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Finding foes is a problem for George School wrestler
By Don Beideman 3/14/05
Inquirer Suburban Staff
Lauralee Lightwood-Mater can still remember the words of the Bethlehem middle school wrestling coach when she told him in seventh grade that she wanted to wrestle.
"He gave me a hard time, saying they didn't let girls on the team... [that] girls weren't strong enough to wrestle," said Lightwood-Mater. But the coach didn't realize how determined Lightwood-Mater was. When the coach continued to delay on her request to join the team, she decided to take care of the situation herself.
"I went to the library and printed out a copy of Title IX to show him," Lightwood-Mater said.
It was a reminder: The 1972 amendment to a federal education law requires gender equity for boys and girls in any educational program, including sports.
The coach reluctantly relented, helping launch Lightwood-Mater's wrestling career, one that is still going despite the ups and downs of her simply being a female in a predominantly male sport.
One of the ups came when Lightwood-Mater transferred to the George School to follow in her older brother's footsteps. It so happened that the school had established a girls' wrestling team.
"There were about five girls who showed up; two gave it up and found other sports," said the 16-year-old Lightwood-Mater. "The workouts were tough. It wasn't for sissies."
No sissy, she stuck it out, and earned a varsity letter.
Then came a downer. Finding girls' teams to wrestle proved difficult so the private school in Newtown, Bucks County, dropped the team this year.
That didn't stop Lightwood-Mater, who approached Pacho Gutierrez, the school's wrestling coach.
"Lauralee comes from Bethlehem, a big wrestling area," said Gutierrez. "She was an experienced wrestler, and we knew it was frustrating for her [trying to find girls to wrestle], so we made room for her on the boys' team. I think she feels comfortable on the team."
Although a team member, her opportunities to wrestle this season were limited to practices and tournaments outside of school. But Gutierrez says her year wasn't wasted, because she learned a number of new moves.
"She's learned to disguise her moves," Gutierrez said. "She very strong but we're trying to make her a finesse wrestler, because she's not going to be able to overpower everyone."
On March 5, Lightwood-Mater won a gold medal at the Middle Atlantic Women's Championships in Lancaster, wrestling in the high school 130-pound class. She pinned both of her opponents.
"I lost 10 pounds by accident," said Lightwood-Mater, who wrestled in the meet at 126 pounds. She usually wrestles at 135 pounds.
Workouts with her male George School wrestling teammates has never bothered the 5-foot-4 Lightwood-Mater, who also plays center field in softball and goalie in field hockey.
"I wear a singlet just like the boys but I wear a tank top underneath it because the singlet is a little revealing. I'm not that attractive when I'm on the mat. I don't wear any makeup," she said with a laugh.
She puts her long curly hair under a cap. Otherwise, it gets in her way.
Once a coach told her that he was afraid she would get hurt. Her response: "Aren't you afraid the boys will get hurt?"
Her parents, Marcie Lightwood and Gene Mater, strongly support her choice to wrestle, although it came as a surprise to them. "She hadn't discussed it with us until one night at the dinner table she said she had gone out for the team," Mater said.
Marcie Lightwood admits watching her daughter's first match in middle school was not a pleasant experience. Lightwood-Mater suffered a black eye from her opponent's knee, and the coach halted the match.
"It was hard to watch; I was horrified that she was wrestling boys," Lightwood said. "When she got hit I figured she'd call for her mommy. She did. I thought it was just a tough girl's act, and she would give it up. But she was just angry [after the match] and wasn't about to give it up."
Mater says a childhood incident is indicative of his daughter's determination. When she was 2, Lightwood-Mater was having a problem with a task. When her father offered his help she quickly let him know it wasn't needed.
"I do it myself," she replied emphatically.
She's been doing it that way ever since.
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AREA SPORTS ROUNDUP
Hesperia girls place at state wrestling
FROM STAFF REPORTS 3/14/05
SAN MARINO — The high school wrestling season isn't over yet.
A week ago, the boys completed their regular season and on Sunday, it was the girls' turn to compete for the big prize.
And achieving that goal was Hesperia's Jennifer Goforth. Goforth took first at 120 pounds at the 2005 USGWA California Southern California State Championships at San Marino High on Sunday.
Five other Scorpions also placed at the state tournament. Taking second place at 100 pounds was Christine Condon. Mallory Lucero (105), Rebecca Grimm (126) and EddieMay Viodes (140) all took third. Lisa Brooksher finished fourth.
Also placing was sixth- grader Sophia LaBrosse. She finished third at 90 pounds.
All seven Hesperia athletes qualified for the USGWA National Championships next week in Detroit.