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April 4, 2002
Lake Orion, MI - Two University of Minnesota-Morris women wrestlers earned United State Girls Wrestling Association national championship titles at the U.S.G.W.A. National Championships in Lake Orion, Michigan. Senior Katie Downing (Pendleton, IN) won championship honors at 154 pounds, and freshman Katrina Betts (Milan, MI) took home the gold at 114 pounds.
Downing opened the tournament with a fall over Stephanie Bolton of Cumberland College (KY). Downing built a 9-0 lead with two takedowns and three exposures before ending the match at 2:48. In the semifinals, Downing defeated Randi Miller of Neosho County College with a fall in 2:30. Downing scored on two - three point throws and an exposure before her second fall of the day.
In the 154 pound finals, Downing faced off with Kaci Lyle of Pacific University (OR). Lyle who placed 5th in the 1998 FILA-Junior World Championships has met Downing in numerous competitions in the past four years. Downing wrestled a defensive match, scoring a three-point takedown, a one-point takedown and a hold down in the danger position for a 5-2 win and a national championship.
Katrina Betts received a first round bye at 114 pounds as the number one seed of the tournament. Betts defeated former US National Team member Danielle Hobeika of Harvard University with a 4-1 decision. Betts pulled out the win a huge three-point takedown in the last 30 seconds of regulation for the win. In the championship finals, Betts downed Katie Kunimoto of Pacific University with a fall in 4:40. Betts led 7-0 at the end of the first period. In the second period, Betts hit a strong throw taking Kunimoto to her back and gaining the fall and her first collegiate national championship title.
"Katrina and Katie wrestle a great tournament," said UMM head coach Doug Reese. "Even though both Katie and Katrina wrestled up a weigh class following spring break, they showed that they are quality wrestlers, dominating the field," noted Reese. Downing improved her season record to 21-5 and Betts has wrestled to an amazing 29-2 mark.
Sophomore Katie Ross (Greensboro, NC) wrestled her best tournament of her career placing third at 128 pounds earning All-American honors. Ross lost her opening round match to Amanda Noteware of Princeton University 9-7 in overtime. Ross then came back to defeat Jennifer Steele of Neosho County College with a fall in 2:02. In her third match Ross won a 10-0 technical superiority over Regina Cullumber of Missouri Valley College.
In the consolation semifinals Katie Ross won by fall over Lisa Ward in 2:23. Ross built a strong 7-3 lead before ending the match with a pin. In the consolation finals, Ross again faced Amanda Noteware of Princeton University. This time Ross the table were turned, with Ross scoring an impressive 13-9 decision for the win and a third place as finish.
"Katie wrestled the tournament of her life," said coach Reese. "I am so proud of her effort this weekend. Katie has worked so hard. She deserves this honor. I just wish she would've had the opportunity to wrestle the second or first place wrestler. She was definitely on her game today," commented Reese.
Freshman Liz Short (Lombard, IL) placed fourth at 107 pounds. Short wrestled a very good tournament going 3-2.a Short won here first match 15-12 over Becky D'Ambrosia of Cumberland College. Short then lost by fall to US National Team member Julie Gonzales of the David Schultz Wrestling Club in 2:15. Short then downed Rachel Bernadez of Missouri Valley College with a solid 11-4 decision, then defeated Becky D'Ambrosia of Cumberland with an 8-7 decision. In the consolation finals, Short lost by fall in 2:15 to Kristin Kujioka of Pacific University.
Three other UMM wrestlers also earned All-American honors: Keli Hinton (Andover, KS) placed 6th at 121 pounds, Samantha Branka (Lincoln Park, MI) placed 5th at 154 pounds, and Alicia Wilson (Santee, CA) placed 6th at 165 pounds.
"We wrestled pretty well this weekend considering we only had a three days to prepare following spring break," said Reese. "But I know that we can wrestle a heck of a lot better than we did. This was an important event, and the last chance to tune up prior to the U.S. Open Senior Nationals in Las Vegas. It was a good learning experience. We know what we have to do know. Everything is on the table, it is now up to us to be ready to claim what we have work so long and hard for," said Reese.
The Cougars have three weeks now to prepare for the first step in the Olympic Trials. The top eight place finishers n the US Senior Open earn All-American honors and advance to the World Team Trials in St. Paul, MN on June 21-23. The top three place winners then become members of the US National Team. UM-Morris has placed 14 of its wrestlers on the U.S. National team in the last 7 years.
Katie Ross of the University of Minnesota-Morris works a power half on Amanda Noteware of Princeton University in the USGWA National Wrestling Championships. Ross placed third at 128 pounds earning All-American honors. (photo by Doug Reese)
UM-Morris wrestler Katie Downing uses a tight front head lock to defeat Kaci Lyle of Pacific University in the USGWA championship finals. Downing won a 5-2 decision to claim the USGWA National Championship at 154 pounds. (photo by Doug Reese)