News Page
Campbell County wrestler is one of a kind
Brownfield first girl to qualify for state meet
By Terry Boehmker
Post staff reporter 2/13/06
|
|
Priscilla Brownfield should draw a lot of attention when she competes in the Kentucky high school wrestling championships this week.
The Campbell County senior is the first female wrestler to qualify for the state tournament, but she doesn't want to cause a stir.
"I'd rather be in a little corner wrestling where nobody sees me," she said.
"I really don't do this for publicity. It's just something I do."
Brownfield received a berth in the state tournament for placing third in the 103-pound weight class at the 6th Region Tournament on Saturday at Simon Kenton High School.
She'll be one of 32 wrestlers competing for gold, silver and bronze medals in that weight class when the state tournament begins Thursday at Frankfort Civic Center.
Brownfield sees no reason why she can't make it to the final rounds on Saturday.
"I believe so, and my coach believes so," she said. "We definitely believe I can place."
Brownfield won three of four matches in the regional qualifier to raise her season record to 39-15. In the consolation finals, she defeated Simon Kenton freshman Robbie Vaughn, 5-3, to earn a bronze medal.
"That was probably the best match she had all day," said Campbell County coach Mike Bankemper. "In her first match she wasn't aggressive at all. It was like she had a mental block and couldn't get over it. But she finally came around and went after it."
|
The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for the state tournament. Brownfield had already clinched a berth when she took the mat against Vaughn, but she didn't take it easy.
Brownfield, 18, scored two points on a takedown in the first period and got another takedown in the second period to build a 5-0 lead.
"That was a big accomplishment for me," she said. "This year, I haven't been doing a lot of takedowns. I haven't wrestled as hard as I wanted to."
Vaughn scored two points on a reverse and one point on an escape to cut the lead to 5-3, but Brownfield held on for the win.
"That was my fourth time wrestling (Vaughn) and every single time we wrestled it went into double overtime or sudden death," she said. "This time I said, 'I'm going six full minutes, and that's it.' "
Brownfield said qualifying for state "relieves a lot of stress" after working six years to attain that goal.
She started wrestling when she was in the seventh grade and came up through the Campbell County feeder program. After sitting out her sophomore season with a dislocated left elbow, she wasn't able to make the Camels' starting lineup for last year's regional tournament.
Brownfield hurt her right elbow earlier this season, but she stayed in the starting lineup. She wears a protective wrap on her elbow, but she didn't let that hold her back during the regional tournament.
"I just had to get out there and say, 'I'm going to do this,' and if I don't at least I can say I went out and did everything I could to win," she said.
Earlier this season, the 4-foot-9 senior said she never had any qualms about competing against boys in such a physical contact sport.
"It just feels natural to me and I love the competition," she said. "It's not just a sense of going out and beating boys. It's the satisfaction of knowing I can win against another person."
Brownfield has received recruiting letters from several colleges that have women's wrestling programs. She plans to attend the University of Cumberlands in Kentucky and carry on her wrestling career there.
What she does in the state high school tournament won't have much effect on her future. The most important thing to her is being in the bracket.
"When I got in high school everybody said I'll quit, but I didn't," Brownfield said. "This is my dream. I really love this. I don't care if I lose or if I win, I still love it."
-----------------------------------------------
Murata wins gold medal at Ville de Tourcoing Golden Grand Prix in France
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
02/12/2006
Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) claimed a gold medal at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. at the first FILA Golden Grand Prix for women wrestlers, the Ville de Tourcoing Grand Prix in Tourcoing, France, Feb. 11-12.
Murata defeated World bronze medalist Carol Huyhn of Canada in the gold-medal finals. Murata was the only American athlete who was entered in the competition.
It was the fourth medal that Murata has won since moving down to the 48 kg/105.5 lbs. division this year. She has also won gold medals at the New York AC Holiday Open and the Dave Schultz Memorial International, both held in the United States. She was also a silver medalist in Ivan Yarygin Memorial International in Russia.
Murata was a 2001 World silver medalist, and competed on the 2005 U.S. World Team at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. She is an eight-time U.S. Nationals champion.
The tournament featured 80 athletes from 16 nations, competing for prize money as part of the FILA Golden Grand Prix program. Germany won the team title with 63 points, ahead of host France with 55 points and Belarus with 40 points.
1st GOLDEN GRAND PRIX FILA
Grand Prix de la Ville de Tourcoing
At Tourcoing, France, Feb. 11-12
Team standings
1- Germany, 63 pt
2- France, 55 pt
3- Belarus, 40 pt
3- Mongolia, 40 pt
5- Romania, 35 pt
6- Canada, 27 pt
7- Spain, 21 pt
7- Ukraine, 21 pt
9- Austria, 17 pt
9- Netherlands, 17 pt
11- Pôle Wattignies club of France, 14 pt
12- Sweden, 11 pt
13- United States, 10 pt
14- Bulgaria, 9 pt
14- Italy, 9 pt
16- Great Britain, 5 pt
17- New Zealand, 3 pt
18- Norway, 0 pt
Individual results
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1- MURATA Stephanie, USA
2- HUYNH Carol, CAN
3- MARKEVITCH Marina, BLR
3- GROI Toru Cristina, ROM
5- DOBNER Sigrund, GER
5- BAAFANJARGAL Dalhdrea, MGL
7- ENKHJARJAL Tloglthjar, MGL
8- BONDARENKO Olena, NZL
9- PRIETO Claire, FRA
10- RADOY Mihaela, ROM
NC- SANCHEZ Sarah, ESP
NC- HOFMANN Anita, GER
51 kg/112.25 lbs.
1- KOHUT Olexandra, UKR
2- ENGELHARDT Alexandra, GER
3- WILLOCK Juliette, FRA B
3- WAGNER Brigitte, GER
5- BENFOUZARI Fatima, Pôle Wattignies
5- BOUBRYEMM Vanessa, FRA A
7- MILLS Joanna, GBR
8- HTYHORYEVA Tatiana, BLR
9- PERALTA Maria, ESP
10- SERRANO Maria, ESP
55 kg/121 lbs.
1- VERBEEK Tanya, CAN
2- GOMIS Anna, FRA A
3- MATTSSON Johana, SWE
3- OTGONJARGAL Naidan, MGL
5- PAVAL Anna Maria, ROM
5- BOKHAN Tatiana, BLR
7- PAIC Geogiana, ROM
8- YAHORAVA Maria, BLR
9- LANOO Amandine, Pôle Wattignies
10- GIFFORD, GBR
NC- PETER, GER
NC- DEMOURY Laure, FRA B
NC- SAINT CLAIRE, GBR
59 kg/130 lbs.
1- LEBON Hélène, FRA B
2- VAN EKELENBURG Kristel, NED
3- MAIERHOSER Stefanie, AUT
3- STUEBER Stefanie, GER
5- CHAVETSOVA Nadia, ESP
5- NAVARRO Magali, Pôle Wattignies
7- MIU Anna Marina, ROM
8- DIANA Simona, ITA
9- JIMENEZ Seba, ESP
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
1- KHILKO Olga, BLR
2- HARTMANN Nikola, AUT
3- MUELLER Maria, GER
3- GRAHAM Breanne, CAN
5- FAJARDO Aurora, ESP
5- NASANBURRBAA Ochirbat, MGL
7- SADOVEANU Mahaela, ROM
8- VASSYLENKO Ogana, UKR
9- TSYRKEVITCH Irina, BLR
10- GROSS Stéphanie, GER
NC - DIANA, ITA
NC - BAIARASSOU Sarah, Pôle Wattignies
NC - SELLOUM Meryem, FRA A
NC - PIVA Maité, FRA B
NC - AANES, NOR
67 kg/147.5 lbs.
1- NARANCHIMEG Gelegjamtl, MGL
2- GERLAC Aurélie, FRA
3- BRESSON Elise, FRA
3- ADMIRAAL Masira, NED
5- MINOIA Rosa, ITA
5- KOELLER Susan, GER
7- MENDEZ Teresa, ESP
8- WEISS Julie, GER
9- PAIC Anna Maria, ROM
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1- SCHAETZLE Anita, GER
2- HRISTOVA Zlateva, BUL
3- MARZALIUK Vasilisa, BLR
3- SAYENKO Svetlana, UKR
5- BURMAA Ochirbat, MGL
5- MUTRAG Diana, ROM
7- BUETTNER Kristine, GER
8- FRANSSON Jenny, SWE
9- DOS SANTOS Caroline, FRA B
10- BENTORKI Shéhérazade, FRA A
NC- LOPEZ, ESP
NC- GASTL Marina, AUT
------------------------------------------------------
Tomahawk's Lampe Siblings Lead the Way
Feb 10, 2006
The Tomahawk wrestling team is on a journey to state...
And two of their leaders have a very special bond. They are both conference champions, they are title hopefulls, and they are brother and sister. Alyssa and Anthony Lampe.
A good rivalry, a friendly rivalry between brother and sister and they feed off each other very nicely.
When anthony hits the mat the word nice leaves the vocabulary. a four time conference champion. shooting for his fourth regional title and then on to state.
He's the complete machine right now.
a four time conference champ, that's awesome for any wrestler to do, i'm sure there's not many. it's a great accomplishment, i'm sure he's going to do great the rest of the year.
It's the fact that i like to prove myself to people. a lot of people say i can't do things and i'm just out here to prove people wrong.
And speaking of proving people wrong, no one knows that better than sister alyssa. wrapping up her second consecutive conference championship and looking to make noise once again in madison in a male dominated sport.
Just to see a girl to compete in a man's sport is unimaginable, and to excel at. i'm pretty happy for her and so is the rest of the team.
she's changed wisconsin wrestling forever no doubt. her impact has changed the way wrestlers are looked at in all 300 something schools in the state.
Even my freshman year i just wanted to make varsity. it's exciting making varsity, and going to state sophomore year, and two time conference champ is awesome.
State individual wrestling takes place the last weekend of this month with the teams hitting the mats march 3rd and 4th. from tomahawk, jessob reisbeck, newsline nine sports
-------------------------------------------------
Mountain Valley captures state crown
Monday, February 13, 2006 - Bangor Daily News
BANGOR - The Mountain Valley of Rumford wrestling team celebrated its share of the 2005 Class B wrestling state championship in obscurity - earning that tie days after the meet ended when a scoring error was corrected.
On Saturday, all of the Bangor Auditorium was a stage for the Falcons, who ended Camden Hills of Rockport's six-year championship run by the narrowest of margins.
Mountain Valley finished with 171 points, 1.5 better than the Windjammers (169.5), while Belfast was a strong third with 148 points and a meet-best five individual champions.
"We talked about that during the week, that we didn't get to get up on the podium last year and show everybody that we were state champions," said Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff.
"This year that's what we worked toward. All year long we looked at the polls and we were fifth, sixth, or seventh. Camden Hills is a great program, but to knock them off their six in a row streak is sweet as hell, I can tell you that."
The Falcons entered the championship finals with a 7.5-point lead, but wins by Joe McGowan at 125 pounds, Jake Berry (140), and Hank Simpkins (152) - all in head-to-head matchups against Mountain Valley - gave the Windjammers a 6.5-point edge with four finals remaining.
But Belfast's Logan Kelley became the ultimate spoiler and was named the meet's outstanding wrestler by outlasting two-time state champion Harry Pearson of Camden Hills in a 10-8 overtime thriller to win the 171-pound title, and Mountain Valley finally got a head-to-head win over the 'Jammers when Tyler Child edged Ollie Bradeen 6-5 at 189 to cut the gap to 2.5 points.
Camden Hills had no more finalists, while Mountain Valley had two. When the Falcons' Brendon Bradley won the 215-pound crown, that provided the four points needed to put Mountain Valley over the top.
"Camden Hills has won a lot of tournaments and been ranked No. 1 in the state most of the season, but when it comes to the states, anything can happen, and today proved that," said Bradley.
For Camden Hills, it was a disappointing finish to a challenging season, among those challenges a teammate who died unexpectedly before the season began and one key wrestler who failed to make weight for the state meet.
"We came with 10 guys to wrestle. Every guy who came here placed, and we put eight in the finals," said Windjammers coach Patrick Kelly. "That's a very dominating team that can do that. The kids wrestled with heart, with Camden Hills pride, and there's nothing more that I could ask from them.
"We ended up short, but that's sports."
The championship finals started in dramatic fashion, with Camden Hills sophomore Kristi Pearse trying to become the first girl in Maine and just the second in the nation to win a state individual title.
Undefeated Caribou sophomore Carlin Dubay, who decisioned Pearse 5-2 at the Eastern B regional a week earlier, again was the opponent.
This time the two battled scoreless through three two-minute rounds, one one-minute overtime, and one 30-second OT before Dubay finally earned the first point of the match on an escape early in the second 30-second overtime. He followed that with a takedown and then a near-fall to win a 6-0 decision.
"There was a lot of pressure," said Dubay, the smaller of the two contestants at just 96 pounds, "because everybody was pulling for her to win. I just tried to wrestle and do the best I could."
And while Camden Hills and Mountain Valley spent the rest of the finals battling for team gold, Belfast dominated the proceedings, with all five of its finalists winning titles.
Tony Gilmore led the way, winning at 130 pounds for his third state championship in four years. Kelley, Josh Robbins (112), James Spencer (119), and Travis Spencer (160) also won their weight classes.
"That's a pretty special day for us," Kelley said. "Josh Robbins, our 112-pounder, set the pace for us."
---------------------------------------------------
Mountain Valley ends Camden Hills' state championship run
By Ken Waltz 2/12/06
Sports Editor
BANGOR (Feb 12): A season ago both Camden Hills and Mountain Valley of Rumford had a firm grip on the state Class B wrestling championship and neither would let it go, thus opting to share the coveted title. This year, however, the Falcons pulled the crown away from the Windjammers in dramatic fashion — almost at the last second.
Mountain Valley won two of its final three matches to secure a tough, hard-fought 1.5-point win over the six-time defending state champion Windjammers in the two-day tournament Friday and Saturday at the Bangor Auditorium.
Camden Hills' Kristi Pearse, left, nearly made history Saturday as the sophomore advanced to the 103-pound finals before losing in overtime. She would have been the first schoolgirl to win a state wrestling title. Here she wrestles Carlin Dubay of Caribou, who won 6-0, in the finals. (Photo by Tina Shute) |
The Windjammers saw their tremendous unbeaten 2005-06 season and state title quest come up short by the slimmest of margins.
Camden Hills competed with a heavy heart this season after the death of one of its talented young grapplers, 215-pound sophomore Gibby Bryant, just before the season began.
Still, the Windjammers battled back from adversity and injuries to key grapplers and nearly pulled out their seventh straight state title.
Individually, the Midcoast was well represented at the states and nearly crowned the first schoolgirl wrestling champ in state history. Alas, Windjammer sophomore Kristi Pearse lost in overtime of her 103-pound championship match.
The Midcoast grapplers who secured individual titles were Camden Hills' Joe McGowan (125 pounds), Jacob Berry (140) and Hank Simpkins (152); and Belfast's Logan Kelley (171), James Spencer (119), Tony Gilmore (130) and Josh Robbins (112).
Camden Hills, Belfast and Medomak Valley of Waldoboro also had other top-four finishers. They included Windjammers Pearse (2nd at 103), True Bragg (2nd at 130), Cody Laite (2nd at 145), Harry Pearson (2nd at 171), Oliver Bradeen (2nd at 189), Jeremy Burnside (3rd at 119) and Derek Young (4th at 135); Panthers Philip Genthner (3rd at 215) and Joey Blackler (3rd at 189); and Lions Tim Caldwell (4th at 152), Mike Rolerson (4th at 145), Nick Marston (3rd at 140) and Steve Joy (4th at 125).
The team scores were: Mountain Valley 171, Camden Hills 169.5, Belfast 148, Wells 81, Caribou 60, Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield 42.5, York 39, Medomak Valley 29, Lincoln Academy of Newastle 28, Fryeburg Academy 27, Lake Region of Bridgton 23, Winslow 22, Hermon 21.5, Gardiner 18, Nokomis 13, Mt. View of Thorndike 6, Oak Hill of Sabattus 4 and Mt. Desert Island 2.
Last year, Camden Hills was crowned the champion at the state meet, but a scoring error was later discovered and Mountain Valley was declared co-champs with the Windjammers. On Saturday, the Falcons were able to enjoy their championship at the tourney site.
It was Mountain Valley's first outright state title since Rumford merged with Mexico several decades ago. Rumford last won a state crown in 1981.
Veteran Windjammer coach Patrick Kelly said he was disappointed his squad came so close to winning only to fall short. "I am so very proud of all my wrestlers," he said. "They performed like warriors."
Complete results of the weekend's state tourney were unavailable, but the following are the championship round results:
103 pounds — Carlin Dubay, Car, beat Pearse, CH, 6-0 in overtime.
112 pounds — Robbins, Bel, beat Kyle Lovely, MCI, 11-4.
119 pounds — Spencer, Bel, beat Jim Cryer, Wells, 8-2.
125 pounds — McGowan, CH, beat Derick Sicotta, MtVal, 5-4
130 pounds — Gilmore, Bel, pinned Bragg, CH, at 3:15.
135 pounds — Shawn Hoagland, FA, beat Keith Sleeper, Gard, 11-6.
140 pounds — Berry, CH, pinned Ben Matthews, MtVal, at 5:51.
145 pounds — Billy Barry, Wells, beat Laite, CH, 4-2.
152 pounds — Simpkins, CH, beat Aaron Arsenault, MtVal, 9-3.
160 pounds — Spencer, Bel, beat Buddy Gauthier, York, 4-3.
160 pounds — Jeff Pelletier, MtVal, pinned Dan Hood, Win, at 0:48.
171 pounds — Daniel Farrar, LA, beat Eric Cole, Her, 12-8 in overtime.
189 pounds — Blackler, Med, beat Micah Wall, Car, 3-1.
215 pounds — Genthner, Med, pinned Matt Julian, Her, at 2:32.
275 pounds — Jeremy Matthews, Nok, pinned Tom Wahle, LA, at 1:54.
--------------------------------------------------
By JOHN DOYLE, Staff Sports Writer Monday 30-January 2006
Geo. J. Foster Company
DOVER - Two female youth wrestlers from Lebanon, Maine, were prohibited from wrestling against male wrestlers at a meet on Jan. 21 in Concord.
According to Lebanon Youth Wrestling coach David Boucher, two female wrestlers, seventh-grader Kayleigh Longley and eighth-grader Trisha Valliere, were informed they were only allowed to wrestle against female competitors at the meet, held at Concord's Rundlett Middle School.
Bill Whitmore, the Concord athletic director who was not present at the meet, said that for the past two years, the tournament (the RMS Invitational) has a policy that calls for a separate brackets for female wrestlers.
"We wrestle against 90 percent of these (wrestlers) during the regular season, and they understand that when they come to our place, boys wrestle boys and girls wrestle girls," Whitmore said.
In a normal meet, athletes wrestle each other in the same weight class regardless of sex.
"It's something we looked at last year," Whitmore said. "We thought it was in the best interest of the girls wrestling (to be separate) from the boys."
Longley did wrestle two matches against females, but Valliere did not wrestle at all. The Lebanon wrestlers went to the match with the expectation that the female wrestlers would be able to go to the mat against male opponents. An information sheet provided to Foster's, originally sent to participants prior to the meet, did not specify that females were not allowed to wrestle against males.
According to Boucher, Longley won her division at the same tournament two years ago. At that time, the tournament did not contain a separate bracket for female wrestlers.
"We were surprised when we got there that the girls weren't allowed to wrestle boys," Boucher said. "We weren't expecting it. We were just amazed at the whole deal because we didn't get a good explanation why. There were a lot of hurt feelings, so we just tried to make the best of a bad situation."
Whitmore admitted that the information sheet did not make it clear that there would be a separate division for boys and girls, and said "most definitely" there would be changes to next year's information sheet. Whitmore said that he has discussed allowing girls to compete with boys at next year's meet with the Concord superintendent of schools.
"Right now we're leaning toward making it up to the discretion of the individual (wrestler)," Whitmore said.
Pam Longley, Kayleigh's mother who was present at the meet, said that the girls were informed of the policy upon arriving at the meet, but at the time were not given any explanation as to why they were not allowed to wrestle.
"Kayleigh was upset," Pam Longley said. "She'd never been told she couldn't wrestle (in) her normal weight bracket. She's always been in there with the boys and always places."
Boucher said he is optimistic that next year's tournament will allow his female wrestlers to go against males.
"If things change, we'll probably go back," Boucher said. "It sounds like they're going to (change). It was a well-run tournament other than that."
---------------------------------------------
Thunderbird finally claims 1st team title
Ben Stapley
Special for The Republic
Feb. 12, 2006 12:00 AM
With Tucson Sunnyside out of the Class 4A picture, someone had to take over as the top wrestling team in 4A Division I, and no team was more deserving than Thunderbird.
Head coach Steve Linsacum has seen his squads finish second behind Sunnyside - a longtime 4A powerhouse - three times in the past four years.
But Saturday night belonged to Thunderbird, which took home the team state championship for the first time in school history with a dominating victory at Glendale Arena.
Thunderbird finished with 194.5 points, well ahead of runner-up Moon Valley (148.5), and Tucson Pueblo (135).
Rounding out the top five were Tucson Ironwood Ridge (106), and Independence (93).
"We've been knocking at the door so many times," said Linsacum, who is in his 10th year at the school after moving from Colorado.
"The problem was that Sunnyside was always there and we couldn't break through. I'm not sad to have seen them move up to 5A (Division II).
"We knew we were going to be one of the top teams this year, and we worked hard for this. We qualified all 14 kids for the state tournament, and that shows balance as a team."
Thunderbird had 10 of those 14 wrestlers finish in the top six, including six wrestlers that reached the championship match.
Rishpal Saini (135) and Mack Surrell (189) won individual state titles.
Saini, a senior, echoed Linsacum's sentiments.
"This feels amazing," Saini said. "Everything I've done over the last four years has been for this. I had never even placed before this year so this feels really good for myself and the team."
Mack Surrell also won the individual title at 189 pounds.
Other notable performances included sophomore Andrea Hughes of Tucson Catalina Foothills. Hughes became only the second female wrestler in state history to place, finishing fourth in the 103-pound division.
Hughes finished the season with a 30-9 record.
Freshman Brandon Horton of Lake Havasu won the 103-pound division after pinning Yobel Muchang of Scottsdale Saguaro.
Other champions included Moon Valley's Matt Long (112), Pueblo's David Islas (119), Moon Valley's Steve Aragon (125), Vail Cienega's Mike Jablonski (130), Marana's Mitch Baker (140), Pinnacle sophomore Jake Peterson (145), Tucson Canyon Del Oro's Matt Barron (152), Pueblo's Dominick Anaya (160), Glendale Independence's Diego Bencomo (171), and Lonni Brunson of Tucson Sahuaro at 215.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day came when unseeded heavyweight J.D. Hensley of Greenway pinned Diamond Johnson of Independence with 41 seconds remaining in the match.
--------------------------------------------------
Savarkars town has many Girl wrestlers
Bhagur, Maharashtra | February 13, 2006 4:10:09 PM IST
It's not unusual for many families if girls take up sports in this birthplace of noted freedom fighter Veer Savarkar. But a rough and tough sport like wrestling which has so far been a male bastion is something unusual for the people here.
This could be made possible due to Gorakhnath Balakavade, a wrestler, known as "Sir" who was once inspired by a catfight between a motley gang of girls during a game.
Balakavade handpicked the talented girls, taking pains to persuade their families and villagers, to allow young girls to take up wrestling which has the potential of becoming their profession later on.
And as some of the players went on to win laurels and money. Soon, wrestling became a draw for the village girls here. They found the strength and support to refuse any pressure from their respective families for an early marriage in order to pursue the sport.
"When I was nine years old, "Sir"(Gorakhnath Balakavade) inspired me to join in and is the encouraging force behind our achievements. It has been six years now and I have represented the State at the national wrestling tournaments and earned laurels. It is only because of inspiring people like him that a small town like Bhagur is awakening to such sports," says Snehal Snehal Dubey, a 15-year-old, who clinched the title and wants to save her prize money to eventually become an air force pilot.
Balakavade, who had organised the event, runs a full-fledged wrestlers training gymnasium in Bhagur along with wife Nani Balakavade. The husband-wife duo has had to begin from scratch and work tirelessly to gain acceptance for the women's training part.
Balakavade trained his wife to wrestle as far back as the eighties but it was not until 1997 that their effort seemed to bear fruit. But after a slow start full of hardships it was all about scores of trained young men and women. Many of these went on to join the police department or the Defence.
Balakavade dreams of getting India at least a gold medal through his band of prodigies.
"The reason I organise these women's wrestling matches is to inspire the girls from the locality to seriously consider the option of taking up training for the sport. This locality has seen many a national and international level male wrestlers but we wish to instil confidence and give a boost to women's wrestling," says Balakvade.
"Girls should not feel lesser than anyone and feel as hard, strong and stout like boys. To achieve that, I train small girls till they become big. Everyday I teach them wrestling for one hour in the morning and another in the evening. I am training 15 girls at the moment and another five of college going age. I watch over their practice with the boys, so they gain moral support by my being there. They also overcome their initial hesitation," says Nani, the wife-cum-coach. (ANI)
-----------------------------------------------------