Tonya Verbeek wrestled her way to the FISU games in Izmir, Turkey
News Page
Thrice is nice for Brock's forceful wrestlers
By Rob Terpstra
Published: Tuesday, May 24, 2005
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Tonya Verbeek wrestled her way to the FISU games in Izmir, Turkey |
One team, two days, three golds, too much Brock.
Last Saturday in Renfrew, Ont., Jamie Macari defeated Mikheil Japaridze in the 55kg weight class to win the Senior Nationals. For his efforts, Macari was named the Most Outstanding Male Wrestler and received an emphatic standing ovation from the venue's spectators.
Silver medallist at last year's Olympics, Tonya Verbeek, matched Macari's efforts at the Senior Nationals in the 55kg weight division, defeating university veteran Brit Laverdure from the University of Calgary. Laverdure had won the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) gold medal over Brock's Heather Sweezey in early March.
With payback for her training partner affirmed in her mind, Verbeek went out the next day and did it again. Laverdure was overmatched in the bout, losing 6-0, 1-1 to the Olympian. Verbeek will now represent Canada at La Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) Games in Izmir, Turkey from Aug. 11-21. Verbeek was also named the Wrestler of the Year, concluding a successful year by anyone's standards.
"We knew Tonya should win and not have a lot of difficulty," Brock wrestling coach Richard DesChatelets said. "The preparation is not as great."
Matching Verbeek's efforts was Macari, who defeated Anthony Kulak from the University of Alberta, to claim his spot on the FISU team. The third year Brock wrestler won easily by scores of 6-0, 1-1 and 6-0 in the three round affair. Macari has now captured Ontario University Athletics (OUA) gold, CIS gold, the Senior Nationals gold and a spot on FISU's world stage this year.
"Jamie Macari, at 55 kilos, was outstanding," DesChatelets said. "He had his best performance ever and it showed that he really wanted to win. He came out in the final against Mikheil Japaridze ... and it was a brilliant performance on his part."
The third spot for Brock on the FISU team was captured by Ryan Weicker, the five time CIS champion. He defeated teammate Cleo Ncube 1-1, 6-0 and 3-1.
The remainder of the results at the Senior Nationals were positive for the team, finishing second to a strong Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club. DesChatelets said that the club is the only one in B.C. and therefore showcases a lot more talent than any another club in the nation would.
"It's a notch up," DesChatelets said. "Basically, they commit to be strictly athletes, they are all carded athletes, they aren't rich, but they get by, they just focus on wrestling, so it's definitely a notch up from the CIS championships."
The overall performance, I think, was pretty good," DesChatelets said. "We placed second in Canada and considering what we have and what British Columbia has, I think it's a very good performance."
Last year, Brock's wrestling club had finished first for the first time and came only a few matches short this year. The team was without Olympian Evan MacDonald, who was injured for the weekend. He will have a chance later in the year at the World Championships to compete in a wrestle-off.
At the 60kg weight class, Saeed Azarbayjani came up just short against Guivi Sissaouri, a long time rival, world champion and Olympian. Sissaouri will be representing Canada at the upcoming FISU Games.
In the 66kg weight class at the Senior Nationals, Ncube placed fourth, losing his semifinal match and his third place match to close out his competition.
Wrestling in the 84kg division, Adam Fera finished third.
"Adam had an outstanding performance," DesChatelets said. "He lost by one point to Travis Cross [the eventual winner], and then Adam went on to place third, which was a very good accomplishment."
At 96kg, Mike Neufeld, a former gold medallist at 90kg in CIS competition, placed fourth.
Closing out the men's team was Steve Snijders, wrestling at 120kg. Snijders finished fifth in the division.
"All the matches that we lost," DesChatelets said, "we lost in the last second and it could have went either way."
For the women, Brock's Alana King wrestled extremely well, losing in the 48kg gold medal match to Carol Huynh from the Burnaby Wrestling Club.
At 51kg, Liz Martindale finished sixth in a division won by Erica Sharp, the five time CIS champion and Verbeek foe.
Wrestling at 63kg, Megan Dolan finished fifth in a strong division. Finishing just ahead of her in fourth was Heidi Kulak, half of the wrestling family at the University of Alberta.
The team continues to practise daily at Brock, preparing for a number of events. Besides the FISU Games, some members will be participating in an Ontario training camp in Iran in June and the Canada Cup in July.
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Born to Wrestle
EASTVALE: Jackie Cataline, 16, recently finished third in a national competition.
May 23, 2005
By NICOLE BUZZARD / The Press-Enterprise
TOWNSFOLK
JACKIE CATALINE
AGE: 16
RESIDENCE: Eastvale
ACTIVITIES: The award-winning wrestler will head to the U.S. Olympic
Training Center this summer.
Caitlin M. Kelly / The Press-Enterprise |
EASTVALE - Not even a broken nose will deter Jackie Cataline.
The 16-year-old Eastvale freestyle wrestler hopes to compete in the
2008 Summer Olympics. Even the recent injury, which left dark bruises under
both her eyes, won't stop her from reaching her goal.
"I really want to earn a gold medal someday," she said. "I think it
would be so cool to do so well as a female in a male-dominated sport."
She was injured during her first match at a recent U.S. Open Nationals
tournament in Las Vegas. She recovered quickly and went on to win the
match and finish third at the tournament.
"I just got back up and wanted to finish it," she said. "I was so
excited to win."
Jackie, who wants to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics, demonstrates wrestling moves on one of her five brothers, Joseph, at their home. |
It wasn't the first time Jackie was injured in competition.
"Hopefully this will be my worst injury," she said. "I've had bent-back
fingers, some black eyes, but nothing major. You just grow accustomed
to the injuries."
Female wrestling is starting to garner more attention. In 2004, the
sport was added to the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
During last year's games, Jackie waited in anticipation to see the
female wrestlers on TV.
"When they wrestled in Athens, it was about 2 a.m. our time," her
mother, Stephanie Cataline, said. "She was so excited about it she came into
our bedroom and woke us up to watch it with her. I remember her saying to
us that this is what she was going to do someday."
Jackie said she is now ranked third in the nation after her appearance
in Las Vegas.
"I was the youngest competitor there," she said proudly. "The rest of
the girls were older and had college experience."
This summer she will build on her own experience. She is heading off to
the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The Norco High School
student started on a path of independent study a few months ago to
focus on the sport. She also dreams of going off to college and becoming a
veterinarian.
Wrestling runs in the Cataline family, which moved to Eastvale about
eight months ago from Long Beach. Father Michael Cataline, a competitive
wrestler himself, acted as the assistant coach at Millikan High School in Long
Beach. The Orange County deputy sheriff also had taught martial arts for many
years.
All of Jackie's five brothers -- Richard, 19, Joseph, 18, Nikko, 15,
Jake, 14, and Dylan, 13 -- have competed in the sport and received awards for
their efforts. Her sisters, Ashley, 18, and Tiffany, 16, are also
sports-minded, running track and joining the school swim teams.
"I bet most moms don't want their kids to roughhouse, but practicing
wrestling techniques is part of our daily routine," said Stephanie.
The family works out in the makeshift training center in the garage. A
red mat covers the concrete, and numerous pictures and awards cover the
walls.
Jackie practices moves such as the dragon tail sweep, a fireman's carry
and the high crotch lift every day for about 90 minutes, usually using her
brothers as opponents.
"I'm glad that she's surpassed me, but at the same time I wish I was up
there with her," said older brother Joseph.
Her interest in sports began when she was 5 and started to learn
martial arts. By age 12 she became interested in wrestling after watching her
father coach her older brothers.
"I saw what they were doing and wanted to try it," she said. "I guess I
just liked the idea of beating up the boys."
She went on to compete against boys at high school matches.
"I think a lot of my opponents underestimated me because they just saw
me as this girl and figured I couldn't keep up," she said.
She has won many titles over the years, including Varsity League
Champion in 2004 at Millikan High and Outstanding Wrestler at the Body Bar Women's
FILA Junior Nationals for 2005. She also qualified twice for CIF postseason
tournaments while at Millikan.
"We dealt with a lot of naysayers, some old-school-type coaches that
would say that this is a boys sport, but she kept at it," said father
Michael.
Both of her parents support her decision to participate in the
aggressive sport.
"She's always been very independent and levelheaded, and if this is
what she wants to do, we're going to support her," Stephanie said. "And it's
nice for a mom to know that her daughter can protect herself."
In the next few months, she will travel to Michigan and Lithuania.
"I'm so excited for all of this," she said. "It's so cool."
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World Team Trials preview at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
5/25/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
For a weight class that is not contested in the Olympic Games, the field is very deep in the United States at 51 kg/112.25 pounds. The athletes who competed at this division at the 2005 U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas, Nev. had a tremendous level of experience and talent, including both veterans and young prospects. This division is contested at the World Championships every year, except the Olympic year, and whoever emerges for the United States is expected to do very well this year.
Winning the U.S. Nationals was veteran Stephanie Murata of the Sunkist Kids, who captured her eighth national crown. However she has not been a national championsince 2002, when she extended her consecutive nationals win streak to seven in a row (1996-2002). Murata was second at the 2001 World Championships, and was fourth in the World Championships two other times. She has more experience than any of the women competing on the national level, and has not given up on her dream of winning a World title. Last year, a Special Wrestle-off was held in the summer to determine the No. 1 spot at this division, and Murata won that event as well.
Murata defeated two-time U.S. Nationals champion Malinda Ripley of the Sunkist Kids in the championship finals in Las Vegas this year. Ripley was aiming to drop down to 48 kg for the U.S. Nationals, but decided in the final week to stay up at 51 kg. It is possible that Ripley is still going to make the drop down for the World Team Trials. However, if she does stay up at this division, she will be expected to do very well. Ripley has yet to make a U.S. World Team, and is highly motivated to take the next step in her career.
2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong of the Sunkist Kids placed third at the U.S. Nationals. Her loss came in the semifinals to Ripley in a close 1-0, 1-0 battle. Last year, Wong moved up to 121 pounds in her Olympic quest, but she was probably not big enough for that division. At 112.25 pounds, she can compete with anybody in the world. She and her coaches are trying to find the magic that she had back in 2003, when Wong was able to put it all together and establish herself as an international contender. Her experience makes a big difference when she faces some of the young athletes who are emerging at this division.
Although she is still in college and is young in years, Mary Kelly of the New York AC is considered one of the veterans here. Kelly is part of the USOEC women’s university program at Northern Michigan, after attending two different colleges the previous season. She has been an age-group world medalist, and has placed at the Senior level since her high school days. Kelly was a Team USA member down at 48 kg in past seasons, but has moved up in weight for this season. She is hoping to have a breakthrough season, where she is able to put all of her talent and experience to the test.
The next two athletes in this division are young college students who are originally natives of Hawaii and have bright futures ahead of them. Kapua Torres of Pacific Univ. had her best season ever this year, including a fifth-place finish at the U.S. Nationals. She was impressive in winning the FILA Junior Nationals this year, where she will represent the USA at the Junior World meet. Torres defeated Debbi Sakai of the New York AC in the sixth place match, and also scored a win over Sakai at the Body Bar Nationals a few weeks earlier. Sakai had a strong season in 2004, taking second at both the U.S. Nationals and in the Special Wrestle-offs for this division. She has joined the team at the USOEC program at Northern Michigan this year. These athletes prove just how much talent and depth there is at this division at this time.
Taking the last qualifying spot from the U.S. Nationals by placing seventh is Maika Watanabe of Missouri Valley College. Watanabe had a successful college season this year, and has shown consistent progress on the Senior level. Only one other athlete has earned a spot in this field by winning a Regional event, Shandra Peterson of Iowa, who is a talented high school athlete.
There should be some good battles in this weight class during the Challenge Tournament, especially if none of the qualifiers decide to drop down in weight and test themselves at 48 kg. Another showdown between Ripley and Wong is possible, but athletes such as Kelly, Torres and Sakai hope to change that plan with a strong showing. Whoever survives this test will have her hands full with Murata, who has seemed to overcome the challenges of age and knows how to win. With experience and confidence on her side, it will be very difficult for anybody to beat Murata two out of three times in the Championship Series.
2005 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS AT 51 KG/112.25 LBS.
1st – Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Malinda Ripley, Colorado Springs, Colo.(Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-0
3rd – Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Mary Kelly, Mahomet, Ill. (New York AC), 1-3, 1-0, 5-0
5th – Kapua Torres, Kahuku, Hawaii (Pacific) dec. Debbi Sakai, Miliani, Hawaii (New York AC), 6-0, 6-1
7th – Maika Watanabe, Napa, Calif. (Missouri Valley) dec. Cheryl Wong, Croton, N.Y. (unattached), 1-0, 1-0
QUALIFIERS FOR 2005 WORLD TEAM TRIALS AT 51 KG/112.25 LBS.
U.S. Nationals Champion - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, second place – Malinda Ripley, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place – Mary Kelly, Mahomet, Ill. (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place – Elizabeth Torres, Kahuku, Hawaii (Pacific University)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place – Debbie Sakai, Miliani, Hawaii (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place – Maika Watanabe, Napa, Calif. (Missouri Valley)
Rocky Mountain Regional Champion – No entry at this weight class
Northern Plains Regional Champion – Shandra Peterson, Lake Mills, Iowa
Past World Team member – Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Past World Team member – Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
’04 Sunkist Kids International champion – Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
’04 NYAC Christmas Open champion – None, foreign champion
’05 Dave Schultz Memorial champion – None, foreign champion
International Tour medalist (within 2 yrs) –
*’03 World Cup silver medalist - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
*’04 World Cup silver medalist - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
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National champions Q&A: Stephanie Murata
5/25/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
For a seven-year stretch (1996-2002), Stephanie Murata won the U.S. Nationals every year, and was one of the true stars of U.S. women’s wrestling. She was able to win a World silver medal in 2001, and played an important role in helping build the United
States into a world power in the sport.
When the IOC announced that women’s wrestling would have just four weight classes at the 2004 Olympic Games, Murata was one of the athletes who were forced to change weight divisions. She moved up from her normal 112.25 pounds to 121 pounds and made a strong run for the Olympic team, but fell short of that goal.
This season, Murata has returned to the division where she has had her most success, and enters the World Team Trials as the No. 1 athlete in a very deep field at 51 kg/112.25 pounds.
TheMat.com sat down with Muirata to talk about her continued success and what the future holds for her within wrestling.
TheMat.com: How does it feel to win the U.S. Nationals again, after a few seasons since your last title?
Murata: Part of it is that I was at a different weight class those years. I knew it would be a challenge and would be different for me. I am more comfortable at this weight class and perform better at 51 kg. That said, it is good to be back as national champion.
TheMat.com: Why is it that 51 kg is the best weight for you?
Murata: I don’t think I was big enough at 55 kg. It is not about strength, but about the actual weight. The opponents are so much stronger there, and that extra weight that they carry makes a big difference. Everybody is a little more equal here at 51 kg. I can compete at the other weight, because I am strong enough, but not being as heavy makes a difference.
TheMat.com: How much does your experience give you an edge against some of the young talents in your division?
Murata: The more experience you have, the more times you are in the finals and are in competitive situations, the better you perform when put in those situations. That is the biggest edge, right there.
TheMat.com: What motivates you to continue competing?
Murata: The biggest thing are the two big goals that have eluded me, winning the World Championships and going to the Olympics. Neither happened for me. That is the biggest driving force for me.
TheMat.com: Do you plan on making a run for the 2008 Olympics?
Murata: I’m not planning on trying for the next Olympics. I plan to go to school and focus on other areas of my life. I want to focus on other things besides wrestling. I will concentrate on this World Championships, and hopefully will do very well.
TheMat.com: What is the biggest difference in women’s wrestling now, in comparison to when you started competing?
Murata: I think the women have improved a lot. Back then, there were a few dominant countries, and there was a big gap in ability to the developing countries. The ones that are developing have done a tremendous job and have come a long way. For example, in the World Cup last week, we wrestled against Venezuela. Nobody had an easy match. We had to wrestle; there was nothing given to us. That may not have been the case in the past. It is nice to see people strengthening their teams and being competitive.
TheMat.com: What affect have the new rules had on your wrestling, and do you like them?
Murata: I don’t know if I like them. Some of them are good. I don’t like them all. As far as my wrestling, they are fine. They don’t help or hinder me. It favors somebody who is explosive. If you push somebody off the mat, I don’t think it should be worth a point. It can be arbitrary. But only time will tell how effective they are. It is better to pick something and stick with it for awhile, so the fans can understand it. If the competitors have trouble understanding the rules, it is hard to be a spectator and try to know the sport.
TheMat.com: Do you still have fun wrestling?
Murata: Actually, that is what I like the most, the actual wrestling and the working out. That is the part that I like the best. I really don’t enjoy some of the other things quite as much.
TheMat.com: Are you excited about the World Team Trials this year?
Murata: I am anxious about the World Team Trials, so I don’t have to worry about the national competition any more. That is so you can focus on the international teams and the World Championships. However, you have to take it one step at a time. I want to get through the World Team Trials so I can know if I will be going to the World tournament this year.