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Japan aim to build on Athens success
Web posted at: 11/28/2006 4:5:59
Source ::: REUTERS
TOKYO • A Japan team boasting several Olympic champions will be aiming to build on their remarkable 2004 Athens success at the Asian Games in Doha.
While their prime target remains the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Japanese officials are hoping a decent showing in Qatar will also boost the country’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.
“The Asian Games are an important springboard to Beijing,” Japanese Olympic Committee vice president Tsutomu Hayashi said.
“Unless we can be competitive in Asia it will be impossible to compete on the biggest stage of all at the Olympics. If we don’t produce it could even damage Tokyo’s 2016 bid.” Japanese athletes won a record total of 37 Olympic medals — 16 of them gold — and will be anxious to underline their strength in Doha.
“We don’t want people to think our achievements in Athens were pure luck,” said Hayashi. “We are hoping to win at least 50 gold medals in Doha and to finish above South Korea.” As a bonus for their performance in Athens, Japan overshadowed bitter rivals South Korea, who won nine gold medals out of a total of 30.
At the 2002 Asian Games, however, South Korean athletes won 96 gold medals — more than twice Japan’s haul, though the hosts still fell way short of China’s 150 golds in Pusan.
Japan have streamlined their Games team to 628, slightly fewer than four years ago, but still boast Olympic champions such as swimmer Kosuke Kitajima who will carry the nation’s banner.
Kitajima’s form has lurched from bad to worse since he won the 100 and 200m breaststroke double in Athens and his future was in doubt earlier this year.
However, the 24-year-old, who has struggled with injury and ill health over the past year, is set to swim the 50, 100 and 200m in Doha in a bid to resurrect his career.
Athens hammer throw gold medallist Koji Murofushi is favourite to collect his third straight Asian Games title while sprinter Shingo Suetsugu bids for a second 200 metres crown.
Japan also boasts an embarrassment of riches in judo and women’s wrestling which they hope will tip the balance in the anticipated battle for second place behind dominant China.
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The Department of Communications and Public Affairs 11/27/06
The Western Mustangs women's wrestling team won the overall team title with London-Western wrestling club at the Ontario Senior Wrestling Championships in St. Catharines, Ont., on Saturday Nov. 25.
Stephanie Szmiett won the individual gold at 48 kg, while teammates captain, Jessica Fitzgerald (67 kg) and Jennifer Nguyen (55 kg) placed second in their weight divisions.
London Saunders graduate Jill McCallum won the individual bronze at 72 kg while London-Western teammate Terri McNutt placed 3rd at 51 kg, and Katie Patroch won her third tournament taking the 59 kg weight division.
"We won the tournament with our depth over the seven weight classes," said Josip Mrkoci (assistant coach). "We scored 46 points edging second-place Brock, who are defending OUA champions, by five points."
Guelph placed third overall with 36 points.
Szmiett, a past OUA champion and transfer from Brock who is now enrolled in the nursing program at Western, used a "whizzer" counter to throw Jasmine Mian (K-Bay Wrestling Club) to win by technical superiority in two rounds straight.
"Stephanie really strengthens our program at 48 kilograms," said coach Ray Takahashi.
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High school wrestling season about to hit the mat
Nov 28 2006
The 2006–07 high school wrestling season hits the mats on Saturday, Dec. 2, with the Williams Lake Fall Brawl. The grappling action gets underway at 9 a.m. at Williams Lake Secondary School.
The annual event will likely attract close to 100 athletes from Smithers, Vanderhoof, Prince George, Mackenzie, Fort St. John and the host Williams Lake Wrestling Club.
“This will be our third annual Fall Brawl,” Williams Lake coach Rick Bryan says. “It’s an ice-breaker event, but don’t let that fool you. There will be some provincially-ranked athletes ready to start the season off with a bang. The Smithers boys’ team and the Mackenzie girls’ Team are both ranked among the top 10 in B.C.”
Lakecity wrestlers will be in the thick of the competition. In the tough Juvenile (Grade 11–12) Division, Columneetza veterans Travis Heitmann and Corey Jessee are expected to make the podium.
“They have been working very hard at practices,” Bryan says. “Both are fighting injuries, but that won’t stop them.”
Among the Cadet (Grade 9–10) wrestlers expected to medal, WLSS’ Wes Black, Alexis Creek’s Rubina Haines, and Columneetza’s Mike Holm and Jody Scheer will be strong contenders.
“We’re advising local residents not to panic if they experience minor earth tremors,” Bryan says. “It always happens when Wes throws opponents around.”
Following the Fall Brawl, the next action for lakecity grapplers will be the Western Canada War on the Floor on Dec. 8 and 9 in Chilliwack.
“We will be taking some superb young athletes in the Middle School (Grade 6 – 8) category, as well as a full contingent of high school wrestlers,” Bryan says. “The strength of our Kid (Elementary) Wrestling Program really shows whenever younger divisions are featured.”
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Lakehead Univ. to host Gord Garvie Women's North American International Duals, Dec. 1-2
Mike Aylward Lakehead Univ.
11/28/2006
Lakehead Athletics will be staging the fourth annual Gord Garvie North American International Duals Meet Dec. 1 and 2 at the C J Sanders Fieldhouse on the Lakehead campus in Thunder Bay, Ontario. This year will see nine teams taking part; including seven of the top 10 ranked women’s teams in North America, on Friday, Dec. 1 and four men’s teams wrestling on Saturday, Dec. 2. There will also be a women’s open meet running Saturday at the same time as the men’s duals meet.
The women’s teams are host Lakehead, Simon Fraser, Memorial, Brock, Saskatchewan, and Calgary from the CIS and US schools Cumberland College, Missouri Valley College, and the United States Olympic Education Center team based at the University of Northern Michigan. Lakehead, Brock, McMaster and Calgary will wrestle in the men’s meet.
The Duals meet format is a crowd pleaser and this format is a team competition where two teams go head-to-head and each individual wrestler competes for team points and not for individual results or medals. The team with the most points at the end of the series of one-round bouts gets the win. The teams with the most wins advance to the medal rounds.
Friday will also see the popular women’s Canada vs. USA All Star Duals; which will take place after the main duals meet medal round.
The whole women’s meet on Friday will be videowebcast live beginning at 9:00 am EST on ThunderVision available at Lakehead’s website www.thunderwolves.ca and clicking on the ThunderVision logo at the top right of the main page. Friday’s medal round and USA vs. Canada All Star Challenge will also be covered by SHAW TV Channel 10 to be rebroadcast later in Thunder Bay. Saturday’s men’s duals medal round will be videowebcast live on ThunderVision and rebroadcast on SHAW TV 10 later in the week in Thunder Bay. Francis Clayton and Kevin Welland will be calling the grappling action live both days.
Lakehead Wrestling Head Coach and Duals Meet organizer Owen Dawkins said Thunder Bay can expect some world class wrestling.
“This years Gravie National Duals will continue to build on what was started three years ago by former Lakehead head wrestling coach, Francis Clayton. This year’s event will have a number of world, national and CIS medalists competing to help their school win a North America National Banner.”
Lakehead National Duals Schedule:
Friday, December 1, 2006
Women’s Duals
Round one at 9:00 -10:15 am
Round Two at 10:15 -11:30 am
Round Three at 11:30 -12:45 pm
Round Four at 12:45 - 2:00 pm
Round Five at 2:00 - 3:15 pm
Opening Ceremonies at 3:30 - 4:00 pm
Finals at 4:00 - 5:00 pm
All-star Duals, USA. Vs. Canada at 5:45-7:00 p.m.
Saturday December 2
Open Women’s Tournament
Round Robin Tournament at 9:00am-2:00 pm
Men’s Duals
Round One at 9:00 -10:30 am
Round Two at 10:30 -12:30 am
Round Three at 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Round Four at 2:30 - 4:00 pm
Finals at 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Women’s Preview:
Garvie National Duals Pre-Meet Women’s Rankings as Voted by Coaches:
1 Calgary
2 Simon Fraser
3 Cumberland A Team
4 Northern Michigan
5 Brock
6 Saskatchewan
7 Cumberland B Team
8 Missouri Valley
9 Lakehead
10 Memorial
Lakehead Thunderwolves: (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
Lakehead Coach Dawkins said his young squad will work hard to try and score some upsets at this year’s duals. “Our women are going to go in and compete hard every bout. The Top Five women’s teams are all so close that it makes it very hard to predict who will come out on top so we will just leave that for them to battle it out to see who comes out on top this year.”
The young Thunderwolves will look to leadership from Tasha Eady (World junior bronze medalist, CIS bronze medalist, OUA silver medalist, bronze Ont. Sr. Provincials, bronze MAC Open) and Emily McCague (fourth CIS Championships, OUA silver medalist, fifth Cdn. Sr. Nationals, bronze Ont. Sr. Provincials). The Wolves will also look for strong performances from veterans Alexandra Demars and Leah Daugherty (OUA bronze medalist, Bronze Ontario Sr. Provincials).
Tanya Cormier, Jessica George, Katelyn Proulx, and Nicole Plummer (silver at MAC Open) will gain invaluable experience going up against some of the best wrestlers in North America and the world.
Lakehead Roster:
48kg Tanya Cormier
51kg Jessica George
55kg Alexandra Demars
59kg Leah Daugherty
63kg Tasha Eady
67kg Emily McCague
72kg Katelyn Proux
82kg Nicole Plummer
Simon Fraser Clan: (Vancouver, British Columbia)
The Simon Fraser University Clan women’s wrestling team, defending Lakehead Garvie National Duals champions and winners of four straight CIS National Championships, return a strong class for the 2006-07 season. Coached by Mike Jones (31st season), the Clan will be led by Shayla Turcotte (Midway, B.C.), in her third season with the Clan.
Turcotte is the defending CIS Champion in the 82kg weight class, and is the Clan’s top female wrestler. Fourth-year senior Miranda Dick (Kamloops, B.C.) is also expected to lead this team and finished second at the 2006 CIS Championships in the 48kg weight class. Stacie Anaka (Victoria, B.C.) had a stellar freshman campaign in 2006, finishing second at the CIS Championships in the 63kg category.
Coach Jones said his squad wants to do well at the Duals. “We wrestled well last year when it mattered, we hadn’t won too many meets going into Nationals, but we pulled out the championship,” said Jones, who was named the CIS top female coach in 2006. “This season I look for the team to be more consistent throughout the year and we look to see where we stand at the Garvie Duals.”
Simon Fraser Roster:
Stacie Anaka at 63/67 kg
Erin Church at 67/72 kg
Miranda Dick at 51 kg
Raissa Dickinson at 55/59 kg
Ashley McKilligan at 48 kg
Ashlea McManus at 63/67 kg
Jenna Robinson at 51
Shayla Turcotte at 72/80
Northern Michigan University United States Olympic Education Centre Team: (Marquette, Michigan)
The USOEC squad will have several US senior national team members, junior world, and university world medalists who will competing; as well as several junior national champions in the line-up.
Head Coach Shannyn J. Gillespie said his team is ready for the challenge on the Garvie Duals. “The USOEC is looking forward to competing in the Lakehead National Duals Meet and would like to invite Canadian teams to compete at the U.S. Olympic Education Center.”
Athletes to Watch include:
Dany Hedin (55 kg) - 2006 Junior World Championships bronze medalist; 2005 Junior World Championships silver medalist; 2004, 2005, 2006 FILA Junior National Championships gold medalist
Stefenie Shaw (63 kg) - 2006 Body Bar Women’s National Championships silver medalist; 2006 Junior National Championships silver medalist; 2006 World Team Trials silver medalist; Placed fourth at the 2004 Olympic Team Trials
Liz Short (48 kg) - 2006 World University Championships bronze medalist; 2006 Body Bar Women’s National Championships gold medalist; Placed fifth at the 2003 Junior World Championships; 2002 and 2003 Junior National Championships gold medalist
USOEC Northern Michigan Roster:
Amy Borgnini, Amy at 55 kg
Erin Clodgo, Erin at 67 kg
Whitney Conder, Whitney at 51 kg
Dany Hedin at 55 kg
Iokia, Shyla Iokia at 59 kg
Sadie Kaneda at 48 kg
Dallas Monreal-Berner at 72 kg
Jenna Pavlik at 80 kg
Stefenie Shaw at 63 kg
Liz Short at 48 kg
Univ. of the Cumberlands Patriots (Williamsburg, Kentucky)
The Univ. of the Cumberlands is the perennial powerhouse of America’s collegiate wrestling wrestling. Head Coach Kip Flanik said his squad is ready to hit the mats on Friday against top North American opposition. "Once again, Lakehead University and Owen Dawkins have put together the best women’s college dual meet in North America. I look forward to competing against the best teams in Canada and the USA; it will be a great test for us this early in the year."
The Patriots will be fielding two teams for this year’s Garvie Duals. Cumberland lost star Shelly Ruberg (Harrison, OH) to graduation; however Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, OH) brings her experience to the coaching staff this year so the athletes will experience little change in the returning line-up.
This season’s returning athletes include such notables as Alaina Berube (Escanaba, MI) a 2004 Olympic Team Alternate, 2005 US National Champion, 2006 World Team Alternate, and 2006 University World Bronze Medalist; Jessica Medina (Pomona, CA), a 2006 Junior World Bronze Medalist; Othella Lucas (San Diego, CA) 2006 University World Team Member; Heather Martin (Wellington, OH) a 2005 Junior World Silver Medalist; 2006 Junior World Team Member, Melissa Girard (Norway, MI); and 2005 World Team Member and All-American Tabetha Golt (Chesapeake, VA).
Cumberland Roster:
Team A
48 kg Melissa Girard (2005 Junior world team member)
51 kg Jessica Medina (2006 Junior world Bronze)
55 kg Leann Barney (2006 USGWA champion and Fargo runner up)
55 kg Sandy Do
59 kg Othella Lucas (2006 University world team member, 2005 Sunkist champion)
63 kg Alaina Berube (2006 University world bronze, ranked 2nd in the USA, 2006 Sunkist and NYAC champion, 2005 world team alternate, 2004 Olympic team alternate.)
67 kg Heather Martin (2005 Junior world silver, 2006 Junior world 5th)
72 kg Tabetha Golt (2006 University world team member)
82 kg Toccara Montgomery (2004 Olympian but still recovering from a torn ACL and a separated shoulder.)
Team B
48 kg Billie Jean Dill
51 kg Jackie Stiles
55 kg Leann Barney or Sandy Do
59 kg Nena Garcia
63 kg Sherolynn Eppinger
67 kg Lauren Knight
72 kg open
82 kg open
Calgary Dinos: (Calgary, Alberta)
Head Coach Mitch Ostberg said his squad is looking forward to the thrilling team action of the Garvie Duals. “University wrestling is at its best when the athletes are representing their institution in a true team competition. Our team always responds well to the dual meet format. We come together and compete as a team and that helps improve the individual performances."
With the addition of Gen Haley (1st year) and returning Justine Bouchard (3rd), who were both 5th in the Junior Worlds this summer in Guatemala, the Dinos can certainly look forward to an opportunity to challenge to be the women's champions with the return of veterans like Andrea Ross and Laura McDougall to the lineup. Bouchard was named Female Wrestler of the Meet at the Dinos Invitational in October, featuring CIS and club teams from across Western Canada and is the defending CIS and CW Champion in the 63 kg weight class. Megan Goldsmith, meanwhile won the silver medal at both the conference and national championships last season in the 82 kg class after transferring from the University of Minnesota-Morris.
Calgary Dinos Roster:
48 Brandy Ens or Kara Stelfox
51 Gen Haley
55 Andrea Ross
59 Laura McDougall or Natalie Galan
63 Justine Bouchard
67 Vanessa Wilson
72 Leah Callahan or Stephanie Buchan
82 Megan Goldsmith or Leah Callahan
Missouri Valley College Vikings (Marshall, Missouri)
Head Coach Carl Murphree brings a powerful squad to Thunder Bay for the Garvie Duals. Murphree said his team is looking forward to the high calibre competition. “We look forward to this event as an opportunity to test ourselves against the best. It’s a great way to kick off the season for us. Additionally it is one of the most picturesque drives of the season.”
Wrestlers to watch are Tabithia Ramsey (48 kg) who place 4th at the 2005 Pan-Am games, Samantha Schuman (51 kg) who was 6th at the US Nationals, Erika Chew (59 kg) who was 6th the US Nationals, Lacey Novinska (72 kg) who was 7th at the US Nationals, and Desiree Memea (80 kg) who was two-time US national High School Champion.
Missouri Valley College Roster:
48 kg - Tanya Miyasaki
48 kg - Tabithia Ramsey
51 kg - Samantha Schuman
51 kg - Christina Varland
55 kg - Kayla Chambers
55 kg - Courtney Martell
59 kg - Shamaine Danner
59 kg - Erika Chew
59 kg - Samantha Fee
63 kg - Michele Querin
67 kg - Amberlee Ebert
72 kg - Lacey Novinska
80 kg - Desiree Memea
80 kg - Liz Hernandez, Ocala, FL, JR
Saskatchewan Huskies: (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
Huskies Head Coach Todd Hinds said his team loves to battle at the national duals meet. “The Garvie National Duals are an excellent way for us to prepare for our Canada West Championship. The format we use for Canada West is also a dual meet format, so it is important for our team to work with the momentum or figure out how to switch the momentum back in our favour. The Garvie Duals are a great team event for us as wrestling is an individual sport, so it is nice for us to compete as a team.”
Wrestlers to watch on the Huskies roster are Beth Thompson and Pam Ewanishin who both won bronze medals at the CIS National Championships this past March. Amy Dyck was sixth at the same championships.
Saskatchewan Roster:
Caileigh Beckman at 67 kg
Amy Dyck at 59 or 63 kg
Pam Ewanishin at 55 kg
Angela Istace at 63 kg
Jane Packota at 72 kg
Carol Scrivener at 51 kg
Beth Thompson at 82 kg
Tara Tse at 51 kg
Lindsay Wickstrom at 48 kg
Memorial University Seahawks: (St. John’s Newfoundland)
The Seahawks feature some strong wrestlers such as Kerri Ann Evely and Allison Rockwood and Memorial hopes to get some experience against top North American competition.
Memorial University Seahawks Roster:
Kerri Ann Evely at 154 lbs.
Allison Rockwood at 135 lbs.
Holly St. George at 101 lbs.
Francesca Walsh at 195 lbs.
Janelle Pike at 118 lbs.
Lisa Martin at 105 lbs.
Gina Keeping at 169 lbs.
Brock Badgers: (St. Catharines, Ontario)
The Badgers bring in a very strong squad to the Garvie Duals with the hopes of scoring some upsets. Athletes to watch are Liz Martindale who knocked off two carded athletes at the recent 2006 Ontario Sr. Championships (Lindsay Rushton and 3-time CIS Champion Terri McNutt from Western) Martindale was 2006 OUA silver medalist and took 5th Place at the 2006 CIS championships.
Badgers to watch are Jessie Bondy - 2006 OUA Champion, 2006 CIS Silver Medalist; Michelle Fazzari - 2006 OUA Champion, OUA Outstanding Wrestler, 2006 CIS Silver Medalist, 2006 CIS Rookie of the Year; Jocelyn Dresser - 2006 OUA bronze medalist, 5th Place at 2006 CIS; Jen Hanson - 2006 OUA silver medalist, 6th Place at 2006 CIS
Brock Roster:
48 kg—Open due to injuries
51 kg--Liz Martindale, Jessie Bondy
55 kg--Kelly McNiven, Ashley Werner
59 kg--Michelle Fazzari
63 kg--Krista Lewis
67 kg--Deborah Jehu
72 kg--Jocelyn Dresser
82 kg--Jen Hanson
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Four U.S. wrestlers win gold medals at Henri Deglane Challenge in France
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
11/28/2006
NICE, FRANCE - Four U.S. wrestlers won individual gold medals at the Henri Deglane Challenge on Nov. 23-25.
Claiming gold medals in men’s freestyle were Jared Lawrence (Roseville, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 145.5 pounds and Joe Heskett (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC) at 163 pounds. Winning gold medals in women’s freestyle were Chelynne Pringle (Hugo, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.
The United States won team titles in the men’s freestyle and the women’s freestyle divisions, and placed fourth as a team in men’s Greco-Roman.
The tournament offers a unique format with five weight classes for men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and three weight classes offered for women’s freestyle. There are seven weight classes in each style in most international events.
Lawrence won four matches in the tournament, all against foreign opponents. In the semifinals, he stopped Dykun Myroslav of Great Britain and in the gold-medal match, he defeated Zhirair Houhannisyan of Armenia.
It was the second straight week that Lawrence has won a gold medal at an international event, after also capturing a title at the American Airlines/New York AC Holiday International in New York City, Nov. 18-19.
Heskett won all three of his matches, including a victory over 2000 Olympic silver medalist Arsen Gitinov of Russia in the gold-medal finals. He also stopped Carsevan Vardanyan of Armenia in the semifinals. Heskett has won a number of medals at this event in the past, but this was his first Henri Deglane Challenge title.
“Both of the U.S. men’s freestyle champions looked very solid,” said Izzy Izboinikov, USA Wrestling’s National Women’s Resident Coach who was with the U.S. delegation. “In both finals matches, they were very dominant. They executed their game plans very well. For Joe Heskett, who has won a medal three other times, the goal was to win. The fourth time was a charm, and he got the job done. Jared Lawrence was very sharp, and aggressive with his leg attacks. His family was there with him, and it was inspiring for him.”
Pringle won four matches in a five-athlete roundrobin, pinning all of her opponents. Included were victories over runner-up Nadine Tokar of Switzerland and bronze medalist Isabelle Ladeveze of the REU Club.
Miller won three matches in a four-athlete roundrobin, including a victory over U.S. teammate Elena Prizokhov, who won a silver medal. It was a change from the finals at the Sunkist Kids International earlier this year, when Pirozkhov beat Miller. It was Miller’s second international title of the fall season, to go along with a victory at the Clansman International in Canada.
“From the first day there, Chelynne was very confident,” said Izboinkov. “She came here straight from the New York AC Tournament. She handled herself very well. She had four pins, but none of them came easily. It was her best performance yet.”
“Randi wrestled well. It was her second straight international win. She is on a roll. She has found her niche and is determined. She comes to win and it shows in her wrestling,” said Izboinikov.
Silver medals were captured by Pirozkhov and Vanessa Oswalt (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 pounds in women’s freestyle, plus men’s freestyle wrestlers Clint Wattenberg (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC at 84 kg/185 pounds and Nik Fekete (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 pounds and men’s Greco-Roman wrestler R.C. Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg/211.5 pounds.
Winning bronze medals were men’s freestyle wrestler Nate Gallick (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 pounds and men’s Greco-Roman wrestler John Wechter (East Lansing, Mich./Sunkist Kids) at 84 kg/185 pounds.
In men’s freestyle, the USA won the team title, scoring 46 points, ahead of runner-up Russia with 39 points and third-place Armenia with 33 points. In women’s freestyle, the USA placed first with 29 points, ahead of runner-up France with 24 points and third place Switzerland with 15 points.
The U.S. was fourth in the men’s Greco-Roman standings with 27 points. Russia won the team title, followed by Armenia and France.