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CHS places five at State Wrestling meet
Chickasha Express-Star by: Chuck Larsen 3/2/05
Chickasha was well represented at this weekend's state wrestling tournament at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City.
Seven wrestlers qualified, five placed and Chickasha's two seniors made it to the championship matches in their weight classes. Seniors Fred Givens (275 lbs) and Steven Layman (130 lbs) both were back to compete in Saturday night's finals but had to settle for state runners-up.
Saturday night's championship matches played to a full house and the final one gave all the fans something to talk about.
Givens (30-4) and Shawnees' Wesley Grant (23-6) closed the place down with a tense and exciting double overtime match. These two No. 1 seeds were mirror images of each other in size, bulk and strength.
Neither wrestler could get the other down throughout the entire regulation match and an overtime. They locked up and pushed and shoved each other around the mat but it was a stalemate of strength. Givens scored a point to open the second period as he was able to stand from the bottom position and pry Grant's lock apart. The roles reversed exactly in the third and the match ended tied at one.
As they struggled through the first overtime period, all eyes turned toward their mat as the other three classes wrapped up. Again the two big guys couldn't take each other down and the match went to double overtime. Givens started in the bottom position but Grant was able to keep him from escaping and won the title.
Givens pinned Coweta's Jamel Walker in forty seconds in the semis and decisioned Durant's Phillip Frank in the quarters.
Layman (31-6), the west's second seed, faced Carl Albert's unbeaten Kyle Terry (40-0), the west's top seed, earlier in the evening. Terry showed why he won all forty as he was able to control Layman throughout the match for a 13-4 major decision. The quick and athletic Layman tried every trick in the book to turn things around but Terry was able to counter almost every move Layman made.
Layman beat top-seeded Matt Torrance of East Central 6-1 in the semis and pinned Claremore's Chance Hughes at 3:20 in his first round.
Terry Acker, the top seed in the west with a 32-4 record, finished third at 135. He beat Kelley's Chas Craig in first round action but lost by fall to east second seed Bret Gray of Catoosa in 3:51 on Friday. Gray was the eventual state runner-up. Saturday Acker beat Carl Albert's Derrick Gaines, the west's second seed, then pinned Bixby's Casey Flickinger at 3:38 for third.
The Chicks had two fourth-place finishersÉsecond seed Derek Gibbs (119 lbs) and third seed Travis Wilkinson (145 lbs).
Gibbs (32-5) beat East Central's Nate McElrath 3-2 in overtime then lost to top seeded Brian Shelton of El Reno, who was the eventual state champion. On Saturday, Gibbs pinned Catoosa's Bryan Rayl at 3:58 then dropped an 11-6 decision to top seeded Angel Huizar of Duncan for fourth place.
Wilkinson (34-8) was the third seed in the west and beat second seed Randy White of Catoosa 11-5 on Friday. He lost by fall to Western Heights' Jason Madison, the top seed in the west at 39-1. On Saturday, Wilkinson got a 4-3 decision over Coweta's Joe Hulsey but lost to second seed Cody Addington of Harrah 3-2 to finish fourth.
Zach Simpson (112 lbs) and Dallas Smith (152 lbs) competed but didn't place.
Simpson (19-17), the fourth seed in the west, won his first round by forfeit from top seeded Jeremy Foster of Catoosa when Foster weighed in just about two ounces over weight. He then lost a decision to eventual runner-up Travis Whiteneck of Pryor. Simpson lost an 11-4 decision Saturday morning to Skiatook's Zach Petty to end his season.
Smith (31-4), the second seed, battled some flu along with his opponents and had a disappointing tournament. He lost an 11-3 decision to Bixby's John Walsh on Friday then dropped a 7-5 decision to top seeded Nathan Watts of Skiatook on Saturday.
Twenty-three teams competed and the Chicks finished fifth overall with 68 points. El Reno was first with 157 and Duncan took second with 102.50.
Lawton Mac had 99 for third and Shawnee finished with 86 for fourth.
Coach Chad Randle was proud of his kids and was happy with the overall results.
ÒThis was a very successful year. I knew we were going to be tougher than people thought. We lost some of our studs from last year but I knew we had the potential to be pretty good.Ó
The team was pretty good after graduating Erik Ford and the Spoons. On paper, it should have been a down year, but people stepped up and got the job done.
ÒWe came a long way. Some kids came through, we wrestled well and ended up with five placers. It was a pretty good tournament.Ó
He was very happy for his two seniors who made it to the finals, especially Layman.
ÒSteven had to wrestle behind the Spoons and didn't even get to start until his senior year. I was very happy to see him get into the finals.Ó
TOURNAMENT TIDBITS: This year's tournament had some notable sub-stories to it. A girl placed for the first time in the 84-year history of the tournament. Joey Miller, a 103-pound young lady from Woodward, took fourth in Class 4A. The freshman had a 29-8 record and was the third seed in the west. Antwain Anderson of Capitol Hill, a senior with a 28-7 record, came in as the second seed in the west and decisioned Shawnee's Gary Frazier to win Capitol Hill's first championship in sixty-six years. The Perry Maroons won the 2A team title with 128 points and crowned three state champions Saturday nightÉGary Swan (135), Austin Workman (140) and Zach Sikes (160). These three titles bring Perry High School's overall total to 32 state champions, a national record.
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Upper Lake's De Los Santos reaches finals
By staff reports 3/1/05
NEWARK -- Angelica De Los Santos of Upper Lake High School won her first two matches, beating the No. 2 seed in the process, before losing to No. 1 seed Gabrielle Solis in the 98-pound final on Saturday at the North Coast Section Girls' Wrestling Championships in Newark.
Also winning medals over the weekend were 114-pounders Jennyfer Hallmark of Middletown High School and Monica Torrey of Lower Lake High School.
De Los Santos set the tone for her second-place finish by upsetting No. 2 seed Cristabel Mendoza of Pittsburg High School in a second-round match.
"She pinned her with one second left in the first round," Upper Lake coach Alex Stabiner said.
De Los Santos then beat South Fork's Kayla Weick, who was disqualified in the second round for a series of rule infractions. Weick beat De Los Santos earlier in the season.
In the championship match, No. 1 seed Solis pinned De Los Santos late in the first round.
"Getting a medal at sections is pretty exciting," Stabiner said of De Los Santos.
The 98-pound sophomore prepared for her sectional competition by wrestling up during the regular season.
"All year she wrestled at 103 pounds against guys," Stabiner said. "She did a great job."
Hallmark, a junior, went 4-1 during the two-day tournament, going 2-1 in Friday's competition and winning back-to-back matches in the consolation bracket on Saturday to claim third place.
Hallmark pinned Melissa Herrera of San Leandro in the second round to win the third-place medal, one match after pinning Hallie Boldt of South Fork in the second round.
In Friday's action, Hallmark won each of her first two matches by first-round pin, beating Michelle Umezu of San Leandro in the opening round and Fachon Jones of Pittsburg High School in the second round.
Alex Tolero of St. Patrick's/St. Vincent's High School of Vallejo defeated Hallmark 9-3 in quarterfinal-round action. Tolero went on to finish second, dropping a 7-4 decision to Campolindo's Christina Selover in the finals.
Hallmark wraps up the season with a 25-18 record.
Lower Lake's Torrey, a sophomore, pinned Jessica Juslits of Antioch eight seconds into the second round during her opening-round match on Friday, but Torrey couldn't get past Tolero in the second quarter and was pinned late in the first round.
Once in the consolation bracket, Torrey won two more matches, beating Stephany Mojica of Antioch on a first-round pin and Molly Petersen of Piner High School by 12-0 major decision. Just one win away from earning a berth opposite Middletown's Hallmark in the third-place match, Torrey lost to Herrera.
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Complete Results from the 2005 NCS/Les Schwab Tires Girls' Wrestling Championshi
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PREP ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Kraus has firm hold of mat talent
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
By BRUCE MEADOWS
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
|
It turned out to be quite a weekend for Empire wrestlers, and we're not talking about the guys.
Three girls were among those who turned in outstanding efforts Friday in the North Coast Section Championships at Newark High.
Montgomery junior Josie Kraus concluded a great season (38-8), with many of her wins coming against male wrestlers. She made it to the finals at 126 pounds, where she lost to undefeated Charlene Solis of Castro Valley.
El Molino's Clara Curtiss (23-10) won at 132 pounds, posting a 4-0 record, Santa Rosa's Leann Patrick (19-4) captured the 152-pound title with a 2-0 record and Santa Rosa's Jacquelyn Davis (19-5) won at 108 with a 3-0 mark.
Kraus, who started wrestling at Slater Middle School, won her first two matches on pins and her semifinal with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in the last 30 seconds.
In the championship match, Kraus was tossed to the mat on a Japanese arm throw, hitting her head.
"It wasn't a concussion, but it scared me," said Kraus, who was also the goalie for Montgomery's undefeated NCS champion soccer team. "I was laying on the mat, shaking ... it freaked me out."
Kraus was able to continue, but was pinned with 45 seconds left in the second round.
"I wrestled Solis at NCS and the regionals last year," said Kraus. "My goal was to get to at least the third round ... she is so good."
Vikings coach Bill Borges said Kraus has been a pleasure to have on the team for three years.
"She's very ambitious and willing to learn ... she picks up new moves well," he said. "She's feisty and and doesn't quit."
Kraus, who was seventh at state last year and fourth this year - state was held before NCS - and looks forward to the 2006 season.
"Every year, more girls are wrestling," she said. "Last year we had about 150 and had 300 this time."
Kraus wrestled at 132 pounds most of the season, but dropped to 126 for the sectional meet.
She said she lost the weight by driving to NCS with the heater on while bundled up in sweatclothes.
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Girls and boys better off on own wrestling teams
To the Editor:
I am an avid advocate for girls in sports, but I believe girls should have their own teams - especially when it comes to wrestling.
There is no sport with more individual contact and less protective gear than wrestling. It is very intimidating for a male wrestler to wrestle a female. (I don't know how it is vice versa.) The female anatomy, I am sure, figures in their opponents' ability to relax and focus.
I have talked to many boys regarding this, and they do feel intimidated. They do not really like the situation.
I understand there are all-girl wrestling teams - great. So girls, do yourselves and the boys a favor: Join them - and good luck.
Jean W. Avery
Solvay
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Alexander making name for herself
BRETT KNIGHT
Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
Leslie Alexander had plans on going out for the wrestling team ever since she was a freshman at Morehead. Alexander finally got the opportunity to show her skills back in the fall and ended up being part of school history.
Alexander, who was Morehead's first female wrestler, concluded her senior season last weekend placing third in the United States Girl's Wrestling Association North Carolina State championship, held at Rosewood High School Goldsboro.
"My main goal was to be on the team, stay on the team and be the first girl wrestler at Morehead and that was it," Alexander said. "I didn't expect to win anything.
Funny how things work out as she finished third in the state in the 125-pound weight class at last weekend's state tournament. She finished the event with a record of 3-2 having lost to the state champion and state runner-up. Not bad for a girl who started November weighing 150 pounds.
"I've been wanting to do this since ninth grade, but I was so busy with other things. Now I was in 12th grade and I was like I'm a senior now and I am doing it this year or nothing else. The season was great."
Alexander was not sure what would going to occur once she went out for the team, but neither did head coach Greg Frey.
"She didn't know what to expect and I didn't know what to expect," said Frey, who has never coached a girl prior to this year in his 29-year coaching career. "It was a two way street on that."
Frey also wondered how his female wrestler would handle the practices and the daily routines in the wrestling room. He came out pleasantly surprised.
"She worked harder than some of the guys on the team and picked up on the moves pretty well which surprised me," he said. "The majority of girls I don't think could have done what she has done. It is tough with the schedules and practices here."
Things were not going in Alexander's favor heading into last weekend's competition. She was sick two days prior to the event, got lost going to the event, got only two to three hours of sleep and was very hungry. To top it all off she had to go against the eventual state champion from Havelock in her first round match, who had been wrestling for six years.
Alexander, who would like to wrestle at UNC-Pembroke, or at least practice with the team, was actually beating the girl from Havelock, 5-0 in the second period, but got pinned in the third period. Despite the defeat, she was still happy with her performance in the first round.
"Her coach was looking like he was sweating bullets because he thought I was going to beat her," she said with a laugh.
Alexander's will to be on the team appeared to be have been a hot topic around the halls at MHS. Rumors got around that Alexander was going to try out for the wrestling team and those rumors became a reality on the first day of practice back in the fall.
"I just shocked everyone I believe," she said. "When I came in he (Frey) is like now look, I'm here to tell you now that you will be doing everything that the guys do and you are not getting any special treatment."
Frey admitted that the senior grappler did not get any special treatment, but that was the last thing Alexander wanted. She just wanted to be recognized as just another wrestler and not the only girl out on the mat.
"No, I wanted to do exactly what they did because I don't like handouts," she said. "If they are doing the work than I ought to be doing it as well. It would not be fair just because I am a girl. I am human."
Frey had the same thing in mind.
"I told her in order to be on the team she was going to have to do what the guys did," he said. "There would be no slacking off or sitting her on the side and everyone would be treated equal. She said she would accept that."
It might have taken awhile for some of the male wrestlers to get adjusted to having Alexander around. Some might have thought she might last a week, but she decided to have a longer stay with the team.
"It changed a lot from the beginning," she said. "At the start they were looking at me like I was a joke and I started doing it and coming to practice and they were probably like I guess she is going to stay here. It came more like a family instead of a team as the year went on."
Being tutored by one of the state's best in Frey, Alexander learned a lot from the veteran coach and found out first hand what hard work was all about. Although some of Frey's practices were fairly tough and rigorous, she knew she was in the right place.
"I thought this is exactly what I need," she said. "Even though it was hard and strenuous it was pushing me and everyday after practice I was like I made it. Everyday is an accomplishment and it something to feel good about."
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She's officially a pioneer
Not only is Haise the only female working wrestling matches in state,
she also has top international ranking
BY TOM ALLEGRA
STAFF WRITER
March 2, 2005
The parents of most athletes at some point are critical of the
officiating in their children's events. Few do more than scowl.
Marcia Haise is one of the few.
The mother of two former Babylon High School wrestlers, Haise decided
23 years ago that she would rather make the right calls than complain
about the wrong ones. So she started attending clinics and obtained her
Greco-Roman and freestyle officials' license.
Haise's proactive response has led to some singular achievements. She
is the only female wrestling official in the state, and last year became the
first woman to officiate the Nassau County wrestling finals and to call
Suffolk varsity matches.
Haise officiated a women's wrestling exhibition at the Olympic venue in
Athens in January 2004, and last June became the first woman to
officiate the U.S. Olympic trials.
Not bad for somebody who didn't watch wrestling until her freshman year
at Syracuse. That's where she met future husband Terry Haise, a former
Pennsylvania state champ and a top-notch 123-pounder.
Haise spent the next 18 years keeping scorebooks and timing matches,
but it wasn't until 1982 that she entered the officiating ranks. Tony Melosci,
clinician for Kid Wrestling program in Freeport, noticed her passion
for the sport and asked her to get involved. What began as a favor blossomed
into a career.
"When I first started, I just thought I was going to be a help because
I knew they were always shorthanded," Haise said. "I never thought of
myself as trying to make the Olympics. I was just doing it so the right person
would win because the right calls were made."
The salutatorian and president of her senior class in 1963 at Tuckahoe
High in Westchester, Haise has made enough right calls to earn the highest
ranking a Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling official can earn (M1-E)
under the Federation International Lutte Amateur.
"She's walked right up the ladder," said St. James resident Bill
Starke, a wrestling referee for 39 years and director of the state officials'
association. "She knows the sport very, very well."
That doesn't mean Haise hasn't had detractors because of her gender. In
1983, the Empire State Games' officiating director did not assign her
to work the finals. Haise thought the omission was deliberate.
"I was disappointed I hadn't been chosen," she said, "and my concept
was I was going to work to prove that man wrong."
She also is disappointed that she has not been selected to work the
Olympics even though she has officiated 12 world championships, as well as the
bouts of such international standouts as Rulon Gardner, Aleksandr Karelin and
Cael Sanderson.
Partly as a result of what she considered an Olympic snub, Haise has
begun to officiate more scholastic meets. She couldn't do that until her sons
-
Jeff, the 1987 state champion at 98 pounds, and Brian, a 1995 alumnus -
graduated from Babylon and her husband retired as Freeport's wrestling
coach in 1995. Marcia Haise was thrilled that women were included in the 2004
Games in Athens and that more girls are getting into wrestling. Still,
her Olympic frustration lingers.
"I think I'm going to re-evaluate my position [as an international
official] right now," said Haise, noting she will spend less time officiating
international competition and instead work more national and scholastic
events. "As time goes by, there are certain goals that become more
realistic to obtain."
Among them is a spot in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, to which
her husband was inducted as a coach. Whether or not she gets to work the
Olympics, Haise has made a name for herself in wrestling circles.
"If I didn't aim for the Olympics," she said, "I might never have
gotten as far as I did."
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2005 NCS Girls Wrestling Championship - Finals Photos and Place Winners:
Final Results of the Texas UIL 2005 Girls State Wrestling Matches:
Brackets for the Texas UIL 2005 Girls State Wrestling Matches: