By Al Benson
Aurora University woman wrestler Alexis “Lexi” Janiak qualified for USA Wrestling’s U20 World Team.
Janiak, an AU freshman from Plainfield South High School), qualified by winning two matches at USA Wrestling’s U20 World Team trials in Spokane, Wash., Friday through Sunday.
Wrestling at 59 KG, Janiak beat Sarah Savidge of Colorado in a first bout, 11-0, on a technical fall and won a second bout over Savidge with a pin in 4:22.
Janiak commented, “This means so much to me.”
She considered skipping the U20 World Team trials after discovering an injury from her past.
In March, Janiak was runnerup in the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship at Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Janiak finished in second place after a 9-0 defeat by Cameron Guerin of McKendree University (Ill.).
Janiak was ranked No. 1 in the 130-pound class with a 21-3 season record.
She was the first Aurora woman wrestler to qualify for a national wrestling championship tournament. Coach Justin Pearch accompanied Janiak.
USA Wrestling is the national governing body for the sport of wrestling in the United States and is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee.
USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the Nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs.
USA Wrestling has more than 226,000 members. They include athletes of all ages, coaches, officials, parents, and fans striving together to strengthen the sport. Each year, USA Wrestling charters more than 4,500 wrestling clubs and sanctions more than 2,100 local, state, regional, and national competitions.