Women’s Wrestling Week: The first Fargo Junior girls champions were crowned in 2002
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Rachel Holthaus of Minnesota, the first Junior Nationals champion for women in Fargo, won the 95-pound title in 2002. Sonja Stanbro photo.
The ASICS Vaughan Junior Nationals, the world’s largest wrestling tournament, is a key part of the history of wrestling in the United States. The event was created in 1971 in Iowa City, Iowa, and will celebrate its 45th birthday this summer in Fargo, N.D.
In 1996, the Junior Nationals was combined with the Cadet Nationals, making it an even bigger and more spectacular showcase of youth wrestling in our nation. Numerous Olympic and World champion athletes have competed in the Junior/Cadet Nationals during its history, making it one of the most important developmental events along USA Wrestling’s Olympic pipeline.
The event did not include women until 2002, when a Junior division was added to the competition in the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State University. Competing alongside the boys on the floor of a football stadium, the women’s Junior Nationals field included 103 athletes, representing 24 states. Nine champions were crowned on July 28, 2002.
Amberle Montgomery of Washington, the champion at 119 pounds, was named Outstanding Wrestler. Montgomery was dominant in her finals match, dominating Rachel Groft of Pennsylvania with a 10-0 technical fall in just 2:39. Montgomery had just completed her freshman year in high school
The highest rated wrestler in the field was Brandy Rosenbrock of Michigan who captured the 138 pound title by pinning Wendy Casey of New York in 3:54. Rosenbrock, who was named TheMat.com/ASICS Wrestler of the Year in ceremonies before the finals, was ranked No. 2 on Senior Women's Team USA at 130 pounds.
The other pin in the gold-medal round came in the final match, when Alicia Mena of Minnesota pinned Misty Stalley of California in 54 seconds.
At 165 pounds, Samantha Lang of Oregon won by technical fall over Ashley Gaspar of Hawaii, 10-0, in just 1:09.
The other individual gold medalists were Lindsay Owens of California at 128 pounds, who stopped Shawn Swartzlender of Oregon in a tight 7-5 bout. Heather Martin of Ohio was the champion at 150 pounds, edging Ali Bernard of Minnesota, 8-6.
Of the young women wrestling in that first Junior Nationals finals, it was a pair of runners-up who had the best career on the Senior level. Ali Bernard, the runner-up at 150 pounds, made two U.S. Olympic Teams, won a Senior World bronze medal and was a two-time Junior World champion. Sara Fulp-Allen, the runner-up at 101 pounds, won a Senior U.S. Open title and was a member of the Women’s National Team numerous times during her successful career.
USA Wrestling added a women’s Cadet Nationals division to Fargo in 2011, so there is women’s competition at both age levels hosted at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet Nationals now.
The pattern of past Junior and Cadet National champions going on to success at the World and Olympic level has also been true for women wrestlers. Three-time Women’s World champion Adeline Gray was a Fargo champion, as was 2015 World champion Helen Maroulis. Elena Pirozhkova, a 2012 World champion, competed in Fargo but was not a champion there. Most of the current Women’s Team USA members were competitors in Fargo during their high school careers.
In 2015, there were 306 Junior competitors and 164 Cadet wrestlers competing in Fargo, a new record for the event. As women’s wrestling continues to grow at the youth and high school levels, you can expect this important tournament to continue to grow.
2002 ASICS/VAUGHAN WOMEN’S JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
95 – Rachel Holthaus (MN)
101 – Gina Heinzelmann (MI)
110 – Malinda Ripley (CA)
119 – Amberle Montgomery (WA)
128 – Lindsey Owens (CA)
138 – Brandy Rosenbrock (MI)
150 – Heather Martin (OH)
165 – Samantha Lang (OR)
175 – Alicia Mena (MN)
Outstanding Wrestler – Amberle Montgomery (WA)
Each day for the rest of Women’s Wrestling Week, TheMat.com will post a story on women’s wrestling history in the United States.
ABOUT WOMEN’S WRESTLING WEEK
USA Wrestling has declared the week of March 5-13 as Women’s Wrestling Week in the United States. Any female athlete who is not a member of USA Wrestling is invited to come out and try the sport at a chartered club practice. USA Wrestling will provide a complimentary membership for March 5-13, the time covered by Women’s Wrestling Week. People are encouraged to us #GirlsWrestle and #EachOneBringOne hashtags when posting about women’s wrestling this week.
USA Wrestling chartered clubs have been encouraged to allow females of all ages to attend their practice free of charge during World Wrestling Week. To find a club program in your area, visit the link below:
http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Membership/Athletes/Find-a-Club
Additionally, female athletes with prior wrestling experience who would like to participate in a USA Wrestling sanctioned event may do so on both weekends of March 5-6 and March 12-13. USA Wrestling extended the week to cover two weekends in order to provide even more opportunity for young women to try the sport. Athletes who will attend practices or events with the complimentary membership are asked to confirm their attendance in advance with the club leader or event host before going to the activity.
The ASICS Vaughan Junior Nationals, the world’s largest wrestling tournament, is a key part of the history of wrestling in the United States. The event was created in 1971 in Iowa City, Iowa, and will celebrate its 45th birthday this summer in Fargo, N.D.
In 1996, the Junior Nationals was combined with the Cadet Nationals, making it an even bigger and more spectacular showcase of youth wrestling in our nation. Numerous Olympic and World champion athletes have competed in the Junior/Cadet Nationals during its history, making it one of the most important developmental events along USA Wrestling’s Olympic pipeline.
The event did not include women until 2002, when a Junior division was added to the competition in the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State University. Competing alongside the boys on the floor of a football stadium, the women’s Junior Nationals field included 103 athletes, representing 24 states. Nine champions were crowned on July 28, 2002.
The first Junior National girls champion ever was Rachel Holthaus of Minnesota, who clinched the gold medal at 95 pounds with an 11-0 technical fall over Bernadette Javier of Hawaii to open the finals round. This was a roundrobin bracket, and the win gave Holthaus the gold and Javier the bronze. The silver went to Peggy Whitaker of New York, who pinned Javier in 1:34, but lost to Holthaus, 11-1.
Amberle Montgomery of Washington, the champion at 119 pounds, was named Outstanding Wrestler. Montgomery was dominant in her finals match, dominating Rachel Groft of Pennsylvania with a 10-0 technical fall in just 2:39. Montgomery had just completed her freshman year in high school
Two of the lightweight finals were considered mild upsets, as Gina Heinzelmann of Michigan won at 101 pounds, using a cradle to pin Sara Fulp-Allen of California in 56 seconds in the finals. Fulp-Allen placed fifth at the 2002 U.S. Senior Nationals earlier that year.
Malinda Ripley of California captured the 110 pound title by wrestling a mistake-free bout to defeat Mary Kelly of Illinois, 4-0. Kelly was ranked No. 3 on the U.S. Senior national team, while Ripley held a No. 5 Senior national ranking at the time of their Junior National final.
The highest rated wrestler in the field was Brandy Rosenbrock of Michigan who captured the 138 pound title by pinning Wendy Casey of New York in 3:54. Rosenbrock, who was named TheMat.com/ASICS Wrestler of the Year in ceremonies before the finals, was ranked No. 2 on Senior Women's Team USA at 130 pounds.
The other pin in the gold-medal round came in the final match, when Alicia Mena of Minnesota pinned Misty Stalley of California in 54 seconds.
At 165 pounds, Samantha Lang of Oregon won by technical fall over Ashley Gaspar of Hawaii, 10-0, in just 1:09.
The other individual gold medalists were Lindsay Owens of California at 128 pounds, who stopped Shawn Swartzlender of Oregon in a tight 7-5 bout. Heather Martin of Ohio was the champion at 150 pounds, edging Ali Bernard of Minnesota, 8-6.
Of the young women wrestling in that first Junior Nationals finals, it was a pair of runners-up who had the best career on the Senior level. Ali Bernard, the runner-up at 150 pounds, made two U.S. Olympic Teams, won a Senior World bronze medal and was a two-time Junior World champion. Sara Fulp-Allen, the runner-up at 101 pounds, won a Senior U.S. Open title and was a member of the Women’s National Team numerous times during her successful career.
USA Wrestling added a women’s Cadet Nationals division to Fargo in 2011, so there is women’s competition at both age levels hosted at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet Nationals now.
The pattern of past Junior and Cadet National champions going on to success at the World and Olympic level has also been true for women wrestlers. Three-time Women’s World champion Adeline Gray was a Fargo champion, as was 2015 World champion Helen Maroulis. Elena Pirozhkova, a 2012 World champion, competed in Fargo but was not a champion there. Most of the current Women’s Team USA members were competitors in Fargo during their high school careers.
In 2015, there were 306 Junior competitors and 164 Cadet wrestlers competing in Fargo, a new record for the event. As women’s wrestling continues to grow at the youth and high school levels, you can expect this important tournament to continue to grow.
2002 ASICS/VAUGHAN WOMEN’S JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
95 – Rachel Holthaus (MN)
101 – Gina Heinzelmann (MI)
110 – Malinda Ripley (CA)
119 – Amberle Montgomery (WA)
128 – Lindsey Owens (CA)
138 – Brandy Rosenbrock (MI)
150 – Heather Martin (OH)
165 – Samantha Lang (OR)
175 – Alicia Mena (MN)
Outstanding Wrestler – Amberle Montgomery (WA)
Each day for the rest of Women’s Wrestling Week, TheMat.com will post a story on women’s wrestling history in the United States.
ABOUT WOMEN’S WRESTLING WEEK
USA Wrestling has declared the week of March 5-13 as Women’s Wrestling Week in the United States. Any female athlete who is not a member of USA Wrestling is invited to come out and try the sport at a chartered club practice. USA Wrestling will provide a complimentary membership for March 5-13, the time covered by Women’s Wrestling Week. People are encouraged to us #GirlsWrestle and #EachOneBringOne hashtags when posting about women’s wrestling this week.
USA Wrestling chartered clubs have been encouraged to allow females of all ages to attend their practice free of charge during World Wrestling Week. To find a club program in your area, visit the link below:
http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Membership/Athletes/Find-a-Club
Additionally, female athletes with prior wrestling experience who would like to participate in a USA Wrestling sanctioned event may do so on both weekends of March 5-6 and March 12-13. USA Wrestling extended the week to cover two weekends in order to provide even more opportunity for young women to try the sport. Athletes who will attend practices or events with the complimentary membership are asked to confirm their attendance in advance with the club leader or event host before going to the activity.
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