From left, Beth Stokes, OCU coach Archie Randall, Cheyenne Stokes and Robert Stokes.
News Page
Stokes becomes first OCU women's wrestler
2/22/07
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From left, Beth Stokes, OCU coach Archie Randall, Cheyenne Stokes and Robert Stokes. |
TULSA, Okla. – Oklahoma City University signed Cheyenne Stokes as its first women’s wrestling recruit ever at a ceremony Thursday morning at East Central High School.
Stokes became the first to ever sign with an in-state women’s wrestling program in Oklahoma at the main office inside the principal’s conference room on the West side of the high school.
Stokes was named TheMat.com/ASICS high school girls all-American last year as a junior. USA Wrestling Magazine ranks Stokes as the top 126-pound girls wrestler in the nation. She is anticipated to be a 130-pounder when she joins the Stars.
“We’re pleased that our first signee is not only one of the top recruits in the nation, but also an Oklahoman,” OCU coach Archie Randall said. “She grew up in Oklahoma, and unlike the other states that have girls wrestling, she’s wrestled boys and beaten them. That’s her advantage. She’s really skilled, tenacious and tough.”
Stokes said she hoped to be considered a trail blazer for others to follow.
“It’s an honor to be the first girl,” Stokes said. “I always planned on taking my wrestling career into college. I’m very excited about the new program.”
OCU announced the addition of women’s wrestling as a varsity sport Tuesday, Feb. 13, becoming the 13th varsity team OCU has. OCU will begin competition in spring 2008 as the seventh women’s college wrestling program in the United States.
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Originally published February 21, 2007
(Through Saturdays events) 103 // 1. Nick Schenk, McDonogh (37-0); 2. Frank Good win, Mount St. Joseph (42-7); 3. Scott Mantua, River Hill (27-0); 4. Nicole Woody, Arundel (28-3); 5. Avi Friedman, Owings Mills (29-3). 6. Darian Allen, Milford Mill (26-4).
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For Cedar Park wrestler, overcoming weight problem was worth its weight in gold
Timberwolves' Moore has shed 75 pounds, aiming for state title
By Jake Trotter
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, February 23, 2007
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CEDAR PARK — Fat, the other kids called her.
Mount Everest, they nicknamed her.
Jami Moore recalls it all too well.
"Honestly, I hate trying to remember," said Moore, who weighed 240 pounds two years ago when she was an eighth grader at Cedar Park Middle School. "The kids made fun of me tons."
Her low point came when another girl publicly declared that Moore would go home every night and bawl, because of her weight.
The girl was right.
"Several times, I came home crying," Moore said. "I realize now how miserable I was back then."
But Moore, now a sophomore at Cedar Park High School, never lost hope, even when her life seemed destined for a future of more ridicule, more low self-esteem. With encouragement from her mother, Dana, Moore went out for the Timberwolves' wrestling team her freshman year.
She became the first girl ever to wrestle at Cedar Park.
Seventeen months later, Moore boasts a hard body. Not only has she lost 75 pounds in a little more than a year and a half, but this weekend she will challenge for a state wrestling championship in the 165-pound division.
"Winning at wrestling is just the icing on the cake," said Dana Moore, who also is a physical education teacher at Cypress Elementary School. "Her condition, self-esteem is at the core of what has been important."
After years of sitting on the couch, watching television and eating her favorite snacks — mainly Oreo Pop Tarts, cookie dough ice dream and Nestlé chocolate chips, right out of the bag — Moore decided during the summer before her freshman year that she had had enough.
"I was so depressed," she said, "but I didn't realize how sad a person I was until I started changing."
Moore swallowed her pride and showed at the first day of wrestling practice, a chubby girl among a pack of fit boys.
"She didn't make a big deal out of it," said Cedar Park wrestling coach Phil Pederson. "She was there on time, she didn't complain, was in the back but earned (the other wrestlers') respect."
It was different, recalls teammate Dante Reynolds, who also has qualified for this weekend's state meet in the 103-pound class. "But we really didn't think much of it," he said.
On the four-mile morning training runs before school, Moore — always way in the back — desperately tried to catch up one September morning. Ignoring the crosswalk signal, she ran across a street, but was struck by a Honda Civic that didn't brake in time.
Moore somersaulted over the car like a gymnast and hit the pavement, gashing her arm and leg. Still, she got back up and kept running.
An off-duty firefighter and a nurse who saw the collision flagged her down to stop her from running. She was still bleeding.
Paramedics took her the hospital, where she received four stitches on her left elbow.
"By the time I got (to the scene, after Moore was taken to the hospital), the fire department was washing the blood off the street," Pederson said. "I was scared to death she got hurt really bad."
But Moore healed, and the turning point in her life came two weeks later when Carrie Clark, then a junior wrestler at Vista Ridge, paid a surprise visit to Moore at her home.
"I told her that I was really excited she was going to wrestle," said Clark, who went on to win state last year and has qualified again for this weekend's meet. "I encouraged her to lose the weight."
Just to compete in wrestling, Moore needed to lose 25 pounds in order to get down to the highest weight class allowed in girls wrestling, 215.
Moore did, thanks to a strict diet that consisted of not eating more than 1,500 calories a day, heavy on fruit, vegetables, chicken and fish.
In her first wrestling match, Moore found herself trailing 5-0. But she battled back and won in overtime.
"I had this adrenaline," she said. "I thought, 'I want to keep doing this.' "
She had accomplished her preseason goal of winning one time, and she'd done it in her first match.
Pederson asked her to set a new goal: make it to state.
She did, going 12-6 in the regular season, and won one match at state in the 215-pound division.
Finally, perhaps more important, Moore finally had a reason to be proud.
"I knew she'd do great things, but nothing like she's ever done," said Clark, who talks to Moore at least two times a week. "With all the weight she's lost, she can do anything she wants to."
Moore is done losing weight — she can't drop to another weight class, 148, without falling below the mandatory 12-percent body fat that girls must be above in order to wrestle.
Instead, she's focused on enjoying life. And on winning a state title.
"It's been a while since the last time I worried what kids were going to say," Moore said. "I feel so much better about myself."
UIL state wrestling meet
When: Friday-Saturday
Where: Delco Center
Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students, $18 all-tournament pass
jtrotter@statesman.com; 445-3952
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103-Pound Girl Wrestles Her Way Into Regionals
By Brent Johnson 2/23/07
HARRISONBURG – Valerie Avellaneda made the decision on a whim.
It was her freshman year at Harrisonburg High School and she wanted to try something different. So out went gymnastics and in came … wrestling.
"It wasn’t like I was thinking about it beforehand," said Avellaneda, a junior who wrestles at 103 pounds, mostly against boys. "It just kind of came up one day. I had a friend who did it, so I wanted to do it, too."
Three years later, her out-of-the-blue decision has paid off with groundbreaking dividends. Avellaneda became the first girl in Valley District history to advance to the regional tournament when she finished third at 103 Saturday in the district meet.
Avellaneda is one of 30 Harrisonburg/Rockingham wrestlers scheduled to compete when the two-day Region II meet begins this afternoon at James Wood High School in Winchester. The first round is set for 1:30 p.m.
"It’s long overdue," Turner Ashby wrestling coach Will Crockett said of Avellaneda’s accomplishment. "That has been a movement in our sport – I think we kind of get a bad rap for being kind of Neanderthal. And it’s really a pretty progressive sport."
While Avellaneda may be the most intriguing wrestler in the regionals, Valley District power TA will be the best-represented. The Knights qualified 11 wrestlers, highlighted by district champions Coty Riggleman (125), Alex Collins (140), Cody Thompson (145) and A.J. Sutherly (189).
Avellaneda’s achievement comes just one year after Michaela Hutchison, a 103-pound wrestler in Alaska, became the first girl in history to win a state title against male competition. Girls in Wisconsin, Missouri, Oregon and Maryland also placed in mixed-sex state wrestling tournaments last year.
In Virginia, girls have advanced to regional competition before, Harrisonburg’s coaches say, but they’ve never moved on to the Group AA state tournament.
Harrisonburg first-year coach Mike Dickerson said there’s no special etiquette or rules for mixed-sex matches. The only difference is Avellaneda has to wear a cap on her head – similar to a swimmer’s cap – to cover her hair.
Obviously, Avellaneda was looking for a challenge – and she certainly found one.
"Guys are a lot stronger," said Avellaneda, who stands 4-foot-10. "So I usually get guys who are a lot stronger than me. And that makes me want to work harder."
Avellaneda said no one objected when she decided to hit the mat – her parents, family and friends encouraged her. The harder part has been proving herself. Dickerson said the only people who really doubted her were the guys who had to wrestle her.
"The only disadvantage she has is she’s overlooked," said Dickerson. "Now, she’s come out and made a name for herself, and she won’t be overlooked anymore."
This proved to be a breakout season for Avellaneda, one of three girls to wrestle in the Valley this year. Dickerson says she wrestled "OK" as a freshman and didn’t finish last season because of personal problems.
Now, she said, her fellow female students come up to her and say, "Thanks for representing the girls." And teammate Chase Stevens gets downright enthusiastic when talking about her matches. He was even jumping up and down during her third-place match at the Valley District tournament last week, cheering her on in an 8-3 decision over Justin Sutherland of Fort Defiance.
"Every time I watch her, she gets me excited when she wrestles," Stevens, a heavyweight, said. "She wrestles with all her heart and everything. And every time I see her out there giving her best, it just pumps me up even more."
As for her chances to advance to states, Avelleneda said she knows she has another challenge awaiting her. The regional tournament is double-elimination, with the first three rounds taking place today.
"I’m really nervous," she said after practice Thursday in her polite, matter-of-fact way of speaking. "It’s really exciting. But I’m anticipating hard competition."
Joining her in Winchester is Stevens, who won the Valley title at heavyweight Saturday. Stevens finished second in regionals last season, including an upset of Turner Ashby favorite Charlie Newman.
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09:30 PM CST on Wednesday, February 21, 2007
By KEITH WHITMIRE / The Dallas Morning News
kwhitmire@dallasnews.com
Girls
Vanessa Epps, Frisco, Sr.: Hasn't lost since finishing second as a sophomore.
Lené Wood, Frisco Centennial, Sr.: Looking to repeat at 95.
Tessa Plana, Coppell, Jr.: The one to beat at 128.
T.J. Cannan, Arlington Bowie, Jr.: Handed Frisco Centennial's Emily Martin her only loss.
Crystal Grajeda, Arlington, Sr.: Has a good shot in a tough field at 102.
Arlington Lamar girls: Six qualifiers, led by Mia Mickelson at 119 and Francis Eifong at 148.
Frisco Centennial girls: Five qualifiers, including several favorites
Frisco girls: Can score big with four qualifiers, but it will be tough to catch three-time champ Amarillo Caprock.
SIBLINGS : Michael and Angie Murray, Houston Cypress Fairbanks: Michael is 34-0 and a regional champ at 145. Angie is 28-0 and a regional champ at 119.
FRESHMAN : Trisha Jenkins, Keller Central: She is 18-0 and one of the top-rated freshmen, girls or boys, after winning the Region 2 185-pound title.
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Local regional wrestling champs lost early
by Tom Aluise 2/23/07
Daily Mail sportswriter
BUCKHANNON-UPSHUR'S Brittany Woodall brought some girl power to the tournament Thursday. Woodall won her opening-night match, 8-0, over Jon Kriss, from Hedgesville.
Another girl in the Class AAA field, Elkins' Elizabeth Elza, lost her first-round match.
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Representatives from area have goods for gold
By MIKE TENNEY 2/23/07
Chronicle Correspondent
Four different Katy High Schools will have wrestlers at Friday-and-Saturday's state tournament in Austin.
The Cinco Ranch boys and Katy girls may even have enough grapplers to make the trip home a sweet one.
"It would be nice to win a state championship," said Cinco Ranch head coach Bill Dushane, "but all our guys are going to have to have top-two or -three finishes for that to happen, and that's easier said than done because the state tournament gets tougher every year.
"All the great wrestlers we saw in our region will be there as well as everybody else's best, so we're just hoping to go there and do well and see how it works out for us."
Andrew Giorgio in 103s; Nick Waltman in 112s; Jamie Sheets in 145s; defending 5A state champion Matt Harris in 160s; Will Morris in 171s; and John Gioffre in the heavyweight division are whom the Cougars will bank their hopes.
"All of those guys have experience with big meets and quite a few of them have been to the state tournament before, so we feel like that will help," said Dushane. "But they're still going to have to wrestle well to have a chance to place top two or top four. And if they do well, then the team has a chance to do well."
Mayde Creek will have two boys and a female wrestler at the competition with senior Zac Benson getting over the hump in the 215-pound category after being a state alternate last year.
"His goal and our goal (was) for him to make it to the state," said Rams head coach Barrett O'Connell. "It will be great for him to (be) there. We feel like he's got a chance to do well at the state (because) he did well at the regional meet."
Senior Kelly Ritchie is the other Mayde Creek boy to qualify, and he will be in the 119-pound division. Junior Ashley Campos, a newcomer to the program, will also represent the girls after she was third in last week's regional tournament in the 110 category.
O'Connell said seeing Ritchie rise to such heights makes coaching a worthwhile profession.
"This kid has been a model student-athlete for us," said O'Connell. "We were told he had some academic problems and some other problems. He was just a hyper kid who couldn't sit still for more than five minutes, but he's matured and really become a good wrestler and, more importantly, a great person and a great student. He's gone from a kid with some issues to a person who has tapped into his talent and tapped into his maturity level, and he's just been a pleasure to be around. We're very excited for him and all he's been able to do so far."
Taylor will have three girls at state who were there in 2006, with junior Heather Manhardt in 95s; senior Adele Kurt in 165s; and senior Venus Barron in 185s all making a return trip.
Senior Alex Bradshaw, making her second appearance in Austin, leads a young group of Lady Tigers into the match.
Sophomores Alana Jiminez at 165 and Maricia Shelvin at 215 were runners-up at regionals and freshman Julie Slayton took third place in her weight class.
Each will be making her state debut this weekend.
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TROY GLOVER
(Feb 23, 2007)
Kudos to The Record for publishing on the front-page of the Feb. 16 sports section a photo of two female athletes wrestling (Tough Match).
My three-year-old daughter spotted the photo while I read The Record at breakfast and inquired about it. I explained what these athletes were doing and told her she could be a great wrestler, if she so desired.Then she turned to her mother, showed off the photo, and asserted confidently girls are really strong.
It's amazing how the publication of a simple photo can inspire in girls a sense of empowerment regarding sport, a domain of everyday life that is too often portrayed as the exclusive realm of boys.
Troy Glover
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Pleas, Apodaca among girls state wrestling champs
Alaska Star staff 2/15/07
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With the Cook Inlet Conference wrestling meet Jan. 27 and Jan. 28 and the State Class 4A meet Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, Chugiak High School finished the trifecta, hosting the United States Girls Wrestling Association's Alaska State Championships Saturday.
The local community was well represented among the winners with Chugiak junior Melissa Apodaca and Eagle River High School senior Audriana Pleas at the top of their respective weight divisions.
Tournament director Tom Huffer, Jr. said he was very pleased with the event, which fielded 44 competitors ranging in age from elementary school age to 44 years old.
“Every year the quality of wrestlers is getting better,” he said.
While the tournament was held in Sitka last year, limiting some athletes' access to the meet, Huffer said the hope is to move the meet to Southcentral Alaska.
“We would like to keep it in the Anchorage area and at Chugiak High, if we could,” he added.
There were 13 weight divisions, ranging from 56-67 pounds to heavyweight, 208-215, with athletes from Bethel to Petersburg and many locations in between traveling to compete.
Mirror Lake Middle School's Anna Ward also competed, placing second in the 89-97 pound weight class.
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Complete results of the meet follow:
USGWA State Championships
At Chugiak High
Saturday
56-67 pounds, Elementary — 1) Grace Wiggins, Anch; 2) Jade Shell, Big Lake; 3) Syndee Kimber, Sitka.
59-70, Middle School — 1) Hannah Hutchison, Soldotna.
59-70, Elementary — 1) Sidney Riggs, Sitka; 2) Brittany Whitaker, Wasilla.
89-97, Middle School — 1) Jennifer Coisman, Wasilla; 2) Anna Ward, Eagle River; 3) Jessie Benedict, Anch.
100-107, High School — 1) Michelle Canete, Kodiak; 2) Kendra Nelson, Wasilla; 3) Cody Sloan, Service High; 4) Tiffany Bennett, Dillingham.
107-119, High School — 1) Chloe Ivanoff, Kodiak; 2) Brooke Nelson, Wasilla; 3) Rachel Shannon, Big Lake; 4) Elizabeth Ankivgak, Sitka.
120-126, High School — 1) Michaela Hutchison, Skyview; 2) Aerial Seltenreich, Wasilla; 3) Claira Sallenbach, Petersburg; Lilli Connor, Homer.
131-142, Middle School — 1) Kellee Torrey, Wasilla; 2) Victoria Locklar, Homer; 3) KC Kent, Girdwood; 4) Shastina Ralston, Wasilla.
126-136, High School — 1) Aubrae Putnam, Anch; 2) Kate Iten, Sitka; 3) Jennifer Malone, Palmer; 4) Leslie Thomas, Wasilla.
142-143, High School — 1) Jacklynn Carpenter, Wasilla; 2) Destina Mitchell, Bartlett High; 3) Sarah Hernandez, Bartlett; 4) Karen Webb, Mt. Edgecumbe.
145-157, High School — 1) Melissa Apodaca, Chugiak; 2) Christina Elliot, Bethel; 3) Harriet Chilton, Wasilla; 4) Pauline Shellabarger, Kiana.
188-192, Open — 1) Sunya Maxwell, Sitka; 2) Victoria Willward, Bethel; 3) Devyn Coffman, Anch.
208-216, High School — 1) Audriana Pleas, Eagle River; 2) Debra Torrey, Wasilla.
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Beeville wrestlers focused on state meet
February 23, 2007 - Posted at 12:00 a.m.
BY MIKE FORMAN - ADVOCATE SPORTS WRITER
Wrestlers must win at least two matches today to advance to Saturday's final round of competition for a chance to win a medal or receive all-state recognition.
"I'm really excited for my girls," Foster said. "I think they have a good chance of placing. They know as much about wrestling as any other girls who are wrestling in the tournament. The only thing they may lack is mat time. The experience is the only thing they are really lacking. But they've watched a lot of the boys wrestle, they've watched video and they've asked a lot of questions."
Garcia advanced to the state tournament by finishing second in the 185-pound division at the regional tournament, Gonzales was third in the 215-pound division at the regional tournament and Lopez finished fourth in the 138-pound division at the regional tournament. Garcia and Gonzales will be making their second consecutive trip to the state tournament.
"I think Christal (Gonzales) has a chance to do well," Foster said. "She can hang with those girls. She's just got to have good matches and a little luck."
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TheMat.com U.S. Senior Women's Ranking
Date Ranked:02/22/2007
Ranked By
48 kg (105.5 lbs.)
1. Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Mary Kelly, Mahomet, Ill. (USOEC/New York AC)
3. Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Sara Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif. (Menlo College)
5. Liz Short, Lombard, Ill. (USOEC)
6. Nicole Woody, Odenton, Md. (New York AC)
7. Sadie Kaneda, Honolulu, Hawaii (USOEC)
8. Melissa Gerard, Norway, Mich. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
9. Rachel Holthaus, Little Falls, Minn. (Sunkist Kids)
10. Caitlyn Chase, Hanover Park, Ill. (Gator WC)
51 kg (112 lbs.)
1. Patricia Miranda, New Haven, Conn. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
3. Kapua Torres, Kahuku, Hawaii (Pacific Univ.)
4. Jessica Medina, Pomona, Calif. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
5. Joey Miller, Woodward, Okla. (New York AC)
6. Julieta Okot, New York, N.Y. (New York AC)
7. Whitney Conder, Payallup, Wash. (Vision Quest Sports/Fitness)
8. Samantha Schuman, Omaha, Neb. (Missouri Valley)
9. Kelli Rasmussen, Winnebago, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
10. Claire Dupont, Leadville, Colo. (Colorado Mines)
55 kg (121 lbs.)
1. Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
3. Sharon Jacobsen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
4. Danyelle Hedin, Kailua, Hawaii (USOEC/New York AC)
5. Nicole Darrow, Lanesboro, Mass. (New York AC)
6. Brandy Rosenbrock, Harrison, Mich. (Central Michigan)
7. Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
8. LeAnn Barney, Austin, Texas (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
9. Amy Borgnini, Terre Haute, Ind. (USOEC)
10. Sara Peasley, Escanaba, Mich. (Team Intensity)
59 kg (130 lbs.)
1. Erin Tomeo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
3. Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
4. Othella Lucas, San Diego, Calif. (New York AC)
5. Amberle Montgomery, Kent, Wash. (Vision Quest Sports/Fitness)
6. Na’Tasha Umemoto, Portland, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
7. Tina Pihl, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
8. Jen Chu, Philadelphia, Pa. (W.O.W.)
9. Kelsey Campbell, Oregon City, Ore. (unattached)
10. Erica Chew, Houston, Texas (Missouri Valley College)
63 kg (138.5 lbs.)
1. Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
2. Sara McMann, Iowa City, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
3. Alaina Berube, Escanaba,Mich. (New York AC)
4. Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Jackie Cataline, Corona, Calif. (Cataline’s Wildcats)
6. Stefenie Shaw, Waterford, Conn. (USOEC)
7. Kaci Lyle, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
8. Deanna Rix, South Berwick, Maine (New York AC)
9. Vanessa Oswalt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
10. Rachel Billerbeck, Plugerville, Texas (Missouri Valley)
67 kg (147.5 lbs.)
1. Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Elena Pirozkhov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Northern Elite)
3. Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio (New York AC)
4. Sheila McCabe, El Cajon, Calif. (San Diego Hot Beaches)
5. Amberle Ebert, Reedsville, Wis. (Missouri Valley College)
6. Michelle Hooker, Austin, Texas (Missouri Valley)
7. Shelly Ruberg, Ueras, Ohio (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
8. Sara Hilliard, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley College)
9. Emily Rinehart, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley College)
10. Jade Prudent, Houston, Texas (Menlo College)
72 kg (158.5 lbs.)
1. Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2. Stephany Lee, Honolulu, Hawaii (Missouri Valley)
3. Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
4. Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Univ. of Regina)
5. Tabitha Golt, Chesapeake, Va. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
6. Melissa Simmons, Ridgefield, Wash. (USOEC)
7. Lacy Novinska, Fennimore, Wis. (Missouri Valley)
8. Dallas Monriel-Berner, Chicago, Ill.
9. Megan Goldsmith, Black River Falls, Wis.
10. Teresa Fennell. Amarillo, Texas (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
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Calgary retains top spot in TheMat.com North American Women’s Poll for February 2007
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
02/23/2007
TheMat.com North American Women’s College Wrestling Poll for has been published for February 2007. It is the second poll of the women’s college wrestling season.
These rankings reflect results from the winter tournament and dual meet schedule in both Canada and the United States. Also considered were the Canadian qualifying events for the CIS Championships, which were held last week.
The top five teams remained unchanged from the previous poll.
Taking all five first place votes for the second straight poll to hold its No. 1 ranking was the Univ. of Calgary, coached by Mitch Ostberg. The Dinos won the team title at the Canada West Championships, a qualifying event for the CIS Nationals.
Claiming No. 2 was the Univ. of the Cumberlands, a NAIA school in Kentucky coached by Kip Flanik. The Patriots won the NWCA Women’s College Duals this year, and have had very strong team efforts in tournaments both North and South of the border.
Ranked No. 3 was Simon Fraser Univ. of British Columbia, Canada, coached by Mike Jones. The Clan placed second in the 2007 Canada West Championships.
No. 4 in the poll was Missouri Valley College, an NAIA school coached by Carl Murphree, and is a traditional power in U.S. women’s college wrestling.
No. 5 in the poll was the Univ. of Regina, a CIS and NAIA school in Saskatchewan, Canada, coached by Leo McGee. Regina was third in the Canada West Championships.
Rounding out the Top 10 were No. 6 Univ. of Western Ontario, No. 7 Brock Univ., No. 8 Lakehead Univ.; No. 9 the Univ. of Saskatchewan; and No. 10 Pacific Univ.
Western Ontario won the team title at the OUA Championships, one of the CIS qualifying events. Brock was second in the OUA Championships and Lakehead was third. The Univ. of Saskatchewan was fourth in the Canada West Championships. Pacific Univ. has had an active and successful season in tournaments and dual meets this year.
A total of 20 teams were ranked, and other teams receiving votes were also recognized. The February 2007 poll can be found at:
http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=970
The team ranking poll is elected by a panel of women’s college coaches. Eligible for ranking are college varsity and club women’s wrestling programs.
There are eight weight classes ranked in Women’s College wrestling. They are the seven international weight classes contested in Senior-level women’s wrestling, plus an additional weight class which is recognized by North American women’s college programs as their highest weight division (82 kg).
Five of the eight top-ranked wrestlers claimed No. 1 rankings for the first time this year. They were Jessica Medina of the Univ. of the Cumberlands at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Andrea Ross of Calgary at 55 kg/121 lbs., Othella Lucas of the Univ. of the Cumberlands at 59 kg/130 lbs., Ali Bernard of Regina at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. and Megan Goldsmith of Calgary at 82 kg/180.5 lbs.
The other three No. 1 ranked athletes held onto their top spots: Sara Fulp Allen of Menlo College at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Alaina Berube of the Univ. of the Cumberlands at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Heather Martin of the Univ. of the Cumberlands at 67 kg/158.5 lbs.
The Univ. of the Cumberlands had the most No. 1 athletes with four (Medina, Lucas, Berube, Martin). The Univ. of Calgary had two top-ranked wrestlers (Ross, Goldsmith)
Of the eight top-ranked wrestlers, five attend college in the United States and three attend college in Canada.
The February 2007 North American Women’s College Individual rankings can be found at:
http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=971
The individual rankings are selected by TheMat.com, with assistance from coaches. Athletes who are considered for ranking are eligible full-time college students, and are members of their college women’s varsity or club program, or a member of their college men’s wrestling team.
Women’s wrestling is a growing sport in Canada and the United States on the college level. Women’s freestyle wrestling was the newest sport in the Summer Olympic Games, making its debut at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The United States and Canada are among the most successful women’s wrestling nations in the world.
Copyright 2007 by USA Wrestling and TheMat.com.