News
Burch's challenge: Get up off the mat
Wrestling coach looks to win in court
By Stan Grossfeld, Globe Staff | August 24, 2006
PROVIDENCE -- Michael Burch feels as if he's been pinned to the mat for five years.
``I am fighting for my life, literally," he says, a tear racing down his cheek. ``They have wrecked my career."
As head wrestling coach at the University of California at Davis from 1995-2001, Burch transformed a terrible team that hadn't won a dual meet in three years into a Division 1 power that in 2001 posted its winningest season in 25 years. The accomplishment resulted in the part-time coach being named UC Davis men's coach of the year in May for the second time.
That same week, he was fired.
Slam-dunked, Burch says, in retaliation for publicly supporting three women wrestlers who filed a civil rights complaint after they were cut from the wrestling team. Burch, 44, now an assistant wrestling coach at Brown University, filed suit against the Regents of the University of California and four school administrators in 2003, citing Title IX violations. (Title IX, which requires universities that receive federal funding to provide equal athletic opportunities for men and women, was passed into law in 1972.)
The university's Regents don't dispute Burch's success. But they claim he is a foul-mouthed liar and a threatening, rule-breaking opportunist who is no women's rights hero.
In claiming that there was no discrimination outcry from Burch until May 2001, UC Davis said in a statement that ``the actions he claims he took in order to advocate for the women wrestlers were actually taken for the purposes of promoting Mr. Burch's efforts to obtain a full-time head coach position."
Burch's case received some legal muscle in July from US District Judge William B. Shubb, who denied the school's motion for a summary judgment.
In refusing to dismiss the case, Shubb said, ``Particularly troubling is [Burch's] evidence which suggests that his participation in public protests accusing UCD of Title IX discrimination might have been the event that actually secured his termination." Shubb set a tentative trial date for Oct. 11 in US District Court in Sacramento.
A companion suit by four UC Davis women wrestlers alleging sexual discrimination (filed in 2003 after the civil rights complaint was dismissed) is pending.
Dispute and a suit
Women's wrestling is not a sport at UC Davis, but prior to 2000, they could practice with the men's team and receive team benefits. Later that year, the university said financial and other considerations dictated that the roster be trimmed to 30, and the women were cut.
School officials say they held a meeting April 24, 2001 -- coincidentally the day before the women filed their complaint -- and decided to fire Burch. Burch says he was terminated at a May 29 meeting after supporting the women in protests, in the media, and in a meeting with a state assemblywoman that resulted in funding for a $44 million science lab project being threatened.
Burch says when he asked for reasons for his dismissal May 29, UC Davis athletic director Greg Warzecka told him, ``We don't have to tell you."
Burch is suing UC Davis for reinstatement, but also for individual damages against Warzecka, associate AD Pam Gill-Fisher, assistant chancellor of student affairs Robert Franks, and associate athletic director Lawrence Swanson, Burch's direct supervisor.
According to Burch, he asked Franks May 25 why his new contract had been delayed. Franks told him that his public advocating for the women's wrestlers ``was making it very difficult for us to love you."
Burch admits he is obsessed with his court battle. ``They are the biggest, most powerful university system in the country," he said. ``They have a bottomless pit of money to spend. The only way you can win against that is you have to sacrifice your soul a little bit, put things that are important to you otherwise on hold."
Ironically, after his dismissal the only wrestling job he could land was as a second assistant coach at Brown, which lost a landmark Title IX class action lawsuit filed in 1992.
``I turned around the worst program in the country and no one even responds to me," Burch said. ``Virtually every application asks, `Have you ever been terminated at another university?' I have to say, `Yes.' Then I have to say I am involved in a lawsuit against a university. What hurts me worse? The fact that I've been fired by a university or the fact that I'm suing the university in terms of getting another job? I was done."
He was broke and forced into bankruptcy. He also had to seek counseling.
``I was homeless driving across country," said Burch. ``No income, no health benefits, living off unemployment, it was depressing."
Burch, who has since been promoted to first assistant coach, is also an ordained minister and teacher who advocates against the victimization of women. None of the defendants would comment publicly. ``We're grinding our teeth," said one of the defendants, who said the university's lawyers ordered them not to speak.
In his recent ruling, Shubb -- a no-nonsense judge who gained national notoriety after he seized a cellphone in his courtroom and ``tossed" it down the hallway -- also cited ``inconsistent testimony in the [UCD] defendants' presentation that cast doubt on their reliability."
Shubb noted that the defendants couldn't even agree on who was present at the alleged April 24 meeting. ``A reasonable fact finder could likewise conclude that the meeting did not take place when the defendants allege it did and that the decision was actually made at a later date . . ."
Burch was pleased with the judge's decision. ``There was no April 24th meeting. There's no notes, no nothing."
UC Davis says it has allowed women on its wrestling team since 1991 and has an excellent record of gender equality.
``I've worked my entire [27-year] career with Title IX stamped on my forehead," Gill-Fisher said at the time. (She resigned to teach, effective the end of the year.) ``I am not about denying opportunity to women athletes."
UC Davis also self-reported several NCAA violations during Burch's tenure, including having too many coaches at a high school championship meet, staying too long in Las Vegas after a dual meet, and distributing too much meal money. The NCAA termed those violations ``secondary."
Burch says the violations were filed when he was already at Brown and were mean-spirited. ``That's malicious. They were just trying to defame my coaching name."
Stating their case
Burch's father was a high school coach, and young Mike was pinning neighborhood kids at the age of 5. He was a state high school champion from Northern California in 1980, a freshman All-American and four-year varsity starter on a Cal State Bakersfield team that won four consecutive Division 2 national titles.
This summer, he is teaching a course at Brown on ``Sports and Society" and is holding wrestling clinics for Rhode Island high school athletes, none of whom happen to be girls.
But girls' participation in high school wrestling programs is skyrocketing faster than any other girls' sport in California, according to statistics from the California Interscholastic Federation, which governs high school sports. Last year in the state, 1,230 high school girls wrestled competitively, compared with just 494 in 1998. There are currently only seven women's wrestling programs in college, none in Division 1.
Nationally, there were 4,334 girl high school wrestlers in 2004-05, up from just 112 in 1990, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.
``Girls want to wrestle and they are doing it in large numbers on boys' teams from ages 8-28 all over the country in spite of having to compete against males to do it and in spite of having to endure harassment on male teams," Burch said. ``Meanwhile our society, including universities and the NCAA, simply are not comfortable with women being this rough and rugged. The NCAA does not equally advocate for women to play contact sports.
``There's a conspiracy against women in athletics to keep women out of contact sports."
The NCAA responded by e-mail: ``The NCAA process to identify emerging sports for women is a membership-driven process, and I should note that classifying a sport as contact or collision is not part of the criteria," wrote Jennifer Kearns, NCAA associate director of public and media relations.
The NCAA does not sanction women's wrestling, although it was the only contact sport added to the 2004 Athens Olympics.
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Wrestling coach thanks sports council
Thursday, Aug 24, 2006
The Coach of the Rivers State Amateur Wrestling Association, Ezekiel O. Ordu has expressed gratitude to the management of the Rivers State Sports Council for its assistance to the association, during the just-concluded wrestling tournament, tagged, “2nd Dr. Sam O. Egwu National Open Wrestling Championship held in Ebonyi State.
Coach Ordu, stated this Monday, during an interview with Tidesports at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt.
According to him, the sports council gave all necessary support to the association.
He continued that the participation of the team in the competition has exposed the team to new rules and system of wrestling which will impact on the teams performance, adding that the National team had the same experience in the recently concluded game in South Africa.
Coach Ordu explained that, two smaller weight have been added to the sport. They are 30 and 35 kg.
Meanwhile, the coach intends to intensify training on resumption following the competition week in order to face the new challenges ahead of the association given the latest rules of the game.
Similarly, the Rivers team which went with five athletes viz Rose Daniel (48 kg), Aki Kenneth (46 kg), Ganvie Bekebo (74kg), and coach Ezekiel Ordu, came home with two bronze won by Daniel and Bekebo.
Bayelsa State came first in the free style (male), Plateau State took first in Greco-Roman (male) and Cross River State was placed first in freestyle (female) Categories.
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U.S. looks for success in all three styles at FILA Junior World Championships in Guatemala, Aug. 28 - Sept. 3
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
08/24/2006
The storylines are numerous and the possibilities are seemingly endless for the United States to make a strong showing in men’s and women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestling at the FILA Junior World Championships on Aug. 28-Sept. 3 in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Univ. of Regina) is shooting for her third Junior World title in women’s freestyle. She will compete at 72 kg/158.5 pounds. Bernard captured gold medals at this event in 2003 and 2005.
Teammates Dany Hedin (Kailua, Hawaii/USOEC/NYAC) and Heather Martin (Wellington, Ohio/Univ. of Cumberlands/NYAC) are seeking to move up one spot after winning Junior World silver medals last year. Hedin will compete at 55 kg/121 pounds and Martin at 67 kg/147.5 pounds.
Another wrestler to watch on the women’s team is an emerging star in Jackie Cataline, who placed second at the U.S. Nationals and third at the U.S. World Team Trials. Cataline (Corona, Calif./Cataline’s Wildcat WC) will compete at 63 kg/138.75 pounds. The recent high-school graduate was named ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year.
“We are bringing a really strong team down there,” said Izzy Izboinikov, USA Wrestling’s National Women’s Developmental Coach. “Three of our women are returning medalists. This is an outstanding opportunity for our young women to compete against some of the best wrestlers in the world. I am very excited about our chances.”
Rising star Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) is focused on improving on last year’s fifth-place performance at the Junior World meet. Cejudo has enjoyed a strong season in freestyle on the Senior level at 55 kg/121 pounds. Cejudo, who just finished high school, won the U.S. Nationals and placed second to past World champion Sammie Henson at the U.S. World Team Trials.
Also in freestyle, Patrick McCaffrey (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) is a returning medalist at 50 kg/110 pounds after earning a bronze at the 2005 Junior World Championships. Brent Metcalf (Davison, Mich.) is another bright young star to watch in freestyle at 66 kg/145.5 pounds. Metcalf was a six-time Junior Nationals champion.
“I am excited about our Junior World Team,” said Dave Bennett, USA Wrestling’s National Developmental Freestyle Coach. “They have been working hard in training camp and have had the opportunity to train with the Senior Team for about 10 days. Their attitude, conditioning and preparation is good and their expectations are high.”
Spenser Mango (Flourissant, Mo./USOEC/Gator WC) will look to cap a superb season by winning his second World title in Greco-Roman. Mango, who competes at 55 kg/121 pounds, won the World University title earlier this year. Mango was second at the U.S. Nationals this year on the Senior level.
Chas Betts, who is Mango’s teammate at the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan, won a silver medal this year at the World University Championships. Betts (St. Michael, Minn./USOEC/Minnesota Storm) will compete at 84 kg/185 pounds in Guatemala.
“Our team is looking good,” said Ike Anderson, USA Wrestling’s National Developmental Coach. “We have a chance of winning two to three medals at the Junior Worlds, and having a real good performance.”
Heavyweight Erik Nye (Red Bluff, Calif.) will compete for the U.S. in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, and is considered by his coaches to be a legitimate medal threat in both styles.
FILA JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
AUG. 28-SEPT. 3, GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA
Monday, Aug. 28
6:30-7 p.m. – Greco-Roman Weigh-ins (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
Tuesday, Aug. 29
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Greco-Roman competition (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
4:30-5 p.m. – Greco-Roman Weigh-ins (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
5-6 p.m. – Greco-Roman competition (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
6-7 p.m. – Opening ceremony
7-9 p.m. – Greco-Roman finals (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
Wednesday, Aug. 30
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Greco-Roman competition (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
5-6 p.m. – Greco-Roman competition (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
6:30-7 p.m. – Women’s freestyle Weigh-ins (44 kg, 51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
6-8 p.m. – Greco-Roman finals (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
Thursday, Aug. 31
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Women’s freestyle competition (44 kg, 51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
4:30-5 p.m. – Women’s freestyle Weigh-ins (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
5-6 p.m. – Women’s freestyle competition (44 kg, 51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
6-8 p.m. – Women’s freestyle finals (44 kg, 51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
Friday, Sept. 1
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Women’s freestyle competition (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
5-6 p.m. – Women’s freestyle competition (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
6:30-7 p.m. – Men’s freestyle Weigh-ins (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
6-8 p.m. – Women’s freestyle finals (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
Saturday, Sept. 2
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Men’s freestyle Weigh-ins (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
4:30-5 p.m. – Men’s freestyle Weigh-ins (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
5-6 p.m. – Men’s freestyle competition (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
6-8 p.m. – Men’s freestyle finals (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
Sunday, Sept. 3
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Men’s freestyle competition (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
4-5 p.m. – Men’s freestyle competition (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
5-7 p.m. – Men’s freestyle finals (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
U.S. FILA JUNIOR WORLD TEAMS
FREESTYLE
50 kg/110 lbs. – Patrick McCaffrey, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
55 kg/121 lbs. – Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Coleman Scott, Waynesburg, Pa. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich.
74 kg/163 lbs. – Matt Coughlin, Evansville, Ind. (Hoosier WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Louis Caputo, Blue Springs, Mo. (Harvard WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Max Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Erik Nye, Red Bluff, Calif.
Coaches – Jim Humphrey (Canal Winchester, Ohio), Yero Washington (Hoboken, N.J.), Dave Bennett (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
GRECO-ROMAN
50 kg/110 lbs. – Eric Grajales, Brandon, Fla.
55 kg/121 lbs. – Spenser Mango, Flourissant, Mo. (USOEC/Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Brett Robbins, Bloomington, Ill. (Panther WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Jason Robbins, Orlando, Fla. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Andrew Bisek, Chaska, Minn. (USOEC/Minnesota Storm)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Chas Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (USOEC/Minnesota Storm)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Erik Nye, Red Bluff, Calif.
Coaches – Gary Mayabb (Kansas City, Mo.), Mark Halvorson (Brentwood, Calif.), Ike Anderson (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
WOMEN’S FREESTYLE
44 kg/97 lbs. – Nicole Woody, Odenton, Md. (NYAC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Sadie Kaneda, Honolulu, Hawaii (USOEC)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Jessica Medina, Pomona, Calif. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Dany Hedin, Kailua, Hawaii (USOEC/NYAC)
59 kg/130 lbs. – Deanna Rix, South Berwick, Maine (NYAC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Jackie Cataline, Corona, Calif. (Cataline’s Wildcat WC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio (Univ. of the Cumberlands/NYAC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Univ. of Regina)
Coaches – Trevor Keifer (Le Mesa, Calif.), Vladislav “Izzy” Izboinikov (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Click here for tentative preliminary entry list
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By Blake Thomas 8/24/06
Soccer Anyone?
While attending the pre- season football pep rally I couldn’t help but wonder what other sports were available to our youth besides football and cheerleading. There seemed to be a large number of students in the stands that didn’t quite fit the typical football or cheerleading make up.
I know we have a basketball team for both boys and girls, because this particular rally was being held in the basketball gymnasium. I know we have baseball and softball available because I was able to follow this past year’s team in their hunt for districts. I am assuming there is a tennis team, by the mere fact that I had parked just outside of the tennis courts the night of the rally. What else is there?
Oh yeah, I just recently discovered that in a sport that was in my day, dominated by our male student athletes, wrestling has opened its doors to our female student athletes as well. Not to take anything away from these very capable female athletes, but I have to tell you, this disturbs me just a little.
Golf teams, no home golf course. Last I heard we are making do without by traveling this year. Swimming and diving teams, up till now we have not had a pool, maybe with the recent addition to the YMCA we might be able to plant those seeds.
The question that always seems to come up next is, what about soccer? Now I’ve always said: "If there was a sure way to get your self drawn and quartered, tarred and feathered, or just run out of Baker County, that would be suggest starting a soccer program." Now, before you label me a Communist and somehow paint me to be against the American-Way, why not?
Here is a sport that both our boys and girls can participate in and generate cash flow from concessions and ticket sales for our schools. We need a football field to play on, got one. Each player is responsible for his or her own shoes, shin guards, and socks. Each uniform consist of a shirt and a pair of shorts that could easily be paid for with minimal fundraising efforts. Lastly, coaching is usually one and maybe two coaches if needed.
By the way, Mom and Dad, in case you haven’t heard, there are some pretty sweet scholarship opportunities. Not to mention, within smaller division high schools statewide, they produce some of the most competitive players and teams in the state. All we have to do is look to Jacksonville’s Bishop Kenny’s program and see their results.
It would be interesting to hold an unofficial poll. If there were currently student athletes that would be willing to represent BCHS with an official varsity soccer club, would they approach the Athletic Director with their desires, and or write a letter to the editor with a simple yes or no vote. That would be interesting.
We have just spent $230,000 on new lighting for our stadium. These new lights replace a forty year old system that offered a dimly lit at best performance on the field. The addition of soccer and a winter season would help us in justifying these costs associated with the upgrade. With an additional sporting activity that takes place in the winter, this will also give our community yet another opportunity to rally around our Wildcats.
I know some people are not fans of soccer, but a growing number are. With the recent coverage of the World Cup, it was obvious that there is a market. Combine that with the ever increasing costs associated with college - why not provide yet another opportunity for our kids to gain a scholarship. It’s time to consider this as a real option. With the new growth that is coming to our community, we will need to offer more activities to our students. What do you think?
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