Alo, Hutchison, Surber win women’s freestyle titles at U.S. Nationals/Trials Qualifier in Las Vegas
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Teshya Alo of the Titan Mercury WC works for control against Olympian Kelsey Campbell of the Sunkist Kids in the 58 kg finals in Las Vegas. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
VIDEO: U.S. Senior Nationals & Olympic Trials Qualifier Champion Interviews
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Champions were crowned in the first three women’s freestyle weight classes at the U.S. Nationals/Trials Qualifier at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Friday.
In a battle of youth against experience, 2014 Cadet World champion Teshya Alo of the Titan Mercury WC defeated 2012 Olympian Kelsey Campbell of the Sunkist Kids in the 58 kg/128 lbs. finals, 8-1.
Alo had a strong first period, jumping to an 8-0 lead at the break. She scored a takedown and challenged the officials call, and won, getting two more points on a tilt to lead 4-0. Later in the period, Alo got another takedown and an exposure for four more points. The second period saw strong defense by both wrestlers, with Campbell scoring on a pushout for the only point.
“That was really fun. I feel so good. I’m so happy right now I could fly. I didn’t wrestle everyone I wanted to, but it was still a good experience and i’m really happy that I pulled it off.”
It was the first Senior National title for Alo, who is 18 years old and a high school senior in Hawaii. Alo was third at the 2015 Senior World Team Trials at two different weight classes, 58 kg/128 lbs. and 60 kg/132 lbs.
“I still have to work on my stamina and my eating habits because I still love candy. I know how much work I have to put in, but when I see candy I just have to eat it. That’s my weakness," she said.
2015 World Team Trials runner-up Michaela Hutchison of the Titan Mercury WC also won her first national title, with a 3-0 win in the finals over Haley Augello of the New York AC in the finals at 53 kg/116.5 lbs.. They were the top two seeds in the weight class.
Hutchison scored a takedown in the first period to lead 2-0 at the break. She added a pushout in the second period for her final point. Hutchison, a three-time WCWA college national champion for Oklahoma City University, is now an assistant women’s wrestling coach at McKendree University.
Claiming her second career U.S. Nationals title was face 2015 World Team Trials runner-up Jackie Surber of the Titan Mercury WC, who stopped 2014 Junior World bronze medalist Victoria Francis of the Titan Mercury WC, 8-4, in the finals at 75 kg/165 lbs.
Surber had two high scoring exchanges to build an 8-1 lead. She got a takedown and a turn for a 4-1 lead in the first period. She added a four-point throw later in the match. Francis got three late pushouts to close the gap, but was unable to a needed big move as time ran out.
The top seven placewinners in each weight class this weekend qualify to compete at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City, Iowa, April 9-10. This is the largest of the #Road2IowaCity qualifying events.
The final three women’s freestyle weight classes will be held on Saturday: 48 kg/105.5 lbs., 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and 69 kg/152 lbs. All six men’s freestyle Olympic weight classes will also be hosted on Saturday.
U.S. NATIONALS/TRIALS QUALIFIER
At Las Vegas, Nev., December 18
Women’s Finals Results
53 kg/116.5 lbs. - Michaela Hutchison (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Haley Augello (NYAC/OTC), 3-0
58 kg/128 lbs. - Teshya Alo (Titan Mercury) dec. Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids), 8-1
75 kg/165 lbs. - Victoria Francis (Titan Mercury) vs. Jackie Surber (Titan Mercury), 8-4
Women's freestyle results
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
1st - Michaela Hutchison, Lebanon, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Haley Augello, Lockport, Ill. (NYAC/OTC), 3-0
3rd - Sarah Hildebrandt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/OTC) dec. Deanna Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 2-0
5th - Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) inj. dft. over Katherine Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/OTC)
7th - Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Amy Fearnside, Morgan Hill, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC), 7-1
58 kg/128 lbs.
1st - Teshya Alo, Honolulu, Hawaii (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Kelsey Campbell, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 8-1
3rd - Maya Nelson, Denver, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Randi Beltz, Chesterfield, Mo. (Titan Mercury WC), 8-4
5th - Jenna Burkert, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) tech. fall Arian Carpio, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 10-0
7th - Becka Leathers, Choctaw, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC) tech fall over Savanna Nobile, Richmond, Mo. (Richmond Youth WC), 10-0
75 kg/165 lbs.
1st- Jackie Surber, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Victoria Francis, Litchfield, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC), 8-4
3rd - Julia Salata, Canton, Mich. (NYAC/OTC) tech fall Niauni Hill, Oakland, Calif. (Lindenwood Women`s WC), 10-0
5th - Brandy Lowe, Paxico, Kan. (Bearcat WC) inj. dft. Katerina Lobsinger, Martinez, Calif. (Combat Sports Academy)
7th - Nahiela Magee, Lancaster, Calif. (Wayland Baptist) pin Christina Schmidt, Marietta, Ga. (Running Eagles), 1:22
VIDEO: U.S. Senior Nationals & Olympic Trials Qualifier Champion Interviews
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Champions were crowned in the first three women’s freestyle weight classes at the U.S. Nationals/Trials Qualifier at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Friday.
In a battle of youth against experience, 2014 Cadet World champion Teshya Alo of the Titan Mercury WC defeated 2012 Olympian Kelsey Campbell of the Sunkist Kids in the 58 kg/128 lbs. finals, 8-1.
Alo had a strong first period, jumping to an 8-0 lead at the break. She scored a takedown and challenged the officials call, and won, getting two more points on a tilt to lead 4-0. Later in the period, Alo got another takedown and an exposure for four more points. The second period saw strong defense by both wrestlers, with Campbell scoring on a pushout for the only point.
“That was really fun. I feel so good. I’m so happy right now I could fly. I didn’t wrestle everyone I wanted to, but it was still a good experience and i’m really happy that I pulled it off.”
It was the first Senior National title for Alo, who is 18 years old and a high school senior in Hawaii. Alo was third at the 2015 Senior World Team Trials at two different weight classes, 58 kg/128 lbs. and 60 kg/132 lbs.
“I still have to work on my stamina and my eating habits because I still love candy. I know how much work I have to put in, but when I see candy I just have to eat it. That’s my weakness," she said.
2015 World Team Trials runner-up Michaela Hutchison of the Titan Mercury WC also won her first national title, with a 3-0 win in the finals over Haley Augello of the New York AC in the finals at 53 kg/116.5 lbs.. They were the top two seeds in the weight class.
Hutchison scored a takedown in the first period to lead 2-0 at the break. She added a pushout in the second period for her final point. Hutchison, a three-time WCWA college national champion for Oklahoma City University, is now an assistant women’s wrestling coach at McKendree University.
Claiming her second career U.S. Nationals title was face 2015 World Team Trials runner-up Jackie Surber of the Titan Mercury WC, who stopped 2014 Junior World bronze medalist Victoria Francis of the Titan Mercury WC, 8-4, in the finals at 75 kg/165 lbs.
Surber had two high scoring exchanges to build an 8-1 lead. She got a takedown and a turn for a 4-1 lead in the first period. She added a four-point throw later in the match. Francis got three late pushouts to close the gap, but was unable to a needed big move as time ran out.
The top seven placewinners in each weight class this weekend qualify to compete at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City, Iowa, April 9-10. This is the largest of the #Road2IowaCity qualifying events.
The final three women’s freestyle weight classes will be held on Saturday: 48 kg/105.5 lbs., 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and 69 kg/152 lbs. All six men’s freestyle Olympic weight classes will also be hosted on Saturday.
U.S. NATIONALS/TRIALS QUALIFIER
At Las Vegas, Nev., December 18
Women’s Finals Results
53 kg/116.5 lbs. - Michaela Hutchison (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Haley Augello (NYAC/OTC), 3-0
58 kg/128 lbs. - Teshya Alo (Titan Mercury) dec. Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids), 8-1
75 kg/165 lbs. - Victoria Francis (Titan Mercury) vs. Jackie Surber (Titan Mercury), 8-4
Women's freestyle results
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
1st - Michaela Hutchison, Lebanon, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Haley Augello, Lockport, Ill. (NYAC/OTC), 3-0
3rd - Sarah Hildebrandt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/OTC) dec. Deanna Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 2-0
5th - Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) inj. dft. over Katherine Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC/OTC)
7th - Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Amy Fearnside, Morgan Hill, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC), 7-1
58 kg/128 lbs.
1st - Teshya Alo, Honolulu, Hawaii (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Kelsey Campbell, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 8-1
3rd - Maya Nelson, Denver, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Randi Beltz, Chesterfield, Mo. (Titan Mercury WC), 8-4
5th - Jenna Burkert, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP) tech. fall Arian Carpio, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 10-0
7th - Becka Leathers, Choctaw, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC) tech fall over Savanna Nobile, Richmond, Mo. (Richmond Youth WC), 10-0
75 kg/165 lbs.
1st- Jackie Surber, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Victoria Francis, Litchfield, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC), 8-4
3rd - Julia Salata, Canton, Mich. (NYAC/OTC) tech fall Niauni Hill, Oakland, Calif. (Lindenwood Women`s WC), 10-0
5th - Brandy Lowe, Paxico, Kan. (Bearcat WC) inj. dft. Katerina Lobsinger, Martinez, Calif. (Combat Sports Academy)
7th - Nahiela Magee, Lancaster, Calif. (Wayland Baptist) pin Christina Schmidt, Marietta, Ga. (Running Eagles), 1:22
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