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Hawaii's women wrestlers going for Olympics

Posted May 16, 2004By Dennis Anderson
homegrownhawaii@verizon.net

For the first time in the 108 years of modern Olympic Games history, women's wrestling will be an official sport when the Games return to their birthplace in Athens, Greece, in August.

There will be only four weight classes and the United States will send one entrant in each. A tournament to determine those four pioneers will be held in Indianapolis Friday through Sunday, May 21-23.

53 women qualified to compete for the four positions on the U.S. Olympic team.

Six of the 53 — more than 11 percent — are from Hawaii, the ninth smallest state.

Why little, remote Hawaii?

"Hawaii is a leader in women's wrestling in our country because of the effort put toward it and resources put toward it," said Terry Steiner, coach of the U.S. National Team.

Hawaii is one of two states in the nation (Texas is the other) that has a sanctioned high-school state wrestling championship for girls.

"Hawaii made an earlier commitment and has developed a foothold in women's wrestling because they jumped in faster and harder than the rest of the country," says USA Wrestling spokesman Gary Abbott.

The Hawaii High School Athletic Association has held state championships for seven years.

"It has opened up a lot of doors for these girls," says Steiner.

One of those for whom wrestling has opened doors is Stephany Lee, three-time high school champion in Hawaii and national girls champion who graduated from Moanalua High in 2002.

"I was not sure about what I was going to do" after high school, Lee says. She had surgery on a shoulder and took a year off to rehabilitate.

In March 2003, Lee tried freestyle wrestling — the Olympic style and significantly different from the folk style of high school. In her first freestyle tournament, she won the Canadian-American (Can-Am) collegiate championship.

She was not a college student at the time (any college-age female could enter), but Lee soon accepted a scholarship to Missouri Valley College, one of the pioneers of women's collegiate wrestling.

She has thrived there, athletically and academically.

After Lee won the gold medal at last weekend's Pan American Championships in Guatemala, the national team coaches invited her to move to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs as a permanent resident.

A year ago, Lee would have packed her suitcase immediately. But there has been a change in her outlook.

"School has become more important to me," she says. She is a freshman, majoring in exercise science.

"I will get my degree in 2007," Lee says. "If they still want me, I will move to the OTC in time to train for the 2008 Olympics."

In the meantime, her status as a member of the U.S. National Team allows Lee to make paid visits to the center for coaching and training whenever she can find time.

Lee's chances of making the U.S. team to compete in the inaugural women's wrestling Olympics this year are not strong. Toccara Montgomery of Cleveland, seeded No. 1 in next weekend's trials, is a two-time World silver medallist and Lee has never beaten her.

Roosevelt High grad Clarissa Chun, like Lee, is ranked No. 2, but has never beaten No. 1, Patricia Miranda.

"It isn't the end of the road if they don't make it. Watch them for the next Olympics," says USA Wrestling spokesman Abbott.

"Clarissa and Stephany have done everything right to earn the chance to pursue their dreams."

Says Lee: "If you keep working for what you want you eventually will get it. That goes beyond athletics . . . to school or anything."

Will Hawaii fade as an incubator for Olympic wrestling contenders like it has in swimming?

Abbott says no. "As long as girls have role models — as long as there are Chuns, Lees and Kunimotos — it would not surprise me to see more outstanding girls coming out of Hawaii," he says.

MAT SIDE: Format for the Olympic Trials is that all but the No. 1 seeded wrestler in each weight class participate in a mini-tournament on Friday and Saturday. The winner of that goes against the No. 1 seed in a best-of-three match scenario on Sunday. . . . The Olympic weight classes are 48kg (105.5 pounds); 55kg (121 pounds); 63kg (138.5 pounds) and 72kg (158 pounds). Wrestlers who qualified at other weights have to move up or down. . . . Pacific University of Oregon and Missouri Valley College, which have been in the forefront of college women's wrestling, have a total of 18 wrestlers, former wrestlers and coaches entered between them.

Pac-Five coach Keith Matsumoto, one of the prime movers in girls wrestling in Hawaii, says the best is yet to come. "2008 will be the year that fruits of all the people who worked hard for girls wrestling in this state will be seen," he said. The 2008 Olympic Games will be in Beijing.

A wrestler named Lee could anticipate being "adopted" by fans immediately.

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Transcript from USOC Teleconference featuring wrestlers Abas, Williams, McCoy, Vering, Gardner, George and Montgomery

5/15/2004
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

USOC Media Summit Teleconference, May 14, 2004

featuring top U.S. wrestlers in preparation for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Wrestling in Indianapolis, Ind., May 21-23

Men's Freestyle:
Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif./Sunkist Kids)
Kerry McCoy (Bethlehem, Pa./New York AC)
Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)

Greco-Roman:
Rulon Gardner (Cascade, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
Brad Vering (Colo. Spgs., Colo./New York AC)

Women's Freestyle:
Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/New York AC)

FORMAL INTERVIEW WITH MODERATOR

Q for Abas: How has the 2003 World Championships experienced improved you?
Abas: “ More than anything, I am more motivated to do better this year. I was a little disappointed last year. As a finish to this year, going out and winning the gold medal in Athens will make up for that.”

Q for McCoy: How important was it for your confidence to win a medal at the 2003 World Championships?
McCoy: “It was very important. It proved to all my doubters and to myself that I can win on the international level. I was close before. Now I have one more step to climb, that is to win the Olympic gold.”

Q for Williams: You have won four straight national titles. Do you feel any pressure to win in the Olympic Trials?
Williams: “I think every competition is the same. You have to go out and wrestle. The only pressure is what I put on myself. I don’t think there will be any added pressure on me.”

Q for Gardner: Explain to us your health situation and how well your training is going.
Gardner: “The last month and a half, I had two different situations. There was a motorcycle mishap when a person pulled out in front of me. I got some road rash from that. Three days later, I was playing basketball where I hit my wrist and dislocated it. I have to rehabilitate it so I can perform at my best level at the Trials.”

Q for Vering: How have you been able to stay consistent, while your weight class continues to get tougher and tougher?
Vering: “I think trying to outwork your opponents and out perform them in competition is important. You try to stay at your best all the time. But, definitely, you try to outwork your opponents.”

Q for George: How do you manage your time between wrestling training and military commitments?
George: “I have been very fortunate. My Army training is now placed around my wrestling training. After the Olympics, I will assume my full-time Army training.”

Q for Montgomery: After losing in the World finals to Japan’s Hamaguchi, you beat her a few weeks later at the World Cup. How important was that win?
Montgomery: “It was a huge step. A lot of people doubted me. I knew I could do it. I wanted to take from her in Japan what she took from me in New York.”

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QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS

Q for Gardner as a followup on his medical condition
Gardner: “The latest with my wrist is I had three pins placed in it to stabilize my wrist. From that point, I have had limited practices. This week I had all my pins taken out and am still training. Hopefully, with many prayers, I will have a good performance in Indianapolis.”

Q for Gardner about Dremiel Byers
Gardner: With Dremiel Byers, we are both at the high level. It represents how good wrestling is in America. Against him, I have a World champion standing right in front of me. It is really a good situation for me. Hopefully I can be successful.”

Q for McCoy about concerns about Athens
McCoy: “I don’t think it’s tougher than ever before. We are a favorite to watch, but we are also a favorite to get beat. That is the way it has been in all the World Championships I have wrestled at. We have to be that much more prepared to beat our opponent. You have to beat the officials and the fans. Sometimes, you wrestle against history, because of our past success. You have to do that much better in every match.”

Q for Gardner about his physical condition and if he will retire if he loses in Indianapolis
Gardner: “My wrist is limited in what it can do. The last pin was just taken out. The doctor said not to push it too hard. I would say I am at 50%. This could be my final hurrah. Retirement is what I am looking at after. I gave Greco-Roman wrestling eight years. That is what I had planned when I came into it back in 1996.”

Q for Gardner about why he played basketball
Gardner: “I was going to wrestle, but my training partner didn’t show up that day. A lot of the guys wanted to play some basketball. It is a way we do some cross training. After I hurt my wrist, the doctor said they don’t suggest you wrestle. But they said they would support me if I did try to compete.”

Q for George and Montgomery about the weight class changes, and about being from Cleveland.
George: “I think the opportunity to be in the Olympics is tremendous. It is no mistake that Kip Flanik was both of our coaches, although we started at different times. I attribute our success to him and his commitment to women’s wrestling and his confidence in our ability to be successful. In regard to the weight class change, I was at 123 pounds and the new weight is at 121 pounds. That is only two pounds lighter, so it did not affect me.”
Montgomery: “I was affected. My original weight class was 147 pounds. I had to move up to 158 pounds. It was not easy. After three years, I have adjusted and my body is used to it. I owe most of my wrestling to Kip Flanik. He got me started and gave me all of the opportunities that the guys had.”

Q for Abas about learning from the loss at the 2003 World meet
Abas: “Anytime you have a loss, you have things to work on. I was turned in the match I lost. It was one of the things I have worked on. It was disappointing to lose in the quarterfinals, and I have had to work from there. I have worked much on my par terre wrestling.”

Q for McCoy about his thoughts about security in Athens
McCoy: I think before we get there, we will be briefed about what to do and not do. That will be determined by the time we get there. If it is safe, I want to see as much of Athens as I can after my competition. It will depend on what the USOC and the State Department decide is best for us.”

Q for George about her thoughts about security in Athens
George: “We had a chance to tour Greece and see the Village and other places as part of the USOC Athletes Summit there. We were given a security briefing, We were given an assurance we would be safe. We have emergency plans in place. I would like to stay a few days extra and see the country. I’m happy with the level of security. I’m convinced it will work.”

Q for Vering about the Olympic Trials system, where the national champion is automatically in the Olympic Trials finals.
Vering: “It is a pretty good system. You have to narrow down the competitors for the Olympic Trials. We have the nationals and some regional events to do that. Winning the national championships gives you an advantage. You don’t have to get beaten up in the Challenge Tournament. It gives you more incentive to win the national championships. It also gives us another big tournament for wrestling to promote and build the sport.”

Q for Williams about the Olympic Trials system, where the national champion is automatically in the Olympic Trials finals.
Williams: ”It is a good situation to be on the top. You let your body rest up, and you can focus on one or two athletes who might advance through the Challenge Tournament. We will benefit from being there as national champions.”

Q for Williams about his wrestling family heritage and if he talks with his high school coach Bill Weick
Williams: “The relationship with my brothers and family has always been close. My brothers understand what it takes to get there. They remind me of the dreams and aspirations we had when we were kids. They have always been there for me and supported me. About my high school coach, I still talk to him, not as much, but now and then. We reminisce on the high school stories and on his philosophies of wrestling. One of the things he told me before the U.S. Nationals was ‘You have to move the horse.’ He always considered me both a horse and someone who has speed. He made me laugh and have a good perspective about things.”

Q for Gardner if he stayed in touch with Alexander Kareline and what his win over Kareline meant to wrestling
Gardner: “About staying in touch with Alexander Kareline… With him, there was a disappointment on his behalf. He was so disappointed in his performance, he had no desire to stay in touch. Maybe in the future, when I am done, we will get in touch more. He has been nothing but outstanding for the sport of wrestling. He is now in politics in Russia, where he is very important to his nation.”

“Before, Greco-Roman wrestling was not as recognized as some sports. It brought a lot of notoriety to the sport. It will bring more people into our sport. The goal is to make it one of the old time, traditional sports, one of the first two sports in the Olympic movement. “

Q for Gardner about his foot that was injured in the snowmobile accident
Gardner: “I just squatted 500 pounds this week, the most I ever did. It is 100% now. My range of motion and flexibility is 100%. I am ready to rock and roll, as if there wasn’t a snowmobile accident at all. At this part of my life, I look back to my childhood and beyone. Life is a bunch of journeys. I just look at this as another opportunity.”

Q for Gardner about how he will feel if he loses at the Olympic Trials
Gardner: “It will be pretty devastating for me. As you look back, you have to remember what we are here for. People tend to put too much pressure on sports. I really want to make the team. I have worked hard to get there. If I don’t, I will go on. I’ll help Dremiel Byers or whoever makes the team to win that gold medal. That is what we are here to do as a team.”

Q for Gardner about his classic motorcycle that was crashed
Gardner: “I just got a $12,000 check from the insurance company. It should be ready in two or three months. It has sentimental value. I will put it up and never ride it again.”

Q for McCoy about how he lost with composure, while other wrestlers may have lost and been unsportsmanlike
McCoy: “This is an issue we have discussed among ourselves and the administration at USA Wrestling. Nobody plans to act unsportsmanlike. We are all good people. Sometimes, emotions are hard to control. Everybody who represents our sport, ourselves and our country, we don’t plan to lose control. And that is what happened, there was a loss of control. Ultimately, we hope to tell ourselves that we are on this great stage, and that everybody is watching and we have our best behavior. But you can’t predict the future. Hopefully, everybody will have good sportsmanship.”

Q for George and Montgomery about having Tricia and Townsend Saunders as Olympic Coaches.
George: It is fortunate for us to have Trish as our coach. When I started wrestling, I was on a team with Tricia. Tricia saw the potential I had. She encouraged me and helped me to improve. Townsend and Tricia come out on weekends and work with us at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. They give their time to us. The are doing everything they can to help us to have great performances in Athens.”
Montgomery: “I think it is great that Tricia and Townsend were both picked as our coaches. When I first started, I didn’t know much about Tricia Saunders. She was interested in me. She was always helpful. She was like a Mom-figure to me. Townsend has been a great coach. His style was like mine in wrestling. He has helped me tremendously. They also check on me a lot, as I am not in Colorado Springs because I am still in college. They are great coaches for me.”

Q for George and Montgomery about what they tell young girls about wrestling
Montgomery: “When I talk to young girls, I say it is a lot of fun and you meet great people. And also that it is for all kinds of body types. You can be tall or short or thin or thick. You can work around your body type and learn to wrestle. I tell them to compete their hardest and have fun. I tell them it will grow on them.”
George: “I encourage them to give it a try. I wanted to give it a try when I was in high school, and I am still wrestling. I tell them about taking that chance and exploring it, just like soccer and softball and other sports. Also, just because you are a wrestler, you are not trying to be a man. You can be a woman wrestler.”

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Meet Hawaii's Olympic Games wrestling candidates

By Dennis Anderson 5/16/04
homegrownhawaii@verizon.net

Six young women from Hawaii will compete this week for the four positions on the first United States Olympic Women's Wrestling Team.

Please meet them