Griffin, Ramos among Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier champions in women's freestyle

58 kg Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier champion Trinity Griffin (Sunkist Kids) at the 2015 Dave Schultz Memorial International. Photo: John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com.

VIDEO: Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier champion interviews


CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The final 12 wrestlers were added to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials field in women’s freestyle as the Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier concluded on Sunday morning at the UNI Dome.


The top two wrestlers in each weight class earned a place in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials being held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa next weekend.


Veteran women’s freestyle competitor Trinity Griffin (Sunkist Kids) dominated the 58 kg/128 lbs. bracket at the Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier, winning all three of her matches by technical fall to claim the title.


In the championship match, Griffin trailed 2-0 early in the first period to Lauren Louive (Hawkeye WC) before reeling off 12-straight points to get the win. She finished in fourth place at the U.S. World Team Trials last year.


“I’m excited. It feels awesome. I did what I came here to do, so I’m ready to just regroup and go back next week. I was a little sloppy today. I’m still coming back from shoulder surgery, and, so I’m just trying to get matches in, so I’m glad that I was able to get a few today,” said Griffin.


2013 U.S. Junior World Team member Lorrie Ramos (Titan Mercury WC) won four matches to claim the 69 kg/152 lbs. championship and secure her place in Iowa City next week.


With five wrestlers entered at 69 kg, the tournament was contested in a five-round, round robin format. Ramos, a two-time WCWA All-American for King University, defeated runner-up Hannah Gladded (EAWC), 10-6, in her second round match. She won her other three matches in impressive fashion, two by technical fall and one by fall.


“To be honest with you, I don’t think I wrestled my best. My first two matches came down to the last couple seconds. I was behind in one of them and hit a big throw to win the match. I was really nervous. Obviously, I came here and I wanted to win it and I put that pressure on myself, so wrestling with that pressure is tough. But I pulled it out,” said Ramos.


2016 WCWA All-American for the University of Jamestown, Dajan Treder (Jimmie WC) went 4-0 in the 53 kg/116.5 lbs. round robin bracket to take first place. Treder posted three technical falls prior to defeating runner-up Christina Powell (Missouri Valley), 7-4, in her final match of the day.


After serving as an assistant coach at Wayland Baptist last year, and taking virtually the entire quadrennial off, Rachael Shannon (Xtreme Training) decided to make a return to active competition for the Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier.


Shannon won two matches by 10-0 technical fall to take the 63 kg/138.75 lbs. title and qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She was a two-time WCWA All-American for Lindenwood University and finalist at the 2011 Women’s FILA Junior Body Bar Nationals.


Finishing as runner-up to Shannon at 63 kg, and also qualifying for Iowa City, was Axa Molina (Lindenwood).


Also returning to the mat after long layoffs and claiming Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier titles were 48 kg/105.5 lbs. champion Alesha Zappitella (Unattached) and 75 kg/165 lbs. champion Tanya Kusse (Xtreme Training). Zapitella was an eighth place finisher at the 2014 Women’s FILA Junior Body Bar Nationals. Kusse finished in third place at the 2012 WCWA Women’s College Nationals for Lindenwood.


Qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials as runners-up at 48 kg and 75 kg, respectively, were Brittney Taylor (Omaha) and Mary Westman (Jimmie WC).


All of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifiers for the three international styles have officially been set after today’s results in Cedar Falls.


For more information on next week’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials visit iowacitytorio.com.

LAST CHANCE OLYMPIC TRIALS QUALIFIER

April 1-3 at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa

Women’s Freestyle Results

48 kg/105.5 lbs.

1st: Alesha Zappitella (Unattached) fall Brittney Taylor (Omaha), 1:30

3rd: Michaela Kim (Unattached) forfeit Christina Bautista (Missouri Valley)


53 kg/116.5 lbs.

1st: Dajan Treder (Jimmie WC) dec. Christina Powell (Missouri Valley), 7-4

3rd: Ricki Liang (King) fall Alicia Reyes (Missouri Valley), 2:01


58 kg/128 lbs.

1st: Trinity Griffin (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Lauren Louive (Hawkeye WC), 12-2

3rd: Koral Sugiyama (Campbellsville) dec. Laura Anderson (Unattached), 4-1

True 2nd: Lauren Louive (Hawkeye WC) fall Koral Sugiyama (Campbellsville), 2:15


63 kg/138.75 lbs.

1st: Rachael Shannon (Xtreme Training) tech. fall Axa Molina (Lindenwood), 10-0

3rd: Cassandra Herkelman (McKendree)


69 kg/152 lbs.

1st: Lorrie Ramos (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Hannah Gladden (EAWC), 10-6

3rd: Ashley Sword-Buster (Running Eagles WC) tech. fall Tara White (Academy of Wrestling), 10-0


75 kg/165 lbs.

1st: Tanya Kusse (Xtreme Training) tech. fall Clarc Walker (Patriot WC), 10-0

3rd: Mary Westman (Jimmie WC) tech. fall Dejshane White (Jimmie WC)

True 2nd: Mary Westman (Jimmie WC) fall Clarc Walker (Patriot WC), 0:47