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Arnold Wrestling Challenge / USGWA Womens-Girls Wrestling Challenge
Greater Columbus Convention Center

Columbus, Ohio Sunday, March 5, 2006


High School Age Division:

114 lbs.

1st - Shelby Shirley (OH) maj.dec. Emily Anderson (IL) 10-0.
2nd - Emily Anderson (IL) tech.fall Lindsey Curry (Mt. Vernon, OH) 15-0.
3rd - Lindsey Curry (Mt. Vernon, OH) pinned Devan Quitter (OH) 5:43.
4th - Devan Quitter (OH) pinned Renay Bakley (Mt. Vernon, OH) 5:55.
Prelims:
Shirley pinned Quitter 0:33.
Shirley pinned Curry 1:40.
Shirley dec. Bakley 5-0.
Anderson pinned Bakley 3:00.
Anderson dec. Quitter 16-8.
Curry tech.fall Bakley 18-2.

118 lbs.

1st - Michaela Hutchison (Soldotna, Alaska) dec. Joey Miller (Woodward, Oklahoma) 2-0.
2nd - Joey Miller (Woodward, OK) pinned Amnorina Porter (Standish, MI) 1:05.
3rd - Amnorina Porter (Standish, MI) dec. Sienna Valdez (IN) 8-1.
4th - Sienna Valdez (IN) Alicia Lehman (OH) 1:48.
Prelims:
Hutchison pinned Lehman 0:20.
Hutchison pinned Porter 3:01.
Hutchison pinned Valdez 0:47.
Miller pinned Lehman 0:09.
Miller pinned Valdez 1:13.
Porter pinned Lehman 1:36.

122 lbs. (6 entries in an 8 person bracket)

1st - Katy Yoder (Beavercreek, OH) tech.fall Megan Alisoglu (Saginaw, MI) 16-0.
3rd - Jessica Peasley (Escanaba, MI) dec. Janelle McSurley (OH) 7-2.
5th - Courtney Fee (MA) dec. Sierra Valdez (IN) 4-0.
Quarter-finals:
Fee - bye.
Alisoglu dec. Valdez 6-0.
Yoder dec. Peasley 6-5.
McSurley - bye.
Semi-finals:
Alisoglu pinned Fee 1:50.
Yoder dec. McSurley 7-6.
Consolation-Semis:
McSurley pinned Valdez 1:36.
Peasley pinned Fee 0:21.

128 lbs.

1st - Sara Peasley (Escanaba, MI) pinned Jennifer Peabody (OH) 3:35.
2nd - Jennifer Peabody (OH) dec. Whitney Fox (Fitchburg, MA) 5-3.
3rd - Whitney Fox (Fitchburg, MA) pinned Sarah Mandelstamm (MI) 2:42.
4th - Sarah Mandelstamm (MI) pinned Katelyn Stickley (Mt. Vernon, OH) 2:52.
Prelims:
Peasley tech.fall Fox 19-4.
Peasley pinned Mandelstamm 1:57.
Peasley forfeit over Stickley.
Peabody dec. Mandelstamm 8-1.
Peabody pinned Stickley 3:51.
Fox forfeit over Stickley.

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UPDATED: Wong, Marano win gold medals at the Klippan Ladies Golden Grand Prix in Sweden

Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
03/05/2006

Two U.S. wrestlers won gold medals at the Klippan Ladies Golden Grand Prix in Klippan, Sweden on March 5.

The United States placed second as a team in the standings with 60 points, just two points behind the team from Russia with 62 points. Poland was third, Germany fourth and Sweden fifth in a field of over 20 national and club teams. Six U.S. women won medals in the tournament.

Capturing gold medals were Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/114.5 lbs. and Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.

Wong defeated Vanessa Boubryemm of France in the finals. Marano defeated Natalia Kuksina (Russia) in the finals.

Marano is a two-time World champion and seven-time World medalist. Wong was a 2003 World bronze medalist.

Two U.S. women won silver medals: Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 59 kg/130 lbs.

Chun lost in the finals to Lilya Kaskarova of Russia. Roberts was beaten in the finals by Stefanie Stuber of Germany.

Two Americans won bronze medals, Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Erin Tomeo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.

Murata defeated Caroline Lovqvist of Sweden in the bronze-medal match. Tomeo defeated past World champion Nikola Hartmann of Austria in the bronze-medal match.

Chelynne Pringle (Hugo, Minn./Minnesota Storm) placed fifth in the tournament at 55 kg/121 lbs. She was defeated in a bronze-medal match by Sylwia Bilenska of Poland.

This is one of the Golden Grand Prix events, where athletes received prize money based upon their finish.

KLIPPAN LADIES GOLDEN GRAND PRIX
At Klippan, Sweden, March 5, 2006

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold – Lilya Kaskarova (Russia)
Silver Clarissa Chun (USA)
Bronze – Sigrun Dobner (Germany)
Bronze – Stephanie Murata (USA)
5th – Maryna Markevich (Belarus)
5th – Caroline Lovqvist (Sweden)
7th – Olena Bondarenko (New Zealand)
8th – Katarsyna Zalewska (Poland)
9th – Ai Nakahama (Japan)
10th – Julita Omilusik (Poland)

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Gold – Jenny Wong (USA)
Silver – Vanessa Boubryemm (France)
Bronze – Oleksandra Kohut (Ukraine)
Bronze – Inga Karamchekova (Russia)
5th – Jernnifer Bruck (Germany)
5th – Alexandra Englehardt (Germany)
7th – Alena Kareisha (Belarus)
8th – Nanne Pederson (Denmark)
9th – Marta Podedworna (Poland)
10th – Joanna Mills (Great Britian)

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Natalia Golts (Russia)
Silver – Anna Gomis (France)
Bronze – Johanna Mattson (Sweden)
Bronze - Sylwia Bilenska (Poland)
5th – Magdelena Skrzepek (Poland)
5th – Chelynne Pringle (USA)
7th – Mika Kunieda (Japan)
8th – Kristine Skovmose (Norway)
9th – Kristin Olsborg (Norway)
10th – Katharina Peter (Germany)

59 kg/130 lbs.
Gold – Stefanie Stuber (Germany)
Silver – Sally Roberts (USA)
Bronze – Anne Christensen (Sweden)
Bronze – Natalia Ivanova (Russia)
5th – Viktoriya Zagavnova (Russia)
5th – Helene Lebon (France)
7th – Birgit Stern (Austria)
8th – Sandra Sobieski (Sweden)
9th – Maria Brede Jonsen (Norway)
10th – Sofia Cedweqvist (Sweden)

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Monika Rogien (Poland)
Silver – Volha Khilko (Belarus)
Bronze - Alena Kartashova (Belarus)
Bronze – Erin Tomeo (USA)
5th – Justina Barciak (Poland)
5th – Nikola Hartmann (Austria)
7th – Helen Hennick (Canada)
8th – Stephanie Gross (Germany)
9th – Kayoko Kudo (Japan)
10th – Maria Muller (Germany)

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Gold – Kristie Marano (USA)
Silver – Natalia Kuksina (Russia)
Bronze – Michaela Krizkova (Czech Republic)
Bronze – Hiroe Suzuki (Japan)
5th – Masira Admiraal (Netherlands)
5th – Paulina Grabowska (Poland)
7th – Lovali Runesdotter (Sweden)
8th – Gunhild Fretland (Norway)
9th – Laura Skujina (Latvia)
10th – Aureli Gerlac (France)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold – Anna Wawrzycka (Poland)
Silver – Anita Schaetzle (Germany)
Bronze – Svitlana Sayenko (Ukraine)
Bronze – Jenny Fransson (Sweden)
5th – Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)
5th – Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus)
7th – Nina Sklenkova (Czech Republic)
8th – Daria Nazarova (Russia)
9th – Agnieszka Wieczczek (Poland)
10th – Kristin Buttner (Germany)

Team Standings
1. Russia, 62 pts.
2. United States, 60 pts.
3. Poland, 54 pts.
4. Germany, 45 pts.
5. Sweden, 26 pts.
6. France, 25 pts.
7. Belarus, 25 pts.
8. Ukraine, 16 pts.
9. Japan, 16 pts.
10. Czech Republic, 12 pts.
11. HGB WT club, Sweden, 11 pts.
12. Austria, 10 pts.
13. Norway, 10 pts
14. Netherlands, 6 pts
15. Bulgaria, 6 pts.
16. New Zealand, 4 pts.
17. Canada, 4 pts.
18. Denmark, 3 pts.
19. Latvia, 2 pts.
20. Great Britain, 1 pt
21. Gallivare SK club, Sweden, 1 pt.

Outstanding Wrestler - Natalia Golts (Russia)

U.S. performances

48 kg/105.5 lbs., Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 2nd
WIN Katarsyna Zalewska (Poland), 7-1, 2-0
WIN Stephanie Murata (USA), 1-1, 3-0, 2-0
WIN Caroline Lovqvist (Sweden), 7-0, 3-0
LOSS Lilya Kaskarova (Russia), 2-4, 1-2

48 kg/105.5 lbs.- Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 3rd
WIN Yuki Sakamoto (Japan), 6-0, pin
LOSS Clarissa Chun (USA), 1-1, 0-3, 0-2
WIN Katarsyna Zalewska (Poland), pin 1:30
WIN Caroline Lovqvist (Sweden), pin 0:59

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Inga Karamatchkova (Russia), 4-1, 0-1, 1-0
WIN Alaina Kareisha (Belarus), 1-1, 4-0
WIN Alexandra Englehart (Germany), pin 0:54
WIN Vanessa Boubryemm (France), 1-0, 2-0

55 kg/121 lbs. – Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 5th
WIN Maarit Nevamaki (Finland), 2-0, 6-0
WIN Mika Kunieda (Japan), 0-1, 1-0, 2-1
LOSS Anna Gomis (France) 0-4, 0-2
LOSS Sylwia Bilenska (Poland), 1-0, 1-1, 1-1

59 kg/130 lbs. - Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), 2nd
WIN Sofia Cedweqvist (Sweden), 2-0, 4-0
WIN Helene Lebon (France), 3-0, 4-4, 6-1
WIN Natalia Ivanova (Russia), 0-3, 6-0, 4-0
LOSS Stefanie Stuber (Germany), 0-1, 0-4

63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Erin Tomeo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 3rd
WIN Andora Hanazuka (Poland), 5-0, 0-2, 4-0
WIN Helen Hennick (Canada) pin 1:33
LOSS Monica Rogien (Poland), 2-0, 3-0
WIN Nikola Hartmann (Austria), 4-0, 5-0

67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), 1st
WIN Nadia Meyer (Switzerland), 6-1, pin 0:31
WIN Paulina Grabowska (Poland), pin 1:03
WIN Hiroe Suzuki (Japan), 1-0, pin 1:26
WIN Natalia Kuksina (Russia), 1-0, pin 0:58

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High School Sports - On Further Review

Wednesday, March 8, 2006
compiled by Columbian staff

Girls wrestling state championship coming

The fifth annual United States Girls Wrestling Association's Washington Girls Wrestling State Championship Open will be held Saturday at Ridgefield High School.

Seven Washington girls are rated in the top 12 by the USGWA in their weight classes, and they include Melissa Simmons of Ridgefield (first at 165 pounds) and Melissa Watkins of Camas.

The USGWA offers competition to any female age 5 over older in one of four divisions -- elementary school, middle school, high school and women's collegiate open.

Weigh-in and registration are from 7 to 9 a.m. and wrestling starts at 10 a.m. The event cost is $25 per wrestler at the door.

The ninth annual USGWA National Championships will be held April 1-2 at Lake Orion, Mich. Last year, more than 600 girls competed in that event.

For more information on these events go to the USGWA Website at www.usgwa.com.

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The numbers tell the story

3/8/06

Lady 'Horns by the Numbers


47 - Tournaments won out of 56 entered since 1999.

7 - Regional titles won in the past eight years.

6 - District titles won.

4 - State titles won.

3 - Consecutive state titles won.

Seven Straight

The University Interscholastic League sanctioned girls wrestling in 1999. That first season, Arlington Sam Houston took home the crown. The following year, Caprock brought the crown to Amarillo, and it has remained here ever since. Caprock, Palo Duro and Tascosa have won every state title since 2000.

After finishing second to Sam Houston in 1999, the Lady Longhorns nipped Sam Houston, 90.5-88. Palo Duro finished third with 69 points . Senior 148-pounder Tori Adams, who is wrestling at the United States Olympic Training Complex in Colorado Springs, Colo., closed her Caprock career with her fourth state title. Jennifer Johnson (119), Adams and Marie Hernandes (215) won individual titles.

At 148 pounds, Janice Gooden was named Outstanding Wrestler, leading the Lady Dons to a runaway state championship. The Lady Dons outscored second-place Sam Houston, 134.5-85. Lauren Lindsey (119), Gooden, Casey Brittain (165) and Dyana McIntire (215) won individual titles.

The Lady Rebels must have gotten jealous watching two of their crosstown rivals take home the gold. Tascosa held off El Paso Hanks, 62-60.5. Houston Shepherd (138) and Tasia Benefield (148) won individual titles.

When the Lady Dons win a title, they leave no doubt. Their second crown in three years came via blowout. Palo Duro outscored second-place Tascosa, 91-60. Stormy Grear (95) and Annie Thomas (148) won individual titles.

With Palo Duro bidding to become the dominant program in the state, Caprock outlasted the second-place Lady Dons, 71-64.5, to win their first of three straight titles. Teamwork and backside points were the keys as no Caprock wrestlers brought home individual gold. Amenda Howland (138) and Shanda Roberts (215) made it to the finals.

It took some late help from Killeen Shoemakers Emerald Solomon in the 215-pound final and medals from all four Caprock qualifiers to hold off El Paso Hanks, 76-75.5. Solomon upset Hanks Chris Ybarra in the final. Crystal Valdez (95) and Amenda Howland (128) won individual titles.

Much like 2004, teamwork was the key. Four of the six Lady Longhorn qualifiers earned medals and all six won first-round matches as the Lady Longhorns ran away with this one 91-66 over Katy. No Caprock wrestlers won individual crowns. Maci Alvarado (148) advanced to the final.

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'Success breeds success'


Coach Tankersley finds truth in the old saying seeing the work girls do for his squad

By Jeremy Heath 3/8/06
jeremy.heath@amarillo.com

PICTURES

What's really wild is the fact the Caprock girls wrestling team might just be getting started.
The Lady Longhorns ran away with their third-straight state title Feb. 24-25 at the Delco Center in Austin, beating out second-place Katy, 91-66.

Six Lady Longhorns qualified for state, and four of them earned medals. Maci Alvarado finished second at 148 pounds, Stephanea Hignight finished third at 138, Daffney Barbosa finished third at 110 and Lisa Martinez finished third at 102. Erin Ramon and Chelsea Colarelli won first place matches to help the cause.

It was the fourth title in seven years for the Lady Longhorns, who have won seven of the past eight Region I crowns. They have won four state duals titles in the past five years.

No doubt, with those credentials, Caprock is the premier girls wrestling program in the state. The Lady Longhorns carry a target every team in the region and the state wants to take a shot at. Now it's just a matter of keeping that target out of the line of fire.

Head coach Scott Tankersley, who started the girls wrestling program at Caprock in 1997, has a plan to keep that target moving. The plan? Just go with the flow.

Tankersley said the number of freshmen girls who want to try wrestling for him increases every year. He said he has been able to maintain a girls program with at least 20 wrestlers the past couple of years. With girls wrestling continuing to grow statewide, a steady flow of new talent into the program is the surest way to maintain success.

The past success and subsequent recognition the program has garnered has generated an excitement among middle school athletes who are in line to attend Caprock. Many of them are getting into wrestling programs as quickly as possible, hoping to someday wear an orange singlet with a little black longhorn on the thigh.

"'Success breeds success' is a true quote," Tankersley said. "The success of the previous years has drawn more wrestlers to our program, especially from the middle schools. It makes it easier to work with new wrestlers because they understand that tradition is a very important part of our program."

Samantha Allison is a 165-pound freshman in the Caprock wrestling program. She won AISD Middle School City Championships in seventh and eighth grade at Fannin Middle School. She plays volleyball and played basketball until this year, but her heart is in the mat room. She said part of the reason is that Tankersley and his assistants makes themselves visible and accessible to wrestlers in the middle schools that feed Caprock. The other part of it is a desire to be a part of a program that carries high expectations every year.

"I want what happened this year to happen the next three years that I'm here," Allison said. "I play volleyball, and I used to play basketball, but it seems like every year during volleyball season, I'm just waiting for wrestling to start. I got to see what happened this year, and I just want to be a part of that."

One of the techniques Tankersley and his assistants, T.J. Johnson and Chris Allen, use is good old-fashioned recruiting. Not only do they keep track of what is going on in the middle school feeder programs, but also they keep track of what is going on in the halls of Caprock. If one of the coaches identifies a student who appears to be in need of a place to fit in, he will extend an invitation. If the student shows interest and agrees to make the mental and physical commitments, she then has that place to fit in.

"It (past success) is a great tool, and also a curse," Allen said. "It draws a lot of interest with girls, but at the same time a lot of girls who are beginners are scared to attempt wrestling because of the level our girls have been at. You are looking for that determination, and mental toughness. We can take care of the wrestling when they get here, but you need the qualities you can't coach."

Freshman Claudia Cera played volleyball and basketball until she got to high school. She had never wrestled. When she got to Caprock, she had not planned on participating in sports. Johnson approached her in the fall and asked her if she wanted to wrestle.

"Coach Johnson kept asking me to try out," Cera said. "He said I had potential. I knew about it (the program), and he was like, 'Come out. I think you can help us out.' So I came out and I liked it."

Cera, who said some friends and even some teachers doubted she could make it in the program, won the District 5 title at 215 pounds. She even wrote a paper for class about overcoming the doubts of those around her to succeed on the mat.

Her goal for next year is to get to Austin.

"I want to go with them," Cera said. "I want to experience something different for once. I've never been a part of something big, like winning state or anything like that."

Caprock could be in the hunt for another title next year. Four of the six state qualifiers were underclassmen. Colarelli and Ramon were the only seniors.

Both were in the program for the last three state titles.

"It inspired me every year, every time we won state, just to know we could still do it," Colarelli said. "It made me feel like I had to step up and help the team win it, and we just kept on winning it. I hope we keep on winning it."

Ramon was a basketball player as a freshman but the 102-pounder quickly discovered she didn't have the size to compete on the hardwood. Johnson came to her and told her she had a home in the mat room if she was willing to commit to the program.

"I liked it because I didn't have to be a certain height," Ramon said. "I got into it. It's a rush. It helps keep you in shape and it helps keep you out of trouble. And when you work hard it feels so good. It feels so good to get what you want in the end."

The Caprock girls got what they wanted in the end for the fourth time. Tankersley said the idea of four state titles never crossed his mind in 1997.

"I never thought that it would come down to this - winning four state and four state duals titles," Tankersley said. "At the time, the coaching staff concentrated on building a new team, and then everything fell in place."

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