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Lady Longhorns are No. 1 again

Caprock captures third consecutive crown; Lady Rebs' Diaz honored

By Jeremy Heath 2/26/06
jeremy.heath@amarillo.com

AUSTIN - The last thing Caprock head coach Scott Tankersley was going to do before the finals of the UIL Girls StateWrestling Meet started Saturday was let his team know they had already sewn up their third consecutive state title.
Heading into the finals and consolation finals, Caprock had an 85-60 lead over Katy, and Katy was mathematically incapable of catching the Lady Longhorns despite having two girls in the finals.

"I told the girls Katy was right on our tails and we wouldn't win unless we won our final consolation matches," Tankersley said.

Lisa Martinez (102 pounds), Daffney Barbosa (110) and Stephanea Hignight (138) each won their third-place matches en route to 91 team points and a three-peat. Katy finished second with 66 points, and Arlington High and Katy Taylor tied for third with 60. Hereford finished seventh with 53, Tascosa 13th with 45.5, River Road 27th with 16 and Amarillo High 31st with 14.

Tascosa's Angel Diaz was the only area wrestler to bring home an individual title. She pinned Hereford' Georgette Villegas in the 110-pound final to win her third state title in four years. Diaz did not win the title as a sophomore because she was prohibited from competing at the state meet after getting into a fight in the parking lot of the regional meet.

"It was harder this year than other years because Georgette is very good," Diaz said. "I feel glad about winning it three times and I hope people will remember me for that. I wish I could have won it all four years, but I messed up."

Diaz was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler and became the first three-time winner in the eight-year history of the girls tournament.

Maci Alvarado was the only Caprock wrestler to reach the finals. Klein's two-time state champion Lindsey Brooks pinned her at the 5:09 mark of the final. It was Brooks' 76th consecutive win and improved her to 44-0 this year.

Alvarado might have produced the biggest win of the tournament for Caprock. Caprock entered the semifinals with a commanding lead and four wrestlers still alive. Martinez, Barbosa, and Hignight all lost their semifinals, leaving Alvarado to stop the bleeding. Alvarado pinned Austin Akins' Samantha Richardson 20 seconds into the second period.

"It was really scary because I watched all my teammates go down, bam, bam, bam," Alvarado said. "I was like: I don't want that to happen to me. I'll do anything to help my team. I'd rather my team win and not win individually than to win individually and not have my team win."

Caprock won the 2004 state title without an individual champion, but Caprock assistant Chris Allen thinks this year's team epitomized teamwork as well or better than any of the championship teams. Last year's champion had two individual winners. This year's team got off to a slow start before catching fire at the District 5 Meet and Region I Meets.

"It was just about team," Allen said. "The one thing I tell these girls more than anything else is: if you're improving every day, you're winning. All these girls have steadily gotten better all year long."

Caprock took a commanding lead Friday. All six girls won their first-round matches, and four of those won their quarterfinal matches. When the team appeared to run into trouble with the three losses in the semifinals, Caprock assistant TJ Johnson had a feeling the girls would come through. He had watched this team overcome adversity all season long and figured Saturday would be no different.

"I think this is the most rewarding of all the state titles because nobody picked us," Johnson said.

Photos from Friday:

Finals photos:

Results:

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Lampe is first female to place in state wrestling tournament

Associated Press 2/26/06

MADISON, Wis. - Tomahawk senior Alyssa Lampe became the first female to finish as a place-winner at the 63rd annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association individual state wrestling tournament Saturday night.
However, Thane Antczak of Chetek/Prairie Farm prevented Lampe from becoming the first girl in Wisconsin history and the second in the nation to win an individual wrestling title in a co-ed state tournament.
Antczak (48-2) defeated Lampe 6-3, to win for the second time in three matches against her this season. Lampe had beaten Antczak 2-1 at the individual sectional tournament in their last meeting.
"He just wrestled better," Lampe said of Antczak. "I wanted to be a state champion but I lost to a great wrestler."
Lampe (45-5), who drew a solid round of applause from the sold-out crowd at the Kohl Center after her match and later when she received her award on the podium, said she was proud that her brother, Anthony, followed her match by winning his first state title.
"Anthony inspired me. He's the one who got me involved in the sport, when I became his practice partner when I was in kindergarten," said Lampe, who finished as a three-time state qualifier. "I'm disappointed I didn't win. That's what I came here for. But if one of us had to win, I'm glad it was him.
Anthony Lampe prevented Dodgeville's Bobby Wunnicke from repeating as a state champion when he pulled out a 12-10 victory in overtime for the Division 2 title at 112 pounds.
"It was a great match. It feels awesome to be a champion," said Lampe after he beat Wunnicke, who was the defending Division 3 champion at 103.
Freshman Nick Hagar (49-3) ended a near perfect day for Tomahawk when he beat Jordan Foy of Ellsworth 4-3 to win the Division 2 title at 125 pounds.
In the only match that featured a pair of unbeaten wrestlers, River Falls' Trevor Brandvold (45-0) beat Neenah's Ben Engelland (44-1) 14-6 for the Division 1 title at 189 pounds.
Dodgeville's T.J. Wunnicke, Bobby's brother, became the second member of his family to win at least two state titles when he pinned Viroquas' Jed Domke in 3 minutes, 51 seconds to win the Division 2 title at 119 pounds.
The Wunnicke's older brother, Cole, was a four-time state Division 3 state champion at Ithaca from 1999-2002. T.J. Wunnicke (47-0) won his first title at 103 pounds for Ithaca as a freshman in 2004.
Merrill senior Dustin Perry captured his third straight Division 1 title at 135 pounds with a 2-0 victory over Brookfield Central's David Becker.
Perry (42-2), who was fifth at state at 130 pounds as a freshman, became the state's 41st wrestler to finish his career with three state titles.
"It's awesome. But this one is special because it's my last year," said Perry, who has a career record of 173-8 and will compete with his teammates at the team state meet next weekend.
"My coach knows how to push my buttons. He said they were trying to take (the title) away from me. I wouldn't let them do it."
Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln's Kevin Tritz (41-0) was the only other Division 1 wrestler to repeat as a champion. He won his second straight 145-pound title with a 9-3 victory over Mukwonago's Billy Schlottke (33-5).
Luxemburg-Casco's Zac Cibula, Kewaskum's Scott Rhoads (145) and Westby's David Caspar (189) became two-time champions in Division 2.
Cibula (46-1), who was the defending champion at 130, defeated Scott Fahey of Sugar River 8-5 to win the 140-pound title.
A sophomore, who has a 95-6 career mark, he remains on track to become only the eighth four-time champion in state history.
Rhoads (40-1) defended his title at 145 pounds with an 8-4 decision over Pioneer Westfield's Kendall Vogel.
Casper (46-3) defeated Kewaunee's Joe Trindal 11-8 to win the 189 title. He was the defending 171-pound champion.
Mineral Point's Curtis Fiedler, Edgar's Andrew Lukasko and Oostsburg's A.J. Kissel all became two-time champions in Division 3.
Fielder (41-2) defended his 130-pound title with a 3-2 victory over Zeb Secrist of Cochrane/Fountain City.
Lukasko (41-0) edged Auburndale's Chris Karl 3-2 for the 152-pound title after winning at 145 last year. Kissel (42-0) topped Pittsville's Jeremiah Adrian 10-0 to win the 171-pound title.
Kissel, who was the defending champion at 160, is 79-0 over the past two seasons.
Mineral Point used victories from Fiedler and Greg Burke at 140 pounds to take over the lead with the most individual state champions.
The two wins upped the Pointers' total to 42, snapping a tie with Stoughton, which didn't advance a wrestler to the championship round.

Story 2

Story 3

Story 4

Story 5

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Punahou boys, Kamehameha girls win

Advertiser Staff 2/26/06

Punahou's boys and Kamehameha's girls captured Interscholastic League of Honolulu wrestling titles yesterday at the Buffanblu's gym.

Bryson Fukushima (103), Daniel Chow (135), Josh Plechaty (140), Kenny White (145) and Mike Egesdal (171) won their weight divisions to lead the Punahou boys.

Reiko Campos (114), Raena Campos (120), Kiana Parilla (130), Marissa Bartels (155) and Randolyn Nohara (220) won titles for Kamehameha's girls team.

BOYS VARSITY

TEAM SCORES

1, Punahou 162.5. 2, Saint Louis 153.5. 3, Kamehameha 145.5. 4, Iolani 92. 5, Pac-Five 69. 6, Damien 32.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

103 LBS

1, Bryson Fukushima (Pun). 2, Jordan Lai (STL). 3, Brysson Morita (Iol). 4, Kyle Cuba (KS). 5, Sam Yonezawa (P5-HBA).

112

1, Nick Matayoshi (Iol). 2, Mark Caberto (STL). 3, Reid Oshiro (Pun). 4, Gino Pelosi (Dam).

119

1, Kelii Palencia (KS). 2, Bobby Thompson (STL). 3, Maika Nagata (Pun). 4, Brenden Oshiro (P5-Mary). 5, Ryan Yamada (Iol).

125

1, Keani Nishigaya (STL). 2, Andy Chung (Iol). 3, Austin Streadbeck (KS). 4, Chris Shimizu (Pun). 5, Aaron Min (P5-MPI).

130

1, Brandon Low (STL). 2, Brenden Whitt (Pun). 3, Kendall Huang (Iol). 4, Dalton Harrington (P5-MPI). 5, Vernon Kapoi (KS).

135

1, Daniel Chow (Pun). 2, Shane Ahlo (STL). 3, Omar Mirza (KS). 4, Mitchell Matias (P5-ASSETS).

140

1, Josh Plechaty (Pun). 2, Chris Kardos (STL). 4, Shane Irish (Iol). 5, Oren Naiditch (P5-MPI). 6, Troy Toyama (ASST).

145

1, Kenny White (Pun). 2, Nicolas Atiburcio (P5-UHS). 3, Kekoa Rosales (KS). 4, Bryce Kato (Iol). 5, Troy Nishimoto (MPI).

152

1, Duane Fukumoto (Iol). 2, Jeff Kahler (STL). 3, Kristopher Herauf (Dam). 4, Cole Peiterson (Pun). 5, Max Lindsey (KS). 6, Matthew Michihara (P5-HBA).

160

1, Bryson Vivas (KS). 2, Kekoa Williams (Iol). 3, Josh Hayes (Dam). 4, Nino-Nicolo Santos (P5-Mary). 5, Jon Watase (STL).

171

1, Mike Egesdal (Pun). 2, Truman Chun (KS). 3, James Fitzpatrick (Iol). 4, Jared Ellis (MPI). 5, Jordan Mineshima (P5-AOP). 6, Braden Storaasli (Dam).

189

1, Gerrit Vincent (KS). 2, Bryce Leonardo (P5-HBA). 3, Eddie Pallet (Pun). 4, David Tuiasosopo (Dam).

215

1, Jared Silva-Purcell (STL). 2, Kazden Ikehara (KS). 4, Paul Kiat (Mary). 5, Brett Ueuten (Pun).

275

1, Russell Fisher (P5-MPI). 2, Edward Williams (Dam). 3, Kyle Otineru (STL). 4, Mykenna Ikehara (KS). 5, Niklas Streng (Iol).

BOYS JV

TEAM SCORES

1, Kamehameha A 180.5. 2, Punahou A 155. 3, Saint Louis A 101.5. 4, Pac-Five A 87. 5, Iolani A 58.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

103—1, Andrew Hirai (Pun A). 2, Kupono Haitsuka (KS A). 3, Ricky Anderson (KS B). 112—1, Alex Wachi (Pun A). 2, Aleksi Lee (Iol A). 3, Ikaika Kekua-Luis (KS A). 119—1, Troy Murakawa (Pun A). 2, Mackenzy Tachibana (P5 A). 3, Ikaika Correa (KS A). 125—1, Cameron Sato (Pun A). 2, Kenneth Sato (STL A). 3, Kamea Kuaiwa (KS A). 130—1, Cody Sawyer (STL A). 2, Sean Kanegawa (Pun A). 3, Kekai Ariola (KS A). 135—1, Isaac Savella (STL A). 2, Kamalu Beamer (KS A). 3, Matt Hayes (Dam A). 145—1, Chad Taniguchi (Pun A). 2, Ryan Oura-Nakoa (KS A). 3, Justin Nakamoto (STL A). 152—1, Rudie Schaefer (Pun A). 2, James Howe (P5 A). 3, Josh Belcher (KS B). 160—1, Shaun Shimose (P5 A). 2, Matt Kagawa (Iol A). 3, Spencer Smith (KS A). 171—1, Seth Kapoi (KS A). 2, Nathaniel Abitbol (Dam A). 3, Kevin Uenten (Pun A). 189—1, Adam Hom (P5 A). 2, Aaron Akina (KS A). 3, Ryan Maruyama (STL A). 215—1, Jaimin Meletia (KS A). 2, Michael Morgan (Iol A). 3, Kamakana Tataipu (Dam A). 275—1, Tytan Timoteo (STL A). 2, Kaohi Haaheo (STL B). 3, Brian Nakamoto (KS A).

GIRLS VARSITY

TEAM SCORES

1, Kamehameha 145. 2, Iolani 130. 3, Pac-Five 113. 4, Punahou 53. 5, Lutheran 8. 6, Sacred Hearts 6.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

98

1, Keiko Akamine (Iol). 2, Kelsie-Ann Mita (P5-MPI). 3, Alyssa Akiyama (KS).

103

1, Carla Watase (Iol). 2, Tani Mashima (KS). 3, Sunny Gandauli (P5-STF).

108

1, Megan Morisada (Iol). 2, Kaety Enos (P5-HBA). 3, Devyn Kuaiwa (KS).

114

1, Reiko Campos (KS). 2, Ashley Furuta (Iol).

120

1, Raena Campos (KS). 2, Risha Mishima (P5-Hawai'i Baptist). 3, Jessica Greenough (Iol). 4, Teale Nakashima (Pun).

125

1, JT Ojerio (Pun). 2, Kelia Parilla (KS). 3, Kimberly Simao (P5-SHA).

130

1, Kiana Parilla (KS). 2, Melody Aoki (P5-WOL). 3, Jill Fleming (LHS). 4, Megan Oshiro (Iol).

140

1, Kara Takasaki (Pun). 2, Alice Chow (Iol). 3, Mercedes Smith (KS). 4, Ku'uipo Elderts (P5-Mary).

155

1, Marissa Bartels (KS). 2, Rebecca Jong (Pun). 3, Allie Frey (P5-SHA).

175

1, Desiree Memea (P5-UHS). 2, Lindsey Tufuno (Iol). 3, Tiana Ogata (SHA). 4, Tehani Bollinger (KS).

220

1, Randolyn Nohara (KS). 2, Olivia Fatongia (Iol). 3, Maiki Mafi (P5-UHS).

WRESTLING

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Valley Center High sophomore follows older sibling's path to state wrestling championship

By Kevin Gemmell
UNION-TRIBUNE COMMUNITY SPORTS WRITER
February 26, 2006

VALLEY CENTER – Somewhere in a ditch, bathed in camouflage and clutching her semi-automatic rifle, Bethany Harris was thinking of her sister.

Strutting off the wrestling mat as a newly crowned state champion, Ariel Harris was doing the same.

“All I could think about was, 'I wish my sister was here,' ” said Ariel, a Valley Center High sophomore who won the girls state title at 118 pounds earlier this month. “I owe so much to her. She had always been there for all of my tournaments and I really wanted her there. I mean, she's my big sis.”

Bethany had a good excuse for missing her little sister's tournament. She was going through basic training with the California National Guard, and her six days of field work coincided with the state meet. Cut off from the outside world, she didn't know the outcome – though she had a hunch.

“I knew she was going to win,” Bethany said. “The first thing I did when I got back was find out she won and I screamed it. 'My sister won state.' ”

Ariel is following a path big sister laid out for her. Last year, Bethany was a state champion for Valley Center and runner-up at the junior national tournament. During Bethany's rise to success, little sis was watching and learning. Likewise, big sis was teaching.

“She pretty much made me the wrestler I am,” said Ariel, 15. “She perfected me. She definitely guided me down the right path.”

The Harris sisters' love of wrestling comes from their father, Danny, who helps coach at Valley Center. While Ariel has been a natural athlete most of her life, Bethany didn't take up sports until eighth grade.

When Ariel was a freshman, she would drill with Bethany, but they were never allowed to actually wrestle. The elder sister did concede that Ariel is a far better wrestler than she was as a sophomore, but Bethany would likely win head-to-head.

“It would probably turn into a fistfight,” Ariel said. “She's much better than I am. She's stronger in the upper body and would probably win.”

Their mother, LeeAnn Harris, had an inkling her daughters might wrestle, though it didn't seem likely when Bethany was a dancer in sixth grade and both were in Girl Scouts.

“Their father always talked about wrestling and he used to wrestle around with them in the living room,” she said. “But they just work so hard and I think their teammates see that. They just love the sport.”

The girls work out with the boys on the Valley Center team and support them at dual meets and tournaments, but the females compete in girls meets sanctioned by the California Interscholastic Federation.

Ariel, who was 22-2 this season, also won the Southern California Tournament. As a freshman, she had to default from the state tournament because of a shoulder injury, but she kept close watch on how Bethany handled the pressure of competing for a state championship.

“I think she got to see how I go about doing things and she picked up on my work ethic,” said Bethany, who plans to start wrestling for Northern Michigan University next season. “She picked up on all the little things I would do, like how to scout an opponent and how to make adjustments. She's a very smart wrestler.”

Ariel is facing a decision about her athletic future. She's also a goalkeeper for her San Diego Pegasus club soccer team.

As for Bethany, she's already committed herself to trying to make the women's wrestling team for either the 2008 or 2012 Olympics.

Ariel said she'll probably shoot for a college soccer scholarship.

“I looked into Northern Michigan and I think I could play there,” Ariel said. “That would be pretty cool to go to the same school as my sister.”

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Prep roundup: Esterheld, Koenning win state titles

Staff Report 2/26/06

OAKLEY - Redwood High's Kristen Esterheld and Novato's Kristina Koenning earned return trips to the national girls wrestling tournament with first-place finishes Saturday at the North Coast Section tournament.
Esterheld made it 3-for-3, winning in the heavyweight bracket of the tournament in each of her first three years at Redwood.

"I finished 10th last year in nationals and I'm ranked ninth this year," Esterheld said. "I hope to stay undefeated and get seeded pretty well and hopefully that will lead me to a top three finish in nationals."

Esterheld's record is 25-4 this season. All four losses came against male competition.

Koenning is making her second consecutive trip to nationals, winning at 122 pounds after placing second at NCS in her freshman year. She said the familiar surroundings helped her do well at this tournament.

"It was at Freedom High School, where I actually started wrestling when 11 years old," Koenning said.

She placed fourth at nationals last year and has her hopes to earn the top spot at the Nationals the weekend of April 1 in Michigan.

"I'm training like crazy right now," Koenning said. "I've got to train harder than my competition."

A trio of Redwood girls placed fourth in their respective weight classes. Gina Warren took fourth at 114 pounds, Christina Brown at 138 pounds, and freshman Caitlin Stanton took fourth at her first NCS.

"It was a pleasant surprise for her to get fourth place," Redwood coach Pavan Gulati said. "She's looking at a fourth-place finish as a springboard to catapult her to a successful sophomore year."

Keeping with the theme, Redwood placed fourth in the field of 38 teams.

"I'm extremely proud of all the girls on the team," Gulati said. "It's been a season of great accomplishments. They're all coming back next year so we will only get better."

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Stiffer competition not a problem for Trojans' SolisQuality improves, but overall participation drops at girls wrestling meet

By Phil JensenCONTRA COSTA TIMESOAKLEY -2/26/06

While dominating her weight class in the North Coast Section championships for three years, Castro Valley High School's Gabrielle Solis has seen the sport of girls wrestling evolve in the region.
This is the first year that the NCS girls tournament has been held at a different venue than the boys meet. On Saturday, 86 athletes and 39 teams competed in the NCS girls championship tournament at Freedom.
The number of athletes competing at Saturday's section tournament was only slightly larger than 2004, the first year that the NCS girls championships were held, and 33 less than in 2005. But the level of competition has risen in girls wrestling, Solis said.
"In general, girls wrestling has improved a lot. I think there's a lot more competition," the junior said.
Solis, who won the NCS 98-pound championship in 2004 and 2005, defended her title with flourish on Saturday. She pinned Upper Lake's Angelica DeLosSantos in the second round.
Solis was one of three individual champions for the Trojans, who won the team title with 100 points. San Leandro, the two-time defending team champion, was second (93) and Albany was third (68).
"All our girls, from the top to the bottom, it was a team goal," Castro Valley coach Steve Solis said. "The last two weeks were our hardest weeks of practice."
Ashley Mora and Jessica Kiever also won titles for the Trojans. Mora, a senior who missed all of last season with a torn rotator cuff, pinned Miramonte's Tamara Gravesande at the 55-second mark of the 146-pound championship match. Kiever won the 189-pound title by default, as there was a severe lack of wrestlers in the higher weight divisions. In the 165, 189 and 235-pound divisions combined, there were only five total wrestlers.
Albany had two individual champions. Alexa Chua won an action-packed 126-pound championship match against College Park's McKenna Thayn. Chua trailed 7-2 in the first period before tying the score at seven, and the score see-sawed back and forth until it was tied at 15 after three rounds. Twenty-one seconds into the overtime period, Chua scored a takedown for the victory.
Maia Matalon also won the 154-pound title for the Cougars with a pin of San Leandro's Rachel Whyte at the 1:50 mark in Matalon's only match of the day.
"I'm really excited. It's a lot of fun," said Matalon about winning a section title. "I wish I could have had a couple more matches, but it's OK."
Monte Vista's Natalie Bierwith pinned Lower Lake's Bryttani Foree at the 2:32 mark to win the 138-pound title.
"I just wanted to do a switch really quick. I knew the move would be there," Bierwith said.
Participation in the tournament dropped 25-percent from last year, NCS associate commissioner Gil Lemmon said.
"The tournament ran fine. (Tournament director) Fidel Garcia did a good job. (But) the participation was definitely down," Lemmon said. "The number of entries on Sunday at the seeding meeting was far below our expectations. We did some analysis and we found out schools that sent multiple entries last year didn't do that this year. They sent their top wrestlers. We would like more participation."