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Shann captures national wrestling championship
By SCOTT CHURCH/The Evening News
Story created Apr 10, 2006 - 10:52:55 EDT.
SAULT STE. MARIE - Anyone who thinks that girls don't belong in wrestling should probably stay out of arm's reach of Wrindy Shann.
Shann, a 16-year old junior at Sault High just won the United States Girls Wrestling Association National Championship in the 134-pound weight division.
Shann was seeded No. 9 heading into the Nationals and went through the ranks knocking the No. 2, 3, and 4 seeds on her way to the title.
Shann had a bye in the first round before pinning Stephanie Geltmacher of Kaneohe, Hawaii in 3:31.
Next, Shann pinned third-seeded Lauren Knight of Vallejo, Calif., in 1:55, and then earned an 8-5 decision over the second seed, Erin Clodgo of Richmond, Vt in the semifinals. In the championship match, Shann beat fourth-seeded Shamaine Danner of Richmond, Mo., by a 5-3 decision.
This all came after Shann had won the Michigan State Championship for girls, pinning four out of six opponents.
Shann is a self-proclaimed “Tomboy” and says she'd rather be in a paintball fight than doing hair and nails and things like that.
She started out as a football player in the Sault Giants with friend Liz McAllister, and moved to wrestling after that.
“I had to beg my parents to let me play football,” Shann said with a smile. “And the only reason they let me wrestle was because they thought it was a phase that they thought I'd grow out of.”
McAllister did grow out of it, but not Shann. She continued with the sport despite being one of the only girls involved.
“It was weird at first,” she said of wrestling with the boys. “But I'm on a boy's team, so its just something you get used to.”
In a lot of instances, a girl in Shann's position would be looked on with some curiosity, but would not be taken seriously by the guys, but she has won enough matches against her male counterparts to earn the respect of her teammates.
She also is a firm believer that wrestling against boys is a huge help when she goes to girl's tournaments.
“When I wrestle against a guy, he has a strength advantage on me,” she said. “So I have to be almost perfect with my techniques to win. So that's what I focus on. Then when I wrestle against girls, I find that I have a strength advantage and all that work on my technique really comes through.
“Coach Campbell and coach Craven had me wrestle some of the toughest boys at my weight,” she continued. “That really helped when it came time for the Nationals.
Shann is not sure what she wants to do with her future, but does want to continue to wrestle. She received an invitation to wrestle for Team Michigan this year, and plans to accept, provided she can raise the $650 to get to North Dakota where the team will wrestle in competition.
She plans to attend Northern Michigan University after graduating high school, and is looking at a possible career in Law Enforcement, Fire Science, or Emergency Medical Technician.
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