News Page
Adam Steiner and Ellen Marco are Mac's top student-athletes
By Larry Moko
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jun 6, 2006)
Leave it to "Mr. Prime Minister" to come out ahead in the voting.
Basketball player Adam Steiner faced the cameras and spoke into the microphone in front of a room full of people at the CIBC Banquet Centre Sunday after winning the Dr. Jack Kennedy Award as McMaster University's Top Male Scholar-Athlete for 2005-06.
In the female category, the Dr. Mary Keyes Award went to wrestler Ellen Macro.
The presentations were part of the 10th annual Marauder Scholar Brunch, an event that recognizes Mac student-athletes who achieve 80 per cent or greater. A total of 257 individuals were honoured this year as champions in the classroom.
"The guys have nicknamed Steiner 'Mr. Prime Minister' and that's not far fetched," Marauders' basketball coach Joe Raso said of the Ontario University Athletics all-star centre and four-time academic All-Canadian.
"He works incredibly hard on and off the court. When your best player is your hardest worker and sets the standard, you can't go wrong."
A Dundas resident and graduate of Westdale Secondary School, Steiner was co-president of the McMaster Athletic Council. He's also done extensive volunteer work in the community and on reserves in Northern Ontario.
Steiner says he's hoping to return to play one more year with the Marauders, who last March won the OUA championship and competed at the national tournament.
"It clicked for me last year that I do better at school when I have sports going on," he said. "It structures everything so much better for you. You know when you have to study, when to practise, when to sleep and eat and when to relax. You definitely have to be organized."
Macro, a native of Mississauga, is a four-time Marauder scholar. This year, she won an OUA bronze medal and placed fourth at nationals in the 59-kilogram division. Her medal haul at Canadian university finals has included gold, silver and bronze.
Macro, 24, earned five straight medals at OUA finals during her career.
"Wrestling has been a good learning lab for acquiring skills that can and do apply to the rest of my life," Macro said. "Commitment, perseverance, dedication, compromise, respect ... the list could go on an on.
"What I have learned about time management and about myself as a result of the dual commitment to athletics and academics is invaluable."
Macro -- she also worked on the planning committee for the multi-sport complex -- says she plans on returning to Mac to continue her studies and practise wrestling. However, her varsity eligibility is over.
On average, 35 per cent of all varsity athletes at Mac achieved Marauder Scholar status.
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Huge wrestling event approaching
From the Current-ArgusJun 6, 2006, 04:22 am
CARLSBAD -- Carlsbad will become a wrestling haven again next Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Carlsbad's wrestlers will host a state-wrestling event on Thursday. A two-day regional wrestling competition will follow.
The New Mexico Games will take place next Thursday. The games consist of freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
"It's open to all residents from kindergarten through age 35 plus," Carlsbad wrestling coach Bo Ramirez said.
Carlsbad will then host the Southern Plains Greco-Roman wrestling event on Friday night.
"There will also be beach wrestling," Ramirez said. "We've done that in the past. We went to a roped off area at the beach, cleaned up the dirt a bit, and wrestled there until past midnight."
The Southern Plains freestyle competition will take place on Saturday.
Hundreds of wrestlers, including 13-20 wrestlers from Carlsbad, will be competing in the various events, Ramirez said. A team from New Zealand showcased last years' event.
"We have a team from Puerto Rico coming that may be comprised of men and women," Ramirez said. "We also have groups coming from Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas."
Several Carlsbad wrestlers attended a wrestling team camp from May 31 to June 4. Nine teams from Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico participated in the camp, which took place in Pagosa Springs, Colo.
"We basically pair them up and let them wrestle," Ramirez said. "These kids are young, but they are doing the right things."
Weight classes weren't exact at the camp, Ramirez noted.
Carlsbad's Jimmy Rye was selected to the meet's all-star team. Rye went 12-1 at the tournament.
Nick Lara went 9-4 at the event, while Robert Gomez wrestled his way to a 7-4 record. Chris Lara was 5-5, while Logan Ramirez went 7-3, and Joseph Lasky was 6-3. Ysidro Portillo went 5-6, while Isaac Flores went 1-9 and Levi Funk was 0-5. Newcomer Aaron Rayos went 0-7, while Juan Moreno was 2-6, Zach Evans went 2-5 and Patrick Bryant went 0-3.
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Santa Monica Bay Wrestling presents
GIRLS ONLY FREESTYLE WRESTLING CAMP
July 5-8, 2006
contact Coach Mark Black: black@smmusd.org
Camp takes place at Santa Monica High School
All Ages Welcome
$200 per Individual
Group Rates Available
Technique covered:
- Takedowns
- Throws
- Gut wrench
- Pinning combinations
- Freestyle clinch
- Live matches
- Women-specific strength and flexibility program
- Nutritional guidelines
- General fitness
Clinicians:
Hana Askren
3-time All American Wrestler
Bronze medalist at 2005 Senior Women’s Nationals
Fourth place at 2005 World Team Trials
McGill University MVP
Jazzy Green
2006 California Triple Crown
California State Champion
Two time high school state champion
Santa Monica Wrestling Staff: Coaches Mark Black,
Brent Wright, Dustin
Zuharski
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Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann to meet kids and kick off USDA Summer Food Program in Iowa City, June 7
Anjali Budhiraja USDA
06/05/2006
U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist Sara McMann (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)will join children at Pheasant Ridge Center to kick off the USDA and Iowa Department of Education’s annual Summer Food Service Program.
McMann will eat lunch with children, lead them in a few games and physical activities, and will speak about the importance of “eating smart and playing hard.” The FNS mascot, Power Panther, will also be on hand to meet and greet children.
The USDA’s Summer Food Service Program was created to ensure that children in lower-income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast. Although millions of children depend on nutritious free and reduced-price meals and snacks at school for 9 months out of the year, just a fraction of that receive the free meals provided by the SFSP during the summer months.
SFSP draws children into supervised activities that are safe, fun, and filled with learning opportunities. Children benefit nutritionally by receiving complete, wholesome meals, and parents benefit from some help in stretching their food dollars. The program encourages communities to provide safe places for children to go to be with other children and supportive adults.
Pheasant Ridge has provided free lunch to children in the summer for the past 11 years. The Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County sponsors seven sites. About 60 children attend the Pheasant Ridge site each day.
WHO:
Sara McMann, 2004 Women’s Olympic Wrestling Silver Medalist
Darlene Sanchez, Director of Special Nutrition Programs, USDA Food & Nutrition Service in Denver
Julia Thorius, Chief, Bureau of Nutrition Programs and School Transportation, Iowa Department of Education
Brian Loring, Executive Director, Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County
WHERE:
Pheasant Ridge Center
2651 Roberts Road
Iowa City, IA 52246
WHEN:
Wednesday, June 7, 2006
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
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Puerto Rico team to attend America's Cup for Women in New Mexico, June 15-18
America's Cup
06/05/2006
The oldest Women’s Wrestling invitational in the country looks like another good one. The AMERICAS CUP will feature many of the nation’s top young female competitors.
The CUP, held in conjunction with USA Wrestling’s Southern Plains Kids/Cadets Championship and Festival, is scheduled for the weekend of June 15-18, in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Founders David Stormo and Rusty Davidson organized the first AMERICAS CUP in 1992.
“Back in the day, before Women’s Wrestling was accepted in the mainstream, we saw a need,” said Davidson. “We believed the sport was legitimate and that female competitors deserved quality events. Now that we are an Olympic sport, we want to continue to serve developing women.”
The 2006 AMERICAS CUP already has a 16 member delegation from Puerto Rico committed. Women from Wyoming, Arizona, and the Southern Plains Region are registered. “As always, we want to make sure everyone knows they’re invited,” Davidson said. “We want to make sure all our athletes get plenty of action.”
Information, flyer, and details for the event are available on themat.com under the ‘Schedules’ banner. Registration is open to women of all ages, and will be accepted on-site.
Female athletes will be able to compete in as many as four events, during the Southern Plains Festival. The New Mexico Games has extended an special invitation to athletes for all states, and hosts a separate Women’s Division. The NMG event takes place all day Thursday, June 15th.
Weigh Ins for the AMERICAS CUP are that Thursday. Competition begins Friday morning, June 16th. Women, Cadets and younger, who are residents of Southern Plains states are also eligible to compete in the boys’ freestyle event on Saturday, June 17th.
The Festival will also feature an AMERICAS CUP of BEACH WRESTLING, including Women’s Divisions. Preliminary rounds will be held on the evenings of June 15 and 16. Finals are scheduled for the evening of Saturday, June 17.
“It may seem like an old-fashioned concept,” Davidson commented. “We still think wrestling people enjoy being invited, rather than expected. We believe wrestling is fun, first, and that kids of all ages and both genders should enjoy all our sport has to offer.”
Tentative Puerto Rico women's roster for AMERICAS CUP
Name/age/weight
Yashira Tolentino, 13 yrs., 82 lbs.
Nesmarie Rodríguez, 14 yrs., 80 lbs.
Ana Soler, 13 yrs., 85 lbs.
Nichole Reyes, 12 yrs., 96 lbs.
Vicmarie Requena, 11 yrs., 99 lbs.
Xiomara Sellés, 15 yrs., 99 lbs.
Aylene Centeno, 14 yrs.,105 lbs.
Yirehliz Rivera, 14 yrs., 123 lbs.
Stefanie Pizarro, 14 yrs., 123 lbs.
Tanía Torrez, 15 yrs., 125 lbs.
Dorcas Dávila, 14 yrs.,125 lbs.
Celizet Toribio, 16 yrs.,134 lbs.
Dayanara Rivera, 13 yrs., 147 lbs.
Daritza Cruz, 15 yrs., 150 lbs.
Isabel Martinez, 18 yrs., 112 lbs.
Yahaira Morales, 18 yrs., 134 lbs.
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