McMann, Gray, Rupp among champs at Sunkist Kids International on Saturday
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by Gary Abbott
Adeline Gray of the New York AC wins her gold-medal match at 67 kg at the Sunkist Kids International Open. Larry Slater photo.
PHOENIX, Ariz. - There was a full slate of exciting finals as the Greco-Roman and women's freestyle finals were held together at the Sunkist Kids International Open on Saturday afternoon.
In the women's freestyle division, the finals featured the return of an Olympic silver medalist and the defeat of an Olympic gold medalist.
2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids) returned after a year away from competition with a gold-medal victory at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. McMann last competed at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she placed second, then took the next year off from competition to have her first child, a daughter named Bella.
McMann won a five-athlete roundrobin, defeating 2009 Junior World bronze medalist Veronica Carlson (Addison, Ill./New York AC) in the finals matchup, 4-2, 6-2.
"I felt really good. It's better when you go out there and enjoy it and its fun," said McMann. "Against the younger girls, I capitalized on mistakes on used my experience."
It was McMann's second competition of the weekend, after placing third in the No-Gi division of the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials on Friday.
The Outstanding Wrestler in the women's division was Genevieve Haley of Canada, who defeated 2008 Olympic champion Carol Huynh of Canada, 1-0, 2-2. Haley's top previous major international performance was a bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Championships. Huyhn was competing up one weight from her normal 48 kg/105.5 lbs. division.
Winning her 67 kg/147.5 lbs. gold-medal match by fall was Adeline Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who was fifth at the 2009 World Championships. Gray pinned Vanessa Wilson (Canada-Calgary) in the second period, 4-1, 0:47.
"I like to pin," said Gray. "I like to end those matches sharp. That is how my daddy raised me. Shutting those matches down is the way to go."
Gray returned to the mats shortly after competing at the World Championships in Denmark in late September.
"I was ready to get back on the mat," said Gray. "When I was done with the Senior World Championships, I wanted more. I wasn't finished. It is not how I wanted my season to end."
In another battle between the nation's top two competitors at 59 kg/130 lbs., Kelsey Campbell (Milwaukie, Ore./Sunkist Kids) defeated two-time World Team member Deanna Rix (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 3-1. The two are developing an intense rivalry at this division.
Campbell beat Rix in the finals of the 2009 U.S. Nationals, while Rix beat Campbell in a best-of-three series at the 2009 U.S. World Team Trials.
At 72 kg/158.75 lbs., 2005 World champion Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) defeated two-time University World champion Stephany Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 2-0, 0-3, 2-1. Smith scored the winning point in the third period on a pushout with two seconds left on the clock.
Canada had three of the seven individual champions. Joining Haley as Canadian champions were Ashley McKilligan at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Jillian Gallays at 55 kg/121 lbs.
In the Greco-Roman division, all seven individual champions were Americans.
The highest ranked U.S. wrestler to win an individual title was Brandon Rupp (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who claimed the 120 kg/ 264.5 lbs title with a 1-0, 2-0 win over Peter Kowalczuk (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in the finals. Rupp is ranked No. 2 on Greco-Roman Team USA, after placing second at the 2009 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
The Outstanding Wrestler in the Greco-Roman division was Nate Engel (St. Helena, Calif./Sunkist Kids), who won a four-athlete roundrobin at 55 kg/121 lbs. Among his victories was a 6-0, 1-0 win in the first round against the eventual runner-up Kevin Hunter (unattached).
2005 U.S. World Team member Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) captured the 60 kg/ 132 lbs. win, in an intense three-period battle with Nathan Piasecki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), 1-3, 2-0, 5-0
Other individual champions included Jacob Curby (LaGrange, Ill./New York AC) at 66 kg /145.5 lbs, Jake Fisher (Marquette, Mich./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. Cheney Haight (Orem, Utah/New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Zac Nielsen (Zimmerman, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 96 kg/ 211.5 lbs. All four are products of the U.S. Olympic Education Program at Northern Michigan Univ.
Claiming the team title in women's freestyle was the Sunkist Kids, and capturing the Greco-Roman team title was the New York AC.
The Sunkist Kids International Open concludes on Sunday with the men's freestyle competition. The finals will be webcast live on TheMat.com
SUNKIST KIDS INTERNATIONAL OPEN
at Phoenix, Ariz., October 24
Greco-Roman results
55 kg/121 lbs.
1st Place - Nate Engel (Sunkist Kids)
2nd Place - Kevin Hunter (unattached)
3rd Place - Paul Tellgreen (NMU/USOEC)
4th Place - William Spackman (unattached)
Engel dec. Hunter, 6-0, 1-0
Tellgreen dec. Spackman, 1-0, 4-0
Engel dec. Spackman, 2-1, 1-0
Hunter dec. Tellgreen, 5-0, 0-1, 4-1
Engel dec. Tellgreen, 1-0, 3-0
Hunter pin Spackman, 0-3, 1:21
60 kg/132 lbs.
1st - Joe Betterman (Sunkist Kids) dec. Nathan Piasecki (Army), 1-3, 2-0, 5-0
3rd - Ellis Coleman (NYAC) tech. fall Casey Lawson (unattached), 7-0,6-0
5th - Donavan DePatto (U.S. Marines) forfeit over Chad Vandiver (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg /145.5 lbs
1st - Jacob Curby (New York AC) dec. Kerry Regner (Sunkist Kids), 4-3, 2-0
3rd - Glenn Garrison (U.S. Army) dec. Rene Torres (TUF Wrestling), 0-1, 1-0, 5-0
5th - Angel Yocupicio (Mexico-Sonora) pin Ryan Vottero (unattached), 1:03
74 kg/163 lbs
1st - Jake Fisher (New York AC) dec. Andrew Bisek (Minnesota Storm), 1-0, 1-0
3rd - Aaron Briggs (New York AC) dec. Jonathan Drendel (NMU/USOEC), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
5th - Anton Gottfredson (Sunkist Kids) forfeit over George Bancroft IV (Bulldog WC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
1st - Cheney Haight (New York AC) dec. Chad Hemerson (New York AC), 2-0, 1-0
3rd - Peter Hicks (Army) dec. Nate Patrick (unattached), 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
5th - Talan Knox (Sunkist Kids) dec. Courtney Myers (U.S. Marines), 4-0, 7-0
96 kg/ 211.5 lbs
1st - Zac Nielsen (Minnesota Storm)
2nd - Joseph Sheffield (Y.E.S. Wrestling Club)
3rd - Jason DeVries (unattached)
Nielsen pin DeVries, 1:01
Nielsen pin Sheffield, 6-0, 0:15
Sheffield dec. DeVries, 2-0, 3-0
120 kg/ 264.5 lbs
1st - Brandon Rupp (New York AC) dec. Peter Kowalczuk (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-0
3rd - Eric Nye (Sunkist Kids WC) dec. Tim Taylor (U.S. Army), 0-1, 1-0, 2-0
5th - Pete Gounaridis (Sunkist Kids) forfeit over Kenny Lester (Sunkist Kids)
Women's freestyle results
48 kg/105.75 lbs
1st - Ashley McKilligen (Canada-BMWC) dec. CC Weber (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 1-0
3rd - Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids) pin Alana King (Brock WC), 1-3, 1-0, 1:38
5th - Sara Fulp-Allen (New York AC) pin Caitlyn Chase (Missouri Baptist), 0:36
51 kg/112.25 lbs
1st - Genevieve Haley (Canada) dec. Carol Huynh (Canada), 1-0, 2-2
3rd - Diana Ford (Canada-Brock WC) dec. Amy Whitbeck (Missouri Baptist), 4-0, 4-0
5th - Jennifer Nguyen (Canada-London WC) forfeit over Jessica MacDonald (Canada-Brock WC)
55 kg/121 lbs,
1st - Jillian Gallays (Canada) dec. Whitney Conder (Gator WC), 5-0, 3-1
3rd - Leigh Jaynes (New York AC) dec. Brittanee Laverdure (Canada), 6-0, 4-3
5th - Jackie Stiles (Univ. of the Cumberlands) pin Trinity Plessinger (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 0:58
59 kg/130 lbs.
1st - Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids) dec. Deanna Rix (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 3-1
3rd - Heidie Erdle (Canada-Calgary) pin Schuyler Brown (Gator WC), 1-3, 1:13
5th - Melissa Apadoca (New York AC) pin Norma Rueda (Univ. of the Cumberlands), 0:45
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
1st Place - Sara McMann (Sunkist Kids)
2nd Place - Veronica Carlson (New York AC)
3rd Place - Stacie Anaka (Canada)
4th Place - Miranda Diana (Mexico-Sonora)
5th Place - Holly Thein (San Jose State WC)
McMann tech. fall Thein, 7-0, 7-0
Anaka dec. Diana, 3-0, 1-0
Carlson dec. Anaka, 7-0, 2-0
McMann pin Diana, 7-1, 1:44
Carlson dec. Diana, 6-0, 4-0
Anaka pin Thein, 6-0, 0:29
Carlson pin Thein, 6-0, 0:31
McMann tech fall Anaka, 7-0, 6-0
McMann dec. Carlson, 4-2, 6-2
Diana pin Holly Thein, 0:51
67 kg/147.5 lbs
1st - Adeline Gray (New York AC) pin Vanessa Wilson (Canada-Calgary), 4-1, 0:47
3rd - Lauren Knight (Univ. of the Cumberlands) pin Kuuiini Johnson (Team Hawaii) (Pin 1:48)
5th - Pi`ikea Kalalau (Team Hawaii) forfeit over Emma Randall (Lock Haven)
72 kg/158.75 lbs
1st - Iris Smith (U.S. Army) dec. Stephany Lee (Sunkist Kids), 2-0, 0-3, 2-1
3rd - Pamela Wilson (Canada) dec. Erica Wiebe (Canada), 1-0, 3-1
5th - Moriah Fernandez (San Diego Hot Beaches) inj. dft. over Erin Clodgo (Sunkist Kids)
Women's team standings
1. Sunkist Kids, 37
2. Canada, 30
3. New York AC, 18
4. Univ. of Calgary, 9
5. Brock WC and Gator WC, 8
Greco-Roman team standings
1. New York AC, 36
2. Sunkist Kids, 31
3. U.S. Army, 16
4. Minnesota Storm, 10
5. Northern Michigan/USOEC, 7
PHOENIX, Ariz. - There was a full slate of exciting finals as the Greco-Roman and women's freestyle finals were held together at the Sunkist Kids International Open on Saturday afternoon.
In the women's freestyle division, the finals featured the return of an Olympic silver medalist and the defeat of an Olympic gold medalist.
2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids) returned after a year away from competition with a gold-medal victory at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. McMann last competed at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she placed second, then took the next year off from competition to have her first child, a daughter named Bella.
McMann won a five-athlete roundrobin, defeating 2009 Junior World bronze medalist Veronica Carlson (Addison, Ill./New York AC) in the finals matchup, 4-2, 6-2.
"I felt really good. It's better when you go out there and enjoy it and its fun," said McMann. "Against the younger girls, I capitalized on mistakes on used my experience."
It was McMann's second competition of the weekend, after placing third in the No-Gi division of the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials on Friday.
The Outstanding Wrestler in the women's division was Genevieve Haley of Canada, who defeated 2008 Olympic champion Carol Huynh of Canada, 1-0, 2-2. Haley's top previous major international performance was a bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Championships. Huyhn was competing up one weight from her normal 48 kg/105.5 lbs. division.
Winning her 67 kg/147.5 lbs. gold-medal match by fall was Adeline Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who was fifth at the 2009 World Championships. Gray pinned Vanessa Wilson (Canada-Calgary) in the second period, 4-1, 0:47.
"I like to pin," said Gray. "I like to end those matches sharp. That is how my daddy raised me. Shutting those matches down is the way to go."
Gray returned to the mats shortly after competing at the World Championships in Denmark in late September.
"I was ready to get back on the mat," said Gray. "When I was done with the Senior World Championships, I wanted more. I wasn't finished. It is not how I wanted my season to end."
In another battle between the nation's top two competitors at 59 kg/130 lbs., Kelsey Campbell (Milwaukie, Ore./Sunkist Kids) defeated two-time World Team member Deanna Rix (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 3-1. The two are developing an intense rivalry at this division.
Campbell beat Rix in the finals of the 2009 U.S. Nationals, while Rix beat Campbell in a best-of-three series at the 2009 U.S. World Team Trials.
At 72 kg/158.75 lbs., 2005 World champion Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) defeated two-time University World champion Stephany Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 2-0, 0-3, 2-1. Smith scored the winning point in the third period on a pushout with two seconds left on the clock.
Canada had three of the seven individual champions. Joining Haley as Canadian champions were Ashley McKilligan at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Jillian Gallays at 55 kg/121 lbs.
In the Greco-Roman division, all seven individual champions were Americans.
The highest ranked U.S. wrestler to win an individual title was Brandon Rupp (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who claimed the 120 kg/ 264.5 lbs title with a 1-0, 2-0 win over Peter Kowalczuk (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in the finals. Rupp is ranked No. 2 on Greco-Roman Team USA, after placing second at the 2009 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
The Outstanding Wrestler in the Greco-Roman division was Nate Engel (St. Helena, Calif./Sunkist Kids), who won a four-athlete roundrobin at 55 kg/121 lbs. Among his victories was a 6-0, 1-0 win in the first round against the eventual runner-up Kevin Hunter (unattached).
2005 U.S. World Team member Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) captured the 60 kg/ 132 lbs. win, in an intense three-period battle with Nathan Piasecki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), 1-3, 2-0, 5-0
Other individual champions included Jacob Curby (LaGrange, Ill./New York AC) at 66 kg /145.5 lbs, Jake Fisher (Marquette, Mich./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. Cheney Haight (Orem, Utah/New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Zac Nielsen (Zimmerman, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 96 kg/ 211.5 lbs. All four are products of the U.S. Olympic Education Program at Northern Michigan Univ.
Claiming the team title in women's freestyle was the Sunkist Kids, and capturing the Greco-Roman team title was the New York AC.
The Sunkist Kids International Open concludes on Sunday with the men's freestyle competition. The finals will be webcast live on TheMat.com
SUNKIST KIDS INTERNATIONAL OPEN
at Phoenix, Ariz., October 24
Greco-Roman results
55 kg/121 lbs.
1st Place - Nate Engel (Sunkist Kids)
2nd Place - Kevin Hunter (unattached)
3rd Place - Paul Tellgreen (NMU/USOEC)
4th Place - William Spackman (unattached)
Engel dec. Hunter, 6-0, 1-0
Tellgreen dec. Spackman, 1-0, 4-0
Engel dec. Spackman, 2-1, 1-0
Hunter dec. Tellgreen, 5-0, 0-1, 4-1
Engel dec. Tellgreen, 1-0, 3-0
Hunter pin Spackman, 0-3, 1:21
60 kg/132 lbs.
1st - Joe Betterman (Sunkist Kids) dec. Nathan Piasecki (Army), 1-3, 2-0, 5-0
3rd - Ellis Coleman (NYAC) tech. fall Casey Lawson (unattached), 7-0,6-0
5th - Donavan DePatto (U.S. Marines) forfeit over Chad Vandiver (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg /145.5 lbs
1st - Jacob Curby (New York AC) dec. Kerry Regner (Sunkist Kids), 4-3, 2-0
3rd - Glenn Garrison (U.S. Army) dec. Rene Torres (TUF Wrestling), 0-1, 1-0, 5-0
5th - Angel Yocupicio (Mexico-Sonora) pin Ryan Vottero (unattached), 1:03
74 kg/163 lbs
1st - Jake Fisher (New York AC) dec. Andrew Bisek (Minnesota Storm), 1-0, 1-0
3rd - Aaron Briggs (New York AC) dec. Jonathan Drendel (NMU/USOEC), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
5th - Anton Gottfredson (Sunkist Kids) forfeit over George Bancroft IV (Bulldog WC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
1st - Cheney Haight (New York AC) dec. Chad Hemerson (New York AC), 2-0, 1-0
3rd - Peter Hicks (Army) dec. Nate Patrick (unattached), 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
5th - Talan Knox (Sunkist Kids) dec. Courtney Myers (U.S. Marines), 4-0, 7-0
96 kg/ 211.5 lbs
1st - Zac Nielsen (Minnesota Storm)
2nd - Joseph Sheffield (Y.E.S. Wrestling Club)
3rd - Jason DeVries (unattached)
Nielsen pin DeVries, 1:01
Nielsen pin Sheffield, 6-0, 0:15
Sheffield dec. DeVries, 2-0, 3-0
120 kg/ 264.5 lbs
1st - Brandon Rupp (New York AC) dec. Peter Kowalczuk (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-0
3rd - Eric Nye (Sunkist Kids WC) dec. Tim Taylor (U.S. Army), 0-1, 1-0, 2-0
5th - Pete Gounaridis (Sunkist Kids) forfeit over Kenny Lester (Sunkist Kids)
Women's freestyle results
48 kg/105.75 lbs
1st - Ashley McKilligen (Canada-BMWC) dec. CC Weber (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 1-0
3rd - Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids) pin Alana King (Brock WC), 1-3, 1-0, 1:38
5th - Sara Fulp-Allen (New York AC) pin Caitlyn Chase (Missouri Baptist), 0:36
51 kg/112.25 lbs
1st - Genevieve Haley (Canada) dec. Carol Huynh (Canada), 1-0, 2-2
3rd - Diana Ford (Canada-Brock WC) dec. Amy Whitbeck (Missouri Baptist), 4-0, 4-0
5th - Jennifer Nguyen (Canada-London WC) forfeit over Jessica MacDonald (Canada-Brock WC)
55 kg/121 lbs,
1st - Jillian Gallays (Canada) dec. Whitney Conder (Gator WC), 5-0, 3-1
3rd - Leigh Jaynes (New York AC) dec. Brittanee Laverdure (Canada), 6-0, 4-3
5th - Jackie Stiles (Univ. of the Cumberlands) pin Trinity Plessinger (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 0:58
59 kg/130 lbs.
1st - Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids) dec. Deanna Rix (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 3-1
3rd - Heidie Erdle (Canada-Calgary) pin Schuyler Brown (Gator WC), 1-3, 1:13
5th - Melissa Apadoca (New York AC) pin Norma Rueda (Univ. of the Cumberlands), 0:45
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
1st Place - Sara McMann (Sunkist Kids)
2nd Place - Veronica Carlson (New York AC)
3rd Place - Stacie Anaka (Canada)
4th Place - Miranda Diana (Mexico-Sonora)
5th Place - Holly Thein (San Jose State WC)
McMann tech. fall Thein, 7-0, 7-0
Anaka dec. Diana, 3-0, 1-0
Carlson dec. Anaka, 7-0, 2-0
McMann pin Diana, 7-1, 1:44
Carlson dec. Diana, 6-0, 4-0
Anaka pin Thein, 6-0, 0:29
Carlson pin Thein, 6-0, 0:31
McMann tech fall Anaka, 7-0, 6-0
McMann dec. Carlson, 4-2, 6-2
Diana pin Holly Thein, 0:51
67 kg/147.5 lbs
1st - Adeline Gray (New York AC) pin Vanessa Wilson (Canada-Calgary), 4-1, 0:47
3rd - Lauren Knight (Univ. of the Cumberlands) pin Kuuiini Johnson (Team Hawaii) (Pin 1:48)
5th - Pi`ikea Kalalau (Team Hawaii) forfeit over Emma Randall (Lock Haven)
72 kg/158.75 lbs
1st - Iris Smith (U.S. Army) dec. Stephany Lee (Sunkist Kids), 2-0, 0-3, 2-1
3rd - Pamela Wilson (Canada) dec. Erica Wiebe (Canada), 1-0, 3-1
5th - Moriah Fernandez (San Diego Hot Beaches) inj. dft. over Erin Clodgo (Sunkist Kids)
Women's team standings
1. Sunkist Kids, 37
2. Canada, 30
3. New York AC, 18
4. Univ. of Calgary, 9
5. Brock WC and Gator WC, 8
Greco-Roman team standings
1. New York AC, 36
2. Sunkist Kids, 31
3. U.S. Army, 16
4. Minnesota Storm, 10
5. Northern Michigan/USOEC, 7
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