MADISON, Wis. – On Saturday, the trio of Amanda Hendey, Haley Augello and Samantha Klingel started the action for the Tornado at the U.S. World Team Trials. Hendey and Augello had solid days as Hendey came within one win of qualifying for the U.S. World Team while Augello reached the finals of the Challenge Tournament.
At 63 kilograms, Hendey won the Challenge Tournament with an 11-3 win over Shai Mason to qualify for the championship bout against Erin Clodgo, who finished second a year ago at the World Team Trials. In the best 2-for-3 championship series, Hendey took the first bout on a fall in 5:01, putting her one win away from earning a spot on the 2015 team. However, Clodgo came back with a 2-1 victory in the second match and then earned a 10-0 win by technical fall to earn a spot on the team, and give Hendey a runner-up finish.
Augello nearly made her first U.S. World Team as she finished runner-up in the Challenge Tournament at 53 kilograms, just missing a spot in the championship bout for a place on the team. The Lockport, Ill., native started her day with an 11-0 technical fall vicory over Deanna Betterman, and followed it with an 8-5 decision over Calene Sluberski to reach the Challenge Tournament final. However, Augello fell to Michaela Hutchinson in the finals, landing her one match short of the championship series.
Also at 53 kilograms, Klingel reached the quarterfinals of the Challenge Tournament with a 12-2 technical fall win over Cassidy Jasperson. However, she dropped her next to matches to end her tournament.
Former King wrestler Alli Ragan had an outstanding day, qualifying for her third straight U.S. World Team by sweeping Kelsey Campbell in the championship series with a 3-1 win in the first bout before pinning Campbell in 2:38 to earn a spot on the team again. A year ago, Ragan finished fifth at the World Championships.
The competition continues on Sunday where King will have nine wrestlers compete for spots on the 2015 U.S. World Team. Live scoring can be found on trackwrestling.com.
