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Ukiah Daily Journal
Sports/Wrestling
By Tyler Stoffel/The Daily Journal
Monday, February 07, 2005 -
Ashlee Evans-Smith began wrestling because of a challenge from a friend
of her brother.
"He was a rough boy, and would wrestle with me and challenge me a bit,
saying girls couldn't wrestle," Evans-Smith said. "I told him if there
was a team at my school, I would wrestle. So I came to school the next day
and asked if there was a wrestling team, and they said it would start the
next week, so I joined."
Ashlee recruited a cheerleader friend to attend wrestling practice with
her. Her friend never made it back for a second practice, but Ashlee decided
she wanted to continue with wrestling.
"The first day was really hard, I got beat up a lot, but I liked it,"
said Evans-Smith. "I Iiked that you could totally beat someone up, and it's
in the rules."
That was Evans-Smith's sophpomore year at Ukiah High School. The same
year she won her weight class at the California Girls State Wrestling
Invitaional, the unofficial girls state tournament for wrestling. But
that was the height of her winnings.
The next year, Evans-Smith won first place in the regional meet, and
seemed poised for a repeat of her sophomore finish. But one week before the
Girls Invitational meet, she broke a rib and had to sit it out.
Ashlee's rib healed in time for her to wrestle in the North Coast
Sectional later that season. She finished second to Stella Brown of San Leandro.
Later that season, she took fourth place at the Girls Nationals in Michigan.
This season, her senior year, Evans-Smith wrestled exceptionally, the
only girl who could beat her was Brown, who has quickly become her
arch-nemesis. Brown has topped her all three times they have met this season, at the
Napa Valley Classic, at regionals, and at the California State Girls
Invitational. Evans-Smith placed second in all three meets. She will
have one more opportunity to wrestle Brown, if they both can make it into
the final at the North Coast Sectionals on February 26.
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He was looking for a ballerina, but father got high school wrestling instead
Jody Pauley
Monday February 07, 2005
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In the Huntington High gym last Friday night, wrestlers from Huntington, Fairmont, Nitro and Buckhannon-Upshur warmed up for a quad meet.
One wrestler stood out. It wasn't only because she is a girl in a male dominated sport, but because of what she has achieved on and off of the mat.
Brittany Woodall wrestles in the 112-pound weight class for Buckhannon-Upshur High and is the first female to qualify for the Class AAA West Virginia state tournament.
Woodall is a standout on the mat, in the classroom, and in the community, but you won't hear her say very much about it.
When it comes to her accomplishments, Woodall is soft-spoken and humble.
She started wrestling in sixth grade and her career has since climbed.
Buckhannon-Upshur Coach J.P. Tenney was coaching in middle school when Woodall joined his boys team.
"I told her as long as you can hang with the practices you're welcome to be part of the team," Tenney said. "It has never been an issue."
Wayne Woodall, Brittany's father, said, "I was looking for a ballerina, I didn't really want a wrestler, but that is something she wanted to do. Her mom said no way, but I said, ‘She wants to do it and we will make sure she does it.'"
Woodall said that everyone has been supportive of her and her wrestling, and Woodall had built an impressive resume of awards and achievements.
She was the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association Middle School national champion as an eighth grader, in the 110-pound weight class, in 2003.
Last year as a freshman, Woodall placed fifth in North Central Athletic Conference. She was also the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association state champion for West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and finished third at nationals in the 110-pound weight class.
At the end of her freshman year, Woodall was honorable mention for TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School All American Team.
This year to date, Woodall, a sophomore, has continued to add achievements. In the preseason rankings, the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association placed her third at 110 pounds.
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McSurleys make their mark on Clinton-Massie wrestling
Ron Jackson rjackson@DaytonDailyNews.com 2/4/05
CLARKSVILLE - It isn't easy being a coach's son - or daughter - but two
Clinton-Massie High school wrestlers wouldn't want it any other way.
Neither would C-M wrestling coach Dan McSurley. The elder McSurley coaches his
son Jake and daughter Janelle. Girl wrestlers are no longer aliens and are
accepted in the high school wrestling world. But a brother-sister
combination is unheard of. If there is a wrestling gene, the McSurleys
have a headlock on it.
A better family moment couldn't have been scripted better than when
Janelle earned a crucial 11-10 decision recently over arch-rival Blanchester,
sealing the 37-32 win for the Falcons. She edged Charles Bastin, 11-10
at 125.
"It was wonderful," Janelle said. "Jake highfived me and dad was in the
corner shouting instructions. I like the attention because I'm sort of
a drama queen."
The ultra-intense coach McSurley is happy to have his two hard-working
children on his wrestling team. He is unabashedly emotional and
animated when Janelle is competing on the mat. Jake, 26-5 at 171 pounds, was a
near-miss state qualifier last season, going 29-13.
Janelle is in her second year of wrestling. She became discouraged with
basketball two years ago, wanted a more physical sport and announced to
the family that she was going to wrestle.
"I remember saying, "Huh," Jake said. "She shocked us all."
Janelle has produced an 8-19 record with seven pins and 21 takedowns.
She is handling the demands of a tough sport and relishes getting her hand
raised in victory.
"Janelle is not out here making a statement as a girl; she's a wrestler
winning matches for us at 119 or 125," said coach McSurley. "She's
wrestling tooth-and-nail with the guys and doesn't quit."
Jake has heard the snide sexual taunts from other wrestlers and boys in
the crowd.
"They'll say, 'Hey, she's pretty.' I tell them they have to go through
me to get to her," Jake said.
There was one meet where a wrestler forfeited rather than face Janelle.
In practice, she trains with standout lightweight Dom Brigano. Brigano
owns a career record of 2-4 against Blanchester's district qualifier Amanda
Breezley, one of the state's top female wrestlers.
"Sure, it bothered me at first losing to a girl," Brigano said. "I
thought it was a little embarrassing. But now I have a lot of respect for
Breezley. I've learned to accept it. In practice, Janelle always puts me in tough
situations. She's annoying with her holds and I have to get out of
them. We treat her like one of the guys around here."
Janelle also pole vaults in the spring, another sport that once was
considered a male-only domain. She says she gets a lot of support from
her father-coach, brother and teammates.
"When I lose, Jake is right there telling me not to get down on
myself," anelle said. "He sets a good example. Plus, I run into fans that
inspire me, saying, 'You go girl. Show 'em what you can do.' It's been all a
positive experience."
Jake is wrapping up a stellar athletic career with the Falcons, rushing
for over 3,100 yards and helping C-M into the D-IV football playoffs twice.
He earned second-team All-Ohio last fall. He is a powerhouse on the mat, a
takedown artist and employs his strength (he bench presses over 300
pounds). His father is also the head football coach at Massie.
"Sometimes I think I'm the only one in the practice room making
mistakes," Jake smiled. "Dad is always using me as an example. I wouldn't trade
the experience for anything in the world, though. It's brought the family
closer together.
"I grew up on the football field with him. I've been to Columbus as a
spectator for the state (wrestling) meet. Now I want to go and be a
participant."
Contact Ron Jackson at (513) 696-4543.
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2005 4A Wrestling Championships -- Finals Matches ( Hutchison at Finals photos)
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