Tomahawk wrestlers Alyssa Lampe, 17, and her brother Anthony, 18, take a break from their workout in the weight room at the high school. Corey Schjoth/Wausau Daily Herald News
High school wrestling: Lampe siblings focused on winning, not breaking new ground
By Jacey Zembal 12/15/05
Wausau Daily Herald
| Tomahawk wrestlers Alyssa Lampe, 17, and her brother Anthony, 18, take a break from their workout in the weight room at the high school. Corey Schjoth/Wausau Daily Herald |
TOMAHAWK -- Tomahawk freshman Nick Hagar dreamed of one day practicing alongside Anthony and Alyssa Lampe when he got to high school.
Hagar, like many others, followed the siblings as Alyssa became the first girl to win a match in the WIAA Division 2 state tournament two years ago and Anthony finished fourth at state last year.
After wrestling against both of them this year in practice, Hagar has learned their wrestling styles are different and, probably more importantly, that they are just regular people.
"I used to think they were amazing people and I wanted to be just like them," Hagar said. "Now, I'm wrestling with them. They are just normal people, but they are completely talented in wrestling. I don't think of Alyssa as a girl anymore. She is just a wrestler."
The seniors, meanwhile, have etched their mark at Tomahawk as both are on track to compete at the WIAA state level in all three of their sports -- cross country, wrestling and track.
The next step for the duo is to compete for state titles in wrestling, with Alyssa at 103 pounds and Anthony at 119.
"Absolutely, the oddity has worn off," Tomahawk co-coach Bob Garrou said. "I've been coaching Alyssa and Anthony since kindergarten and, I think at first, people were surprised that a boy and girl could be so tough.
"Alyssa has more than enough ability to do it and Anthony is just an extreme talent when it comes to wrestling. The biggest thing with Anthony is to keep focused."
Alyssa has created state history for being the most successful girls wrestler against the boys.
"People are just treating me as a good wrestler, and not a girl who wrestles," Alyssa said. "Going to state helps with the oddity going away. Now, I'm just trying to concentrate on winning a state title."
Alyssa likely will create a new chapter Saturday in the Tomahawk Invite by earning her 100th varsity victory, joining eight others in school history over the century mark, including her brother.
"I haven't really thought about wins or records, so getting my 100th this weekend is news to me," Alyssa said. "I didn't think I'd have this kind of career when I first started. I wasn't very good my freshman year, so I didn't have high expectations for myself. I just wanted to make varsity."
Garrou said there are 17 colleges with women's wrestling, and all would love to have Alyssa. She has plenty of time to make her decision, but is leaning toward attending Northern Michigan, which also has a U.S. Olympic training center.
Nothing she achieves surprises her coaches and teammates any more.
"After watching Alyssa, I'm convinced that women can handle the pressure better than men," Garrou said. "She takes it like it is nothing. She is used to the pressure and the boys she wrestles are not. She is tougher than nails."
Anthony and Alyssa have gone through the typical ups-and-downs of being brother-sister, but support each other's success.
"Even a couple of days ago, someone was talking about all that she has done," said Anthony, a year older. "It's good that I can be in the background sometimes. I like being the underdog."
Added Alyssa: "We are more accepting of each other's success now."
What has helped is Anthony emerging from the shadows in the last eight months. He won the Division 2 state title in the 800 meters last June and followed with a successful cross country season that ended at the state meet.
In wrestling, Anthony is poised to move into the top 2 all-time in wins at Tomahawk, joining former state champion Josh Chelf (161 wins).
Alyssa, meanwhile, could finish third all-time if she matches the success of her junior season.
"I watched Chelf throughout his high school career, so I got to see how he did it and he helped me out," Anthony said. "Right now, I'm focused on winning state, but we have Park Falls (today) and I'm thinking about the Lumberjack Conference meet."
The Lampes have commented in the past how Zach Hagar, a former Tomahawk state champion and Nick's older brother, once took them under his wing when they were freshmen.
Now, the Lampes are doing the same with Nick Hagar.
"Anthony is more of an outside wrestler and is rougher and will come at you, while Alyssa is an inside wrestler," Nick Hagar said. "She has a different range of moves. I'm blessed to wrestle against them because I see two different looks."
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Peshtigo dominates Wabeno tourney
By Vern Hollister - Forest Republican Sports 12/16/05
Wabeno top finisher from Northern Lakes Conference
Peshtigo took the team title at the 32nd Logroller Invitational Saturday with twelve wrestlers in the top six places. The Bulldogs also claimed three individual championships, the same number as third place finisher, Tomahawk. Gillett/Suring placed second. Rhinelander, with a stronger squad than a year ago, nailed the fourth team spot.
Host Wabeno led the five Northern Lakes Conference (NLC) schools that have wrestling programs to finish sixth.
"The tournament went very well," Wabeno head coach John Twardowski said. "Terri Palubicki (tournament manager) did an awesome job. There was lots of fan support."
Crandon wrestler Chad Cracraft at 215 repeated as an individual champion after stepping up a weight class from 189. He led a Cardinals team that has been decimated by more injuries than the Green Bay Packers. Only four of about a dozen wrestlers were able to compete, and one, Brock Kircher, wrestled three matches, winning his first, despite injury. Marc Seils, champion a year ago at 119, couldn't compete because of a shoulder injury.
Devan Kirby from Three Lakes/Northland Pines was the only NLC wrestler other than Cracraft to win an individual championship. Four conference wrestlers reached the finals but ended up losing their final match.
Wabeno's Adam Gardebrecht, champion at 112 last year, moved up a weight class and placed fourth.
"He was in a tough division," Twardowski said. "Actually, our guys did pretty well. They finished in expected positions. I expected Evan Shepard to reach the finals."
After decision victories in the quarter and semi-finals, Shepard met unbeaten Peshtigo wrestler Brian Cisar. The closely contested match ended 5-3 when Shepard gave up a release point and Cisar avoided a takedown in the final minute. "Almost isn't good enough," Shepard said.
According to Elcho coach Bob Smith, he also did not have a full contingent due to both injury and "the flu." Two wrestlers placed fifth, and two, Nathan Raith and Zach Schuett, reached the finals and came in second. Schuett, defending his 145-pound champi onship and undefeated going into the finals, was upset by Gillett/Suring wrestler Joe Farrell. Raith went against Cracraft.
Jake Poling, a Wabeno ninth grader, placed second in the 103-pound class. He fell to a Peshtigo wrestler in the finals.
In two highlight matches, Alyssa Lampe from Tomahawk pinned her last two wrestlers to win the 112-pound division, and Rhinelander's Eddie Stefonek eventually won a brutal match-up against Peshtigo's Jon Bruso. Stefonek fended off the bull rushes of the powerful Bruso who twice was called for head-butting. Stefonek managed a 4-2 victory to run his record to 11-0 and dethrone defending 160-pound champion Bruso.
Team scores: Peshtigo, 190.5; Gillett/Suring, 168.5; Tomahawk, 145; Rhinelander, 119.5; Kingsford, 111; Wabeno, 94.5; West Iron County, 78; Elcho, 76; Gwinn, 72.5; Norway, 71; Three Lakes/Northland Pines, 55; Crivitz, 44.5; Menominee, 36; Crandon, 32; Florence, 16.
NLC individual places: Crandon: 215: Chad Cracraft, first; Elcho: 145: Zach Schuett, second; 215: Nathan Raith, second; 160: Taylor Flannery, fifth; 275: John Riemer, fifth; Florence: 103: Jule Glime, fifth; 160: Travis Bell, sixth; Three Lakes/Northland Pines: 189: Devan Kirby, first; 145: Jason Briggs, fourth; 215: Josh Rogers, sixth; Wabeno: 103: Jake Poling, second; 171: Evan Shepard, second; 119: Adam Gardebrecht, fourth; 130: Matt Therrian, fourth; 112: Jake Twardowski, fifth; 135: Mike Poling, fifth; 189: Jesse Peterson, fifth.
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Wausau Daily Herald 12/7/05
TOMAHAWK -- Anthony Lampe began the match for Tomahawk with a technical fall at 119 pounds and sister Alyssa wrapped up the night with a pin at 112 as the Hatchets edged Mosinee 38-36 in nonconference wrestling action Thursday.
"It's nice to have that kind of connection," said Tomahawk coach Bob Skubal. "Anthony got us going like we needed and Alyssa ended like we wanted.''
Saubal said another key match was at 171 pounds when Dan Silvernale was trailing 1-0 with 30 seconds left, but recorded an escape and takedown to earn a 3-1 victory.
103: Dylan Gorman (M) won by forfeit; 112: Alyssa Lampe (T) p. Jordan Schraugnagel; x-119: Anthony Lampe (T) tech. fall Andy Mullins 17-2; 125: Jordan Schulte (M) p. Nick VanStrydonk; 130: Nick Hagar (T) p. Robert Lawson; 135: Chuck Ehster (M) p. Scott Harkness; 140: Double forfeit; 145: Jason Hasenfang (M) p. Taylor Schmidtbauer; 152: Nick Baur (M) p. Blair Otterholt; 171: Dan Silvernale (T) def. Craig Martens 3-1; 189: Kyle Schultz (T) pin. Gered Boehm; 215: Jeremiah Moran (T) won by forfeit; 275: Kevin Murphy (T) won by forfeit.
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Park Falls wrestlers top Tomahawk
The Daily Press
Friday, December 16th, 2005 10:05:37 AM
PARK FALLS — The Park Falls Cardinals wrestling team got their Lumberjack Conference dual meet season started with a bang, as they downed Tomahawk 42-29 on Thursday.
The Cardinals picked up three pins, a forfeit and a technical fall among their nine wins. That proved to be more than enough ammo to take down Tomahawk.
"We've got a pretty young team butwe wrestled pretty well tonight," said Park Falls coach John Oswald.
At 103, Tomahawk's Alyssa Lampe picked up a pin as she stuck Matt Jeffers in 31 seconds. The Cardinals got those points back at 112 as Stacy Popjoy received a forfeit.
Jay Plemon moved up from 112 to challenge Tomahawk's Anthony Lampe at 119 and hung in against him until Lampe scored a late second-period pin in 3:47. At 125, the Cardinals' Jake Balzer got a pin of Nick Van Strydonk in 2:53.
Tomahawk's Nick Hager came up with a pin at 130, sticking Ben Weinberger in 2:28. But Park Falls would take over from there, claiming the next five weight classes.
Luke Williams started it off at 135 with a major decision of Scott Harnkess, winning 13-0. Mitch Seitz followed that up at 140 with an 8-6 overtime decision of Carl Grodevant and Frosty Dane pinned Taylor Schmidtbauer 1:52 into their 145 match.
Also picking up a first-period pin was Dustin Sales at 152, as he polished off Blair Otterholt in 50 seconds. Bryan Jeffers capped that run off with a 20-4 technical fall of Eric Bartelt at 160.
Tomahawk got a win at 171, as Dan Silvernale stuck Mark Kiewig in 3:29. Zach Langner prevailed at 189 for Park Falls, decisioning Kyle Schultz 6-3 and Tomahawk's Jeremiah Moran took his 215 match with John Rusch via pinfall in 2:14.
At heavyweight, Nate Diehl notched a 10-3 win over the Hatchets' Kevin Murphy.
The Cardinals are at the 23-team Marty Loy Classic in Fond du Lac on Saturday.
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Wrestlers score in final home meet
By Ben Stuart
Staff Writer 12/1/05
|
Several Mariner wrestlers grabbed the chance to impress the home crowd for the last time this season on Nov. 22 but a deep and talented Panther team walked away with the win.
Skyview won eight of 14 matches in the varsity dual meet, while Homer won five including three forfeits. Skyview won the dual meet 46-29.
Homer’s Simeon Daigle continued to dominate the 130-pound weight division, scoring a technical fall victory over Luke Morse, 15-0.
Daigle controlled the match early, scoring a takedown and a near fall in the first period, but seemed a bit disappointed after the victory for not getting the pin.
Through most of the second and third periods, Daigle kept Morse on his back, but he couldn’t quite get both shoulder blades down.
“In a dual meet you get six team points for a pin and five for a tech fall. So we want our wrestlers to score pins whenever possible,” said Head Wrestling Coach Chris Perk. “Simeon needs to work on putting people away when he gets them on their backs.”
Katie Connor, on the other hand, did just that in the third period against Dan Maciariello in the 112-pound division.
Connor led 9-8 going into the third period as the two wrestlers swapped reversals, escapes and takedowns in one of the most thrilling matches of the night.
Connor, spurred on by the loud home crowd, then took control of the third period, scoring on a reversal and two near falls before finally putting Maciariello away.
Perk said Connor’s strong work ethic has shown dividends this year.
“Katie has really had a good start to the season,” Perk said. “In two years she has only missed one day of practice, so her dedication is paying off. She is very strong for a 112 pounder.”
Ben Daigle, Robby Brymer and Zack Mayes all won by forfeit.
Tom Appelhanz showed improvement in the 119-pound division, giving one of the state’s best wrestlers, Skyview’s Michaela Hutchison, all she could handle through much of their match.
Applehanz scored four points on escapes throughout the match, but Hutchison’s experience earned her a 7-4 victory.
In exhibition matches, Ben Daigle scored an easy technical fall victory over fellow 103-pounder Tyler Sutherland in the second period.
Ely Roche turned the table on Skyview’s Conrad Cobb, pinning him at the 1:04 mark of the first period.
And Brittney Wyatt pinned Ninilchik’s Tyler Sutherland early in the first period, as well.
For the next two months the Mariners’ final eight meets and tournaments of the season take place on the road.
Homer travels to Soldotna for a dual meet Friday. The conference championships are in Palmer Jan. 27-28, and the 4A State Championships is scheduled for Feb. 2-3 at Chugiak High School.
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Wrestler pins goals on hard work, dedication
By Sean Pearson
Homer Tribune
Mariner wrestler Katie Connor isn’t breaking any new ground on the high
school wrestling scene; former Homer and Olympic wrestler Tela
O’Donnell already did quite a bit to clear the way for female wrestlers in the
state of Alaska. In fact, O’Donnell probably did more than her fair share to
pave the way for female wrestlers all over the nation. That’s fine with
Connor; she just enjoys wrestling.
“This is my fourth year wrestling,” the Homer sophomore said. “I
wrestled with Popeye Wrestling for three years and helped to coach one year.”
Connor said she likes the physical activity of wrestling and has
started turning a few heads with her most recent performances on the mat.
“I can’t really say if I enjoy winning yet, because I just started,”
Connor said. “I really haven’t won very many matches yet.”
That may change very soon.
Connor, who wrestles at 112 pounds, most picked up a win Tuesday at the
Homer meet against Skyview and Ninilchik. Connor pinned Skyview’s Dan
Maciariello in the third round and picked up six points for the
Mariners.
“Katie is really running on all cylinders this season,” said Chris
Perk, Homer wrestling coach. “She has only missed one practice in the past
two seasons and did the freestyle season last spring.”
Perk said he appreciates Connor’s hard work in practice and the respect
she shows her coaches and teammates.
“Katie listens when she is out on the floor,” Perk said. “That makes
her very coachable. She has also developed some good hip coordination so
she can recover from dangerous positions quickly.”
Connor said her goal for this year is to make state, but she is quick
to point out that she will be happy enough to just beat every girl she can
along the way.“I’ve been working really hard on making state,” Connor said. “I’m sure
I won’t be able to beat all the guys, but I want to beat every girl I
can. And if I don’t make it to state this year, I will next year.”
Currently, Connor’s toughest competition in that realm is Skyview’s
Michaela Hutchison, who is working to get down to the 112-pound weight class,
where Connor plans to stay.
“I plan on staying at 112 pounds,” she said. “It’s a good weight for
me.”
The 112-pound mark may be a good weight for her, but Connor said she
still stresses about making weight before a meet.
“I think that’s the worst part about wrestling,” Connor said. “I
haven’t missed weight yet, but there’s always that feeling of anxiety about
making it under the wire.”
Regardless of the anxiety about making weight, Connor said she doesn’t
go the route of trying to “spit off” enough saliva to make weight.
“I usually don’t chew Starburst or anything like that to try to make
weight,” Connor said. “If I put candy in my mouth, I’m just going to
eat it.
That kind of defeats the purpose.”
Connor said she occasionally runs into a few problems with attitudes
from male wrestlers she is pitted against, but appears to take it all in
stride.
“Some of the guys forfeit because they either won’t wrestle girls or
their parents won’t allow them to or something,” she said. “Some guys come
out thinking, ‘Man this is going to be so easy.’ Then I take them down and
put them on their back, and they’re like ‘oh crap.’ Then they start picking
things up a little bit after that.”
According to Perk, Connor has gained a fair amount of respect among her
teammates, who also do their best to challenge her on the mat.
“Katie has a good group around her to practice with in our mat room,”
Perk said. “She gets a variety of practice partners, and that has helped her
improve.”
At last Tuesday’s meet, Simeon Daigle once again defended his 130-pound
division with a technical-fall win over Skyview’s Luke Morse. In
exhibition matches, Ben Daigle defeated Tyler Sutherland of Ninilchik at 103
pounds, while Ely Roche pinned Panther Conrad Cobb in the 215-pound division.
John Chihuly of Ninilchik also won in the 215-pound weight class, pinning
Kenny Mahan of Skyview. Austin Vanderford, another Ninilchik Wolverine pinned
John Bouman of Homer at 140 pounds.
Freshman Brittney Wyatt picked up another win in the 112-pound class,
pinning Tyler Sutherland in the first round.
The Mariners travel to Soldotna on Friday to take on the Stars in a
dual meet at 6:30 p.m. Perk said he is hoping to see Igor Muraro back in
action after Muraro strained a muscle two weeks ago. The Mariners will also
get some added help with the return of Patrick Lane and Camron Hagen.