who placed second at the U.S. Senior Nationals this year. Pavlik won a silver medal at 2009 Pan American Championships in Venezuela.
Iris Smith, a 2005 World champion, will also be a threat in this weight class. Smith placed third at Nationals this year. When Smith is wrestling well, she has shown she can compete with anybody in the world.
Lindsey Brooks, who trains with the USOEC program, placed fourth at the U.S. Nationals, followed by WCWA Nationals runner-up Lacey Novinska of the OCU Stars in fifth. Brooks also placed third at the FILA Junior Nationals this year.
Collegians Kendra Lewis, a 2009 University Nationals champion, and University Nationals runner-up Erin Clodgo will look to upset the top competition. Lewis placed third at the WCWA Nationals this year. Clodgo may choose to drop to 67 kg, where she has competed at times in recent years.
CORRECTED 2009 U.S. Nationals Results at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1st - Jenna Pavlik, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOTC)
2nd - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Lindsey Brooks, Spring, Texas (USOEC), 4-0, 6-0
4th - Lacey Novinska, Fennimore, Wis. (OCU Stars)
CORRECTED 2009 World Team Qualifers at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
U.S. Nationals, Champion - Jenna Pavlik, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOTC)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Lindsey Brooks, Spring, Texas (USOEC)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Lacey Novinska, Fennimore, Wis. (OCU Stars)
Northern Plains Trials Champion -
Past U.S. World Team member - Stephany Lee, Colo. Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. Olympic Team member - Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Gator WC)
New York AC International Champion - Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Gator WC)
Dave Schultz Memorial International Champion - Stephany Lee, Colo. Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WCWA Nationals runner-up - Lacey Novinska, Fennimore, Wis. (OCU Stars)
University Nationals Champion -Kendra Lewis, Houston, Texas (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
University Nationals Runner-up - Erin Clodgo, Richmond, Vermont (USOEC)
International Tour medalist -
FILA event champion within year -
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