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Arnhold heads back to Hays for third year in a row

By Jonathan Sanfilippo 2/27/04

Marion junior Chelsea Arnhold is back.

Two years ago, Arnhold became the third female wrestler to qualify for a high school state meet in the history of Kansas. Last year, she became the first girl to qualify twice.

Now, Arnhold is making her third trip to the Class 3-2-1A state tournament, held Friday and Saturday at Busch-Gross Coliseum in Hays.

"I think people aren't surprised anymore," Marion coach Chad Adkins said. "She keeps getting better as the years go on."

After competing in the 103-pound division in previous years, Arnhold has moved up to 112 pounds this season. Adkins said Arnhold is not as strong as most of her opponents, but her intelligence and technique have helped her attain a 24-10 record this season.

Nationally, Arnhold is the No. 5-ranked, 105-pound female wrestler between the ages of 5-18 by the United States Girls Wrestling Association.

In addition to wrestling, Arnhold - known for her ponytail and bright smile - is a cheerleader and a track athlete.

"Cheerleading practices are a lot more girly than wrestling," Arnhold said. "Some conversations in the wrestling room I would not repeat. As far as pace goes, we get a lot more done in wrestling practice. Cheerleading is more laid back."

While Arnhold has drawn plenty of attention for her accomplishments, she has also stayed modest and earned acceptance from her teammates. She actually laughed when asked about being a three-time state qualifier and pioneer in the sport.

"I don't pay much attention, but now that you say it, I guess I am the only girl (to qualify three times)," Arnhold said. "But I don't think I'll be the last. There will be plenty more to follow. At least, I hope so."

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Wrestling's the name of her latest game

Dave Deibert 3/17/04
The StarPhoenix

Think of your stereotypical high school jock. What's the first thing that pops into your head?

It's a guy. Probably 6-foot-3. Maybe 200 pounds. Bright smile, but not too bright. That about cover the basics?

Now, meet Lisa Brassington. She's walking the halls of Evan Hardy Collegiate and completely reinventing what a jock is thought to be.

"I love to do all I can," says the 14-year-old Grade 9 student.

"I don't like having to choose."

So she doesn't. This year at Hardy, Brassington has played junior football, ran cross country, played frosh basketball, and is now on the junior badminton team. Away from the school, she's a longtime fastball player and a member of Riversdale Track and Field Club, where she's set numerous provincial age-class records. She's not all brawn, either; Brassington holds a spot on Hardy's chess team, and is a self-professed bookworm.

As if all that wasn't enough, this week she'll compete in her first-ever high school wrestling city championship. It was the latest sport that caught Brassington's eye and she wanted to give it a try. Turned out to be a good choice.

"She has something," says Hardy wrestling coach Jack Nepjuk. "She's a natural with a lot of stuff."

When the 5-foot-3 Brassington first went out for the team, she didn't know a headache from a headlock, but was able to hide that inexperience behind her athleticism. At the preseason novice tournament, she pinned both her opponents in less than one minute. She was hooked.

"I love the adrenaline rush you get. It's totally you out there," says Brassington, who competes in the 52-kilogram weight class.

Nepjuk recalls a match earlier this season where he really noticed Brassington's potential. Taking on Holy Cross's Alyssa Krahn, a nationally ranked grappler, Lisa made it through the first period, says Nepjuk, and into the second before eventually losing. At halftime, Krahn was asking Crusaders coach Dave Elder: 'Who is this?'

"She's a fighter," adds Nepjuk.

A typical day for Brassington would be more than enough to put most people into a deep sleep for a week, yet it's simply routine for her. It begins at 5 a.m. when she delivers newspapers. Classes in the morning. She's often in the gym over lunch. More classes in the afternoon. Practice after school. A different practice after practice. Supper is rarely at any set time.

Homework. Relax. Bed. Repeat five days a week.

Weekends are just as busy. Tournaments. Games. Travelling. There's not much time for rest, but that's how Brassington wants it. "She needs about 30 hours in a day," says Nepjuk.

"She looks at challenges like 'Bring it on.' "

Brassington joined the football team in the fall despite a few of the boys showing their displeasure over a girl putting on the pads. "That's them being a typical guy, until they realize I'm better than them," she said, pulling no punches.

At the same time she was on the gridiron, she ran for the Souls cross country team.

When the seasons changed over, Brassington helped the frosh basketball squad place third in the city. They were ranked second all season, but lost to Mount Royal in playoff semifinals. Brassington had to miss the year-end tournament because she competed in the Regina Balfour Wrestling Classic that same weekend. It killed her having to miss one for the other, but she knows when she makes the decision to be involved in so much, there are going to be conflicts at inconvenient times.

"I don't like it, but it would be hard to give one up," she says.

Brassington isn't out there just for the fun of it, either. She's competitive. She wants to win, and usually does. Her bedroom is decorated with roughly 200 medals she's earned over the years. It's quite the sight.

The medals are arranged in a zigzag pattern around the room where the walls meet the ceiling. They're two stacks deep around the walls.

"I don't know if I've seen a girl or guy so talented at such a young age at so many different sports," says Nepjuk.

On the wrestling mats, Brassington is already a much different athlete than she was a few months ago. She joined the Junior Huskies club team. Her confidence has grown and her technique is better. She still gets by largely on her natural ability, but her move set is greater and knowledge of the sport higher. She recently placed third at cadet provincials, and feels good going into cities, which begin today and wrap up tomorrow at Evan Hardy.

Nepjuk knows Brassington is in love with plenty of other sports, but thinks she's only touched on a tiny bit of her potential in the wrestling game.

"If she continues to make progress like she already has at her age," he says, "she could be a part of something after high school."