News
10 things to look for this season in high school wrestling
PilotOnline.com 12/1/06
6 | GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS: They're no longer a novelty in high school wrestling. Girls who can beat boys routinely, however - that's why Indian River freshman Marina Lambert might be the surprise of the Southeastern District at 160. She won a Chesapeake middle school title last season, and she's the top-ranked girl in the nation in her weight class.
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Wrestlers come of age at Island Novice Championship
By Terry Farrell
Sports Editor
Dec 01 2006
The future of Island wrestling took to the mats Saturday in the Island Novice Wrestling Championships.
The action was non-stop in the Southgate gym, as 142 wrestlers from 10 Island teams grappled in attempts at their first ever respective gold medals.
Though not all the wrestlers were first-year athletes, the majority of them were less experienced, thus the name of the event. Only wrestlers who have never won either gold or silver medals at sanctioned events qualify for competition at the Island Novice.
In regards to Campbell River wrestlers, Saturday’s meet marked the last time many of them will ever wrestle in the Island Novice.
Of Campbell River’s 32 top-six placings, 14 were either silver or gold, including six gold medals.
One of the most dominating divisions, from a Campbell River perspective was in the junior boys’ 63kg event.
With 12 competitors, it was the largest single division in the competition and Campbell Riverites swept the podium placings.
Cody Kessler from Southgate will not be at next year’s Island Novice, after winning the gold medal in the 63kg class this year.
Travis Cochrane has also wrestled in his last Island Novice. The Phoenix Firebird took the silver medal. Another Firebird, Renal Lafleur, won the bronze.
Southgate Gators finished one/two in the junior boys’ 38 kg division. First-year wrestler Keegan Fergusson won the division in convincing fashion, with teammate Cody Ellis winning the silver.
Campbell River wrestlers had one other one/two finish – in the 74kg division – albeit from opposing schools.
Chris Hughes from Phoenix won the division, while Campbell River Christian School’s Ryan Krell had the best showing of any Cougar, finishing with the silver medal.
Cody Passmore of Phoenix won the junior boys’ 45kg division and female wrestlers produced Cammpbell River’s other two gold medals.
Brooke Hubelit of Phoenix took gold in the junior girls’ 57kg division and Timberline’s Samantha Pearsall won the senior girls’ 57kg event.
With only two divisions of senior girls at the tournament, the six points she earned for her first-place finish gave Timberline first place overall in the team standings.
The individual efforts of Phoenix wrestlers propelled the Firebird teams to the top of the standings in both the junior boys and junior girls’ divisions.
Phoenix boys combined for eight top-six finishes, producing a total of 77 points, for a seven-point victory over Port Alberni’s EJ Dunn.
Ten Southgate boys combined for 69 points to finish third overall.
Four Campbell River Christian School wrestlers combined for 13 points and a ninth-place finish in the team standings.
The Phoenix girls combined for 43 points and a five-point victory over Queen of Angels (Duncan).
Six points are awarded for a first-place finish, with values decreasing accordingly down to sixth place, which is worth one point.
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Uncertainty reigns in SCAC wrestling
By RYAN GARNER, Times-Herald sports writer
Article Launched:12/01/2006 08:03:58 AM PST
Vallejo
The Vallejo Apaches are looking to rebound from an upset loss to the Hogan Spartans last season. Vallejo has held the high school wrestling crown for decades, producing state qualifiers nearly every season.
Ronny Tsutsui returns after at the 140-pound mark and he's looking to build on last year's impressive outing. Tsutsui - a two-time sectional champion - placed seventh at the state tournament last season. He'll be joined by Charles Rodriguez and Robert Hansen, who have gained strong experience that will help the Apaches contend this year.
"We have about eight returnees, so we've got a nice mix. We're strong at the lighter and heavier weights, we just have a bunch in the middle that we lost last year. Hopefully we'll have some of our younger guys step up and fill some holes," Mike Minahen said. "Hansen has a chance to place at the state tournament this year and Rodriguez is very strong and athletic, so he should do well."
Vallejo also has a strong group of female wrestlers returning, led by the trio of Maryjane Fernandez, Jennifer Fernandez and Angie Miller. Each of them contended for Vallejo Times-Herald athlete of the week honors regularly last season, and should come out even stronger with another year of experience on the mat.
"We have three returnees who should place high in the state tournament," Minahen said. "I like our chances, but we'll have to see how it plays out."
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NOTES AND QUOTES: Justin cheer team performs in Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
By Marty James
Friday, December 1, 2006 7:12 AM PST
The Missouri Valley College women’s wrestling team features Maika Watanabe and Kayla Chambers, Vintage High graduates. The team is coached by Carl Murphree, a former Vintage coach, former director of the Napa Valley Wrestling Club and founder of the Asics Napa Valley Girls Classic. Mat.com ranked Missouri Valley No. 1 in the country at the end of last year’s season.
Chambers was fifth in her division at the McMaster University Invitational last month in Hamilton, Ontario (Canada).
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author: Lou Ann Stacey 12/1/06
The 2006-2007 KSS Wrestling team starts the new season with some changes. Let’s start with the new head coach, Peter Montour. He will be the team’s new head coach. Montour has been with the team since the early years as a wrestler then as an assistant coach under the tutelage of former Head Coach Dave Canadian. The change was inevitable as Dave Canadian has been the coach for the past twenty years. The transition has been in the works since last season. Peter Montour, 2005 Aboriginal Coach Award winner, started the transition as the head coach of the Wrestling team at the 2006 North American Indigenous Games. Montour explains: ” We have done a reversal of roles, where I am the head coach, Dave will be the assistant coach. He will be mentoring me throughout this season. He will be at most of the meets and keep reminding me of what I need to get done, administratively. I am excited to see what this season will bring.” The assistant coaches will include Garrett Jacobs, Jonathan Rice with assistance from Brandon Stalk, Clayton Rice and Karla McGregor and many other senior wrestlers. This season KSS wrestling will have four girls competing. Montour was quick to explain these changes will not change KSS’s goals: “KSS Wrestling team will still be intense and tough. We continue to train and practice four days per week and two hours per day. The coaches have developed strategies for psychological development for the wrestlers. The wrestlers are required to set goals for the season and matches. We are looking for a pin to end each match.” The team has a few new faces. The coaches are expecting the eighth and ninth grade wrestlers to be strong, combined with tough older wrestlers, the team was compared to the teams of the 1990’s with domination throughout the weight classes. The GMAA league has made some changes as well. There will be a novice division for all first time wrestlers no matter what the age or weight class. They will not be required to make a weight prior to the match. In the Cadet and Juvenile each of the divisions will be organized by age group, preventing an 11th grade student matching up against and eight grade wrestler. The GMAA League will be an eleven-team league this season. There will be two new schools competing Beurling Academy and Mary Mount Academy. Massey Vanier and Beaconsfield High return to GMAA Wrestling competition. It is expected to be an exciting season.
The KSS Wrestling team officially announced the captains for the upcoming 2006-2007 season: Veteran wrestlers Devin Kirby, Kenneth Canadian and Tatie Moses.
This weekend the KSS Wrestlers will be at their first competition of the season, the Quebec Open. The Quebec Open will be held at Riverdale High School. There will be wrestling teams from the Quebec region, including many of the GMAA teams, KSS competes with in league meets as well as teams from New York state and Ontario.
Peter Montour shared: ” This is an opportunity for the coaching staff to observe our wrestlers to see what we need to work on. We can get a glimpse of our competition to see what we will be up against for the GMAA season.” KSS is expecting to have about thirty wrestlers competing this weekend at Riverdale.
KSS will host their first dual meet of the season on Thursday, December 7 at 3:30 p.m. They will host Massey Vanier and Lasalle Community High School.
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Calgary wins team title at Gord Garvie North American Women's College Duals
Mike Aylward Lakehead Univ.
12/01/2006
The Calgary Dinos women's wrestling team from Calgary, Alberta posted a perfect 4-0 record in round robin action and then went on to defeat the Cumberland College Patriots of Williamsburg, Kentucky in a hard-fought final to claim the Lakehead Gord Garvie North American Duals Championship held in Thunder Bay on Friday.
Cumberland also posted a 4-0 mark in round robin pool action but the Dinos proved too much in the final.
Simon Fraser University of Vancouver, British Columbia took the team bronze while the United States Olympic Education Centre team from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan took fourth.
Lakehead North American Women's Duals Championships Final Team Results
1) Calgary (5-0)
2) Cumberland College (4-1)
3) Simon Fraser (4-1)
4) Northern Michigan USOEC Team (3-2)
5) Missouri Valley (3-2)
6) Cumberland College B Team (2-3)
7) Saskatchewan (2-3)
8) Lakehead (1-4)
9) Memorial (0-4)
10) Brock (0-4)
More results will be posted when available.
The men's Duals run Saturday at Lakehead with the medal round videowebcast live off www.thunderwolves.ca at 4:00 pm EST.