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There's a Girl in my Hammerlock

April 22 & 23, 2004, Allen Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company

Thirteen-year-old Maisie experiences the greatest heartbreak a teenage girl could face: she doesn't make the cheerleading squad. Instead of giving up, Maisie decides there's only one thing to do: Join the junior high school's all-male wrestling team. Chicago's Griffin Theatre Company's stage adaptation of Jerry Spinelli's book shows students the determination it takes to do your own thing. Click here to download the There's a Girl in My Hammerlock study guide. Ages 8 - 12.

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Pee-wee wrestling is growing bigger

4/24/04

Young wrestlers start the sport early and get plenty of experience.

By Mark Lenz

Daily Telegram Sports Editor

At a time when many Lenawee County youngsters are about to start another Little League year, one indoor program isn't quite finished yet with its first season.

Every Saturday, wrestlers as young as 5 years old have filled county gyms as part of a new youth wrestling league with teams from Adrian, Hudson, Addison, Blissfield, Morenci, Onsted and even a few from Delta, Ohio.

Organizers expect even more growth next year.

"Wrestling is on the upswing again. For a while people said it was dying," said Jessie Solis, who is in his sixth year with Adrian's youth club and also assists Dennis Fox with Adrian High's program.

"Monroe County has a heck of a system over there. When I moved out there I noticed we were always trying to get into their tournaments, so I said, 'Why don't we do these ourselves instead of giving Monroe tournaments our money,'" said Mike Foley, a Blissfield coach. "Everybody's working together real well."

Adrian High -- like other schools in Lenawee County -- has stocked its program with former youth wrestlers like Cody Waters, who this winter won an MHSAA Division 2 state championship.

Waters has been accepted as a "preferred walk-on" by the wrestling team at the University of Michigan, which he will attend next fall, and was given a chance by U-M coach Joe McFarland to compete.

"It gives him the opportunity to fight for a varsity spot and a scholarship," said Solis, adding that he wants to see more local wrestlers gain the training to someday compete at elite levels.

"Let's have more Cody Waters at these Big Ten or other schools, showcasing Lenawee County wrestling," Solis said. "I think it would be a big step for us all to have one of our kids excel at one of those schools."

Solis and Hudson coach Scott Marry said this year's league tournaments were very good at giving young wrestlers the maximum amount of mat time by using a round-robin format instead of double-elimination.

"It's great to see the learning. One little kid only knew one move. Now he knows six or seven," Solis said. "To see him grow that much in one season is amazing."

One of the program's goals is to give outstanding young wrestlers better competition. Solis and Marry said they'd like to see a county youth final held at the annual County All-Star Tournament, perhaps between semifinal and final rounds of the high school event.

Another possibility is creating a county all-star team to attend tournaments, including some in nearby states.

"It would give our kids exposure and experience to wrestling on a bigger stage," Solis said.

Several county schools have run youth programs for elementary and middle school students for decades. Hudson's, for example, was run by former high school coach Pat Malarney.

In fact, last Saturday's tournament at Adrian High reminded Hudson's Marry of his very first tournament.

"My first tournament was 30 years ago at Adrian. Same gym, different faces. I saw a lot of kids who were in their first tournament Saturday and thought to myself, 'I know how they feel,'" Marry said.

Marry said youth wrestling also is a good way for young children to learn good sportsmanship. He noted that a wrestler has to shake hands with his opponent after each match, even if he's just lost in front of a gym full of people.

Girls as well as boys participate, mirroring a trend seen at the high school level. In 1999, Michigan had its first girl qualify for the state high school finals, and last winter Martin's Amy Berridge became the first girl to medal at state.

"With the U.S. (Olympic program) implementing women's wrestling, you're seeing more girls wrestling," Solis said. "I have two girls in my club, and I think you're going to see more of that."

Today's tournament is at Bedford High. Clinton will host the last meet of the regular season May 1, which will be followed by district, regional and state competition. Anyone interested in youth wrestling can contact school principals or athletic directors.