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Women’s college recruiting preview: Vikings, Patriots reload with large incoming classes

9/29/2004
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

The 2004-05 women’s college season is fast approaching, and the coaches and athletes in the various women’s programs are starting preparation for the season. TheMat.com will review the recruits for each program, and the impact that these new athletes will have on their teams.

The two most successful teams in women’s college wrestling, Cumberland College and Missouri Valley College, had large recruiting classes this year, including a number of athletes who have been high achievers. The other returning college varsity teams, Pacific Univ., Lassen College and Menlo College, beefed up their lineups with incoming students.

MacMurray College, which has a club program, recruited a solid group of new athletes as the school looks to build the team into a varsity in the future. The program at Bacone College brought in its first woman athlete.

TheMat.com takes a look at each of the college teams and their crop of newcomers.

Missouri Valley College

The Vikings landed the largest recruiting class of the college programs, with 15 athletes, many with impressive national reputations. Coach Carl Murphree’s recruits include three members of TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School All-American team, as well as a nationally-ranked transfer who is already proven on the college level.

The transfer is Tabithia Ramsey, a sophomore who wrestled at UM-Morris before the team was dropped, and earned a No. 3 ranking on the college level at the end of last season. Ramsey is originally from Texas.

Sadie Kaneda of Hawaii comes in at 105.5 pounds, and was an ASICS Second Team member. She was seventh at the U.S. Senior Nationals at 112 pounds last year while in high school. She also won a gold medal at the USGWA High School Nationals.

The other two ASICS Team members are Astrid Gomez of Texas at 121 pounds and Rachel Billerbeck of Texas at 138.75 pounds. Gomez made the ASICS Second Team, and Billerbeck made the ASICS Third Team. Gomez placed second at the USGWA Nationals last year, and Billerbeck was third in the USGWA meet.

Based upon what upper class athletes are returning and what weight classes they choose, Kaneda, Ramsey and Billerbeck have an opportunity to challenge for starting positions on the Viking team, and could make a big impact on the team right away.

You might have noticed that Texas, one of the two states with an official high school state meet for girls, was a big factor in this year’s class. Murphree brought in eight athletes who are from Texas in this year’s crop of newcomers. Hawaii, the other state with a high school girls championship, contributed two new members of the Missouri Valley team.

Two of the other recruits were All-Americans at the USGWA Nationals this year, Chanea Meletia of Hawaii at 138.75 pounds and Norine Cruz of California at 105.5 pounds. Meletia was sixth at the USGWA Nationals last year, and was also a Hawaii state high school champion. Cruz, who was eighth at the USGWA meet, had a strong performance in placing second at the Junior Nationals last summer in Fargo, N.D.

This group of recruits will have to earn the respect of their teammates, as Missouri Valley is bringing back a solid team of veterans from last year. However, this class of newcomers will add to the already impressive depth in the Viking wrestling room, and it is always hard to tell which recruits will develop into winning college athletes.

Missouri Valley College recruiting class
105 – Sadie Kaneda, Honolulu, Hawaii
105 – Norine Cruz, West Covina, Calif.
112 – Tabithia Ramsey, Elgin, Tex. (transfer soph.)
112 – Jennifer Aniano, Roseville, Mich.
112 – Carmen Ramos, Houston, Texas
112 – Britney Sevey, North Pole, Alaska
121 – Astrid Gomez, Hereford, Texas
121 – Sarah Schumacher, San Antonio, Texas
121 – Katherine Bareeda, Frisco, Texas
121 – Hope Jones, Midland, Texas
130 – Stephanie Haver, Katy, Texas
130 – Maria Dunn, Tamuning, Guam
138.75 – Rachel Billerbeck, Plugerville, Texas
138.75 – Chanea Meletia, Haliewa, Hawaii
138.75 – Shannon Silvett, Hemet, Calif.

Cumberland College

Coach Kip Flanik increased the depth of his strong team with a group of 10 new wrestlers. As the Patriots have a large and talented group of upperclassmen returning, most of these newcomers will have to pay their dues in training and competition before they make a major impact on the team’s results. This is a talented group, however, including four members of the 2004 TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School All-American team.

One athlete should have an immediate impact on the team, Heather Martin of Ohio at 147.5 pounds. Martin was a member of the ASICS First Team, and is already a star on the Senior level. Martin was second at the 2004 U.S. Senior Nationals, and was a FILA Junior Nationals champion last year. She also won a title at the USGWA High School Nationals. Martin will be expected to start for Cumberland and compete nationally immediately.

Jessica Medina of California, projected for 105.5 pounds, placed eighth at the 2004 U.S. Senior Nationals at 112 pounds. She made the ASICS team as honorable mention, with a fourth place at the USGWA Nationals and a fifth place as the Junior Nationals.

The two other ASICS Team members in this class are Chelsea Rountree of Kentucky at 121 pounds and Tabitha Golt of Virginia at 147.5 pounds. Roundtree has placed at many USA Wrestling age-group events. Golt was third at the USGWA Nationals last year.

Another USGWA placewinner from last year is Elizibeth Hernandez of Florida, projected at 158.5 pounds, who was 12th at the USGWA meet last year. Another talent in the upper weights is Theresa Fennell of Texas, who was a Texas state high school champion last year. Three of the recruits were Texas state high school runners-up, Ana Ramey at 105.5 pounds, Deseree Cazeras at 112 pounds and Emmy Thompson at 138.75 pounds. Another recruit was a Junior National placewinner in 2003, Melissa Gerard of Michigan at 105.5 pounds. This recruiting class adds balance to the Cumberland room, and could make an impact in years to come.

2004-05 Cumberland College recruiting class
105.5 – Jessica Medina, Pomona, Calif.
105.5 – Melissa Girard, Norway, Mich.
105.5 – Ana Ramey, Houston, Texas
112 – Deseree Cazeras, South Grand Prairie, Texas
121 – Chelsea Roundtree, Crestwood, Kent.
138.75 – Emmy Thompson, Watuga, Texas
147.5 – Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio
147.5 – Tabitha Golt, Chesapeake, Va.
158.5 – Theresa Fennell, Amarillo, Texas
158.5 – Elizibeth Hernandez, Valirico, Fla.
158.5 – Lisa Obregon, San Antonio, Texas

Pacific University

Coach Scott Miller added a nice class of freshmen who should add some depth to the program. The Boxers have had success since joining the women’s college scene, and this group will play a part in the continued development of the team.

It is possible that none of these freshmen will be starters right away, because Pacific returns an experienced athlete in every weight class. However, there is talent among the athletes coming in.

Coach Miller is impressed by Valerie Prise of California at 105.5 lbs., who was sixth at both the USGWA High School Nationals and the Junior Nationals last year. He expects big things from Prise in the upcoming seasons.

Two other athletes who placed eighth at the USGWA Nationals will be joining the team, Jazmine Cockett of Hawaii at 130 pounds and Sammi Jo Edwards of Oregon at 147 pounds. Both should see considerable action this season. Another freshman recruit, Titilope Lawani from California, has impressed Miller and should be an impact athlete on the team right away.

As has been the pattern in recent years, Pacific has done well with athletes from Hawaii, one of the two states with an official high school state tournament. This year, four Hawaiians come to Pacific as freshmen, to join two others who return to the team from last season.

Pacific Univ. recruiting class
105.5 – Valerie Prise, Diamond Bar, Calif.
121 – Crystal Okamoto, Kihei, Hawaii
130 – Jazmine Cockett, Honolulu, Hawaii
138 – Titilope Lawani, Rialto, Calif.
147 – Sammi Jo Edwards, Fields, Ore.
147 – Anela Iseke, Honolulu, Hawaii
158 – Ashley Truchan, Hilo, Hawaii

Lassen College

Lassen College begins its second season on the varsity level with a strong group of incoming freshmen who should help the program make a bigger impact on the women’s college scene. As a two-year school, Lassen will have to reload the team every year, and the size and ability of this group of newcomers is encouraging for the program’s future. The fact that Lassen is in California, a state with a large number of high school girls involved in wrestling, will be a strong factor in the success of the program. Coach Paul Gomez and the Lassen staff brought in 12 freshmen wrestlers, including 11 from California.

Three of the freshmen have earned national level recognition. Jessica Hsieh of California, who is projected to start at 105.5 pounds, was an ASICS Second Team member, based upon winning the USGWA High School Championships at 110 pounds.

Two other athletes who placed at the USGWA High School Nationals in 2004 will be on the Lassen roster this year: Ashley Nethercott of California at 121 pounds and Summer Scott of California at 130 pounds. Nethercott was sixth at the USGWA Nationals last year, and Scott was ninth there. Nethercott is the only 121-pounder on the Lassen roster, which means she may see a lot of action this season.

Lassen College has a solid group of sophomores returning this year. The incoming freshmen provide depth to the program, and will fill in the gaps in the team’s lineup. These recruits should allow the team to field a full dual lineup, as well as score more points in any tournament that Lassen enters. It may not be until midway in the season that it will be clear just how strong this freshman class will be.

Lassen College recruiting class
105.5 – Jessica Hsieh, Vallejo, Calif.
105.5 – Alexa Torres-Canizalez, San Diego, Calif.
105.5 – Tiffany Leo, Lake Placid, Calif.
112.25 – Candice Clements, Lincoln, Neb.
121 – Ashley Nethercott, Citrus Heights, Calif.
130 – Summer Scott, Castro Valley, Calif.
130 – Monica Celaya, Salinas, Calif.
147.5 – Juan Juarez, San Leandro, Calif.
158 – Natasha Phinney, Santa Maria, Calif.
158 – Rachel Knight, Etna, Calif.

Menlo College

Menlo brings in a four-athlete freshman class, led by ASICS Second Team member Laurin Daniels of Washington at 121 pounds. Daniels was second at the USGWA High School Nationals last year, and has the only national-level achievements of the group coming in.

Jade Prudent of Texas, a state high school placewinner, joins the team at 130 pounds. Both Daniels and Prudent could see starting time on the Menlo lineup, as Coach Lee Allen’s team is thin on depth this season. Another recruit, Rita Rameriz of California, competed at the Junior Nationals on Team California this past summer.

Menlo College recruiting class
105.5 – Rita Rameriz, Visilia, Calif.
121 – Laurin Daniels, Vashon Island, Wash.
130 – Jade Prudent, Houston, Texas
158 – Allison Uribe, LaQuinta, Calif.

MacMurray College

Coach Jerry Kelly has a club program that is recruiting nationally and working to become a varsity program in the future. MacMurray had three successful college women wrestlers last year, and all three decided to join the new University resident team at Northern Michigan this year. That means that Kelly’s team will all be incoming recruits this year, led by one transfer and four freshmen.

The transfer is Kayci Thompson of Missouri, who competed last year for Missouri Valley College. She placed sixth at the FILA Junior Nationals last season, and ended the college season with a No. 7 ranking at 112 pounds.

Another recruit with national experience is Jessica Surratt of Texas, who is projected for 176 pounds. She placed fourth at the Junior Nationals last summer. The other three incoming freshmen will be getting their feet wet on the college level this year, but are expected to compete at many events this year. There is a chance that a few other women, who are currently playing a different fall sport at MacMurray, may join the squad in the winter, expanding the team size as well as the depth in the room.

2004-05 MacMurray College recruiting class
105.5 – Kayci Thompson, Holt, Mo. (transfer)
121 – April Dick, Monticello, Ill.
130 – Andrea Whitney, Manteze, Calif.
147.5 – Laura Conway, Des Plains, Ill.
176 – Jessica Surratt, Hurst, Texas

Bacone College

This NAIA school in Oklahoma announced that it would start a women’s wrestling team. Currently, the program is still being developed. Coach Kenard Booker indicated that he has one recruited athlete in the wrestling program, Amanda Muncer of Texas, who will compete at 138.75 pounds. Muncer placed eighth at the Junior Nationals this past summer. Coach Booker also expects at least two walkon women wrestlers this year, as well. Bacone will continue to pursue athletes and develop a team in the future.

2004-05 Bacone College recruiting class
138 – Amanda Muncer, Copell, Texas

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FEATURE: Women’s wrestling program kicks off at USOEC

9/24/2004
John Fuller/USA Wrestling

September 13 was a landmark day in Marquette, Michigan.

No, Tom Izzo and Steve Mariucci didn’t visit their old stomping grounds at Northern Michigan University. Instead, 13 women’s wrestlers stepped on mats to workout for the first time as members of the U.S. Olympic Education Center (USOEC) program.

Before September 13, the USOEC had offered men’s and women’s programs in boxing, speedskating and weightlifting. Greco-Roman wrestling is also offered, but wrestling was the only sport where there was no specific women’s program.

Now there is. Most of the women who entered this inaugural year of this program have been involved with a college wrestling program before: Amy Borgnini (MacMurray College), Donnell Bradley (Missouri Valley College), Sharon Jacobson (Minnesota-Morris), Ku’u’ini Johnson (Lassen College), Mary Kelly (MacMurray College and Neosho), Linse Meadows (Neosho), Elena Mena (Neosho), Randi Miller (MacMurray College and Neosho), Debbi Sakai (Missouri Valley College) and Liz Short (Minnesota-Morris).

The other women, Danyelle Hedin, Teri Lopez and Brandy Rosenbrock, also have extensive wrestling backgrounds.

Two of those women, Kelly and Rosenbrock, have been members of the U.S. National Team and are currently ranked No. 4 at their weight classes on the Senior level. Sakai placed second at the U.S. Nationals in 2004 and is ranked No. 2 at 112.25 lbs. Miller is currently ranked No. 7 at her weight class.

Meadows, Mena and Bradley have also placed at the U.S. Nationals in the past.

This will make for a solid and experienced first-year roster for USOEC Women’s Wrestling Resident Coach Shannyn Gillespie.

“The women have adapted and adjusted to the climate and atmosphere very well. We have athletes from Texas, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and California. Most of the women, with the exception of two, had previous experience with college life and athletics. So, the transition was a formality. Many of the women have said this is the best training environment they have ever been in because they are the focus... they are the reason the coach is there,” Gillespie said.

Upon their arrivals, the women’s wrestling team also held a question and answer session with the student body of NMU’s Spaulding Hall. It is events like this, according to Gillespie, that will help the women gain more acceptance throughout the university and the USOEC program.

“The other programs welcomed our women’s wrestling program with open arms and we are thankful. This is the second year a new program has been added. Last year, a women's and men's resident weightlifting program was added. The USOEC and NMU staff also happily welcomed the women's wrestling program and have provided a very supportive environment.”

As student-athletes, the women will undergo vigorous training and study schedules. The university has strict policies on eligibility standards for the athletes in the USOEC program.

The women work out twice a day, except for Thursday (one workout) and Sunday (no workout). All women are taking at least 12 credit hours.

However, any struggles can be taken care of through Tony Tellefson, the team’s academic advisor.

“Both the USOEC and NMU provide ample academic services for all to succeed. Both groups also prepare our students with seminars and workshops with issues that deal with time management, tutoring, and scheduling classes,” Gillespie said.

Gillespie plans to take the women to numerous competitions throughout the year. Those competitions include the Sunkist Kids International Open, New York Athletic Club Christmas International, Dave Schultz Memorial International, University Nationals, FILA Junior Nationals and Senior Nationals.

It is at these times that the academic services offered by the USOEC and Northern Michigan will be most needed.

However, it is also critical for the women to receive as much competition as possible this year, as FILA, the international governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling, has adopted drastic rule changes that will be effective immediately.

“The basics of wrestling, regardless of style, are always a sound way to begin any program. The rules change appears to indicate wrestling on the feet will be more important. Thus, our focus will begin with the seven basic skills with some other additions to make our women technically sound on their feet. Additionally, our women will be prepared for par terre wrestling... this is where the average can become champions,” Gillespie stated.

For more information on the USOEC, visit usoec.nmu.edu. For more information specifically on the women’s wrestling program, visit www.nmu.edu/www-sam/usoec/www/wwrestling/ or contact Gillespie at (906) 227-2888.

2004 USOEC Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Roster
Weight - Name (Hometown)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Mary Kelly (Mahomet, Ill.)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Liz Short (Lombard, Ill.)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Debbi Sakai (Miliani, Hawaii)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. or 55 kg/121 lbs. - Amy Borgnini (Terre Haute, Ind.)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Danyelle Hedin (Honolulu, Hawaii)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Sharon Jacobson (El Cajon, Calif.)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Brandy Rosenbrock (Harrison, Mich.)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Linse Meadows (Katy, Texas)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Ku’u’ini Johnson (Honolulu, Hawaii)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Teri Lopez (Katy, Texas)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. or 72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Randi Miller (Arlington, Texas)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Elena Mena (St. Paul, Minn.)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Donnell Bradley (Aiea, Hawaii)