Like a throwback to a bygone era, Friday’s Warrensburg at Salem
wrestling match took place in the Salem Central School
auditorium, which at one time doubled as the Generals’
gymnasium.
Jammed in between the seven-row bleachers and the stage, the
44-foot-by-44-foot purple wrestling mat filled the available floor space. Fans
had to walk on the edge of the mat along the bottom row of bleachers to get into
the stands. A row of chairs sat on the stage for more fans to enjoy the
action.
I was told that this combination gym-auditorium (gymatorium?) with the
wood-paneled walls is in the part of the school that dates from
1938. It is dimly lit, cozy and intimate. With little room
behind the benches and little margin for error (about 5 feet) beyond the out of
bounds and either the stage or the bottom row of bleachers, it’s a tight fit.
Extra pads were placed on the front of the stage and the bottom row of
bleachers, just in case. The scorers’ table is halfway up the bleachers, in the
middle.
“It’s real intimate here, a nice small area,” Salem coach Mike
Poplaski said. “I like the closeness, it has that appeal.”
“It’s so much smaller in here that when the crowd cheers, it’s like a stadium
full of people,” said Salem senior BrettSaunders. “It makes it better for us.”
The wrestling match was held here, in this classic little gym, because the
main gym (built around 1971) was being used for the Fort Ann at Salem boys
basketball game.
At 103, I was able to watch one of the few all-female bouts I have seen.
Warrensburg’s tough Abby Roth pinned CassieSkellie with six seconds left in their match, which Roth led
11-0 at the time. That knotted the score at 12-12.
FEMALE ATHLETE SAYS IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER SPORT AND HAS
ALREADY SHOWN WHAT SHE CAN DO WITH A 25-7 RECORD
BY ZACH EWING, Californian staff writer
e-mail:
zewing@bakersfield.com | Friday, Feb 8 2008 9:50
PM
Last Updated: Friday, Feb 8 2008 9:56 PM
Yes, Frontier High freshman Alex Gomez fits a
relatively rare description: "Female wrestler." But she's much more concerned
about the second word than the first. "To me, I'm just another wrestler," said
Gomez, who's full name is Alexandrea. "It's like the only thing I know. People,
they're like, 'No way, you're a girl wrestler?' But to me, it's just like any
other sport. I'm just doing what I love."
Gomez, the Titans' starting 103-pounder, does it well. She's 25-7 on the
season with 17 pins and went undefeated in Southwest Yosemite League duals this
season. She's the likely favorite in today's SWYL tournament at Centennial.
Gomez was ranked No. 10 nationally for her weight class by the United States
Girls' Wrestling Association. Only one other girl from California is listed in
any weight class.
And she's among Frontier wrestlers, most of whom never competed before high
school. Gomez, meanwhile, won a USGWA national championship last spring at 101
pounds in the Middle School Division. She pinned all three opponents in that
tournament.
"She's just a gift to have in our room," Frontier coach Kirk Moore said. "I'd
never coached a girl before, but I talked with my coaches and with my team, and
I said, 'She's not a girl. She's a wrestler. And we're going to treat her like a
wrestler.'"
No problems so far. Gomez has fit in perfectly with the rest of the Titans,
who made a surprising run to an undefeated SWYL dual season this year.
"She looks at it and says, 'I'm one of the guys,'" Moore said. "She jokes
with them, talks with them, and she's with them just as much as anybody. And she
has some girly things she does, but really, she's not any different."
And Gomez, who won the Cotton Classic in Shafter earlier this season and has
placed in four other tournaments, is ready to make a run at the California
Interscholastic Federation state tournament, Feb. 29 and March 1 at Rabobank
Arena -- just like any other California wrestler.
"I've had my obstacles and stuff -- some people thought girls shouldn't be
wrestling," Gomez said. "But I just don't let them get in my way."
Bad weather canceled Bendle's only meeting with Bentley this season, which
makes the showdown all the more meaningful.
The Tigers, 8-14 overall and 2-5 in the GAC, are led by a trio of wrestlers
in senior Tony Goss who's posted a 40-4 record at 140 pounds, junior Zach Holmes
a 25-6 record at 112 and junior Andrew McCarthy 24-7 at 130.
Goss was a state qualifier at 145 last year and McCarthy a regional qualifier
at 135.
"We keep improving," Bendle coach Aaron Lawrence said. "Zach (Holmes) was
only 16-16 last year as a sophomore. Last year we also had kids only winning two
matches and this year they have winning records. Every kid that wrestled last
summer has a 60 percent turnaround."
If they survive the Bulldogs, they'll likely get New Lothrop who'll be after
its 29th consecutive district title. The Hornets have punked Bendle in their
last two meetings, 62-15 in the district semifinal last year and 64-15 Jan.
23.
"Team-wise, chances are we'll get beat by New Lothrop," Lawrence said. "We
can win matches against them but they have depth. They don't give up
points."
Bentley (1-12) has one dual meet on the season and no league wins (0-4).
Junior Katrina Collins (160), sophomore Shannan Connors (119) and freshman
Amanda Demyers (103) are among the Bulldogs top wrestlers among girls and senior
Mike Browne (215), junior Isaac DeWolf (189) and senior Randy Nielsen
(heavyweight) have been formidable for the boys.
Browne has compiled a 21-10 record.
"Amanda and Shannan have .500 records and for Shannon as a second-year
wrestler and female that's excellent," Bentley coach Mike Browne said. "Isaac
has been a standout for us this year and Randy I wish I had all four years."
The Bulldogs lost to St. Charles in the 2007 district semifinal.
Paris District High School won its fifth consecutive Brant
County high school boys team wrestling championship Thursday and Brantford
Collegiate Institute capture the girls' team title.
PDHS won the boys team title with 109 points. North Park Collegiate placed
second with 59 points and W. Ross Macdonald School was third with 54 points.
BCI earned 38 points to grab the girls' crown. PDHS was second 34 points and
North park third with 27 points.
Assumption College and Pauline Johnson Collegiate each got 10 points and WRM
seven.
Girls individual placings in order of finish:
44-kg: Laura Boudreau (PDHS), Meriah Swanson (PDHS), Rachel McNeill (BCI).
47.5-kg: Madison Parks (ACS), Carolyn Stuart (PDHS).
MURRAY
COUNTY NEWS / Cathy Steinmetz
Elissa Reinsma took on
Jackson County Central’s Natalie Rutt in making a historic first for
Minnesota.
MURRAY
COUNTY NEWS / Cathy Steinmetz
Travis DeLong gets the
headlock for a reversal and back points to tie the
match.
Elissa
Reinsma makes Minnesota history; wrestles female
The lean and
mean F/MCC Warrior wrestling team took on the number-two ranked Huskies of
Jackson County Central in duel action Tuesday evening in Jackson.
The
match at 103 lbs. featured two tough female wrestlers, a historic first for
Minnesota high school wrestling, as Elissa Reinsma took on Natalie Rutt. Elissa
jumped out to an early lead with a takedown in the first period and a reversal
in the second period on her way to a 7-2 decision. The Warriors were on the
board first, 3-0. Cody Nolt scored the initial takedown at 112 lbs. but fell
behind in the third period. Cody got a reversal on Derek Schlager with less than
5 seconds in the match to earn the victory, 5-4. (6-0) The match at 119 lbs.
between Justin Reinsma and Tayler Menke was scoreless after the first period.
Justin picked up a reversal and backpoints in the second period on his way to a
6-0 decision. (9-0)
At 125 lbs., Jordan Anderson figured out how to
block the takedown shots from Brandon Burmeister and held his loss to a 3-8
decision. (9-3) Travis Delong fell behind early in his 130 lb. match against
Zach Croatt, but tied the score with a reversal and back points in the second
period. Travis took command in the final period and scored a big victory for the
Warriors when he stuck Croatt in the final seconds of the match (5:48). (15-3)
At 135 lbs., Chris Witzel fell victim to a takedown clinic from Sterling
Bargfrede and lost a 10-16 decision. (15-6) Scott Beech pulled a 5-point move
with a takedown and back points in the first period of his 140 lb., match
against Randy Hummel and that would be his margin of victory. Scott won a 9-4
decision. (18-6) In another closely contested match, Andy Henning at 152 lbs.
scored the escape in the second period and then kept Kevin Bezdicek on the mat
during the third period for the 1-0 decision win. The Huskies were able to pick
up 12 quick points as the Warriors had to forfeit at 145 lbs. and Ben Clarke
lost via fall (2:08) at 160 lbs. to Calvin Ferguson. (21-18)
At 171
lbs., Kody Kramer had to face #1 state ranked Travis Rutt. In a high scoring
match, Kody lost a 8-19 major decision and the Huskies slipped into the lead,
21-22. Josh Lane stayed away from the final takedown in the third period at 189
lbs. and forced Joe Skow to settle for the 7-20 major decision. (21-26)
At 215 lbs., Will Steinmetz also had to face a state ranked wrestler in
Caleb Lines. Lines opened up a 1-5 lead, but a takedown by Will brought the
score within 1 point with less than a minute in the match. Will was unable to
get the tying takedown and lost a 4-6 decision. (21-29) Jeremy Peterson took
Chris Love down to his back in the first period of the 285 lb. match, but needed
to do a repeat in the second period to get the pin (2:37).
The Warriors
were able to keep it close, but the final score would favor the Huskies as F/MCC
loses to JCC, 27-29.
GOODRICH — For any athlete competing in wrestling, the season will have many
ups and downs as training takes its toll on even the most disciplined of
individuals. As weight is cut, energy is depleted and one’s strength of
character is tested on a regular basis, the on-the-mat action becomes a reward
in itself as all that hard work is finally poured into one single-minded yet
easily viewed format.
Last Thursday the Martians opened the 2007-2008
campaign by hosting a quad meet in which they defeated Clarkston, 33-23, and
Mayville, 65-17. Also competing was Grand Blanc.
Against Clarkston, winners
for Goodrich included Nick Lovell at 215 lbs., who pinned Sloan Hasdell in 4:51,
CC Weber beat Zak Roberson 7-6 at 112 lbs. and at 130 lbs. Ian Grzecki pinned
Justin Wisser in 1:43.
Other winners for Goodrich against Clarkston include
Grant Overcashier, who defeated Tom Clark in 98 seconds at 140; at 152 lbs. Nick
Gatchell beat Eric Butterfield 7-3; Drew Weil topped Anthony Herron in 2:55 at
160 lbs.; and at 189 lbs., Kyler Elsworth edged Bryan Craft in a closely fought
overtime contest. Also competing against Clarkston for the Martians were
Kristi Garr (103), Seth Tessier (119), David Garr (125), Kirk Britton (135), Joe
Hopkins (145), Kyle March (171) and Carlin Rettberg (285).
Against Mayville,
top finishers for Goodrich include Weber, who bested Rob Forys 20-4 at 112 lbs.
Britton dropped Kyle Perkins at 130 lbs. in :37. Overcashier won in :31 against
Tim Brown at 140 lbs. Hopkins pinned Derrick Parnam in 3:47 at 145 lbs. and
Gatchell beat Donald Orrishageway in :35 at 152 lbs.
Also topping the charts
for Goodrich was Grezecki at 135, who won by void, Garr bested Lee Tippet at 125
lbs. in 1:05, Drew Weil topped Mark Lieber in 1:01 at 160 lbs., March won by pin
over Jake Simpson in 2:59, at 189 lbs. Elsworth topped Nathan Richardson in 68
seconds and Lovell was victorious against Eric Sansote in 3:23 at 215
lbs.
Other Goodrich competitors against Mayville include Kristi Garr (103),
Tessier (119) and Rettberg (285).
The Martians are 2-0 overall 0-0 GAC-Red.
They competed in a tri-meet yesterday at Kearsley with Lapeer West.
Grand Blanc
Last Saturday, Grand Blanc hosted an invitational, scoring 109
points to tie for sixth place with Flint Central behind Flint Southwestern
Academy (110.5), Northville (129.5), Swan Valley (151.5), Livonia Stevenson
(176) and Montrose (207), but ahead of Troy (108.5), Hartland B (82), Lakeland
(77), Pontiac Northern (73), Bendle (55), Waterford Mott (53), Powers (43), and
Fowlerville (36).
“Overall, I’m happy with the start to our season,” said
coach Scott Turnbow. “Finishing one and a half points behind Flint Southwestern
and tying Flint Central was a disappointment, but I look forward to using this
performance as a learning experience.”
Top finishers for the Bobcats include
Ric Hogerheide, who was runner up at 135 lbs., Ryan Hargraves was champ at 152
lbs. and Billy Kinter took third at 171 lbs.
“Our returning junior and senior
starters all wrestled really well, especially Luke Damanski, Hogerheide,
Hargraves, Kinter, and Frank, all of whom finished top three in their weight
class at the invitational,” Turnbow said. “The four starting freshmen of Jay
Banks (103), Roman Vorhees (112), Brenden Kemper (140) and Drew Morris (145)
have taken some tough losses, but I like what I’m seeing from these
guys.”
Other results include Terrance Frank, who took third at 119 lbs., and
at 189 lbs., Damanski was runner up.
“Terrance lost to a two-time state
medalist in Jared Germaine of Swan Valley in the semifinals and wrestled back to
third with a 6-3 win over Johnny D’Anna, a state-qualifying senior from
Northville,” said Turnbow. “Kemper survived the first week by going 3-3 with
three pins.”
Last Thursday, the Bobcats opened the campaign at Goodrich with
a 41-33 win over Mayville and a 55-10 loss to Clarkston as Frank (119), David
Martel (130) and Hargraves (152/160) all went 2-0.
“Ryan Hargraves is the
only starter to come out of the first week undefeated and he’s looking forward
to some tough challenges this week at Howell and Hartland,” said Turnbow.
“Against Hartland he’ll likely face one of two former state champions in Matt
Bain or Jeremy Bommarito. This will be a great test for Ryan.”
The Bobcats
are 1-1 overall 0-0 Big Nine. They competed yesterday at the Howell quad
meet.
Sure, becoming a four-time state champion and helping Goodrich bag its first
team state title are what is fueling Mark Weber's competitive fire most this
season. Much history-making could indeed be in store next month for the
Martians.
First things first, however. There are other milestone moments to savor along
the way.
On Friday, Weber captured his fourth individual championship while leading
host Goodrich complete a sweep of the Genesee Area Conference tournament and
dual meet slate for the first time since 1996.
The Martians won their first league crown in eight years last season by going
9-0 in duals and placing second to Durand at the tournament. They won the
tournament, but placed second in the dual-meet standings in 1999.
Goodrich, which went 9-0 in duals, totaled 202 points at Friday's tournament
to Durand's 185. The Railroaders, 8-1 in duals, were also second overall.
"it was very important to us to win the league tournament this time and give
some good momentum going into the team and individual districts next week,"
Weber said. "We wanted the win the entire league because last year it was not as
satisfying for us. Winning a fourth league title feels pretty good, but it's not
my biggest because I want to be a four-time state champion, but it's a good stop
on the path."
Weber finished off Durand's Chris Wellman in 49 seconds in the 135-pound
final, improving to 46-3. He has not lost at 135.
Goodrich led Durand 169 to 164.5 heading into the championship and
consolation matches. The Martians placed nine wrestlers in the final and won six
titles, including two head-to-head matches with the Railroaders. Durand had
three of six finalists win. Goodrich improved from seven finalists and four
champs a year ago.
"We are just better this year top to bottom and all our returning guys have
improved," Martians coach Matt Turnbow said. "Pulled out some ones in the finals
and semifinals. Last year was not that satisfying because we did not win the
tournament and this was big team goal. Kirk Britton wreslted a good, smart match
to finally beat the Montrose kid and Kyle March squeezed out a really close one.
Things like that helped us."
Britton edged Montrose's Cody Wray 3-2 in the 125-pound final, avenging a
lost to Wray at the Genesee County Tournament in December and a 7-6 overtlime
loss to him in last year's GAC 125 title match. Britton led the entire way.
March nipped Lake Fenton's David Bittinger 3-2 in the 171-pound final in the
pair's first meeting.
Goodrich's Grant Overcashier improved to 51-0 by winning his third GAC title,
blanking Montrose's Corey Madden 6-0 in the 130-pound final.
"I've never thought about being a three--time champ, but it's a nice thing
for me," the two-time state runnerup said. "Because of how my teammates push me,
I've wrestling better than ever this year."
Durand's Brian Hittle, a state titlist last year, improved to 46-0 with his
third league crown, knocking off Goodrich's Nick Gatchell 11-5 in the 152-pound
final. He one win from career victory 200.
"It's really nice to have this success in a year our team is doing so well,"
said Hittle, whose team has lost only to Goodrich this year.
Freshman Zach Cocoran of Lake Fenton (103) and Roger Wildmo of Durand (112)
both won titles. Corcoran blanked defending champion C.C. Weber of Goodrich 3-0.
Weber was attempting to become the first girl to win two league titles in area
history.
103 -- Zach Cochoran (Lake Fenton) d. C.C. Weber (Goodrich) 3-0, 112 -- Roger
Wildmo (Durand) d. Brad Smith (Montrose) 4:33, 119 -- Allen Krupp (New Lothrop)
d. Taylor Hawkins (Durand) 16-1, 125 -- Kirk Britton (Goodrich) d. Cody Wray
(Montrose) 3-2, 130 -- Grant Overcashier (Goodrich) d. Corey Madden (Montrose )
6-0, 135 -- Mark Weber (Goodrich) d. Chris Wellman (Durand) :49, 140 -- Joe
Hopkins (Goodrich) d. Logan Dean (Durand) 6-4, 145 -- Allen Harwood (Durand) d.
Jason Musall (Byron) 17-11, 152 -- Brian Hittle (Durand) d. Nick Gatchell
(Goodrich) 11-5, 160 -- Tom Wenzlick (New Lothrop) d. Drew Weil (Goodrich) 7-4,
171 -- Kyle March (Goodrich) d. David Bittinger (Lake Fenton) 3-2, 189 -- Kyler
Elsworth (Goodrich) d. Brad Boone (Montrose) 10-2, 215 -- Donald Whitehead
(LakeVille) d. Ethan Bishop (New Lothrop) 4-2, 285 -- Zack Ritter (Byron) d.
Mike Zuchelski (Lake Fenton) 4:27
One of the top wrestlers in the state will be at the
Mid-Willamette Conference meet
Billy Goldsberry won’t have any
problem finding competition in this weekend’s Mid-Willamette Conference district
wrestling meet at Corvallis High School.
The West Albany senior is part
of a loaded 152-pound bracket, which includes Corvallis senior Bo Christianson,
the defending state champion at that weight, and South Albany junior Trenton
Simon, who qualified for last year’s state meet at 140.
Christianson is
the top seed; Goldsberry, fourth at 145 pounds at state last year, is second;
and Dallas sophomore Cody Jones is third. Simon, returning from a spine
misaligment injury suffered in a car accident, is unseeded.
Goldsberry
would face Simon in the quarterfinals Friday if both win their opening
matches.
West coach Bob Lee says Goldsberry can beat anyone in the
bracket if he wrestles well.
“He’s excited about the opportunity to step
up to that challenge,” Lee said.
The tournament begins at 11 a.m. Friday.
The finals will be held Saturday night. The team title appears to be up for
grabs, with as many as six teams having a good chance in the race.
The
top three placers in each of the 14 weight classes qualify for the state meet,
held Feb. 14-16 at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum.
Simon didn’t compete in
last week’s South Albany-West Albany dual meet because he was still awaiting a
doctor’s clearance to get on the mat. He gets his opportunity starting
Friday.
“I feel pretty good about his chance in the bracket,” South coach
Tony Matta said.
The 119 bracket includes three wrestlers who competed at
last year’s state meet.
Top seed Tyrel Harry, a West Albany senior, made
it at 119.
Lebanon sophomore Dalton Urrutia, who qualified at 103, is the
second seed. South Albany junior Colten Stephens, the third seed, qualified at
112.
West junior Jacob Richard, a two-time district champion, should get
a good challenge as the top seed at 145.
The bracket also includes
Corvallis senior Abe Siala, who was eighth in state at 145 last year while
competing for Crescent Valley, and Lebanon junior Joel Aranda, who qualified for
state as a freshman at 125 pounds.
Richard placed seventh at state at 135
in 2007.
“Joel can compete with any of those kids,” Lebanon coach Michael
Cox said of Aranda. “We’re looking for some great things from Joel.“
In
addition to Goldsberry, West’s other second seeds are sophomore Gerardo Linarez
(103) and senior Tyson Seaman (171).
Sophomore Eli Marvin (130) is a
third seed. Junior Matt Christiansen (125) and freshman Hayden
Kloss
(189) are fourth seeds.
South Albany has three seeded
wrestlers — junior Robert Duran (second, 112), Stephens (third, 119) and junior
Tyler Cremer (fourth, 130).
Lebanon junior Amy Bloom is the top seed at
112 pounds.
Duran transfered to South after battling Bloom for Lebanon’s
103-pound varsity spot their freshman season.
Bloom defeated Duran in
overtime in their one match this season.
Cox said because Bloom moved up
a weight class, she’s at more of a disadvantage due to her
opponents’
strength.
“Technique-wise, she’s as good as anyone,”
Cox said.
Last year, Bloom became the first girl from one of the state’s
larger schools to place in the state meet when she finished eighth at
103.
Lebanon also has second seeds in senior Forrest Lammert (215),
sophomores Dalton Urruita (119) and Craig Trask (135) and junior Joel Aranda
(145).
Senior Ty Dickerson (189) is a third seed, sophomore Christian
Upmeyer (103) a fourth seed and sophomore Kyle Traxtle (160) a fifth
seed.
CORVALLIS - You couldn’t blame Kyle Stimpson if he couldn’t
stop smiling Friday.
The South Albany senior had just upset top-seeded
Allen Arnold of Corvallis in the 140-pound quarterfinals of the Mid-Willamette
Conference district wrestling tournament.
Stimpson trailed 5-0 early
against Arnold but made it his match from there.
Stimpson went on to win
20-10, never giving Arnold, a sophomore, an opportunity to catch up.
“I
was kind of surprised, I thought he would be a lot more aggressive,” said
Stimpson, who came into the tournament unseeded.
But now he finds himself
in the quarterfinals, and a win in today’s semifinals advances him to the state
tournament.
The semifinals begin at 11 a.m., with the finals at about 7
p.m.
The top three placers at each of the 14 weight classes move on to
state, held Feb. 14-16 at Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
“He got caught
right at the beginning, battled off his back,” South coach Tony Matta said. “To
just physically control it from there ... that’s a huge upset, but Kyle’s a kid
that has that kind of potential.
“That was a great match on his
part.”
Amy Bloom, a Lebanon junior and number-one seed at 112, advanced
to the semifinals, but not without a struggle.
Bloom overcame an 8-6
third-round deficit to West Albany freshman Tyler Davis with a pin in their
second-round match.
“I was getting a little nervous about that,” said
Bloom, who tied the match with a reversal before winning by fall.
Bloom,
a two-time state qualifier, said she had know expectations for
Friday.
Bloom and Davis each had a first-round bye.
“It was nice
to have a little break, but I do wish I had a match to get ready, to get going,”
Bloom said.
All of the South, West and Lebanon seeded wrestlers made it
through the first two rounds Saturday.
West sophomore Eli Marvin, seeded
third at 130, moved on with pins against Lebanon freshman Kendall Darby and
South Albany senior Deontae Wickware.
“I wasn’t expecting to pin
everybody, but I was going out to do my best,” Marvin said.
“I was going
to go hard and I was going to do my best.”
Marvin said he got a favorable
draw, but he’s expecting a tough time today.
Marvin faces second seed
Richard Quesada of Silverton in the semifinals.
Lebanon sophomore Craig
Trask, the second seed at 135, also got two pins en route to the
semifinals.
“It’s always good to start off the tournament with a
positive,” Trask said.
Trask had high expectations for Friday, which he
accomplished.
“Pin the first two, get a good warmup, get ready for the
big time tomorrow,” he said.
Emerald Ridge welcomes Chief Leschi, others for state’s first girls
wrestling tri-dual
Sean Janssen / of the Herald
Published: January 30th, 2007 01:03 PM
The Hanford boys wrestling team was running late for its scheduled arrival on
the eve of the Jaguar Invitational at Emerald Ridge High School.
When the Falcons made it in, they would have to practice upstairs rather than
on the mats laid out on the gymnasium floor at the school, announced Jaguars
coach Jim Meyerhoff.
“It’s ladies’ night,” Meyerhoff said.
And so it was.
While the guys would be going head-to-head (with a few girls’ grapplers
sprinkled in) on Saturday, Jan. 20, the mats belonged to the so-called fairer
sex the previous night as Emerald Ridge hosted the first-ever tri-dual meet for
girls in state history.
There would be no sugar, spice or niceties, however, because these girls came
ready to compete.
“With the state tournament this year, it’s a chance to help promote (girls
wrestling),” Meyerhoff said. “What we’re looking for was to get girls mat
time.”
Girls have wrestled here and there in years past. Whitney Conder of Puyallup
and Camie Yeik from Olympic of Bremerton even qualified for boys state last
season, with Conder claiming seventh place. However, the story goes mostly along
the line of Meyerhoff’s experience at Emerald Ridge, where he said he has had “a
couple girls off and on” in years past.
That will probably not be the case in coming years. After 160 girls wrestled
at an exhibition invitational during the Mat Classic in the Tacoma Dome a year
ago, this time around there will be a WIAA-sanctioned girls tournament in the
Dome, as Meyerhoff said girls’ participation numbers have more than doubled to
about 350 competitors.
“There’s only a few, usually at the lower weights, that want to wrestle
against the boys,” he said.
Meyerhoff credits the increased opportunity for girls to wrestle each other
instead of the boys for the boost in numbers. At Emerald Ridge, a team of eight
girls began the season and five suited up for Friday’s matches.
“Those girls get out and scrap,” Meyerhoff said.
The Jaguar girls are able to wrestle each other in practice while the boys
are there to encourage them and lend tips to the first-year wrestlers.
“The boys help out if we ask them,” said Madeline Hyatt, an Emerald Ridge
junior who wrestles in the 125-pound division. “Getting to know all the guys,
they’re so nice. You build such good relationships with your coaches when you’re
with them all day, on the bus and in a gym for 12 hours at a tournament.”
Hyatt became a wrestler when friend and now teammate Samantha Caldwell, a
junior who grapples at 119 pounds, pointed out a poster on the wall during
school one day asking for girl wrestlers to join the team.
“She asked me ‘Want to wrestle?’ and I said, ‘Are you nuts?’” Hyatt
recalled.
“I like sports that are weird to some people,” Caldwell said.
The chance to wrestle also came with an opportunity to be involved in
something entirely new at their school, the inaugural girls wrestling team.
“I think it’s great to be a part of something that’s the first at Emerald
Ridge,” Hyatt said.
Hyatt said the response from schoolmates is generally positive about girls
competing in wrestling.
“At first, you say you’re on the wrestling team and they assume you’re a
manager. Then they find out you wrestle and they think that’s so cool,” she
said. “There are people that laugh but we get a lot of support.”
The girls say they get a chance to prove themselves on the mat.
“I think girls want to show guys that they can do it,” Caldwell said.
“Society is based on competitiveness,” Hyatt agreed. “We like to show that I
can do what you can do.”
The Jaguar girls have formed an interesting dynamic in practice.
‘The girls, we’re really competitive with each other but we’re all best
friends,” Caldwell said.
Except, she said of Hyatt, “once we’re on the mat, I don’t like her
anymore.”
Hyatt showed no love for her opponents in the duals, pinning Tiffany Adams of
Franklin Pierce in 1 minute, 37 seconds and then getting a 45-second pin of
Elyse Glahn from Fife after a six-minute marathon with White River’s Kim Lind,
ending in a 9-5 decision in the Hornet senior’s favor.
“It would be really cool to go to regionals,” Hyatt said after her strong
performance.
The fact that she can even aim for such a goal is what excites Caldwell.
“It’s great that we get that chance,” she said.
While Hyatt earned the only victories for Jaguar wrestlers in the meet,
Caldwell also had some strong finishes, taking her opponents from White River
and Franklin Pierce into the third round before succumbing to falls. Krysta
Perozzo of the Jaguars also went the distance when she lost an 11-6 decision
against Kristen Schumacher of Fife in the 145-pound weight class.
The Jags came away from the event glad to have the experience after competing
only in a pair of tournaments coming into the night’s competition.
“It was really good because it was the first time I’ve wrestled two matches
in one day,” Hyatt said. “Tournaments are the only way we can really get mat
time and experience.”
Chief Leschi’s Tamara Wright and Cassandra Lezard have garnered plenty of
experience wrestling against boys with the often-outnumbered Warriors varsity
team.
In her first try against a girl, Wright pinned Perozzo and later gave Kylie
Bishop of Washington High School a run for her money.
“They need to get used to wrestling girls because they’ll be wrestling them
in subregionals and regionals. I wanted to get ‘em a chance to see what it’s
like,” Warriors coach Bart Brewer said. “My girls have only wrestled guys so far
in tournaments and dual meets. Hopefully, it’ll spread the word out and we might
get more girls next year coming out.”
While the girls on the mats are enjoying the first go-around of wrestling, so
is Kelso coach Erinn Morton. Her squad dwarfed the others at the Emerald Ridge
event in terms of numbers.
“Girls wrestling goes hand-in-hand with the reputation of our wrestling
program in Kelso and so the girls’ enthusiasm just naturally came out of that,”
Morton said. “It’s just what we do down there.”
Morton said she “was in the right spot in the right time” to become the girls
coach at Kelso. Boys coach Bobby Freund needed some help with the girls and
Morton was able to step in.
Lacking experience as a wrestler herself, she credits Freund and the other
coaches at her school for teaching her the ropes. She also picked up
instructional videos and has learned on the job, with Kelso entertaining 21
teams and 93 girls for a tournament earlier this year.
“It’s been phenomenal, I’ve really enjoyed it,” Morton said. “I wish there
would have been (girls wrestling) when I was in school because I so would have
done it.”
HANFORD -- Gaby Corona-Zamarripa certainly wasn't overcome by
nerves while wrestling for a championship at the California Girls Invitational
on Saturday.
In fact, the Hanford West High senior was quite
comfortable.
"I wasn't really nervous and I didn't feel any pressure,"
Corona-Zamarripa said. "I felt at home with a lot of people cheering for
me."
And Corona-Zamarripa gave the crowd plenty to cheer about, defeating
Liberty of Brentwood's Brittany David 6-4 in overtime of the 146-pound final at
the Hanford West High Event Center.
"I've only wrestled in an overtime
match twice and the other time I lost," Corona-Zamarripa said. "I really wasn't
sure what to expect."
In the one-minute overtime, the pair tied up for the majority
of the round before a scramble ensued and Corona-Zamarripa ended up on
top.
"It came down to who wanted it more and who worked harder,"
Corona-Zamarripa said.
The match didn't come without some controversy.
The official delayed his takedown call and David rolled Zamarripa prior to the
whistle sounding to end the match.
After a protest, Corona-Zamarripa was
declared the winner.
"I'm really not the shooting type," Corona-Zamarripa
said. "I try to work for a throw or work from the top."
After a scoreless
first period, Corona-Zamarripa chose top and worked for a 3-point near fall. She
nearly scored a pin, but David was able to work free. In the third period, David
chose neutral and scored on a quick takedown and then took the lead 4-3 with a
2-point near fall.
But David was whistled for a technical violation for
striking too hard with a crossface and Corona-Zamarripa was awarded a point,
which tied the match 4-4.
In her previous tournament, Corona-Zamarripa
won the CIF Southern California championship at Channel Island High School in
Oxnard. David, is the reigning CIF Northern California
champion.
Corona-Zamarripa was one of two local athletes to place in what
has become the nation's largest girls wrestling tournament, with 346
competitors.
Hanford High's Justine Neves captured a fifth-place medal,
defeating Napa's Alyx McChesney 3-1 in the fifth-place match at 122
pounds.
The Bullpups' Marina Castillo (189), Ashley Huerta (108) and
Jammie Domingo (126), and Hanford West's Mayra Zamora (122) and Heather Roy
(114) also competed.
By Michael Leonard
Gateway News Sports Editor
Rootstown " Ravenna and
Woodridge were hardly challenged on their way to the Portage Trail Conference
Metro and County Division wrestling titles during the regular season.
So it
figured the two division champions would be in a fight with each other for the
PTC Tournament championship.
Through day one, that's exactly what is shaping
up.
Ravenna has a slim lead at the top of the standings over the Bulldogs
after two rounds of wrestling Friday at Rootstown.
Ravenna has 86 points,
while Woodridge has 84.5. Norton is third with 71, while Crestwood (65) and
Southeast (61) round out the top five.
Streetsboro (55) sits sixth overall
and second in the County Division standings.
Wrestling will resume today at
10:30 a.m., with the finals beginning tonight at 7 p.m.
Ravenna coach
Michael Whitmore said his team had a solid day-one effort, despite missing a few
starters.
"We still don't have our top starting lineup in place, but neither
does anybody else it seems," Whitmore said. "We did about as good as we could,
given who we're missing. My seniors are doing a good job leading, and I'm proud
of my young guys. They're wrestling as hard as they can."
Ravenna advanced
eight wrestlers to today's semifinals, as Brandon Oberholtzer (112 pounds),
Scott Meyer (125), Randy Carpenter (135), Isaac Dukes (140), Tony Karaffa (152),
Brandon Boggs (171), Greydon Pavlik (215) and Brad Hager (285) all are in the
winners bracket.
However, Woodridge matched the Ravens' effort and had eight
wrestlers of its own reach the semifinals.
"It's a good first day for us,"
Massey said. "Even some of our young guys have gotten through. Those guys that
aren't in the semifinals we expect to wrestle back."
Woodridge has Brad
Norval (119), Donny Montoney (130), Lambert McElrath (140), Lou Lieby (145), Pat
Rado (152), Jeremy Hathaway (160), Andy Jenkins (171) and Andy Fay (189) all
wrestling in the semifinals.
Despite his team's success, Massey said he
won't think about the overall title until the finals are over.
"We're just
going to wrestle one match at a time and concentrate on that," Massey said.
"It's too early to think about the team title."
Crestwood 103-pounder Paige
Nemec remains on track to become the first female PTC champion after pinning
Garfield's Brent Heyd in her first match. She faces Mogadore's Dan Smith in the
semifinals and is one of six Red Devils still alive in the winners bracket.
PLANO — In only the second year of the program, the St. Bede wrestling team
was able to place four wrestlers into the IHSA Class A Plano Sectional meet —
seniors Annie Dumyahn and Dan Uher, junior Mike Mason and sophomore Daniel
Rucinski.
“I am happy to have these four kids here, with this being our
second year, Annie and Dan are our leaders and their hard work has been at the
heart of our program and Mike and Daniel represent the future,” St. Bede coach
Blair Tiger said before his wrestlers competed on Friday night.
Mason isn’t
worried about the future just yet.
Ah well. In this business we usually root for the great stories: The athlete
who overcame adversity to triumph, the buzzer-beating shot to cap a great
performance, the coach who's mad at the officials. But you know what? Sometimes
it just doesn't happen.
Wednesday is Ladies Night here at SHZ, and I was hoping to spotlight a
Frontier wrestler named Alex Gomez. Yeah, a wrestler on Ladies Night. That's
because Alex is the No. 10-ranked female wrestler at 103 pounds in the country.
She's a freshman and hasn't lost in duals this season. So I was hoping she would
come up with an impressive performance tonight against Stockdale to make it look
like I knew what I was talking about. Well, she didn't even wrestle. Accepted a
forfeit from the Mustangs. Oh well. Alex is a great story going forward anyway.
You don't see too many girls wrestling in the high school ranks, and it's great
to see a very successful one.
Girls Region II Tournament
8-9 February 2008
Team
Standings
1. Coppell 125.0
2. Kimball 118.5
3. Martin 92.5
4. Frisco Centennial 87.0
5. Arlington 82.0
6. Lamar 79.0
7.
Molina 78.5
8. Frisco 61.0
9. Arlington Bowie 55.5
10. Frisco
Liberty 39.0
11. Midlothian 31.0
12. Keller Central 29.0
13. Frisco
Wakeland 22.0
14. Skyline 22.0
15. Fossil Ridge 21.0
16. Seguin 20.0
17. W. W. Samuell 16.0
18. R. L. Turner 15.0
19. Sam Houston 15.0
20. Grapevine 7.0
21. Trinity 7.0
22. Sunset 6.0
23. Adamson 4.0
24. Irving Nimitz 2.0
25. LD Bell 1.0
26. Irving 0.0
27. S.
Grand Prairie 0.0
28. W. T. White 0.0
Girls Region II Tournament
8-9 February 2008
Finalists
(Seed) Wrestler - School Grade
Record
95 Pound Weight Class
First Place (2) Ofelia Valdez - Molina Jr
29-2
Second Place (1) Neda Hassani - Frisco Centennial Jr 29-4
Third Place
(3) Meagan Goleman - Arlington Sr 30-6
Fourth Place (4) Kelsey Gunia - Frisco
Liberty Fr 22-12
Fifth Place Timia Curley - Kimball Sr 17-9
Sixth Place
Colleen Miley - Lamar 2-3
102 Pound Weight Class
First Place (1)
Britney Fernandez - Arlington Bowie Sr 22-2
Second Place (2) Rachel Ramos -
Fossil Ridge So 17-4
Third Place (3) Chealsea Charez - Martin Jr
23-15
Fourth Place Kathy Salgado - Molina Fr 7-14
* Fifth Place Alexys
Nunez - Frisco Liberty So 12-13
Sixth Place Karen Reyes - Frisco Centennial
So 11-10
110 Pound Weight Class
First Place (1) Emily Martin - Frisco
Centennial Sr 41-2
Second Place (2) T. J. Cannon - Arlington Bowie Sr
16-3
Third Place (5) Amy Lara - Molina Sr 22-5
Fourth Place (3) Heather
Danielson - Martin Jr 28-14
Fifth Place Emone Jackson - Kimball So
36-10
Sixth Place (6) Miranda Mendez - Keller Central Jr 13-6
119
Pound Weight Class
First Place (1) Mia Provence - Lamar Sr 30-0
Second
Place (3) Angel Miller - Keller Central Jr 22-4
Third Place Brittany
Rubalcado - Molina Sr 23-7
Fourth Place (2) Maliha Mithani - Frisco
Centennial Jr 39-11
* Fifth Place (4) Stacy Martin - Frisco Liberty So
19-14
Sixth Place Christin Galla - Arlington Fr 22-21
128 Pound Weight
Class
First Place (2) Kirsten Strickler - Frisco Jr 32-3
Second Place (1)
Suzanne Baker - Lamar Sr 33-2
Third Place (5) Shaterra Rhodes - Kimball Sr
20-7
Fourth Place (4) Lashonda Stigler - Sam Houston Sr 23-16
Fifth Place
(3) Sandra Rosales - Coppell Jr 25-10
Sixth Place (6) Grace Grissom - Frisco
Centennial Sr 21-24
138 Pound Weight Class
First Place (1) Tessa
Plana - Coppell Sr 35-1
Second Place (3) Frances Efiong - Lamar Jr
21-7
Third Place (2) Beka Mahlow - Martin So 29-10
Fourth Place (4)
Tanzanecia Hogan - W. W. Samuell Sr 13-4
Fifth Place (6) Jessica Lemmer -
Midlothian Jr 26-11
Sixth Place Liz Ratllif - Trinity So 6-4
148 Pound
Weight Class
First Place (3) Lauren Marsolak - Coppell Sr 30-4
Second
Place (1) Karra Stratton - Frisco Wakeland So 36-4
Third Place (2) Olivia
Holmes - Arlington Jr 27-7
Fourth Place Kemesha Fautner - Kimball Sr
20-12
* Fifth Place Jill Gloria - Arlington Bowie Jr 17-8
Sixth Place (4)
Margarita Hinojosa - Skyline Jr 22-9
165 Pound Weight Class
First
Place (2) Allannah Griego - Frisco Sr 26-2
Second Place (1) Cheryce Moss -
Seguin Jr 21-3
Third Place (3) Brittany Jones - Coppell So 25-7
Fourth
Place (6) Rachel Coleman - Kimball Jr 36-7
Fifth Place (4) Erie Bragg - R. L.
Turner Sr 12-7
Sixth Place Patty Coronado - Midlothian Fr 17-18
185
Pound Weight Class
First Place (1) Jessica Scott - Martin Sr 24-2
Second
Place (2) Allison Whittier - Coppell Jr 17-9
Third Place (5) Walinda Brown -
Kimball Jr 32-7
Fourth Place (4) Dyondraia Williams - Arlington Jr
11-6
Fifth Place Kaitlyn Brussow - Frisco Centennial Jr 22-17
Sixth Place
(3) Melissa Reyes - Frisco So 20-10
215 Pound Weight Class
First
Place (2) Yadinma Nwaiwu - Coppell Jr 30-4
Second Place (1) Amanda Athon -
Arlington Sr 29-4
Third Place (3) Kerra Scott - Martin Jr 21-12
Fourth
Place (4) Demetricia Brown - Kimball Sr 12-3
Fifth Place Erika Gafkin -
Midlothian Fr 5-13
Sixth Place (5) Ana Nava - Sunset Jr 6-15
Girls
Region II Tournament
8-9 February 2008
Results by
Round
Finals
95
Ofelia Valdez (Molina) Dec Neda Hassani (Frisco
Centennial) 2-1
102
Britney Fernandez (Arlington Bowie) Fall Rachel Ramos
(Fossil Ridge) 1:10
110
Emily Martin (Frisco Centennial) Fall T. J. Cannon
(Arlington Bowie) 3:38
119
Mia Provence (Lamar) Fall Angel Miller (Keller
Central) 1:45
128
Kirsten Strickler (Frisco) Fall Suzanne Baker (Lamar)
1:12
138
Tessa Plana (Coppell) Fall Frances Efiong (Lamar)
3:54
148
Lauren Marsolak (Coppell) Dec Karra Stratton (Frisco Wakeland)
7-5
165
Allannah Griego (Frisco) Fall Cheryce Moss (Seguin)
2:45
185
Jessica Scott (Martin) Tech Allison Whittier (Coppell)
16-0
215
Yadinma Nwaiwu (Coppell) Dec Amanda Athon (Arlington)
11-6
Cons-Semi-Finals
95
Meagan Goleman (Arlington) Fall Timia
Curley (Kimball) 3:23
Kelsey Gunia (Frisco Liberty) Fall Colleen Miley
(Lamar) 7:20
102
Chealsea Charez (Martin) Maj Dec Alexys Nunez (Frisco
Liberty) 13-1
Kathy Salgado (Molina) Dec Karen Reyes (Frisco Centennial)
6-5
110
Heather Danielson (Martin) Fall Emone Jackson (Kimball)
3:00
Amy Lara (Molina) Fall Miranda Mendez (Keller Central)
3:27
119
Maliha Mithani (Frisco Centennial) Maj Dec Christin Galla
(Arlington) 13-3
Brittany Rubalcado (Molina) Fall Stacy Martin (Frisco
Liberty) 1:52
128
Lashonda Stigler (Sam Houston) Maj Dec Sandra Rosales
(Coppell) 15-6
Shaterra Rhodes (Kimball) Fall Grace Grissom (Frisco
Centennial) 0:32
138
Beka Mahlow (Martin) Fall Liz Ratllif (Trinity)
2:12
Tanzanecia Hogan (W. W. Samuell) Fall Jessica Lemmer (Midlothian)
3:53
148
Olivia Holmes (Arlington) Fall Jill Gloria (Arlington Bowie)
4:44
Kemesha Fautner (Kimball) Fall Margarita Hinojosa (Skyline)
4:26
165
Brittany Jones (Coppell) Fall Patty Coronado (Midlothian)
1:57
Rachel Coleman (Kimball) Fall Erie Bragg (R. L. Turner)
1:15
185
Walinda Brown (Kimball) Fall Melissa Reyes (Frisco)
0:59
Dyondraia Williams (Arlington) Maj Dec Kaitlyn Brussow (Frisco
Centennial) 12-0
215
Kerra Scott (Martin) Def Ana Nava (Sunset)
Demetricia Brown (Kimball) Fall Erika Gafkin (Midlothian)
3:27
Consolation Finals
95
Timia Curley (Kimball) Dec Colleen Miley
(Lamar) 5-4
Meagan Goleman (Arlington) Fall Kelsey Gunia (Frisco Liberty)
3:30
102
Alexys Nunez (Frisco Liberty) Fall Karen Reyes (Frisco
Centennial) 2:00
Chealsea Charez (Martin) Maj Dec Kathy Salgado (Molina)
18-6
110
Emone Jackson (Kimball) Def Miranda Mendez (Keller Central)
Amy Lara (Molina) Dec Heather Danielson (Martin) 9-2
119
Stacy Martin
(Frisco Liberty) Fall Christin Galla (Arlington) 0:51
Brittany Rubalcado
(Molina) Fall Maliha Mithani (Frisco Centennial) 3:51
128
Sandra Rosales
(Coppell) Fall Grace Grissom (Frisco Centennial) 0:34
Shaterra Rhodes
(Kimball) Fall Lashonda Stigler (Sam Houston) 2:27
138
Jessica Lemmer
(Midlothian) Fall Liz Ratllif (Trinity) 3:57
Beka Mahlow (Martin) Fall
Tanzanecia Hogan (W. W. Samuell) 1:26
148
Jill Gloria (Arlington Bowie)
Dec Margarita Hinojosa (Skyline) 6-2
Olivia Holmes (Arlington) Fall Kemesha
Fautner (Kimball) 0:35
165
Erie Bragg (R. L. Turner) Fall Patty Coronado
(Midlothian) 1:33
Brittany Jones (Coppell) Fall Rachel Coleman (Kimball)
3:40
185
Kaitlyn Brussow (Frisco Centennial) Dec Melissa Reyes (Frisco)
4-3
Walinda Brown (Kimball) Fall Dyondraia Williams (Arlington)
4:53
215
Erika Gafkin (Midlothian) Def Ana Nava (Sunset)
Kerra Scott
(Martin) Fall Demetricia Brown (Kimball) 4:51
