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FEATURE: Tina George has new life realities, and has refocused her international wrestling goals
12/21/2004
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) is living a new life, and has a new perspective on wrestling. She has brought this viewpoint with her as one of the top stars who competed this year at the New York AC Christmas International Open.
After winning World silver medals at 55 kg/121 lbs. in 2002 and 2003, while serving in active duty with the U.S. Army, George entered the 2004 season as a top hopeful for an Olympic medal in her weight class.
At the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Indianapolis last May, George was upset in the championship series by Tela O’Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) in two straight matches. Her dream of winning a gold medal when women’s wrestling made its debut in the Athens Games fell through in two straight heart-breaking matches in the RCA Dome that night.
Tina George is no longer in the U.S. Army full-time. She is concentrating on graduate school. And she has made a decision to make another run for the next Olympics, while trying to enjoy the process a little bit more.
“It took a little while to sink in that I wasn’t going to the Olympics,” said George. “I just kept training through the summer. When it was being televised, I realized it then. I went through a period of depression.”
George also completed her full-time enlistment in the U.S. Army, where she was a member of its World Class Athlete Program, and became a member of the Army Reserves. Instead of being a full-time soldier, she is doing her duty one weekend a month.
After getting an undergraduate degree a year ago, George also decided to pursue a masters degree in kinesiology, and began taking courses through the Univ. of Texas. She remains a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center to continue her wrestling career.
“Putting my focus on school helped me refocus my life, and use my energy in a positive way,” said George.
Although her disappointment at falling short of her Olympic dream is still very real to her, she also learned some new perspective from others who were not quite as close to the situation.
“The Olympics matter to me,” said George. “But I realized I am a good person. Other people were excited that I had a dream. That I did not accomplish that dream does not matter to them, just that you tried your best. It made me feel better.”
Tina has learned to like her new lifestyle as a student, a resident athlete and a member of the Army reserves.
“It is relaxing,” said George. “I am focusing more on wrestling. I’m getting back to remembering why I enjoy wrestling. It is a different environment for me. I am not completely ruling out returning to active duty. But for now, I am recharging my batteries.”
Competing in the New York AC Christmas Championships was a way that George was able to build from the disappointment of the 2004 season, and focus on the future.
“As a competitor, I am getting rid of all the reservations and doubts about my wrestling, based upon the performance at the Trials last year. You walk around with doubt. You are more tentative with your wrestling. It takes a few wins to get over that,” she said.
Competing in New York allowed George to experiment a bit more with the new rules of wrestling, which many believe fit her powerful style very well.
“I am excited about the new rules. For my style and abilities, I am really pleased about the changes,” said George. “I am even more excited about the weigh-ins. It gives me an advantage over girls who drop more weight. The one-day tournament eliminates that factor.”
George was in great form at the New York AC Tournament this year, capturing the gold medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. with three straight victories. In the gold-medal finals, she dominated Amy Borgnini of the USOEC in two straight periods by technical fall, 6-0 and 6-0. The decision to compete seems to be paying off for George very well.
“I am happy with my training, as well as the level of my wrestling and my technique,” said George. “I think this is going to be a great year for me.”
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Athlete Of The Week: Year of experience crucial for hard-working wrestler
By Jeremy Heath
jeremy.heath@amarillo.com
Melissa Chavez
In four matches at the Frisco tournament last weekend, Melissa Chavez
showed her Caprock wrestling coaches and teammates just how far she has come
this year.Chavez went 4-0 in the tournament and brought home the gold medal in
her class. Her victory helped lead Caprock to the tournament team title,
edging second-place Arlington High 150-148. Amarillo High finished third with
134 points.
The 102-pound Chavez, the Amarillo National Bank Female athlete of the
week, improved her season record to 12-2 and has won eight consecutive
matches. Caprock assistant wrestling coach T.J. Johnson said Chavez's wins were
surprising early in the season, but now he's coming to expect her to
have success every time she steps on the mat.
"Her weight class at that tournament was tough," Johnson said.
"Honestly, we were hoping she would wrestle well enough to finish third. We would
have been happy with that. But she came out and showed she has some guts.
She showed us all she has a little spunk in her."
Chavez, who moved to Caprock last year from Borger, did not show the
Caprock coaches much potential last season. Johnson said making the transition
to a new school detracted from Chavez's ability to focus on wrestling. This
year, he said, is a completely different story.
"You can tell such a difference in her confidence," Johnson said. "She
wrestled for us a little bit last year, but she was so caught up in
trying to fit into her new surroundings that she really didn't do much for us.
Now she's really getting comfortable with the other girls, and it shows.
"Last year, she was coming into a new school and trying to make new
friends and fitting in. It was difficult coming in and trying to blend in."
Johnson said Chavez's increased comfort level has made her a more
coachable wrestler. Chavez's ability to absorb and apply information quickly has
allowed head coach Scott Tankersley and Johnson to expand their
instruction beyond fundamentals.
"That year of experience has made a huge difference," Johnson said.
"She's been so good about learning the things we've tried to teach her.
"We've been working on a lot of things to help her finish (in matches).
She's really starting to figure out how to finish things," he said.
Chavez started in the 119-pound weight class, but at 5-foot-1 she was
losing to taller opponents who had an advantage because of the leverage their
longer arms and legs afforded them. Johnson said Chavez knew she would
have to drop to 102 to be an effective wrestler at her height.
"She really started working on cutting weight," Johnson said. "She's
worked very hard, and the hard work has paid off for her."
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Tourney has first female official
By EDWARD de la FUENTE and BUDDY HURLOCK / The News Journal
12/19/2004NEWARK --
Barb Brummet never had the opportunity to make a name for herself as a high school wrestler. But as one of a handful of female wrestling officials around the country, she is immersed in the sport she loves.
Brummet, from St. Louis, became the first woman to officiate in the Beast of the East tournament Saturday at the Carpenter Center. And she hopes to have further opened doors for girls to become involved in the sport.
"It's humbling," Brummet said. "I just tend to focus on the fact that I'm a new official here. But you'd be silly not to think this is groundbreaking."
Brummet, 48, was invited to officiate after Beast representatives saw her work at the Disney Duals in Florida. She never wrestled competitively, but fell in love with the sport by watching.
She became more involved when her son, Kenny, competed at the high school level, going 99-6 in his career. When he graduated, Brummet figured she was done, too. But others noticed her passion and believed she had more to give. When someone suggested officiating, she gladly accepted.
Brummet said she has met just two other female officials. She is more encouraged, though, by the emergence of girls wrestling programs in recent years.
"I think it will grow tremendously," she said. "You can see the improvement, not just in the numbers but also the technique they show. You see a number of guys coming in to coach them, as well."
Brummet envisions a girls division in tournaments like the Beast within five to 10 years. If it happens, she hopes to be officiating. Regardless, she hopes to be invited back.
"I consider it a privilege every time I take the mat," she said. "I have so much respect for what these kids do."
Third-round excitement
The third round of the championship bracket included 20 wrestlers from Delaware high schools. Ten advanced, and as the round started there were several thrilling finishes for some of the locals at the lighter weight classes.
Caesar Rodney junior Ian Moser edged Kyle Ruschell of Ryle (Ky.) 8-7 at 112 pounds, scoring the winning takedown with about 20 seconds left in the third period.
Moser is the No. 6 seed at 112. Ruschell is the 11th seed, though he was the preliminary top seed at 103 before bumping up a weight class.
Ruschell led 6-2 after two periods, but Moser made it 6-6 midway through the third. Moser fell behind again 7-6 before rallying.
"You just try to do whatever you have to do to win," Moser said of the comeback.
At almost the same time Moser won, Caravel freshman Jarrod Garnett won 7-5 in overtime over Jonathon Farringer of DeMatha (Md.).
Garnett took a 4-2 lead into the third period. He fell behind 5-4, but tied it on an escape with about 30 seconds left in the third period. Garnett scored a takedown with nine seconds left in the one-minute overtime to win.
St. Elizabeth sophomore Eli Norvell and Salesianum senior Mike DegliObizzi lost close decisions in the third round, but each is still alive in consolations.
Norvell upset 11th-seeded Devon Hanson of Timberlane, N.H., in the first round at 135 pounds. He lost his third-round match 8-6 in overtime to No. 6 seed Luke Ashmore of BL Independent.
DegliObizzi, seeded sixth at 125, lost 11-9 in the third round to 11th-seeded Joe Breen of McDonough (Md.). DegliObizzi was ahead 5-2 after one period, but fell behind 9-7 with 35 seconds left in the third period.
A late reversal by Degli- Obizzi tied it 9-9 before Breen scored a reversal just before time expired.
Also still alive in consolations are Salesianum's Ben Thornes (103), Milford's Nate Fleming (119), Sussex Central's Rich Dondarski (135), William Penn's Ryan Gibbons (145), Caravel's Luke Rebertus (145) and Smyrna's Brian Fletcher (160).
Contact Edward de la Fuente at edelafue@delawareonline.com.
SATURDAY'S RESULTS
Seedings in parentheses. Full results at www.beastwrestling.com
Team scoring
1-Blair (N.J.) 117.5, 2-Great Bridge (Va.) 106, 3-Upper Perkiomen (Pa.) 95, 4-Masillon Perry (Ohio) 83, 5-St. Paris Graham (Ohio) 82.5, 6-Bald Eagle Area (Pa.) 81, 7-Camden Catholic (N.J.) 79, 8-Mount St. Joseph (Md.) 78, 9-St. Edward (Ohio) 77.5, 10-Brandon (Fla.) 77. Also: 22-(tie) Caesar Rodney 56.5, 41-William Penn 31, 42-(tie) Sussex Central 28.5, 49-Salesianum 24.5, 50-Milford 22, 53-(tie) Hodgson, St. Mark's 20, 55-Sussex Tech 18, 56-Smyrna 17, 57-(tie) Caravel 15, 67-(tie) Brandywine 9, 78-St. Elizabeth 6.5, 81-St. Andrew's 2.
Championship bracket
Third round
103: (1) McDonald (S.Central) pinned Handlovic (Wilson) 1:03; (9) Berry (Ephrata) maj. dec. O'Connor (Timberlane) 11-1; (5) Bonson (Lewistown) pinned Lambert (Walsh Jes) 1:07; (13) Trause (Bergan Cath) pinned Genetin (Mount St. Joe) 1:02; (3) Greene (Germantown Acad) dec. Knapp (Waynesburg) 8-2; White (Peddie) dec. Smith (Up. Perkiomen) 11-7; (10) Garnett (Caravel) dec. Farringer (DeMatha) 7-5 (ot); (2) Cobbs (Great Bridge) maj. dec. Foulke (Absegami) 11-3.
112: (1) Hart (Graham) dec. Pardoski (No. Penn) 8-6; (8) Faison (Cox) pinned (9) Cournoyer (Suffield) 5:38; (5) Ashmore (Bishop Lynch) pinned (12) Sheetz (Up. Perk.) :56; (13) Flegler (Nazareth) dec. Bogusz (Parkland) 9-6; (3) Neidermeier (Waynes.) maj. dec. Hartman (Christiansburg) 11-0; (6) Moser (C.Rodney) dec. (11) Ruschell (Ryle) 8-7; McCann (Pennridge) dec. Chamberlain (Cumberland) 6-4; (2) Peterkin (Blair) pinned Pujia (Connellsville) 1:29.
119: (1) Grey (Delbarton) maj. dec. Hyatt (Boyertown) 11-3; (8) Phalen (Ripley) pinned Cornley (Camden Cath) 6:30; (5) Lashomb (Great Bridge) dec. Shuster (Big Spring) 6-4; (4) Souders (Wilson) dec. Parker (Octora) 4-0; (3) Gitomer (Blair) tech. fall Lavenburg (Salesianum) 24-9 (6:00); (11) Meade (C.Rodney) dec. (6) Silver (Bishop Lynch) 9-3; (10) Robinson (Lewistown) dec. (7) Keyes (Walsh Jes.) 8-6; (2) Gomez (Brandton) tech. fall Rosencranz (Quakertown) 15-0 (3:50).
125: (1) Frishkorn (Great Bridge) tech. fall Leggett (Waynes.) 17-1 (1:59); Shaw (St. Mark's) dec. (9) Bildeau (Brooks) 8-2; (5) Bell (Connels.) dec. (12) Lowther (Trinity) 9-5; (4) Mytych (Northampton) tech. fall Morreale (Peddie) 17-2 (3:59); (3) Tsikerdanos (Mount St Joe) maj. dec. Greck (Naz.) 9-1; (11) Breen (McDono.) dec. (6) DegliObizzi (Salesianum) 11-9; (7) Shanaman (Blair) dec. Notte (Holy Cross) 3-2; (2) Doggett (Graham) dec. Brown (Camden Cath) 10-6.
130: (1) Frey (Blair) pinned Wright (Bald Eagle) 1:32; (8) Swensen (No. Sanp.) dec. (9) Gil (Camden Cath) 6-4; (5) McCurdy (Germ.Acad.) dec. (12) Koepp (Bish.Ly.) 6-1; (4) Joyce (Brandon) dec. Wieller (N'hamp.) 1-0; (3) Nauroth (Quakertown) pinned Hill (No. Penn) 5:48; (11) Darling (Naz.) dec. (6) Dozier (Cox) 5-2; Boyd (Graham) maj. dec. (7) Hyman (Ephrata) 9-1; (2) Rowe (DeMatha) pinned Morgenstern (Bergan Cath) 1:45.
135: (1) Rader (Parkers.) pinned Ebbott (Germ.Acad.) 4:00; (8) Pittman (Great Bridge) dec. (9) Stump (Chr'burg) 8-4; (5) Mineo (Scotch Pl.) maj. dec. Gregg (Lewistown) 11-0; (4) Primus (Connells.) pinned Bacci (Conestoga) :35; (3) Blasco (Blair) pinned Grace (Ephrata) 1:45; (6) Ashmore (Bish.Ly.) dec. Norvell (St. Elizabeth) 8-6 (ot); (7) Lawrence (Viewmont) dec. (10) Barrick (Big Spring) 6-5; (2) Grajales (Brandon) pinned Mengel (No. Penn) :06.
140: (1) Smith (Ripley) pinned Kuderka (Salesianum) 3:56; (9) Krieble (St.Vin.St.M) dec. (8) Mangini (Blair) 3-1; (5) Powers (Loomis) dec. Detweiler (Penrifgr) 12-0; (4) Pearman (Great Bridge) dec. Ward (Mount St. Joe) 13-10; (3) Paukovitz (N'hamp) dec. Frederick (St. Mark's) 12-6; (6) Cathell (C.Rodney) pinned (11) Straughn (Mas.Perry) 1:31; (10) Kemmerer (Up.Perk.) dec. (7) Wilson (Morgan) 6-2; (2) Nemac (St. Ed) dec. Delpopolo (Bergan Cath) 8-4.
145: (1) Schlatter (Mas.Perry) pinned Pompei (Up.Perk.) :38; (9) Palmeri (Camden Cath) maj. dec. Gibbons (William Penn) 18-9; (12) Sickles (Bergan Cath) dec. McLaughlin (St Ed) 8-4; (4) Epperly (Chr'burg) dec. Martin (Connells.) 7-1; (3) Medina (Blair) maj. dec. Hostetter (Oxford) 6-4; (6) Jenkins (Cox) won by default vs. (11) Toledo (Brandon); Barrett (Metuchen) dec. (10) Henrich (Germ.Acad.) 7-5; (2) Caramanica (Naz.) pinned Tiberi (Hodgson) 1:30.
152: (1) Eckloff (N'hamp) maj. dec. Cheatham (Walsh Jes.) 13-4; (8) Fiorito (Up.Perk.) dec. Lozzi (Germ.Acad.) 9-4; (12) McGoldrick (Whiteh.) dec. Goodling (Cumberland Val) 2-1; (4) Thurgood (Blair) dec. Dewan (Boyertown) 8-2; (3) Rohler (St.Vin.St.M) pinned Fisher (Bald Eagle) 1:29; (6) Holmes (McDono.) maj. dec. Danfield (Camden Cath) 3:59; (7) Black (Absegami) dec. (10) Minton (Chr'burg) 12-6; (2) Brown (Great Bridge) pinned Barrick (Big Spring) 5:58.
160: (1) Erwin (Graham) tech. fall Schwager (Boyertown) 16-0 (3:09); (9) Letts (Octora) dec. (8) Wainscott (Bish.Ly.) 6-3; (5) Rella (Walsh Jes) dec. (12) Rigby (C.Rodney) 7-3; (4) Moore (Camden Cath) tech. fall Hoachlander (Big Spring) 17-0 (3:25); (3) Cozart (Brandon) tech. fall Wright (Parkland) 17-2 (5:52); (6) Hurrin (St.Steph.St.Ag.) pinned Fletcher (Smy) 5:03; (7) Guttila (Blair) maj. dec. Dombrowski (Wm. Penn) 18-9; (2) Lewnes (Mount St Joe) maj. dec. Wright (Bald Eagle) 15-3.
171: (1) Craig (Brandon) pinned Kochik (Bald Eagle) :37; (9) Lee (Milton) pinned Ballan (Whitehall) 1:23; (12) Doppelhauer (Connells.) dec. (5) Leet (Westm.) 4-2; (4) Litton (Parkers.) pinned Hill (Great Bridge) 2:30; (3) Thompson (Graham) dec. Thyberg (Pennridge) 2-0; (11) Miller (Brandywine) dec. (6) Clapp (Woodland) 5-4; (10) Semple (Waynes) pinned (7) Platt (Blair) 3:41; (2) Guida (Parkland) dec. Hansen (Conestoga) 5-0.
189: (1) Bond (Great Bridge) maj. dec. Mendoza (Wyomis.) 13-3; DiStefano (Whitehall) dec. (9) Toomey (Kings.Reg.) 6-4; (5) Drury (Germ.Acad.) pinned Hockensmith (Cumberland) 1:49; (4) Pucillo (Walsh Jes.) maj. dec. Wilcox (Buena) 16-8; (3) Jones (Winslow) pinned Swan (Pleas.Val.) 4:50; (6) Flynn (Quakertown) pinned Toll (Camden Cath) 1:55; (7) O'Connor (Mount St Joe) dec. Nyman (Bald Eagle) 11-4; (2) Taylor (Blair) dec. Richie (Parkland) 7-1.
215: (1) Marshall (Graham) pinned Shock (Wilson) 1:04; (8) Staples (Germ.Acad.) pinned Todd (Oxford) 3:18; (5) Goetter (Pennridge) tech. fall Marcelino (St. Ed) 15-0 (4:38); Kinsler (Big Spring) dec. (4) Zdrada (Timberlane) 6-4; (3) Lindamood (Parkersb.) pinned Gardner (Trinity) 5:29; (6) Orr (Quakertown) pinned Rogers (Great Bridge) 1:38; (7) Zemanik (Buena) dec. Cannaday (Mount St Joe) 5-1; (2) Gardner (Chr'burg) pinned Ragone (Camden Cath) 3:01.
275: (1) McCoy (Fayette Co.) pinned Adkins (Parkerb.) 1:30; (9) Kendzierski (Milford) pinned (8) Richardson (Great Bridge) 2:55; (5) Brooks (Sussex Tech) dec. DePalma (Mount St Joe) 3-0; (4) Wren (Bish.Ly.) won by disq. vs. Russo (Camden Cath); (3) Bilbrough (C.Rodney) dec. Cook (Bald Eagle) 7-1; (6) Anderson (Ripley) pinned Smock (Whitehall) :51; (7) Kuhar (St Ed) pinned (10) Vyule (Chr'burg) 3:03; (2) Landolt (Holy Cross) pinned Labatch (Wilson) 3:57.