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Elizabeth Wiley, USA Wrestling
 |
| Lacey Novinska is 7-2 this season. |
1/25/08
OKLAHOMA CITY – In the monthly
U.S. women’s college poll for January 2008, Oklahoma City moved into the No. 1
spot thanks to a team title at the NWCA/Cliff Keen Women’s National duals
earlier this month.
The Stars, coached by Archie Randall,
received all five first place votes for 50 points total. Perennial power
Cumberlands (Ky.) was second with 45 points. The eight other teams in the poll
maintained their positions from December.
Missouri Valley was ranked third
with 40 points. The USOEC team at Northern Michigan was fourth with 34 points.
Holding down the No. 5 position with 31 points was Menlo (Calif.).
A total of
10 teams were ranked, with any other programs receiving votes also recognized.
Five women’s college wrestling coaches vote on the team ranking each
month.
For more information on the U.S. Women’s College Rankings for Jan. 21
please visit here.
For the fourth
month in a row, individuals rankings were also released. The ranking includes
full-time undergraduate college students who compete on women’s college varsity
teams, women’s college wrestling clubs or are members of their men’s college
varsity programs. Also ranked are full-time undergraduate students who compete
for with the USOEC program at Northern Michigan Univ.
Oklahoma City Univ. has
five women ranked No. 1 in the January poll.
The top- ranked athletes from
OCU are: Nicole Woody (44 kg/97 lbs.), Briana Conway
(63 kg/138.75 lbs.), Ashley Sword (67 kg/147.5 lbs),
Lacey Novinska (82 kg/180.25 lbs), and Karon Scott
(95 kg/209 lbs).
Ranked for the USOEC are Alyssa Lampe
(48 kg/105.5 lbs) and Sadie Kaneda (51 kg/112.25
lbs.). Othella Lucas (59 kg/130 lbs) and Sherolynn
Eppinger (72 kg/158.5 lbs.) hold the No. 1 positions for
Cumberlands.
Rounding out the No. 1 positions is Chelynne Pringle
(55 kg/121 lbs.) from Pikes Peak CC.
Only five of the top-ranked
wrestlers return from December’s poll. New in the No. 1 slot this month are
Woody, Conway, Sword, Eppinger and Pringle.Rounding out the No. 1 positions is
Chelynne Pringle (55 kg/121 lbs.) from Pikes Peak CC.
Click
here for
complete individual rankings for Jan. 23.
 |
| Carrie Clark is 6-2 this season. |
1/25/08
WILLIAMSBURG,
Ky. – Cumberlands (Ky.) snapped Oklahoma City University’s three-dual win streak
by defeating the Stars 27-14 and tying 21-21 on Friday
night.
Top-ranked
OCU went to 7-3-1. Second-ranked Cumberlands avenged a loss to OCU for the
NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals title.
In
the first dual, Ashley Sword, Lacey Novinska
and Carrie Clark each won their matches for
OCU.
Sword,
top-ranked at 67 kilograms, defeated seventh-ranked Nena Garcia
in a 4-0, 3-0 decision. Sword, a junior from West Palm Beach, Fla., is
11-2 on the year.
Novinska,
ranked No. 1 at 82 kilos, pinned Sherolynn Eppinger in 1:59 in
the 72-kilo bout. Eppinger is ranked No. 1 at 72. Novinska, a junior from
Fennimore, Wis., improved to 8-2.
Clark,
third-ranked at 95 kilos, beat Christen Paysse 2-0, 3-0 in the
82-kilo match. Paysse is ranked fourth at 72. Clark, a freshman from Cedar Park,
Texas, went to 5-2.
In
a matchup of the top two ranked wrestlers at 44 kilograms, second-ranked
Melissa Girard of Cumberlands defeated Lene Wood
2-2, 4-2.
In
second dual, Clark improved to 6-2 by defeating Teri Milkoff
2-0, 2-0 at 82 kilos. Emma Mercer and Melissa Simmons
added wins for OCU.
Mercer,
a freshman from Lawrence, Kan., pinned Norma Rueda in 59
seconds in the 55-kilo match.
Simmons
bested Paysse 4-0, 2-1 at 72 kilos. Simmons, a sophomore from Ridgefield, Wash.,
improved to 9-4. Simmons is ranked second at 72.
OCU
takes on third-ranked Missouri Valley at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Marshall,
Mo.
CUMBERLANDS
27
OKLAHOMA
CITY 14
44:
Melissa Girard, CU, dec. Lene Wood, 2-2, 4-2
48:
Jackie Stiles, CU, dec. Nicole Woody, 6-0, 1-4, 4-0
51:
Jessica Medina, CU, dec. Erica Torres, 5-0, 4-0
55:
Sandy Do, CU, dec. Ashley Hudson, 2-2, 0-3, 1-0
59:
Breisja Macera, CU, pinned Samantha Phillips, 0-5, 1:04
63:
Lauren Knight, CU, def. Briana Conway, by injury default
67:
Ashley Sword, OCU, dec. Nena Garcia, 4-0, 3-0
72:
Lacey Novinska, OCU, pinned Sherolynn Eppinger, 1:59
82:
Carrie Clark, OCU, dec. Christen Paysse, 2-0, 3-0
95:
Theresa Fennell, CU, tech. fall Karon Scott, 6-0, 6-0
CUMBERLANDS
21
OKLAHOMA
CITY 21
44:
Priscilla Brownfield, CU, dec. Stephanie Waters, 2-0, 0-1, 1-0
48:
Ashley Dehnz, CU, dec. Lene Wood, 3-1, 0-2, 4-1
51:
Shannon Reeves, CU, dec. Jennifer Peabody, 2-0, 0-3, 2-0
55:
Emma Mercer, OCU, pinned Norma Rueda, 0:59
59:
Jessica Kelvas, CU, dec. Sheila McCabe, 6-0, 6-5
63:
Nena Garcia, CU, pinned Samantha Phillips, 2-1, 1:22
67:
Lauren Knight, CU, dec. Sara Hilliard, 4-8, 1-4, 7-4
72:
Melissa Simmons, OCU, dec. Christen Paysse, 4-0, 2-1
82:
Carri Clark, OCU, dec. Teri Milkoff, 2-0, 2-0
95:
Theresa Fennell, CU, pinned Karon Scott, 1:53
Exhibition
48:
Nicole Woody, OCU, dec. Pracilla Brownfield, 3-0, 2-1
51:
Erica Torres, OCU, dec. Jessica Javck, 0-9, 8-2, 2-0
51:
Eric Torres, OCU, dec. Shannon Reeves, 1-0, 3-1
51:
Rachel Woodruff, CU, dec. Jennifer Peabody, 4-0,6-0
55:
Rikki Giles, CU, pinned Emma Mercer, 0-6, 1:39
55:
Ashley Hudson, OCU, dec. Heather Thompson, 1-0, 1-2, 3-0
63:
Krystal Kiyuna, CU, pinned Sheila McCabe, 2-1, 1:43
59:
Samantha Phillips, OCU, dec. Misha Furniss, 4-0, 7-0
72:
Sara English, CU, pinned Sara Hilliard, 8-7, 0-7, 1:45
by B.B.
Branton
posted
January 29, 2008
A pair of defending state wrestling duals
champions – Notre Dame (D-I A/AA) and Baylor (D-II) – head the field of 44 teams
at the 2008 TSSAA state duals championship this weekend at Clarksville High
School and Father Ryan in Nashville.
The 20th anniversary state duals
makes history as a four-team girls non-TSSAA sanctioned invitational highlights
the two-day package which has five championship events in two cities.
“This weekend will be a great two days for high school wrestling in
Tennessee,’’ said Artie Manning, the Division I duals tournament director and
Clarksville assistant coach.
“I am excited about the girls tournament as
well as the expansion of the A/AA tournament to eight from four and I believe
the small schools deserve the expanded field. It is their time in the
sun.’’
At Clarksville, the Division I AAA (16) and A-AA (8) teams vie for
TSSAA state titles, while the girls have their mat debut in a round robin
format.
At Father Ryan, eight Division II large schools battle for the
TSSAA state championship and eight D-II small schools hold an inaugural
non-TSSAA invitational.
Saturday D-I finals show the girls’ final round
robin match (5 p.m. Central), followed by D-I AAA and D-I A/AA at 7:30 p.m. on
two mats. Also on Saturday are the D-II finals – TSSAA and invitational – at 5
p.m. Central.
* Division I AAA – Fri. Feb. 1-Sat. Feb. 2 … 16 Teams (10
region champions and six wild card teams) … Defending Champion: Soddy Daisy did
not qualify. Friday - Round of 16; Saturday – Quarterfinals, Semis and Finals.
Bradley Central, Clarksville, Cleveland and Overton are past
champions.
Friday – Top bracket, opening round matches: Bradley vs.
Clarksville Northwest; Hendersonville vs. Antioch; Independence vs. Houston;
Tullahoma vs. Greeneville.
The bottom half has host Clarksville vs.
Science Hill; William Blount vs. Cleveland; Arlington vs. Blackman; Overton vs.
Ooltewah.
Bradley Central and Ooltewah, which finished second and third,
respectively in 2007, are in opposite halves of the 16-team bracket.
Bradley is the strong favorite to win its ninth duals title, but
Independence or Greeneville could be solid foes in the semis.
The bottom
half looks to be loaded with host Clarksville (2000 champion), a strong wild
card team in Cleveland as well as maybe the best first round match in Overton
vs. Ooltewah.
Notes: Of the 16 teams, Bradley (8), Cleveland (3),
Clarksville (1) and Overton (1) have won 13 duals titles … Bradley has been in
the last 10 finals, winning six times.
* Division I A/AA – Sat. Feb. 2 –
Quarters, Semis and Finals … Eight Teams … Two-time Defending Champion: Notre
Dame.
The top three teams from a year ago – Notre Dame, Seymour and East
Literature Magnet – should be the one’s to beat … Defending champion Notre Dame
and 2007 runner-up Seymour are one win away from meeting in the semis, while
East Literature faces Greenback in the quarters and possibly Area 2 champ
Hixson, which beat Notre Dame in last week’s Area 2 finals, in the
semis.
The top bracket shows Seymour vs. David Lipscomb; Harpeth vs.
Notre Dame … bottom half has East Literature Magnet vs. Greenback; Hixson vs.
Cheatham County.
* Division I Girls Round Robin – Sat. Feb. 2 – Session 1
(11 a.m.) Science Hill vs. Cleveland and South Doyle vs. Soddy Daisy; Session 2
(3 p.m.) Science Hill vs. Soddy Daisy and Cleveland vs. South Doyle; Session 3
(5 p.m.) Science Hill vs. South Doyle and Cleveland vs. Soddy Daisy.
If
three teams are tied at 2-1, a tiebreaker system will be used to determine the
champion.
* Division II – Feb. 1-2 – 10th Anniversary of the D-II duals
… Quarters are Friday night, while semis and finals are Saturday ... Eight Teams
…Defending Champion: Baylor.
Baylor (4), Father Ryan (4) and McCallie (2)
have combined to win the 10 previous Division II duals. Since the duals began in
1988, these three teams have won 16 championships. Brentwood Academy, which
faces McCallie in a quarterfinal match, won three straight Class A-AA duals
titles, 1995-96-97.
West Region champion Christian Brothers and Middle
Region runner-up Montgomery Bell are the best bets to challenge Baylor (No.1 in
Tennessee and No. 5 in the Southeast) and Father Ryan.
The top half has
Baylor vs. MBA and Brentwood Academy vs. St. Benedict … the bottom half has
Father Ryan vs. Memphis University School and McCallie vs. Christian
Brothers.
“I think the growth of the state duals (from four teams to 44)
is great for our sport,’’ said Baylor head coach Jim Morgan. ‘‘The five
tournaments give more kids an opportunity to compete at their level.’’
*
Inaugural Division II Invitational – Feb. 1-2 ... Quarterfinals are Friday …
Semis and Finals are Saturday … 8 teams.
Top bracket shows Ensworth vs.
BGA and Harding Academy vs. St. Andrews-Sewanee (SAS); bottom bracket has Pope
John Paul II vs. St. George and Webb vs. Briarcrest.
“This invitational
is great for the D-II small schools,’’ said SAS coach Dan Barry. “I believe it
is vital for the small schools to wrestle in the same tourney with the big boys.
Let’s see how it works out.’’
State Duals Notes: The First One – In 1988,
Father Ryan defeated McCallie in the first duals final of a four-team event …
Large and Small School tournaments (AAA and A-AA) were held from 1990-1997 …
Divisions I and II were formed starting with the 1998 tournament ...
21
Years of Growth: 4 to 16 to 28 to 44 … 4 teams, one division (1988-1989) … 4
teams each in two divisions (1990-1991) … 8 teams in two divisions (starting in
1992) … 28 Teams in three divisions (starting in 2005) …
One, four-team
division in 1988 … Twenty years later, there are 10 times the original number of
schools battling for three TSSAA and two non-TSSAA titles in 2008.
Contact B.B. Branton: william.branton@comcast.net
Buddy Collings |Sentinel Staff Writer
- January 29, 2008
2 area wrestlers win
Apopka's Shannon Anderson and Kissimmee Osceola's
Lakia Henderson took state titles in girls wrestling last weekend in Vero Beach.
Henderson, competing in the 215-pound weight class, won her third consecutive
state title. Anderson, a junior and a first-year wrestler, prevailed in the
189-pound class. The Florida High School Athletic Association neither sanctions
nor recognizes girls wrestling.
By GEORGE ROBINSON
The
Leaf-Chronicle 1/29/08
With the eight private schools electing to move their state wrestling duals
championship to Father Ryan in Nashville, a gap was created in the number of
schools that descend on Clarksville at the beginning of each February.
But that gap was filled with the addition of four more Class A-AA teams, and
four additional, unorthodox teams that will make their debut.
For the first time in history, the state dual championship will feature four
girls wrestling programs that will take part in a non-state tournament
competition.
Soddy Daisy, Cleveland, Science Hill and South Doyle will bring a contingent
of female wrestlers to compete in a round-robin type of invitational Saturday at
Clarksville High.
The state duals begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday and continue Saturday, and the boys
will have company.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," said Science Hill coach Jeff Price, who is
also the boys head coach. "It's already been a lot of fun."
Although girls wrestling is not a Tennessee Secondary School Athletic
Association-sanctioned sport, girls programs are beginning to spring up around
the state. There are six girls teams in eastern Tennessee, and currently five
other states have girls wrestling.
The TSSAA originally proposed a tournament to the Board of Control last June,
and the board approved Saturday's invitational during a meeting five months
later.
Saturday's competition will start at 11 a.m. The second round of matches will
be at 3 p.m., and the finals are scheduled for 5 p.m. A championship and
runner-up trophy will be handed out at its conclusion.
"It's great coaching the girls, because we never have to preach intensity,"
Price said. "I've gotten to see a side of them that I've never seen. They're not
to dissimilar to the boys."
Female wrestlers have 10 weight classes — as opposed to the 14 divisions for
the boys. Science Hill and Soddy Daisy have enough athletes to field all 10 that
includes 105 pounds, 112, 119, 125, 130, 138, 148, 155, 165 and 185.
"We've got 14 girls," Price said. "And we could have doubled that, because
there are a lot of girls at our school that have said they wished they would
have come out for the team."
Science Hill's girls program hasn't competed in any all-girls tournaments
this season, but when the boys traveled to Chattanooga to face Soddy Daisy
earlier this year, both schools paired their girls teams.
"I think this is something we want to keep," Price said. "After the wrestling
season is over, we'll review it with our administration and make some
recommendations and try to get it into a full-blown sport."
Price will also hire a supplemented head coach specifically for the girls
program.
Price currently has at least four girls who could make some noise in
Saturday's competition. Ryann Williams (112 or 120) is the most athletic, while
Jamie Goldstein (130) joins twin sisters, Hannah and Sarah Austin, as the core
of Science Hill's team.
Clarksville High coach Jeff Jordan is somewhat familiar with female
wrestlers. He had his own athlete in Beverly Bibal who competed for a year with
the Wildcats in 2003-04. She spent her last season as a manager.
"Beverly worked very hard," he said. "But wrestling is tough and I didn't cut
her any slack — and she didn't ask for any."
Jordan is supportive of Saturday's competition.
"All sports were new at one time," he said. "I'm definitely for girls to have
equal opportunities. I've seen middle school girls and boys wrestle and its
similar. But as they get older and wrestle at the high school level, it does
become tough for a girl to wrestle a boy, so I'm all for having female wrestling
teams."
Jordan said he looks forward to watching Saturday's undercard to the
wrestling duals' main event — if his team isn't participating.
"It'll be a point of interest," he said. "I remember when I was in high
school and soccer wasn't a sport. I grew up in the Williamson County area and
that's the Mecca of soccer and it wasn't an option, so every sport starts
somewhere. There are cowboys and cowgirls."
Posted By Bernie Puchalski
Posted 2 hours ago 2/29/08
Earning female athlete of the week honours was wrestler Jessie Bondy of
Windsor.
The fifth-year concurrent education student was 4-0 in winning the
55-kilogram division at the Toronto Open. She defeated the second- and
third-ranked wrestlers for the second straight week to be named the meet's most
outstanding female wrestler.
Alana King captured the 51-kilogram category and Michelle Fazzari remained
undefeated in winning the 63-kilogram division.
Rob Vanstone, The Leader-Post
Published: Tuesday, January 29,
2008
Wrestling and Adrianna Morrison are a perfect match.
"I don't know where I'd be in high school if I didn't join wrestling,'' said
Morrison, who is in Grade 11 at Miller Comprehensive High School. "It's like my
life. It's the main thing I think about all the time. It's always on my
mind.
"I always think that if I hadn't joined wrestling, I'd be lost. It's my only
thing.''
Well, not exactly.
Morrison is also a soccer player of note. While playing mid-defence, she
helped the Miller Marauders win the Regina High Schools Athletic Association's
2A girls soccer title last fall. Although Morrison enjoys soccer, it is
primarily a vehicle to stay in shape for the long and physically demanding
wrestling season.
"Sometimes it's kind of stressful, but you've got to push through everything
and get through it,'' the 16-year-old Morrison said. "It works out in the
end.''
Morrison is in her third year of wrestling. She was introduced to the sport
shortly after enrolling at Miller.
"Me and my friend wanted to try it out,'' Morrison recalled. "She bailed out
and I stuck with it. My coach (Mark Fitzpatrick) was really helpful. In the
beginning, I wasn't very good, but he stuck with me and I got better.''
Did she ever.
In Grade 10, Morrison finished second in the city and third at the
Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association championships while wrestling in
the 77-kilogram division. She was also fourth at 77kg at the 2007 national cadet
championships.
Last summer, she helped Saskatchewan's girls wrestling team win a gold medal
at the Western Canada Summer Games in Strathcona Country, Alta. Her victory in
an 80kg match clinched top spot for Saskatchewan.
"It was the most adrenaline I've hever had,'' Morrison said. "It was surreal.
It's an amazing feeling to win something for your team.''
Qualifying for the Western Canada Summer Games team intensified Morrison's
interest in wrestling.
"Last year when I made Team Saskatchewan was when I realized that it was my
sport,'' she said. "I was kind of getting sick of it because it's a long season.
Then I made Team Saskatchewan. Going there and seeing all those wrestlers made
me realize that I have a place in wrestling.
"It's kind of like my family. Everyone's so close. Everyone knows everyone in
the wrestling community. Everyone's so supportive and everyone's your friend. I
love it.''
Morrison is the captain of Miller's formidable girls wrestling team, which
has won the past two provincial 4A girls titles. Although Morrison enjoys the
camaraderie, she also appreciates the individuality of wrestling.
"In wrestling, it's your own sport,'' she said. "It's also a team sport, but
you do it for yourself. When you're on the mat, no one can help you. You have to
rely on your own strengths. When you win, it's always a payoff.''
Morrison hopes her efforts will pay off with continued success at the high
school level. After that, she aspires to wrestle for the University of Regina
Cougars under head coach Leo McGee.
It shouldn't be a problem for Morrison to meet the university's athletic and
academic requirements. Her marks are in the 80s and 90s, despite the fact that
considerable time is consumed by sports and work. She is a supervisor at the Tim
Hortons outlet on Victoria Avenue East.
Posted By Matt Flemming
Posted 8 hours ago 1/29/08
Jeramie Herrington and Jade Parsons of the Mariposa Wrestling
Club captured gold medals at the Ontario Junior Championships, held Saturday at
Twin Lakes Secondary School.
Meanwhile, teammates Sydney Duggan won a silver medal and Amy Whitehead
placed fourth. The four Mariposa wrestlers competed against older wrestlers as
part of the Lakehead University team.
Lakehead won both the male and female team titles, thanks in part to strong
performances by the Mariposa wrestlers.
Coach Robert Parsons said he’s not surprised by his wrestlers’ success.
“I was expecting Jade and Jeramie to be very competitive,” he said. “Sydney
had a very strong performance. She had a very good tournament.”
Both Parsons, 17, and Herrington, 16, will move on to the junior national
championships in Guelph in March.
“They’ve both been wrestling really well and they’ve shown they can compete
with the older kids,” said Robert Parsons. “They’ve been training really hard
and looking at camps for national teams.”
Parsons and Herrington will also fight in their own age groups at the juven-
ile/cadet national championships in Saskatoon in April. Parsons is the defending
juvenile champion and Herrington the defending cadet champion.
Parsons will also travel to Belgium with the Canadian junior national judo
team on Tuesday to compete at an event. reporter@orilliapacket.com
By GEORGE
ROBINSON
The Leaf-Chronicle 1/29/08
With the eight private schools electing to move its state wrestling duals
championship to Father Ryan in Nashville, a gap was created in the number of
schools that descend on Clarksville at the beginning of each February.
But that gap was filled with the addition of four more Class A-AA teams and,
now, four additional, unorthodox teams will make their debut.
For the first time in history, the State Dual Championship will feature four
girls’ wrestling programs that will take part in a non-state tournament
competition. Soddy Daisy, Cleveland, Science Hill and South Doyle will bring a
contingent of female wrestlers that will compete in a round-robin type of
invitational Saturday at Clarksville High. The State Duals begin at 3:30 p.m.
Friday and continue Saturday, and the boys will have company.
For more on this story, check out Tuesday's edition of The Leaf-Chronicle.
Brock News:
The Brock wrestling teams placed second overall at the 2008
Ontario Junior Provincials on the weekend.
Jazmine Mian was the only female
gold medal winner, attaining first in the 48kg weight class. Laura Steffler had
a solid outing, placing second in the 72kg class and Celeste Rodriguez and
Alishah Depass both finished third in the 59kg and 82kg weight class
respectively.
For the men, Chris Laverick earned a first place finish in the
74kg weight class. Aaron Fabiano, Paul Rabjohn and R.J. Piper all received a
silver medal.
Cody O
Rourke / Columnist
Last updated: Tuesday, January 29th, 2008 10:12:21
AM
Taylor Eagleson (5-6) pins her Pinconning
opponent at the Jan. 29 youth wrestling tournament in Gladwin. |
GLADWIN -- Gladwin’s Youth Wrestling hosted over 20 schools at the Gladwin
High School Jan. 19. Youth wrestlers ranging from 5 to 14 years old wrestled at
the event. Head Coach Brent Weston and assistant coaches Brian Cassiday, Brian
Pratt, Adam Breault, Dan Hillier and Scott Furgeson led their team to five 1st
place finishes, twelve 2nd place finishes, and three 3rd place finishes.
Finishing first were Kyle Cassiday (5-6); Dan McDonald (7-8); Aaron Weston,
Collin Pratt and Owen Ritchie (9-10).
Second place finishers were Taylor Eagleson, Kyle Schaat and Victor Edick
(5-6); Andrew Wheeler, Eric Cassiday and Evan Shaffer (7-8); Hunter Schaaf,
Ritchie Mathis (9-10); Matt Ross (11-12); Dennis Hillier, Cody Koper and Mike
LaSart (13-14).
Taking third place were Dylan Hillier (9-10); Jacob Roza, Duane Hillier and
Dennis Hillier (13-14).
It was an exciting day for Taylor Eagleson, Gladwin’s female wrestler. Taylor
earned her first medal of the year in the 5-6 year old bracket.
"It feels great!” Eagleson said after receiving her 2nd place medal. “It’s
cool being a girl, because usually only boys wrestle."
Crystal Furgeson, Taylor’s mom, said it is great to see her daughter out
there.
“It builds her confidence," she said.
The Gladwin Youth Wrestling program is headed up by Brent Weston from
Gladwin’s Meadow Lanes. The wrestling program is open to children ages 5-14
years old. Cost of the program is $25 for single children and drops to $15 for
multiple children.
The cost goes toward covering the insurance fees of the program, which also
covers soccer, baseball and other sports. The youth wrestling program runs from
November to March.
Weston, who has been the head coach for 5 years, has seen how the program has
"built the children’s character through discipline, commitment,
sportsmanship.”
“The children learn a lot about themselves,” Weston commented. “The program
has created long lasting relationships between the children as well as the
parents."
For another exciting day of wrestling, come out to the Gladwin High School on
Feb. 23 for the Gladwin Youth Wrestling Regional Tournament.
By JASON GALLESKE • Register Staff Writer • January 25,
2008
Mason City made the most of adverse conditions when it trailed in three
matches and that proved pivotal in a 40-20 win against host Valley Thursday to
win its first CIML Iowa Conference dual meet wrestling championship.
"It
was something we talked about all week," Mason City coach Dusty Rhodes said. "We
knew it was going to be a tough meet coming in. I was real proud we found a way
to win the close ones."
Mason City improved to 20-3 overall and finished the conference with a 5-0
record.
The last time Mason City won a league title was in 1994 when they
captured the National Conference crown.
Eighth-ranked Tony Schiffer at
215 pounds trailed on two occasions to Valley's Cody Redmond, but went ahead for
good on a reversal with 19 seconds left. He won the match 14-9.
Another
big match was when 112-pounder Tiffany Sluik overcame a 4-2 deficit against Tae
Berger to win 7-4 with a late takedown and three-point nearfall.
"You can't let a couple of takedowns screw up your match," Sluik said. "You
have to fight the whole six minutes."
The Tigers had another opportunity
slip away when Zack Williams held a 7-3 lead with 35 seconds left before 10th
ranked Doug Milbrath earned a reversal and then pinned Williams.
"I
thought their kids just outperformed us," Valley coach Travis Young
said.
"At this point of the season, if you let up, it'll cost you and it
cost us some matches tonight."
140-Hoy (MC) def. Pappas, 2-1; 145: Young (V) pinned J. Hines, 3:57;
152-Kibbe (MC) def. McAndrew, 8-5; 160-Waller (V) def. Levinson
11-9 (OT); 171-Houser (MC) def. DeZorzi 14-4; 189: Worthy (MC) def.
Schultz 12-6; 215-Schiffer (MC) def. Redmond 14-9; Hwt.-Krieger
(MC) pinned Kirpes, 2:34; 103-Jones (V) pinned T.J. Sluik (MC); 112:
Tiffany Sluik (MC) def. Berger (V) 7-4; 119-Hernandez won by technical
fall over Cross, 16-0; 125- Mallo (MC) def. Mather, 6-2;
130-Milbrath (MC) pinned Williams, 3:50; 135-M. Hines (MC) pinned
Matter (V), 3:09.
By GEORGE
ROBINSON
The Leaf-Chronicle
With the eight private schools electing to move its state wrestling duals
championship to Father Ryan in Nashville, a gap was created in the number of
schools that descend on Clarksville at the beginning of each February.
But that gap was filled with the addition of four more Class A-AA teams and,
now, four additional, unorthodox teams will make their debut.
For the first time in history, the State Dual Championship will feature four
girls’ wrestling programs that will take part in a non-state tournament
competition. Soddy Daisy, Cleveland, Science Hill and South Doyle will bring a
contingent of female wrestlers that will compete in a round-robin type of
invitational Saturday at Clarksville High. The State Duals begin at 3:30 p.m.
Friday and continue Saturday, and the boys will have company.
For more on this story, check out Tuesday's edition of The Leaf-Chronicle.
Article Launched: 01/29/2008 06:57:30 AM PST
Capturing the unofficial girls wrestling state championship the last three
years, Vallejo High has established itself as top dogs.
However, season-ending injuries - most notably senior Angie Miller's - have
taken a toll on the Apaches, and they'll enter this year's state meet in an
unfamiliar underdog role. Adding insult to injury, cross-town rival Hogan,
coming off a strong performance at the Northern California Regional Tournament,
is favored heading into this weekend's meet in Hanford.
"They're actually in the driver's seat, especially when you look at the
changes we've had in our lineup from the beginning of the year," said Vallejo
coach Carl Lastrella. "We're underdogs right now."
Vallejo senior Jennifer Avelino has been part of the Apaches' championship
teams the last three years, and she's hoping to place at 114 pounds after a
third-place finish last year. She noted the Spartans would pose a serious threat
to Vallejo's current run of state titles.
"Hogan's out there, and it's going to be close," Avelino said, repeating the
words her coach has uttered to help the Apaches forget their past victories.
"Coach Carl always says it's quality not quantity."
The Apaches are going to rely on their experience this weekend, and a number of talented wrestlers will be making the trip to Hanford looking
for a successful state title defense.
Mary Jane Fernandez finished third last year at 98 pounds. Wrestling through
a nagging hip injury that's bothered her for the last three weeks, Fernandez
claims the hip pops out "when I raise it," but says it shouldn't be a factor
this weekend.
"It's feeling OK. I haven't had any time to rest lately, but I've been icing
it whenever I'm at home," Fernandez said. "Coach has always said to go out and
wrestle every match like it's my last, and after the match is over I can sleep."
Her sister, Vallejo senior Jennifer Fernandez, is entering the sunset of her
wrestling career. Planning on attending either Sacramento State or San Francisco
State next year - schools without wrestling programs - she'll be wrestling at
108 pounds and hoping to improve on last year's second-place finish.
"It motivates me, because a lot of people think I finished second last year
and I'll be happy to finish second again," Jennifer said. "But I didn't like it.
It felt like I came all that way just to lose."
While each of the Vallejo wrestlers is hoping for an individual title, they
all look to Lastrella to help them get there. They claim he's been a lot harder
on them this year, denying them any special treatment they might have received
in past seasons.
An assistant coach last year, Lastrella took over the head coaching
responsibilities this season after longtime coach Mike Minahen left for Benicia.
Treating the girls as equals has been part of his plan, helping them become
tougher mentally and physically.
"A lot of that is a product of their success, probably because they are so
successful," Lastrella said. "An assistant coach is able to be a cheerleader a
little more, but as a head coach you have to demand perfection. I try to get the
most of them every tournament, trying to find what buttons to push. Sometimes
you'll have something that works one week, but doesn't work the next."
Vallejo has approached each meet since late December as if it were the state
meet, gradually preparing the girls for their most important weekend of the
year. That method has helped the wrestlers find a comfort zone this week, rather
than adjusting to changes in practice.
However, the elder Fernandez sister's demeanor turns serious when discussing
the one major difference between this week's tournament and the last several ...
"bigger stakes," Jennifer said.
"We're gonna scrap and claw, and it's gonna be a dogfight," Lastrella said.
"It's been intense all year, and it's going to heat up even more this weekend."
• E-mail Ryan Garner at rgarner@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6822.
Wrestling: At a glance
What: California Girls Wrestling Invitational, the unoffical girls state meet
(the CIF doesn't sanction a girls tournament)
Where: Hanford West High, Hanford, CA (off Highway 198, from Highway 99,
south of Fresno)
When: Friday, Feb. 1, Saturday, Feb. 2
Who: Vallejo, 3-time defending champs, hopes to repeat; Hogan, 2nd place a
year ago, will again look to unseat its cross-town rival
