Intro
This year's freestyle team trials determined the athletes who will represent the United States at the Preworlds in Sorte Spain, June 28 - July 2. The team selection was in conjunction with the Ocoee Rodeo. The event was held at Smiley hole on the upper Ocoee River in Tennessee, the site of the 1996 Olympics.

The upper Ocoee is dam controlled and releases are far and few between. This meant the competitors were not allowed practice time prior to the event. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise, as there were 230 competitors, and it eliminated eddy aggravation and horrendous lines.

The competition extended over two days with the preliminary rounds on Friday and the finals on Saturday. As usual, the Ocoee was hot, humid and some rain fell. One of the bigger challenges of the day was finding an air conditioned RV to hang out in. The never-ending prelims went from 9:30 am - 5 pm. The first day of competition cut the classes in half with the exception of the 54 men in the pro class that got cut to 17 for the semis. Things ran smoothly, as it was a race against the clock to get all the competitors through prelims before the water shut off.

Saturday, the day of finals, began with a bang. A huge rainstorm drenched the Ocoee Olympic site sending spectators running for shelter. The rain eased up and the men threw down, as the fields were cut in half once again. Leaving only eight men, seven women, eight juniors, six c-1s, and 5 oc-1s to battle it out for the top three spots and the money. At this point, the U.S teams were already determined. Not only was the Ocoee the selection for the U.S. team, it was also the first event in the Outdoorplay.com series with an event cash purse of $5,000.

It wouldn't be a freestyle event without a little controversy, which happened as a result of a computer miscalculation in the men's semi finals. The computer read 10th place competitor Jay Kincaid as 8th place advancing him to the finals. It turned out that Tao Berman was the actual 8th place man. This was discovered after the men's finals had been completed. The mishap created some false hope for Jay, as he was announced as a U.S. team member, and frustration for Tao, as he lost his chance to compete for the big money top three spots in finals.

All in all the Ocoee/ Team Trials was a great event. It provided super access for spectators, efficient organization, and an excellent venue for a big competition. It was by far one of the largest events of the year, and ran smoothly, despite the computer miscalculations. A big thanks goes out to Jane Abbot, the event organizer, who did a fabulous job, and to Outdoorplay.com for being the main sponsors.

Results
* Indicates US National Team Member

K-1 MENS 1 *Javid Grubbs 2 *Andrew Holcombe 3 Tyler Curtis 4 *Brandon Knapp 5 *Ethan Winger 6 *Jimmy Blakeney 7 *Sam Drevo 8 *Tao Berman 9 *Eric Jacson 10 Jay Kincaid 11 Shane Benedict 12 Clay Wright 13 Benny Coleman 14 Brad Sutton 15 Dave Garringer 16 Dan Gavere 17 Tom McKee 18 BJ Johnson 19 Steve Fisher 20 Taylor Robertson 21 Dan Burke 22 Andy Bedingfield 23 Bryan Kirk 24 Ben Selznick 25 Richard Oldenquist 26 Luke Hopkins 27 Spencer Cooke 28 Dominic DePalma 29 Eric Southwick 30 David Hughes 31 Raymond Cotton 32 Craig Heflin 33 Keith Liles 34 Jed Selby 35 Rusty Sage 36 Macy Burnham 37 Bo Wallace 38 Dustin Knapp 39 Jeff West 40 David Grove 41 Brendan Mark 42 Alan Wray 43 Jeremy Adkins 44 Augustin Ciriza 45 Brad Ludden 46 Billy Craig 47 Dave Thielman 48 Rio Jose Hibarger 49 Jon Clark 50 Lane Rankin 51 Charlie Beavers 52 Josh Hutchins 52 Erik Eekhoff 52 David Zinn 54 Jason Arnold 55 Dave Persolja

K-1 WOMEN'S 1 *Deb Ruehle 2 Julie Dion 3 *Aleta Miller 4 *Brooke Winger 5 *Whitney Lonsdale 6 *Erica Mitchell 7 *Kelly Liles 8 Nikki Kelly 9 Maria Noakes 10 Jamie Simon 11 Shannon Carrol 12 Lisa Beckstead 13 Brenda Ernst 14 Buffy Bailey 15 Tanya Shuman 16 Annie Chamberlain 17 Tracy E. Hines 18 18 Jessie Stone 19 Brooke Schickendanz 20 Katie Johnson 21 Kim Jordan 22 Anna Lezesque 23 Polly Green 24 Harriet Taylor 24 Susan Wilson 24 Karen Mann 24 Ruth Gordon

C-1 1 *Allen Braswell 2 *Chris Manderson 3 *Ellis Smith 4 *Eric Jackson 5 Brian Miller 6 Luke Hopkins 7 Barry Kennon 8 Harry Field 9 Joe Langman 10 Eric Southwick 11 Denny Kortze 12 Jon Clark 13 Al Gregory

OC-1 PRO 1 *Brian Miller 2 Joe Langman 3 *Eli Helbert 4 *Frankie Hubbard 5 *Bo Wallace 6 Denny Kortze 7 David Kahn 7 Mike Costas

JR MEN EXPERT 1 *Jeff Owen 2 *Calef Latorney 3 *Rob Thompkins 4 *Marlow Long 5 Kyle Scarbrough 6 *James Sloan 7 Sean Brabant 8 Trip Jennings 9 Scott Mann 10 Pat Keller 11 Steven Byrd 12 Jesse Murphy 13 Jack "Flash" Schurman 14 Jordan Kvanli 15 Shane Groves 16 Mike Rodrigues 17 Michael Stratton 18 Nat Chalkley 19 Derek Beitler 20 Dustin Urban 21Andre Dominic 22 Andrew Peterman 23 Hilson Merrill 24 Max Mancini 25 Chris Stafford 26 Mitch Braun 27 Matt Esteve 28 Hal Monkman 29 Zach Currier 30 James Byrd 31 Charley Bartlett 32 Alex Ricker 33 Joe Harper 34 Michael Edmiston 35 Sean Brennan 36 Billy Davison

K-1 MEN EXPERT RESULTS 1 Patrick Metheny 2 Scott Doherty 3 Gregg Gnecco 4 Todd Graffe 5 Al Gregory 6 Brad Brewer 7 Jeff Nelson 8 Jeremy Groves 9 Keith Yell 10 Ted DeVoe 11 Josh Wert 12 Scott Alexander 13 Jacob Baines 14 David Kahn 15 Jim Beihoffer 16 Bryce Evans 17 Blake Turner 18 Jesse Shimrock 19 Wade Harrison 20 Brad Hinds 21 Craig Lett 22 Reed Durst 23 Jason Hale 24 Mathew Thornton 25 Colby Zebel 26 Tom Burns 27 Shane Williams 28 David Mackintosh 29 Mark Travis 30 Jason Baines 31 Mark Hammock 32 Mike Costas 33 Colin Kemp 33 Brad Burden 35 Mike Todd 35 Joey Hall 37 Damon Bungard 38 Gedas Zilinskas

OC-1 PRO 1 *Brian Miller 2 Joe Langman 3 *Eli Helbert 4 *Frankie Hubbard 5 *Bo Wallace 6 Denny Kortze 7 David Kahn 7 Mike Costas

JR MEN EXPERT 1 *Jeff Owen 2 *Calef Latorney 3 *Rob Thompkins 4 *Marlow Long 5 Kyle Scarbrough 6 *James Sloan 7 Sean Brabant 8 Trip Jennings 9 Scott Mann 10 Pat Keller 11 Steven Byrd 12 Jesse Murphy 13 Jack "Flash" Schurman 14 Jordan Kvanli 15 Shane Groves 16 Mike Rodrigues 17 Michael Stratton 18 Nat Chalkley 19 Derek Beitler 20 Dustin Urban 21Andre Dominic 22 Andrew Peterman 23 Hilson Merrill 24 Max Mancini 25 Chris Stafford 26 Mitch Braun 27 Matt Esteve 28 Hal Monkman 29 Zach Currier 30 James Byrd 31 Charley Bartlett 32 Alex Ricker 33 Joe Harper 34 Michael Edmiston 35 Sean Brennan 36 Billy Davison

K-1 MEN EXPERT RESULTS 1 Patrick Metheny 2 Scott Doherty 3 Gregg Gnecco 4 Todd Graffe 5 Al Gregory 6 Brad Brewer 7 Jeff Nelson 8 Jeremy Groves 9 Keith Yell 10 Ted DeVoe 11 Josh Wert 12 Scott Alexander 13 Jacob Baines 14 David Kahn 15 Jim Beihoffer 16 Bryce Evans 17 Blake Turner 18 Jesse Shimrock 19 Wade Harrison 20 Brad Hinds 21 Craig Lett 22 Reed Durst 23 Jason Hale 24 Mathew Thornton 25 Colby Zebel 26 Tom Burns 27 Shane Williams 28 David Mackintosh 29 Mark Travis 30 Jason Baines 31 Mark Hammock 32 Mike Costas 33 Colin Kemp 33 Brad Burden 35 Mike Todd 35 Joey Hall 37 Damon Bungard 38 Gedas Zilinskas

 

SR WOMEN EXPERT 1 Melinda Hendershott 2 Jen Kafsky 3 Christie Dobson 4 Katie Hilleke 5 Cindy-Lee Jamieson 6 Dixie-Marree Prickett

JR WOMEN EXPERT 1 Katie Herzog 2 Kate Townsend 3 Brenna Kelleher 4 Becca Red

K-1 MEN SR SPORT 1 Shannon Morris 2 Mike Broetzman 3 Ned Trice 4 David Knox 5 Trey Young 6 John Rodney Mitchel 7 Luke Ramsey 8 Lynn Smith 9 Ed Stamm, Jr 10 Trevor Stewart 11 Jonathan Esteve 12 Michael Snyder 13 Willy Witt 14 Dave Perault

 

Masters Combined 1 Ted Owen 2 Ron Esteve

K-1 Men Sr Beginner 1 Dru Smith 2 Douglas Ziegler 3 Brian Riley

C-1 Men Sr Beginner 1 Mike Costas

K-1 Women Sr/Jr Beg/ 1 Mindy Freeman 2 Anna Roark 3 Heather Chapelle 4 Paige Hawkins 5 Carrie Metheny 6 Ashlee O'Steen

K-1 Men Jr Beginner 1 Eli Vantreese 2 Kerry Holcombe 3 Tyler Dyer

K-1/C-1 Men Jr Sport 1 Matt Russell 2 Charles King 3 Rob Ellis 4 Dave Hoffman 5 Luke Cotton 6 Ivan Hibarger

K-1 Men Pro Free Riding 27 Bedingfield Andy 380.96 17 Southwick Eric 364.80 45 Jackson Eric 245.95 28 Berman Tao 220.32 18 Fisher Steve 205.00 59 Liles Keith 180.64 31 Blakeney Jimmy 178.42 35 Wright Clay 131.74 140 Gavere Dan 123.30 55 Hughes David 118.72 14 Burnham Macy 115.04 40 Knapp Dustin 112.80 41 McKee Tom 105.92 37 Heflin Craig 95.40 60 Beavers Charlie 94.56 53 Curtis Tyler 92.78 99 Johnson BJ 88.06 16 Clark Jon 84.10 49 Persolja Dave 75.36 57 Drevo Sam 74.62 90 Burke Dan 71.66 23 Zinn David 68.92 21 Knapp Brandon 67.61 58 Sutton Brad 65.90 32 Hibarger Rio Jose 36.96 38 Wallace Bo 33.60 43 Eackhoff Eric 28.80 100 Ciriza Agustin 28.52 15 Hopkins Luke 19.52 19 Grove David 17.28

K-1 W Pro Free Riding 73 Simon Jamie 34.40 70 Shuman Tanya 34.24 69 Liles Kelly 22.90 68 Mitchell Erica 22.14 88 Winger Brooke 20.00 77 Kelly Nikki 16.52 78 S.Brooke 16.07 85 Miller Aleta 14.54 76 Ruehle Deb 12.42 123 Johnson Katie 9.54 66 Stone Jessie 8.54 79 Mann Karen 4.64

OC-1 Pro Free Riding 102 Helbert Eli 7.46 98 Langman Joe 3.51