London-Western’s, Terri McNutt earns Olympic Alternate position
Canadian Olympic Wrestling Trials, Toronto, Dec 13-15, 2007
Terri McNutt pinned one of the best wrestlers in the world and was one match away from earning a berth on the 2008 Olympic team. McNutt caught Tonya Verbeek, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist at 55 kg and top ranked Canadian incumbent at the trials, in a “head-and-arm throw” that led to a pin. The pin also caught all 800 spectators by surprise. “She timed it beautifully,” said coach Ray Takahashi. “Terri blocked Tonya’s leg shot and when she came up, Terri kept Tonya’s arm tight and hit the throw.” The win evened the best-of-three match finals, one match a piece. McNutt advanced by winning the pool tournament defeating Audrey Pang (Team Impact) in two straight rounds and pinning Emily Richardson (Burnaby Mountain WC). Verbeek, who wrestles out of the Brock wrestling club showed composure after the loss – her first within Canada in years. Verbeek won the third match in two straight rounds, 1-0, 6-0 to make her second Olympic team. Verbeek also qualified the weight class at the 2007 World Championships to seal her position at the Beijing Olympics.
London-Western teammate, Stewart Petrie was defeated in two rounds in the 66 kg Greco-roman division against Ben Saya (National Capital WC) who ended up winning the division. Olympic candidates in Greco-roman must still qualify through FILA qualification standards in order to compete at the Olympics. Only the GR 130 kg division has been qualified by Ari Taub (Calgary).
