Olympians Williams, Cormier win titles at the U.S. National Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., April 29
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Two members of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team in freestyle wrestling claimed individual titles at the U.S. National Wrestling Championships at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., April 29.
The Olympians claiming titles were Joe Williams, (Ames, Iowa /Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Williams won his sixth career U.S. Nationals, edging Kirk White (Tacoma, Wash./Bronco WC), 4-1, 1-1, 2-1 in the finals. Williams captured the first period, but White won the second period on a tiebreaker at 1-1 by scoring the last point. Williams claimed the match with his 2-1 third period victory. Williams was fifth at the 2004 Olympic Games.
Cormier defeated Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-0 in the championship finals. It was his third straight U.S. Nationals title. Cormier was fourth at the 2004 Olympic Games.
Nine weight divisions were contested on Friday, using the new rules of international wrestling. Under the new format, each weight class is contested in a single day. There were three weight classes in each of the men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle wrestling.
An Olympian was defeated in the finals at 59 kg/130 lbs., in the women’s division, however. 2003 World bronze medalist Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) edged 2004 Olympian Tela O’Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in three periods, 4-0, 0-1, 2-1.
Roberts won the first period, but O’Donnell came back to take the second period. In the deciding third period, Roberts scored two points on a crotch lift, and O’Donnell rolled through to secure a one-point takedown for the deciding 2-1 margin. It was Roberts’ second career U.S. Nationals title. O’Donnell was a 2003 U.S. Nationals champion.
At 67 kg/147.5 lbs. in women’s wrestling, two-time World champion Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) defeated longtime rival and two-time World Team Trials champion Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-0. It was Marano’s seventh career U.S. Nationals title. Downing was a 2003 U.S. Nationals champion.
Three other wrestlers who were past U.S. Nationals champions were able to secure another title this year.
At 51 kg/112.25 lbs. in women’s wrestling, 2000 World silver medalist Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) defeated defending champion Malinda Ripley (Colorado Springs, Colo.(Sunkist Kids) in two straight periods, 1-0, 2-0. It was Murata’s eighth U.S. Nationals title, but her first since 2002. Ripley had won the U.S. Nationals title the last two years (2003, 2004).
Claiming the U.S. Nationals title for the second straight year at 74 kg/163 lbs. in Greco-Roman was Darryl Christian (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) who defeated young challenger Jacob Volkmann (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm), 1-0, 1-0.
Also winning a second Greco-Roman national title in a row was Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman. Ruiz stopped Adam Wheeler (San Diego, Calif./Gator WC), 1-0, 1-0. Ruiz was second at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Claiming their first career U.S. Nationals titles were Joe Warren (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. in Greco-Roman wrestling, and Michael Lightner (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. in men’s freestyle wrestling.
Warren, who was second at the 2004 Olympic Team Trials won his first U.S. Nationals title by winning two straight periods over Jacob Hey (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force), 1-0, 5-0. Warren was the No. 1 seed in the weight.
Lightner needed the full three periods to defeat college star Nate Gallick (Tucson, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) in the finals, 0-1, 3-0, 1-0. The bout went down to the leg clinch in the deciding third period, with the score of the period tied 0-0. Lightner won the flip and secured the leg, and took down Gallick for the takedown and the deciding 1-0 third period victory.
In the quarterfinals, earlier in the day, Lightner, who was seeded eighth, upset 2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif./Sunkist Kids), the No. 1 seed. He reached the finals with a win over No. 4 Celso DeAnda (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC).
The remaining 12 weight classes will be contested on Saturday, four divisions in each style.
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