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Brazoswood girls win wrestling tournament

By TERRY CARTER
For The Chronicle 11/22/06

Led by three wrestlers who reached the championship, the Brazoswood girls won the season-opening Cottman's Gator Roll tournament at Klein Oak on Saturday. The Lady Bucs edged Katy, Cy-Fair, The Woodlands, Katy Taylor and Klein in a 16-team field. Top ranked locally, the Taylor Mustangs captured three tournament titles: Courtney Hole edged Region III defending champion Courtney Weiser 7-3 at 110 pounds, Adele Kurt won at 185 pounds and Venus Barron pinned her championship foe in 15 seconds.

Brazoswood's depth helped it win the team title. Joanie Cortez lost in the finals at 165 pounds, as did Ashley Agbe at 185 and Taylor Pratt at 128. The Lady Bucs also took third place at 138, 148 and 185 pounds.

"Our girls got off to a good start," Brazoswood coach Bill Baker said. "We had three girls in the finals and six placers. I was very happy with that."

Oustanding performance

Klein's Lindsey Brooks captured her first Most Outstanding Wrestler award at Saturday's Cottman's Gator Roll tournament at Klein Oak.

The honor comes in her fourth season on the mat and after back-to-back state championships at 148 pounds.

She finished the tournament 4-0 after a 17-2 technical fall and three first-period pins. In the past two state tournaments, Brooks finished as a runner-up for the Most Outstanding Wrestler award.

Brooks said Cy Falls' Brittney Meyer, who lasted 1:37 in the championship match, presented a strong challenge early in the match.

"That's the best school match I've had since my sophomore year," Brooks said after receiving her first-place medal. "She was strong and had a good defense for everything I was trying."

Dual victories

Klein Oak, Katy, Cy-Fair and The Woodlands all emerged unbeaten in three dual matches in pool action on Friday at Klein Oak. The surprise of the night was No. 3 area-ranked Cy-Fair's win over No. 1 Cinco Ranch 49-27.

The Klein-Woodlands dual also provided sparks as the Highlanders edged the Bearkats 40-38 in a battle that came down to the final match of 15 boys' weights wrestled.

While the Chronicle's preseason boys' team rankings are geared toward February's UIL state championships, the dual portion of the wrestling season reveals overall team strength.

Cy-Fair and No. 4 The Woodlands performed better than Cinco Ranch and No. 2 Klein in a dual format.

Woodlands' warriors

The Woodlands girls had a successful showing at Klein Oak on Saturday. Avery Eschenroder controlled the 128 weight class with a 9-1 win to earn the championship.

At 138 pounds, Highlander Kelsey Schaefer rallied from a slow start against Klein Oak's Laura Ponshock to notch a pin at 3:42 in one of Saturday's best matches.

Ponshock took Schaefer to her back in the first minute before a reversal — one of four in the match — gave Schaefer the edge. Schaefer built a 10-4 lead before Ponshock earned a reversal and back points for a near-fall. After another reversal, Schaefer fought for the pin.

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USOEC wrestlers bring home medals

The Mining Journal 11/21/06

On the women’s side, freshman Stefenie Shaw (Waterford, Conn.) won silver at 63 kg. She was overtaken by Alaina Berube (New York Athletic Club), 3-0, 5-0, in the championship match. Teammate and NMU graduate student Tina Pihl (Gilford, Conn.) fell short of the podium, placing fourth at 59 kg. She was defeated by Othella Lucas (New York Athletic Club), 4-1, 7-0.

Three USOEC women wrestled their way to the quarterfinals, but were unable to advance. Junior Sadie Kaneda (Honolulu, Hawaii) was outmaneuvered by Mary Kelly (New York Athletic Club), 6-0, 4-0, at 48 kg. Senior Liz Short (Lombard, Ill.) was also stopped at 48 kg. She was overpowered by Clarissa Chun (Sunkist), 4-1, 1-5, 3-1. Senior Amy Borgnini (Terre Haute, Ind.) was also defeated. She lost to Patricia Miranda (Sunkist), 1-0, 5-0, at 55 kg.

Sophomore Dany Hedin (Kailua, Hawaii) was pinned by Patricia Miranda (Sunkist) 53 seconds into the first period in the 55-kg weight class.

“It was a good tournament overall,” said assistant women’s wrestling coach Tony DeAnda. “There was tough competition. The girls are getting better. We’re learning what we need to work on in making improvements.”

Editor’s note: This release was prepared by the USOEC media relations staff.

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Rivers wrestlers, Abula team in TSFN championship

• Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006

Rivers State is among states invited by the Traditional Sports Federation of Nigeria (TSFN), to participate in a traditional sports tournament tagged National Sports Championship holding in Asaba, Delta State.

The head of department, Facilities and Equipment, Rivers State Sports Council, Mr. Ezekiel Ordu, made this known Monday, to Tidesports, at the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt.

Mr. Ordu, who is also one of the coaches of the Rivers State Amateur Wrestling Association, said that Abula and wrestling are the two traditional sports that will take part in the championship.

According to him, serious training had been on ground, since the receipt of the invitation letter.

He continued that a total of 25 participants would be involved in the competition which will be made up of 21 athletes and four officials.

He explained that the competition is for all weight categories and noted that Abula, will feature both the male and female teams, while the traditional wrestling will have the male wrestlers only for the tournament.

Meanwhile, the fiesta kicked off on Monday and is expected to end tomorrow.

It will be recalled that the Rivers State Amateur Abula Association is the defending champion of this championship.