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BY STEVE LYNCH | Saturday,
Feb 9 2008 11:05 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, Feb 9 2008 11:11 PM
Special to The Californian
Alex Gomez stood atop the awards podium at Centennial High smiling brightly
as she patiently posed for pictures. Gomez had good reason to be happy.
Just minutes earlier the Frontier freshman became the fist female to ever win
a Southwest Yosemite League wrestling title with a hard-fought 5-4 decision over
the Golden Hawks' Scotty Degough in the 103-pound final of Saturday's SWYL
tournament. Her historic victory also clinched a first-ever SWYL league title
for the Titans.
"I'm just glad that I could show everybody that it's no different just
because I'm a female and that I can do just as good as the boys," Gomez
said.
Frontier, led by first-place finishes by Gomez, Torrey Casper at 112, and
Jacob Whitbey at 125, outscored perennial SWYL power Centennial 222-186.5 to
claim the title. Stockdale finished third at 125.5.
"It means a lot to everyone that is a part of Frontier, the students, the
administration, and the parents," said Frontier coach Kirk Moore of the team
title. "It just means a lot that we've this far in such a short amount of time
that we could do this for the school and the community in northwest. It's a big
step. They deserve it."
It was just the second time since 1997 that the Golden Hawks failed to claim
the SWYL title.
Centennial was without arguably its best wrestler, Dalton Endes, who missed
weight and had to sit out the tournament. Endes, ranked No. 2 in the Central
Section and No. 6 in the state at 160 pounds by the California Wrestler
Newsletter, was over by two pounds at Saturday morning's weigh-in.
"Last night after we set up the gym I was two pounds over, Endes said. "I
usually float almost two (pounds) during the night while I'm sleeping but last
night I didn't float anything."
"It's heartbreaking," Endes continued. "I've worked hard all season and been
in the finals of every tournament and at league I didn't even wrestle."
Centennial finished second despite winning the most individual titles (5) and
sending the most wrestlers to the finals (8).
Derek Tablit (119), Seth Hicks (140), John Musquez (171), Gleen Ryder (189),
and Michael Castillo (215) all claimed gold medals for the host school. Tablit
was named the lower weight Most Oustanding Wrestler of the tournament.
"We're just not deep enough," said Centennial coach Mike Hicks. "This is a
numbers game. Frontier had a lot of guys place. We're about four or five weights
where we're forfeits or are weak. We brought 12 instead of 14 and we had
basically some not real advanced kids in about three weights. And those five
weights make a huge difference. Frontier's got a good lineup top-to-bottom."
The Titans had seven wrestlers in the finals. But even at the weights where
Frontier didn't win or place second, it managed racked up valuable points. The
Titans led all schools with 13 qualifiers.
But it was Gomez's performance, rallying from a 4-1 deficit to claim a
one-point victory that had everyone in attendance buzzing.
"During the match the adrenaline was pumping," Gomez said. "I could hear the
crowd cheering. I wanted it so bad and I wasn't going to let anyone stand in the
way. I've worked too hard for it.
Ridgeview had three wrestlers take home SWYL titles, including Bryan Magno at
130, Rene Garcia at 135, and Mark Narvaez at 160. Magno, ranked No. 8 in the
Central Section, out-pointed Codi Shoemaker of Stockdale 13-4 in the 130-pound
final.
"It feels good because we work hard out there in practice every day, said
Magno "We sweat and we work really hard and it's good that we finally
accomplished something."
Stockdale, led by the tournament's Upper Weight MVP Eric Matthews claimed two
individual championships. Matthews scored a reversal with 14 lefts in his match
at 152 to take a 6-4 lead before holding on for a one-point decision over
Frontier's Lance Castanada.
"I just went out there and wrestled my match," Matthews said. "I've been
training all four years to get this far and I'm pretty happy about it.
Matthews' teammate Chris Meyer had a much easier time in his 145-pound final
against Ryan Bishop of Frontier. Leading 4-3 Meyer ended the contest prematurely
with a pin at the 3:05 mark of the match.
In the final match of the day, North's Brent Willis beat Centennial's Pedro
Quinterro 7-1 in the heavyweight final.
THE GAZETTE
February 9, 2008 - 9:42PM
On the road to international respect, U.S. wrestlers recently have avoided
detours, determined they can maintain an improbable trail of success.
The U.S. upset Russia last year to win its first Greco-Roman world
title. In women’s freestyle, the U.S. finished second last month at the World
Cup, narrowly losing to China.
The U.S. men’s freestyle team has qualified
five of seven weight classes for the Beijing Olympics in August.
“We’ve
gained a lot of respect,” Greco-Roman wrestler Joe Betterman said Saturday
during the Dave Schultz Memorial International at the Olympic Training Center in
Colorado Springs. “We need to show it wasn’t a fluke. We have to do it at the
Olympics.”
The Schultz offers a sampling of Olympic-caliber competition,
with more than 300 wrestlers from about 30 countries. The tournament concludes
today with sessions at 9a.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at Sports
Center I at the OTC.
Weight class champions Saturday were Italian Andrea
Minguzzi (185 pounds), Colorado Springs resident Justin Ruiz (211.5) and Cuban
Mijail Lopez (264.5) in Greco-Roman; Mongolian Naranbaatar Bayaraa (121),
Colorado Springs’ Angel Cejudo (132) and Iowan Trent Paulson (145.5) in men’s
freestyle; and German Alexander Engelhardt (112), Colorado Springs’ Erin Tomeo
(130) and Poland’s Monika Rogien (147.5) in women’s freestyle.
The U.S.
must qualify six weight classes — 132, 163 and 212 in Greco-Roman; 121 and 132
in men’s freestyle; and 121 in women’s freestyle — to send an 18-person team to
Beijing. Only Russia (13) has qualified more weight classes.
For each
discipline, three Olympic qualifiers remain. The Pan American Championships are
Feb. 29 to March 2 at the OTC. The other two qualifiers are this spring outside
the U.S.
“I don’t feel the pressure,” said Mike Zadick, whose 132-pound
freestyle division isn’t qualified. “The big picture is the Olympics. We’re
wrestling in the Olympics, and that’s the bottom line.”
Said Greco-Roman
163-pounder T.C. Dantzler of Colorado Springs: “I’m more talented than anybody
else in that weight class. I’ll definitely get it done.”
The U.S.
competed in every weight class but Dantzler’s at the 2004 Athens Games. It won
six medals, including a gold by 185-pound freestyle wrestler Cael Sanderson.
The prospects of a repeat performance look encouraging, despite the
retirement of Sanderson and Olympic medalists Rulon Gardner and Jamill Kelly.
At the Greco-Roman world championships, Colorado Springs resident Brad
Vering won a silver medal and Fort Carson soldier Dremiel Byers and Harry Lester
won bronzes. Colorado Springs freestyle wrestler Marcie Van Dusen went 3-0 at
the World Cup, with a victory over Olympic gold medalist Saori Yoshida of Japan.
“When a foreigner steps on the mat against us, they like to downplay
American wrestling,” Zadick said. “But they don’t really care to wrestle us
either. It’s usually a battle for them.”
CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0256 or
brian.gomez@gazette.com. Check out our Olympics blog at
gazetteolympics.blogspot.com
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD 2/10/08
The Mount Baker girls’ wrestling team won two individual titles and nearly
doubled up its closest competitor in winning the regional tournament title
Saturday at Arlington High School.
Katie Newgard won the 130-pound title, pinning Lakewood’s Keely Caldwell in 1
minute, 48 seconds in the championship match.
“She was really wrestling good,” Mount Baker coach Clyde Blockley said in a
phone interview. “It’s the best she’s wrestled all year. She didn’t think she
had a chance to win, but we told her she could and she went out and did it.”
Defending state champ Ashlee Phy won the Mountaineers’ other individual
title, pinning Skylin’s Alex Willcher in 1:30.
So does the rest of the team, which scored 155.5 points, bettering
second-place Burlington-Edison (86) and third-place Sedro-Woolley (64).
Like Newgard and Phy, Cloe Graffwallner advanced to the championship final at
285, but she was pinned by Burlington-Edison’s Anne Barnett in 1:04.
In all, seven Mount Baker wrestlers placed in the top five in their
respective weight classes to earn a trip to Mat Classic, which will be held
Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.
Samantha Mount placed fifth at 112 pounds, Kristen Fogg was third at 119,
Alex Lepper finished fourth at 135 and Shanli Dillard was fourth at 130.
Ferndale’s Jade Mustappa also qualified for state, finishing fourth at 103
pounds.
By the Daily World
staff
Saturday, February 9, 2008 11:43 PM
PST
TUMWATER — Relying primarily on its depth, reigning
state champion Hoquiam made off with team honors in the Region I Girls Wrestling
Tournament on Saturday at Tumwater.
The Grizzlies totaled 1451/2 points.
La Center was a distant second with 83 points, with Washougal third at 661/2
points.
Hoquiam produced only one regional champion in Kelsey Klein, but
will take a seven-woman contingent to defend its state team title next weekend
at the Tacoma Dome.
“I think our win was attributed to the depth of the
team,” said HHS assistant coach Wes Cormier. “It’s our strength.”
Elma’s
Michaela Ecklund also won a regional title.
Klein scored a technical fall
over teammate Dallas Wagner, 15-0, in the 125-pound final.
Ecklund took
the the 160-pound crown with an 8-4 decision over Drrue Partridge of
Graham-Kapowsin.
Three Hoquiamites, including Wagner, were
runners-up.
Kentwood’s Joline Crook-Meyers decisioned
Hoquiam’s Alex White, 13-5, in the 135-pound title match.
Hoquiam’s Lexi
Taylor was pinned by Auburn-Mountain View’s Lilia Gudyzuk in 1:42 of the
145-pound final.
Other Harborites qualifying for state included Hoquiam’s
Kelsea Williams, third at 112; Juline Girts, fourth at 119; Marissa Aube, third
at 135 and Elma’s Mackenzie Glerup, fourth at heavyweight.
The top five
finishers earn state berths. Hoquiam’s Kylie Wilson and Aberdeen’s Kelsie Lyles
each finished sixth and are state alternates.
Small schools girls
wrestling results were unavailable.
CHRIS CHANCELLOR
For The Olympian 1/10/08
TACOMA - There were no champions or even second-place finishers from Olympia
during Saturday's Class 4A wrestling regionals at Foss High School.
By KEVIN CAROLAN
HERALD/REVIEW
Published on Sunday, February 10, 2008
Bisbee sent three wrestlers into Saturday morning’s consolation round and
neither made it to the medal round.
Jackie Garcia at 105 pounds, lost to
Thatcher’s Win Wright, 13-6, to finish with a 2-2 state meet record. Garcia was
one of several female wrestlers in the state meet in all classes.
“It was
her third and best showing in a state meet,” Bisbee coach Richard Chavez
said.
Dominic Gunsauley at 137 pounds, also bowed out with a 2-2 record
after losing by a fall late in his bout with Benson’s Carlos Ravago. Bisbee’s
third entry had to default his bout against Ralph Beard of San Carlos due to an
injury he sustained in his 6-4 win over Wendell Ogle of Camp Verde Friday
evening.
“It was one of those rare times we didn’t place anybody in the
medal round,” Chavez said.
Traditionally, Bisbee has almost always had
medalists at the state meet.
3 girls champions lift Waller to title
Westside, Klein qualify total of nine boys for state
meet
By TERRY CARTER
For The
Chronicle 2/10/08
KATY — With three regional titlists Saturday, Waller didn't need much help
winning the Region III Wrestling Championships girls crown at the Merrell
Center.
But the Lady Bulldogs (137 points) edged District 22 rival Katy (133) for the
team title with the aid of a few key wins and some Katy misfortune.
Amanda Kelso, Whitney Disotelle and Maegan Fellers each won weight classes
for Waller. Shelby Fellers placed second and heavyweight April Parmigiani
squeezed out a third-place pin in the final round to provide the eventual
winning margin.
The regional crown gives Waller a second major trophy in a month. The Lady
Bulldogs had beaten Cypress Ridge for the state dual championship.
On Saturday, Katy lost a possible title at 138 pounds, which Disotelle
capitalized on, when Lady Tiger Julie Stayton was upset 9-2 by Klein Oak's Laura
Ponshock in a semifinal.
Katy's Maricia Shelvin (25-1) injured her left wrist and lost by injury
default when she could not continue against Allen's Kiara Swain (11-1) in the
215-pound final.
Houston-area girls took nine of the 10 gold medals Saturday.
Cy Ridge's Jessica Nguyen (29-1) won at 95 pounds as did Houston Lee's
Alejandra Gomez (34-6) at 102. At 110, Klein's Taylor Busboom (38-0) scored two
pins and a tech fall. Cy-Fair's Julie Smith won at 119.
In the boys' competition, Lake Highlands (148.5) beat Allen (131.5) and
Westside (113) in the team race. Klein (108.5) finished fourth and will send
five wrestlers to state in two weeks; Westside advances four seniors to the
state meet.
Cinco Ranch (95) finished sixth and Katy Taylor (67) eighth as Houston-area
teams had nine individual titles.
Morton Ranch's Justin Sanchez (49-3) won at 103 pounds. The Woodlands' Erik
Spjut (44-1) was unopposed in the 125 final as Lake Highlands' rival Isaac
Kinsella (28-1) defaulted. Clear Lake's Cailin Tutt (41-2) pinned all four foes
as a third seed to win the 130-pound class. Oak Ridge's Austin Burke (28-2) won
at 140.
At 160, Klein Oak's J. Fortner (35-3) upset Westside's Trent Murrell (49-5)
with a 12-7 decision.
"I've been 0-3 against Trent before we wrestled. But I was ready to wrestle,
and my defense made the difference," Fortner said. "I'm so excited. I've finally
made it to state (Feb. 22-23 in Austin)."
Westside's James Hazzard, Cinco Ranch's Will Morris, Beaumont West Brook's
Gerald Moulton and Cinco Ranch's John Gioffre also won their weight
classes.
Article Launched: 02/10/2008 08:04:35 AM PST
With the finals all that remained of the Solano County Athletic Conference
tournament, Hogan High wrestling coach Ric Manibusan knew everything had to go
the Spartans' way if they were to win a third consecutive league title.
The stage was set: Rodriguez was in the lead and had 11 wrestlers in title
matches. Hogan, not too far behind in second, had seven in the finals, five of
those being head-to-head matches with the Mustangs.
The Spartans needed three things: for Hogan's studs to win like they were
supposed to - which happened; for Rodriguez to lose its title matches against
others - which happened in all but one instance; and for the Spartans to win the
three head-to-head matches Manibusan felt were
toss-ups -
which, unfortunately, didn't happen.
The Spartans' losses in those three matches proved to be the difference on
Saturday, as Rodriguez captured the SCAC championship at Bottari Gym with 246
points, ahead of second-place Hogan's 212. Host Vallejo finished third with 163,
followed by Bethel (142), Benicia (64) and Vanden (63).
"Yeah, we had to be perfect," Manibusan said. "But my hat is off to Rodriguez
High School. They brought it today."
Even so, not all was lost on this day for Hogan, which qualified 12 wrestlers to next weekend's Sac Joaquin Section
Division III meet at Natomas High in Sacramento.
The Spartans were led by four individual champions - Terry Allen (112),
Justin Azarias (125), Stuart Yoccum (140), and Ray Hoover (145) - who all
claimed their titles with pins in the finals.
"We're going to do good next week," Yoccum said. "We've got a lot of work to
do, a lot of time and work and sweat to do. But we're going to work our (butts)
off."
Vallejo, led by three individual champions, advanced nine wrestlers to the Division III
meet. Boomer Tuico claimed the 119-pound title with an exciting 6-5 victory over
Jonathan Champine of Rodriguez, while Brandon Boggs came through with a
first-round pin of Rodriguez's Ryan Daut in the 130-pound title match. And girls
state champion Jennifer Fernandez claimed the 103-pound title with a 12-6
decision over Jesse Manriquez of Rodriguez.
For Fernandez, this was just the beginning of her quest to qualify for the
boys state meet in Bakersfield.
"In the beginning of the season I thought about it, and it seemed like a
dream to me," said Fernandez, who took third last year at the Division III meet.
"But now that it's getting closer and closer it's becoming more of a goal."
Bethel's Matt Gibson, ranked No. 2 in the state, claimed the 215-pound title
with a less-than-stellar 5-0 decision over Vallejo's Dimitrius Berry. Gibson,
who entered the tournament with a fever and favoring injuries to his shoulder
and knee suffered last weekend, was in noticeable pain during the finals. Gibson
hadn't practiced all last week.
After the match Gibson didn't make much of his performance, and his focus
quickly shifted to next week and beyond.
"I could've done a little bit better," said Gibson, who took fourth last year
at state. "It happens. There's nothing I can do about it now. I'll just train
for next week, get ready for Masters where I'll have some really tough
competition
"Main focus right now is to keep winning, be perfect for the rest of the
season, a perfect postseason all the way to the state finals, then finish it
off."
Bethel, which qualified eight wrestlers to the Division III meet, also
received individual titles from 189-pounder DeVaughn Frazier and heavyweight
Devin "Chop" Bryant.
Benicia, which qualified six wrestlers to the Division III meet, was led by
Brett Moitoza's second-place finish at 189. Hogan girls state champion Christine
Alcantara also advanced by taking third place at 103.
- E-mail Simon Samano at samano@thnewsnet.com or call
553-6837.
- About 5000 girls wrestle in high school in the US. It is nearly five times
as many as a decade earlier.
- Caprock High School in Amarillo has one of the best girls wrestling team in
Texas.
- Maci Alvarado, a high school senior, struggled to keep out of trouble. But
she is about to reach her goal and go to college thanks to wrestling and a man:
her coach Scott Tankersley.
Texas is proud of its Lone Star and of its independence. Texas is also proud
of its symbols, of its cowboy roots and of its economy. From May 7 to May 11
2007, Swiss Public
Radio and the.point.is. showed another side of the Lone Star State.
You can download the podcasts from Swiss Public radio’s
website. They will be available on tpinews.com soon. Check jean-cosme’s blog
too.
Friday May 11 2007, last stop in Amarillo, in the North of Texas. We
meet Maci, a high school wrestler, and her coach Scott Tankersley.
Synopsis
Somewhere in the North of Texas, along the famous Route 66, lies Amarillo.
This town lost in the middle of never-ending plains, seems to be waiting for
something to happen. Looking at the desert downtown, it is hard to imagine 180
000 people living here. The town’s economy is largely based on agriculture and
on the meat industry but opportunities for young people are scarce. Amarillo is
also one of the main hubs for girls wrestling. Caprock High School recently won
first place in the Texas State championships.
Maci Alvarado, 17, is a senior
from Caprock and a wrestler. Her mother is in prison and she recently got into
trouble herself. She was involved in a fight and is on probation for a year. But
she is about to reach her goal and go to college thanks to wrestling and a man:
her coach Scott Tankersley. The latter scouts poor neighborhoods, looking for
troubled girls. He tries to help them go back to school and to express
themselves on the wrestling mat. The coach explains he is doing this because he
had to overcome his own obstacles: Scott Tankersley is deaf.
Caprock's Barbosa siblings have eyes on district titles
By Terrence Hunley
terrence.hunley@amarillo.com
typical family outing may consist of a day at the park or going to see a movie
... unless your last name is Barbosa.
The Caprock wrestling program hit the jackpot when siblings Daffney, Britnee and
Ray Barbosa decided to step onto the mat.
The trio will get a chance to strut their stuff as they will be competing in
Saturday's District 6 Tournament at Caprock.
The tournament will feature wrestlers from Amarillo High, Tascosa, Caprock,
Palo Duro, Randall and Hereford.
The first- and second-place finishers in each weight class will advance to
the regional tournament next Friday at Randall.
Ray, a senior, will be wrestling in either the 145-pound or 152-pound weight
class while his sisters, Daffney, a junior, and Britnee, a freshman, will
wrestle in the 138- and 215-pound divisions, respectively.
Daffney, the middle sibling, began wrestling at age 8 at the Wesley Community
Center.
"I was looking for a sport when Coach Tank (Scott Tankersley) invited me to a
summer camp," she said. "I did extra chores and trained hard until my dad
decided to let me wrestle."
With her help, Ray and Britnee followed close behind.
"I saw what Daffney was doing at the Caprock camp," Britnee said. "It looked
interesting and Coach Tankersley was the coach, and I decided it would be fun."
Ray said he and Britnee started one week after Daffney.
"They were brought up in and understand the tradition of Caprock wrestling,"
Tankersley said. "They believe in the program and invest their life into it."
Being the older brother, Ray said he puts it on himself to help the family
compete.
"We practice with each other both at school and at home," he said. "I try to
make them run to keep them in shape."
The youngest Barbosa, Britnee, contributes her quick success to the
motivation from her siblings.
"In the mat room, they are always pushing me," she said. "Instead of going
100 percent, I go 110 percent with their help."
Even her coaches notice the extra effort.
"Britnee is the new one of the bunch," Caprock assistant coach T.J. Johnson
said. "She is learning the aggressiveness needed, and I think her brother and
sister at home help her out with that."
"Both my brother and my sister are always out there when I am on the mat,"
Daffney said. "I do the same thing for them."
On the mat, each sibling has their own wrestling style.
Ray said simple is best with his favorite move being the classic doubleleg
takedown. Daffney takes a more technical approach, favoring the barbwire pin,
while Britnee uses the help of her older sister to perfect the headlock
takedown, more of a power move.
When there is a wrestling meet going on, the Barbosa siblings can't be
separated.
Johnson said their unity and hard work gives each of them the opportunity to
succeed.
"All three of them have a great chance to make state," Johnson said. "It
would be an honor to have them all make it."
Girls
95
1. Candy Martinez, Caprock, 17-1.
2. Sabrina Plascencio, Palo Duro, 27-4.
3. Kim Jade Packer, Tascosa, 8-11.
102
1. Hilory Cordero, Caprock, 20-4.
2. Stephanie Morgan, Tascosa, 10-9.
110
1. Lisa Martinez, Caprock, 20-1.
2. Mary Hise, River Road, 15-2.
3. Gabby Vallejo, Hereford, 17-10.
119
1. Dakota Dodgen, Amarillo High, 32-5.
2. Analyssa Mendoza, Hereford, 16-3.
3. Nicole Almanza, Caprock, 11-2.
128
1. Samantha Villegas, Hereford, 32-1.
2. Jodi Martinez, Tascosa, 21-9.
3. Natasha Massey, River Road, 13-3.
138
1. Daffney Barbosa, Caprock, 14-2.
2. Sarah Alpar, Tascosa, 24-8.
3. China Saucedo, Hereford, 18-9.
148
1. Kirsten Iruegas, Hereford, 27-2.
2. Breena Maul, Tascosa, 25-5.
3. Baille Lomeli, Palo Duro, 25-7.
165
1. Samantha Moya, Hereford, 21-4.
2. Tara Mayes, Caprock, 8-3.
3. Sangie Gonzales, Amarillo High, 21-12.
185
1. Mercades Gonzales, Caprock, 12-2.
2. Dorothy Scott, Palo Duro, 11-7
215
1. Britnee Barbosa, Caprock, 19-3.
Caprock girls dominate field
The Caprock Lady Longhorns established themselves as the runaway favorite,
leading Hereford by 36.5 points after the first day of the Region I wrestling
tournament Friday in the Randall Main Gym.
"Im surprised we got all eight of our girls in the semifinals," Caprock coach
Scott Tankersley said.
Lady Longhorns advancing were Candy Martinez (95 pounds), Hilory Cordova
(102), Lisa Martinez (110), Nicole Alamanza (119), Daffney Barbosa (138), Tara
Mayes (165), Mercedes Gonzales (185) and Britnee Barbosa (215).
"Nicole Alamanza really stepped up and surprised us," Caprock assistant coach
T.J. Johnson said. "We thought we would advance five or six. To advance eight is
amazing."
Hereford coach Sion King said his team, which qualified four, has some work
to do.
"We need pins in the semifinals," King said. "Obviously, we all need to make
the finals. Avoiding mistakes and pinning our opponents is key."
Tascosa (33), El Paso Chapin (29) and River Road (24) rounded out the top
five.
Tascosa's Jodi Martinez (128) and Breena Maul (148) had two of the most
exciting matches of the afternoon. The two Lady Rebels pulled off moves in their
matches that they rarely have a chance to execute.
Midway through the first period of Maul's quarterfinal match, she faked a
headlock, then dropped for a rare double-leg takedown, eventually pinning El
Paso Coronado's Brandy Saenz.
"I don't take shots very often, but this time I went out there expecting to
shoot and I got it done," Maul said.
Due to her short stature, the chances of Martinez completing the complicated
stack pin were slim.
"I don't usually get a chance to do the stack because I am so short,"
Martinez said. "I finally found someone my own size and was able to run it and
pin her."
Tascosa coach Johnny Cobb was pleased with the results.
"Those girls are on a mission," Cobb said. "They have their work cut out for
them because those are some tough brackets. The girls are here to make state and
win it, too."
Wrestling resumes today at 10:30 a.m., with the finals scheduled for 2 p.m.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to the state tournament.
Team Results (Top 10 and area): 1. Caprock, 76.5; 2. Hereford, 40.0; 3.
Tascosa, 33.0; 4. El Paso Chapin, 29.0; 5. River Road, 24.0; 6. El Paso Andress,
22.0; 7. El Paso Del Valle, 19.0; 8. El Paso Americas, 15.0; 9. El Paso Hanks,
13.5; 10. El Paso Eastwood, 13.0. 13. Palo Duro, 12.0; 21. Boys Ranch 9.0; 27.
Amarillo High, 7.0.
Quarterfinals
95: Candy Martinez, Caprock, tech fall. Brittany Carter, El Paso Chapin,
16-0. Danisa Garcia, El Paso Bowie pinned Jesenia Cano, El Paso Andress, 0:49.
Anell Hernandez, El Paso Montwood, won by disqualification. Nicole Silva, El
Paso Hanks, Bye.
102: Hilory Cordova, Caprock, pinned Ashley Melero, El Paso Eastwood, 3:52.
Celeste Montoya, Chapin, pinned Whitney Watts, Vernon, 0:53. Nalley Carrillo, El
Paso El Dorado, pinned Brittany Hass, Azle, 1:11. Alba Mendoza, El Paso
Franklin, pinned Stephanie Morgan, Tascosa, 3:34.
110: Lisa Martinez, Caprock, pinned Stephanie Batchelder, Andress, 2:43.
Delialah Perez, El Paso Ysleta, pinned Gabby Vallejo, Hereford, 0:33. Kathy
Sandoval, El Paso Jefferson, dec. Mary Hise, River Road, 6-5. Brittney Gamboa,
El Paso Socorro, pinned Viviana Dunn, El Paso Austin, 1:21.
119: Dakota Dodgen, Amarillo High, pinned Darlene Fernandez, Hanks, 4:36.
Erica Salcido, El Paso Andress, pinned Alison Franco, El Dorado, 3:54. Nicole
Alamanza, Caprock, maj. dec. Marissa Tasker, El Paso Coronado, 16-6. Liza
Gutierrez, El Paso Del Valle, pinned Shaina Mesa, Vernon, 0:43.
128: Luzette Villegas, Hereford, pinned Mayra Diaz, Socorro, 4:30. Katie
Jones, Boys Ranch, dec. Terry Navar, Eastwood, 13-11. Jodi Martinez, Tascosa,
pinned Yanida Nejera, Del Valle, 3:30. Stephanie Han, El Paso Irvin, tech fall.
Jessica Hise, River Road, 16-0.
138: Daffney Barbosa, Caprock, pinned Jo Anne Quinones, Del Valle, 2:33.
Sophia Casa, El Paso, Americas, pinned Veronica Gordon, River Road, 2:20. China
Saucedo, Hereford, pinned Lorena Garcisa, El Paso Burgess, 4:34. Lorraine
Herrera, Andress, pinned Hannah Grubbs, 0:09.
148: Kirsen Iruges, Hereford, pinned Bettina Castillo, Del Valle, 1:00. Jakie
Thompson, River Road, won by forfeit. Breena Maul, Tascosa, pinned Brandy Saenz,
El Paso Coronado, 1:23. Alessandra Norman, El Paso High, pinned Taylor Knight,
Azle, 1:15.
165: Samantha Moya, Hereford, pinned Amoretta Parra, Chapin, 0:39. Arlene
Alvarea, Eastwood, pinned Leah Grubbs, 0:25. Tara Mayes, Caprock, pinned Valerie
Rosales, Americas, 1:02. Georgina Loera, El Paso Parkland, pinned Blanca
Guardado, Andress, 0:31.
185: Natalie Ramos, River Road, pinned Brittny Brown, Americas, 0:28. Dorthy
Scott, Paslo Duro pinned Andrea Acosta, Andress, 4:07. Mercedes Gonzales,
Caprock, pinned Alishia Carter, Eastwood, 0:13. Crystal Romero, Chapin, pinned
Teresia Carreon, Socorro, 3:47.
215: Britnee Barbosa, Caprock, pinned Adeline Goodloe, El Paso Bowie, 2:12.
Vanessa Rodriguez, Burgess, pinned Kessa Bybee, River Road, 5:04. Jessica
Kenner, Vernon, pinned Melissa Valdez, Chapin, 0:16. Marissa Schrepel, Tascosa,
pinned Sahara Walters, Jeffries, 1:08.
Gary Abbott USA
Wrestling
02/10/2008
Schultz Memorial
at 48 kg women is preview for Olympic Trials
If there is any doubt
that the Dave Schultz Memorial is important for athletes who have goals to
compete at the 2008 Olympic Games, just check out the 48 kg/105.5 lbs. division
in women’s wrestling. The top six ranked wrestlers in the nation in current
TheMat.com rankings are competing here in preparation for the Olympic
quest.
On the mats today at 48 kg are No. 1 Stephanie Murata of the
Sunkist Kids, No. 2 Mary Kelly of the New York AC, No. 3 Clarissa Chun of the
Sunkist Kids, No. 4 Sara Fulp-Allen of the New York AC, No. 5 Alyssa Lampe of
the Sunkist Kids and No. 6 Rachel Holthaus of the Sunkist
Kids.
Certainly, the opportunity to compete against foreign athletes is a
reason to enter this tournament, but there will certainly be some battles
between the American Olympic hopefuls on Sunday, setting the stage for the
Olympic Trials process.
“People can’t just walk in and succeed at this
level,” said National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner. “They need matches and they
need to finetune their wrestling. They need to establish their own wrestling
style. It doesn’t matter who they wrestle. They all know each other by this
time. It is good that they may get some international bouts today. They have to
hone their skills.”
Top-ranked Murata enjoys wrestling in this event, and
finds nothing wrong with facing some of her top U.S. rivals at this part of the
year.
“The only way to get better is to put it out there. You have to
test yourself to improve,” said Murata. “If you don’t do that, why wrestle? It
is important to continually compete. Matches aren’t the same as practice. We
only have the opportunity to get this kind of competition once a year,
especially when it is in your back yard. We traveled all the way to China, 6,000
miles, to get two matches at the World Cup. Here, we get up to five in one
day.”
Murata also believes it is positive for USA Wrestling to put this
event at the Olympic Training Center, to expose wrestling athletes to those
within the Olympic family.
“It is also fun for us,” said Murata. “We get
so much support here with the services available to athletes at the Olympic
Training Center. It is fun for them to come to this event and check us out
wrestling in matches. It is one thing to see your fellow athletes in practice,
but it is another thing for them to see us compete.”
The missing name on
the brackets this weekend here is 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda
of the Sunkist Kids. Miranda has wrestled up at 51 kg/112.25 for the past two
seasons, and is just coming off an injury. At some point during the next few
weeks, she will be moving down to that division. She is scheduled to have her
first competition since last season at the Pan American Championships at the end
of the month.
Miranda went through the process of making weight at 48 kg
on Saturday, as if she was going to wrestle today. Miranda said it was “as close
as you can get to competing.” She will be watching the U.S. and foreign athletes
competing today, to prepare for her bouts with them in the future.
“By
competing and training with each other, we sharpen each other,” said Miranda.
“The best one goes. Hopefully, whoever makes it will win the gold medal at the
Olympics. Without this kind of depth, it would be hard to succeed
internationally. It is good that all of our girls are out there and
competing.”
10th year of Schultz International brings back
memories
In 1999, USA Wrestling, working with the Dave Schultz
Wrestling Foundation, established an international tournament in honor of the
slain Olympic and World champion legend Dave Schultz. That first year, the event
had men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman, and was hosted at Fort Carson, the U.S.
Army base south of Colorado Springs.
In 2000, a women’s freestyle
division was added, and the tournament moved to the U.S. Olympic Training
Center. This year marks the 10th Dave Schultz Memorial, a respected event that
has established itself on the international schedule every February.
Of
the first set of Dave Schultz Memorial champions, two entered the Greco-Roman
competition on Friday, two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald of the Sunkist Kids and
two-time Olympic champion Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria. In 1999, Gruenwald was the
champion at 58 kg and Nazarian won the title at 63 kg. Both competed at 60 kg
this weekend, and neither was able to win a medal. Gruenwald, who is 37 years
old, and Nazarian, who is 33 years old, were among the most experienced athletes
on the mat this weekend.
One of the other champions from 1999, Dan
Niebuhr at 85 kg in Greco-Roman, was in attendance on Saturday, enjoying the
action from the stands. Niebuhr remains a resident of Colorado Springs and was
here to support the current crop of U.S. athletes.
SCHULTZ MEMORIAL NOTES: Byers works to fix his
wrestling; High school star Padilla seeks Senior success; Konrad tries hand at
Greco-Roman
Gary Abbott USA
Wrestling
02/09/2008
Byers looking for
improvement in loaded Schultz field
2002 World Champion Dremiel Byers
of the U.S. Army enjoys wrestling at the Dave Schultz Memorial International.
Although his focus is on the upcoming Olympic Trials and Olympic Games, he takes
this competition very seriously.
“The Schultz is one of the best
tournaments in the world, and it is right here on U.S. soil,” said Byers. “The
competition is great, and every year there are more teams.”
Byers has won
the Schultz event twice, in 2005 and 2007, but will be hard-pressed to win it
again this year. His weight class is loaded, with World champion Mijian Lopez of
Cuba and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Georgiy Tsurstumia of Kazakstan competing,
as well as all of the other top U.S. heavyweights in his division.
“The
No. 1 guy in the world is here (Lopez), and Georgiy (Tsurtsumia) was the Olympic
silver medalist. There are tough competitors everywhere,” said Byers.
U.S. Army coach Shon Lewis is impressed by Byers’ fearless approach to
competition.
“He doesn’t shy away from matches. He is the only one from
the World Championships who wrestles in every possible tournament. He is chasing
down matches. He is a field soldier. He is the best in his field. Competition is
his field. That is where he excels. This is good for him. And he is still
learning,” said Lewis.
Facing tough competition on a regular basis is
part of Byers growth as a wrestler, according to Lewis. He feels that having to
wrestle often under pressure helps him to perform better.
“You see this
great talent. But what people don’t realize is he didn’t do four year in
Division I wrestling. He doesn’t have those big matches. He is making up ground.
He didn’t have the NCAA Championships, or dual meets like Iowa against Iowa
State. He never experienced anything like that. He is always in a learning mode.
But he is really starting to perform,” said Lewis.
For Byers, this
tournament gives him a chance to perfect his craft.
“It is always about
winning,” said Byers. “I want to push myself harder and harder. I want to fix
everything before the Olympic Games. You have to identify it to fix it, and the
only way to do that is in competition.”
Padilla looks beyond high
school to bright international career
Tatiana Padilla is the top high
school wrestler in the nation in women’s wrestling. She has entered the Dave
Schultz Memorial International this weekend to continue her progress in
international freestyle wrestling.
Padilla was the ASICS Girls High
School Wrestler of the Year in 2007. Her three Junior National titles ties the
national record, and if she enters the event in Fargo next summer, she has a
chance to set the record with a fourth title. She won a silver medal at the
Junior World Championships in China last summer. Perhaps her biggest achievement
was placing second at the Women’s World Team Trials last year, taking the No. 2
spot on Women’s Team USA at 59 kg/130 lbs.
This year, Padilla has been
spending a lot of time in Colorado Springs for training and competition. Not
only will she compete today in the Dave Schultz Memorial, but she will also be
on the U.S. Pan American Championships team which will compete at the Olympic
Training Center, Feb. 28-March 2.
“She came out this year for the winter
camp, and she has been here this week training prior to the Schultz
International,” said National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner. “She is feisty. She
is a tough competitor. Tatiana won a Junior World silver medal for us last year.
We think she can be the future and step forward for us. We are trying to get her
as much international experience as we can, while keeping her balanced with her
schoolwork.”
Padilla is a member of the Northview High School wrestling
team, and is competing in dual meets on the varsity. Because of her active
freestyle schedule, she will not be competing in the post-season events. “I
enjoy wrestling the boys,” says Padilla, but she knows her future is in
freestyle competing against women.
“I am on independent study, and I
have a personal teacher,” said Padilla of her high school studies. “It allows me
to be here. It is a great experience to come out there and train with
world-class athletes. I come here to get international experience and to face
different opponents. I feel like I have approved. I have made a lot of
corrections in my style. Last year was the first year on the Senior level and I
didn’t know what to expect. You learn as you go.”
Padilla competes at 59
kg/130 lbs., a non-Olympic weight, but plans to drop down to 55 kg/121 lbs. for
the U.S. Nationals and the Olympic Trials.
“My goal is to make the
Olympic team,” said Padilla. “I will be down to that weight at the nationals. My
weight is low right now. I am under the scratch weight at 130 pounds, so it will
not be a problem for me.
Once high school is over, Padilla has many
options, including the possibility of moving to Colorado Springs to join the
U.S. Olympic Training Center resident program. Regardless of her choice, she
plans to continue her education while pursuing World and Olympic
medals.
“School is very important,” said Padilla. “I want to be a
registered nurse. I will start right away in school. You need to get a
degree.”
Multi-talented Cole Konrad competing in Greco-Roman
Two-time NCAA heavyweight champion Cole Konrad is very talented and
successful in both international freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. With the
Olympic year at hand, what does he do? Compete in both? Choose one over the
other?
At this time, Konrad has decided he will make his Olympic run in
Greco-Roman.
“I am going to keep with Greco and take it as far as I can,”
said Konrad. “I feel like I am done with freestyle.”
His achievements at
the Senior level in both styles are impressive. While still a college student,
Konrad placed third in the 2004 Olympic Trials in Greco-Roman. In freestyle, he
was second at the 2007 U.S. Nationals, and placed third at the 2006 World Team
Trials, qualifying for Freestyle Team USA.
Konrad has entered the Dave
Schultz Memorial in Greco-Roman. It has been part of an effort to concentrate on
Greco-Roman and make his stand in that style.
“In the 2004 Olympic
Trials, he was third in Greco-Roman. He had a great career at Minnesota. After
he won his last NCAA title, a few weeks later he was second at the U.S.
Nationals in freestyle. At the World Team Trials, he lost a few matches he maybe
should not have. A lot of people talked to him about his best option. In
freestyle, there are five or six good guys. In Greco-Roman, there is one
dominant guy. He did both styles at Sunkist, and wrestled freestyle at another
tournament. I suggested he concentrate on Greco-Roman for a few months to see
where he is at in that style,” said Chandler.
So far this year, Konrad
has gone to Russia and Europe for competition and training. He has participated
in the Greco-Roman winter training camps and is scheduled to compete on another
tour to Serbia later this winter.
“I’ll enter these events and go
overseas, and keep banging heads with the top guys,” said Konrad. “This lets you
know where you are. I have learned a few things already. That is why this
tournament is so beneficial.”
The decision to compete in Greco-Roman is a
unified effort with his club coaches. When Konrad competed in the Schultz event,
Minnesota Storm freestyle coach Gordy Morgan was in the corner alongside
Chandler. Morgan, himself an Olympian in Greco-Roman, supports Konrad’s pursuit
of the classic style.
“He needs more mat time and a little more
exposure,” said Konrad. “He has to figure out his style. He needs to bring his
folkstyle into his Greco-Roman. He is driven. It happens with many great college
guys. It is a new level. He’s taken his lumps. He has to perservere and he
will.”
Chandler believes Konrad has what it takes in
Greco-Roman.
“I look at his past success in Greco, his two Junior
National titles and his medal at the Olympic Trials. He has the college
background, and knows how to fight. He is a good height and size for Greco, and
has long legs he doesn’t have to defend. His body is suited to Greco. He is
enjoying the Greco, as a change of pace. He is going through 2012. If he didn’t
try Greco, and then didn’t make it in freestyle, he might regret that,” said
Chandler.
Konrad had a challenging first match at the Dave Schultz
Memorial, losing to Bulgaria’s Ivan Ivanov, 0-5, 0-6. The Bulgarian was able to
turn Konrad from the mat in both periods. He returned in his first wrestle-back
match, stopping Alfonso Victor Asprilla Caicedo of Colombia, 3-0, 5-0. His next
match was a loss against veteran Polish heavyweight Marek Mikulski, 0-7,
1-1.
This tournament, and the events in the next few months will help
Konrad in his transformation into a world-class Greco-Roman athlete. He says
that his main focus at this time is to improve his par terre defense, the
biggest challenge in the matches that he has lost.
“I really enjoyed it
in high school,” said Konrad about Greco-Roman. “To be honest, I wasn’t that
motivated to go to freestyle practice lately. It was too much like college.
Wrestling Greco, I was re-energized. I could see myself improving every
day.”
All three international styles on display on
Saturday
Any fan who wants a true taste of Olympic wrestling would be
satisfied with the Saturday competition at the Dave Schultz Memorial
International. Competition is being held side-by-side with all three
international styles of the sport: men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and
women’s freestyle.
Today marks the second day of the Greco-Roman
tournament, which began on Friday. The three largest weight classes are up for
grabs. The featured weight class is at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., where a pair of World
champions are in competition, Dremiel Byers of the United States and Mijian
Lopez of Cuba, along with Olympic silver medalist Giorgiy Tsurtsumia of
Kazakhstan.
Men and women’s freestyle starts off today, with three weight
classes in each style. For the men, the three lowest weight divisions on
display. Special interest will be at the 55 kg/121 lbs. division, where 2004
Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas of the USA, 2003 World silver medalist
Ghenadie Tulbea of Moldova and 2007 World silver medalist Naranbaatar Bayaraa of
Mongolia.
The women’s weight classes on Saturday are the three
non-Olympic weights, which are contested at the World Championships but not at
the Olympic Games. The field is not large this year at these divisions, as many
athletes have switched to Olympic weights. Perhaps the top athletes to compete
on Saturday are at 67 kg/147.5 lbs., where 2006 World bronze medalist Maria
Mueller of Germany and two-time World bronze medalist Monika Mihalik-Rogien of
Poland.
Another one of the
inaugural Schultz Memorial champions, freestyle wrestler Kerry Bowmans, the 1999
champion at 58 kg. Bowmans was a 2000 Olympic Trials runner-up and a U.S.
Nationals champion before his competitive career ended. Bowmans is now a coach
with the nationally respected Overtime School of Wrestling in Illinois, working
with Sean Bormet developing champions of all ages. He coaches on the Senior
level with the New York AC.
“The competition at the first tournament was
high,” said Bowmans. “The level has raised a bit since it started, but that
first one was a good tournament. What I remember was the most was the quality of
my competitors. Back then, it was a tournament for young athletes from across
the world to come, compete and get good wrestling in. That hasn’t changed. There
are a lot of young talents here this week, both U.S. and foreign. Unfortunately,
not a lot of us get the chance to travel overseas much. This tournament gives
everybody a chance to get quality competition.”
Jeannie Saint Germain,
Dave Schultz’ mother, has attended every Dave Schultz Memorial International,
has special memories for the first event, and all of the others that have been
held.
“I was so happy with USA Wrestling decided to start this tournament
as a way of honoring Dave,” said Jeannie. “Now, I am flabbergasted at how it has
grown. It is an international event that is important for people to attend. I’d
like to think they keep coming here to honor Dave. Every year it makes me happy
to come here. Every year, I want to do more for wrestling.”
Gentry
looking for Olympic medal for Canada
Matt Gentry made some big news
within American college wrestling when he won a NCAA individual title for
Stanford University in 2004. It is no surprise that almost four years later,
Gentry is pursuing an Olympic medal. However, if he does bring home some
hardware from the Beijing Olympics, it will be for Canada.
Gentry, a
native of Grants Pass, Ore., has dual citizenship because his mother is from
Canada, which also gives him Canadian citizenship. Gentry has already won the
Canadian Olympic Trials, but his plane ticket to China has not yet been earned.
He still needs to qualify his weight class for the Olympic Games at 74 kg/163
lbs.
“The year after I graduated from college, in 2006, I made my first
Canadian team. I was No. 6 at the U.S. Open at that time. Canada offered me so
much more opportunity and experience right away. I would have had to wait my
turn for awhile here. Competing for Canada, the international exposure has
helped me so much,” said Gentry.
“He has shown tremendous progress,” said
Canadian National Freestyle Coach Dave McKay. “We are very pleased. It has been
a two year journey, accumulating experience on the international
level.”
The quest for the Olympics will include competing at the Pan
American Championships in Colorado Springs at the end of the month. Champions at
the Pan Ams in each weight qualify their nation to wrestle in Beijing, or the
top placewinner whose nation has not already qualified. Both the United States
and Cuba have already earns spots in the Olympics at 74 kg, based upon their
placement at the 2007 World Championships.
“I want to get that step out
of the way, and start focusing on picking up my training for Beijing,” said
Gentry.
Gentry spends his time moving in many locations, training
sometime in Canada along with the United States.
“His mom is from
British Columbia, so it is a natural fit,” said McKay. “He has been in Vancouver
at our National Training Center. We have had good middle weights over the years,
like Daniel Igali and Chris Wilson, so he has quality training partners. It is a
great mix for him, working as a coach at Stanford with Kerry McCoy. We have a
great relationship with (U.S. National Coach) Kevin Jackson and with the U.S.
Olympic Training Center also. We would like to expand in that area with the USA.
In Europe, those countries don’t have to go far for quality competition and
training.”
Gentry is getting daily attention from McCoy, who will be one
of the U.S. Olympic Freestyle Coaches for the United States.
“I am a
volunteer coach at Stanford. Kerry McCoy has gone through this as an athlete for
a few Olympic cycles. He allows me to be flexible with my schedule,” said
Gentry.
Gentry’s Olympic dream really took root during his college days
at Stanford, where he developed the skills that could make it all possible. His
role models in wrestling were from the USA program.
“It was always a
dream. It started becoming a reality the first time I came to the U.S. Olympic
Training Center in 2003. Later that year, I went to the World Championships in
New York City. It was the first international tournament I saw, and it was a
great experience,” said Gentry. “My teammate Patricia Miranda and her husband
Levi were teammates with me at Stanford and we are good friends. When I saw her
compete in the Olympics, it cemented things for me.”
His international
career has included tremendous support from both sides of the border.
“I
have been very lucky. I am fortunate that the U.S. lets me come back and train
here. There are no hard feelings. I have a lot of respect for my opponents. I
have made friends in many weight classes along the way. I value that and it is
important to me. Canada has also been really supportive, allowing me to keep my
job at Stanford,” he said.
Gentry is competing in the Dave Schultz
Memorial as a tuneup for the Pan American Championships, and perhaps the
upcoming Olympic Games. He has qualified for the semifinals on Sunday
afternoon.
“It is hard for me to focus on this because my next tournament
is so important,” said Gentry. “This is good practice for me for the Olympic
qualifier and the Olympics.
Gary Abbott USA
Wrestling
02/09/2008
Byers looking for
improvement in loaded Schultz field
2002 World Champion Dremiel Byers
of the U.S. Army enjoys wrestling at the Dave Schultz Memorial International.
Although his focus is on the upcoming Olympic Trials and Olympic Games, he takes
this competition very seriously.
“The Schultz is one of the best
tournaments in the world, and it is right here on U.S. soil,” said Byers. “The
competition is great, and every year there are more teams.”
Byers has won
the Schultz event twice, in 2005 and 2007, but will be hard-pressed to win it
again this year. His weight class is loaded, with World champion Mijian Lopez of
Cuba and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Georgiy Tsurstumia of Kazakstan competing,
as well as all of the other top U.S. heavyweights in his division.
“The
No. 1 guy in the world is here (Lopez), and Georgiy (Tsurtsumia) was the Olympic
silver medalist. There are tough competitors everywhere,” said Byers.
U.S. Army coach Shon Lewis is impressed by Byers’ fearless approach to
competition.
“He doesn’t shy away from matches. He is the only one from
the World Championships who wrestles in every possible tournament. He is chasing
down matches. He is a field soldier. He is the best in his field. Competition is
his field. That is where he excels. This is good for him. And he is still
learning,” said Lewis.
Facing tough competition on a regular basis is
part of Byers growth as a wrestler, according to Lewis. He feels that having to
wrestle often under pressure helps him to perform better.
“You see this
great talent. But what people don’t realize is he didn’t do four year in
Division I wrestling. He doesn’t have those big matches. He is making up ground.
He didn’t have the NCAA Championships, or dual meets like Iowa against Iowa
State. He never experienced anything like that. He is always in a learning mode.
But he is really starting to perform,” said Lewis.
For Byers, this
tournament gives him a chance to perfect his craft.
“It is always about
winning,” said Byers. “I want to push myself harder and harder. I want to fix
everything before the Olympic Games. You have to identify it to fix it, and the
only way to do that is in competition.”
Padilla looks beyond high
school to bright international career
Tatiana Padilla is the top high
school wrestler in the nation in women’s wrestling. She has entered the Dave
Schultz Memorial International this weekend to continue her progress in
international freestyle wrestling.
Padilla was the ASICS Girls High
School Wrestler of the Year in 2007. Her three Junior National titles ties the
national record, and if she enters the event in Fargo next summer, she has a
chance to set the record with a fourth title. She won a silver medal at the
Junior World Championships in China last summer. Perhaps her biggest achievement
was placing second at the Women’s World Team Trials last year, taking the No. 2
spot on Women’s Team USA at 59 kg/130 lbs.
This year, Padilla has been
spending a lot of time in Colorado Springs for training and competition. Not
only will she compete today in the Dave Schultz Memorial, but she will also be
on the U.S. Pan American Championships team which will compete at the Olympic
Training Center, Feb. 28-March 2.
“She came out this year for the winter
camp, and she has been here this week training prior to the Schultz
International,” said National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner. “She is feisty. She
is a tough competitor. Tatiana won a Junior World silver medal for us last year.
We think she can be the future and step forward for us. We are trying to get her
as much international experience as we can, while keeping her balanced with her
schoolwork.”
Padilla is a member of the Northview High School wrestling
team, and is competing in dual meets on the varsity. Because of her active
freestyle schedule, she will not be competing in the post-season events. “I
enjoy wrestling the boys,” says Padilla, but she knows her future is in
freestyle competing against women.
“I am on independent study, and I
have a personal teacher,” said Padilla of her high school studies. “It allows me
to be here. It is a great experience to come out there and train with
world-class athletes. I come here to get international experience and to face
different opponents. I feel like I have approved. I have made a lot of
corrections in my style. Last year was the first year on the Senior level and I
didn’t know what to expect. You learn as you go.”
Padilla competes at 59
kg/130 lbs., a non-Olympic weight, but plans to drop down to 55 kg/121 lbs. for
the U.S. Nationals and the Olympic Trials.
“My goal is to make the
Olympic team,” said Padilla. “I will be down to that weight at the nationals. My
weight is low right now. I am under the scratch weight at 130 pounds, so it will
not be a problem for me.
Once high school is over, Padilla has many
options, including the possibility of moving to Colorado Springs to join the
U.S. Olympic Training Center resident program. Regardless of her choice, she
plans to continue her education while pursuing World and Olympic
medals.
“School is very important,” said Padilla. “I want to be a
registered nurse. I will start right away in school. You need to get a
degree.”
Multi-talented Cole Konrad competing in Greco-Roman
Two-time NCAA heavyweight champion Cole Konrad is very talented and
successful in both international freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. With the
Olympic year at hand, what does he do? Compete in both? Choose one over the
other?
At this time, Konrad has decided he will make his Olympic run in
Greco-Roman.
“I am going to keep with Greco and take it as far as I can,”
said Konrad. “I feel like I am done with freestyle.”
His achievements at
the Senior level in both styles are impressive. While still a college student,
Konrad placed third in the 2004 Olympic Trials in Greco-Roman. In freestyle, he
was second at the 2007 U.S. Nationals, and placed third at the 2006 World Team
Trials, qualifying for Freestyle Team USA.
Konrad has entered the Dave
Schultz Memorial in Greco-Roman. It has been part of an effort to concentrate on
Greco-Roman and make his stand in that style.
“In the 2004 Olympic
Trials, he was third in Greco-Roman. He had a great career at Minnesota. After
he won his last NCAA title, a few weeks later he was second at the U.S.
Nationals in freestyle. At the World Team Trials, he lost a few matches he maybe
should not have. A lot of people talked to him about his best option. In
freestyle, there are five or six good guys. In Greco-Roman, there is one
dominant guy. He did both styles at Sunkist, and wrestled freestyle at another
tournament. I suggested he concentrate on Greco-Roman for a few months to see
where he is at in that style,” said Chandler.
So far this year, Konrad
has gone to Russia and Europe for competition and training. He has participated
in the Greco-Roman winter training camps and is scheduled to compete on another
tour to Serbia later this winter.
“I’ll enter these events and go
overseas, and keep banging heads with the top guys,” said Konrad. “This lets you
know where you are. I have learned a few things already. That is why this
tournament is so beneficial.”
The decision to compete in Greco-Roman is a
unified effort with his club coaches. When Konrad competed in the Schultz event,
Minnesota Storm freestyle coach Gordy Morgan was in the corner alongside
Chandler. Morgan, himself an Olympian in Greco-Roman, supports Konrad’s pursuit
of the classic style.
“He needs more mat time and a little more
exposure,” said Konrad. “He has to figure out his style. He needs to bring his
folkstyle into his Greco-Roman. He is driven. It happens with many great college
guys. It is a new level. He’s taken his lumps. He has to perservere and he
will.”
Chandler believes Konrad has what it takes in
Greco-Roman.
“I look at his past success in Greco, his two Junior
National titles and his medal at the Olympic Trials. He has the college
background, and knows how to fight. He is a good height and size for Greco, and
has long legs he doesn’t have to defend. His body is suited to Greco. He is
enjoying the Greco, as a change of pace. He is going through 2012. If he didn’t
try Greco, and then didn’t make it in freestyle, he might regret that,” said
Chandler.
Konrad had a challenging first match at the Dave Schultz
Memorial, losing to Bulgaria’s Ivan Ivanov, 0-5, 0-6. The Bulgarian was able to
turn Konrad from the mat in both periods. He returned in his first wrestle-back
match, stopping Alfonso Victor Asprilla Caicedo of Colombia, 3-0, 5-0. His next
match was a loss against veteran Polish heavyweight Marek Mikulski, 0-7,
1-1.
This tournament, and the events in the next few months will help
Konrad in his transformation into a world-class Greco-Roman athlete. He says
that his main focus at this time is to improve his par terre defense, the
biggest challenge in the matches that he has lost.
“I really enjoyed it
in high school,” said Konrad about Greco-Roman. “To be honest, I wasn’t that
motivated to go to freestyle practice lately. It was too much like college.
Wrestling Greco, I was re-energized. I could see myself improving every
day.”
All three international styles on display on
Saturday
Any fan who wants a true taste of Olympic wrestling would be
satisfied with the Saturday competition at the Dave Schultz Memorial
International. Competition is being held side-by-side with all three
international styles of the sport: men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and
women’s freestyle.
Today marks the second day of the Greco-Roman
tournament, which began on Friday. The three largest weight classes are up for
grabs. The featured weight class is at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., where a pair of World
champions are in competition, Dremiel Byers of the United States and Mijian
Lopez of Cuba, along with Olympic silver medalist Giorgiy Tsurtsumia of
Kazakhstan.
Men and women’s freestyle starts off today, with three weight
classes in each style. For the men, the three lowest weight divisions on
display. Special interest will be at the 55 kg/121 lbs. division, where 2004
Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas of the USA, 2003 World silver medalist
Ghenadie Tulbea of Moldova and 2007 World silver medalist Naranbaatar Bayaraa of
Mongolia.
The women’s weight classes on Saturday are the three
non-Olympic weights, which are contested at the World Championships but not at
the Olympic Games. The field is not large this year at these divisions, as many
athletes have switched to Olympic weights. Perhaps the top athletes to compete
on Saturday are at 67 kg/147.5 lbs., where 2006 World bronze medalist Maria
Mueller of Germany and two-time World bronze medalist Monika Mihalik-Rogien of
Poland.
2008 Dave Schultz Memorial
International
Senior Women's Freestyle
Results
Team
Score
Results
51 kg/112
lbs.
1st - Alexander Engelhardt (Germany) tech fall over Erica Torres,
Porterville, Calif. (Oklahoma City Univ.), 6-0, 6-0
3rd - Audrey Pang,
Princeton, N.J. (New York AC) dec. Claire Dupont, Leadville, Colo. (Golden WC),
2-0, 0-3, 2-2
59 kg/130 lbs.
1st - Erin Tomeo, Colorado
Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Tatiana Padilla, Covina, Calif. (Sunkist
Kids), 4-1, 1-0
3rd - Kelsey Campbell, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) dec.
Othella Lucas, San Diego, Calif. (New York AC), 0-4, 2-0, 2-1
67
kg/147.5 lbs.
1st – Monika Rogien (Poland) dec. Maria Mueller (Germany),
1-0,1-0
3rd - Amberlee Ebert, Reedsville, Wis. (Missouri Valley College) pin
Stephanie Maierhofer (Austria), 5-0, 1:22
Sunday WMFS 48
KG
Round 7
Cons. Round 4 - Angelee Homma (Missouri Valley College) won
by decision over Rachel Bernardes (U.S. Air Force) 6-5,3-3,5-3
Cons. Round 4
- Mayalis Caripa (Venezuela) won by pin over Yuliana Gelmis Alzate Perez
(Colombia) 1:54
Cons. Round 4 - Stephanie Murata (Sunkist Kids Wrestling
Club) won by tech fall over Rachael Holthaus (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
7-0,7-0
Cons. Round 4 - Sadowska Nina (Poland) won by decision over Amantha
Hordagoda (Gator Wrestling Club) 3-1,5-0
Round 6
Quarterfinal - Clarissa
Chun (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by pin over Mayalis Caripa (Venezuela)
1:42
Quarterfinal - Mary Kelly (NYAC) won by decision over Rachel Bernardes
(U.S. Air Force) 5-0,3-0
Quarterfinal - Sara Fulp-Allen (NYAC) won by
decision over Sadowska Nina (Poland) 0-1,2-0,2-2
Quarterfinal - Alyssa Lampe
(Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Stephanie Murata (Sunkist
Kids Wrestling Club) 2-0,1-1
Cons. Round 3 - Angelee Homma (Missouri Valley
College) won by decision over Lene Wood (Oklahoma City University)
4-3,6-1
Cons. Round 3 - Yuliana Gelmis Alzate Perez (Colombia) won by pin
over Julie Huang (Oklahoma City University) 6-0,1:30
Cons. Round 3 - Rachael
Holthaus (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by injury default over Guadalupe
Perez (Mexico)
Cons. Round 3 - Amantha Hordagoda (Gator Wrestling Club) won
by tech fall over Stephanie Waters (Oklahoma City University)
0-1,6-0,6-0
Round 5
Cons. Round 2 - Lene Wood (Oklahoma City University)
won by decision over Nicol Hofmann (Germany) 1-0,1-0
Round 4
Champ. Round
2 - Mayalis Caripa (Venezuela) won by pin over Amantha Hordagoda (Gator
Wrestling Club) 7-0,1:51
Champ. Round 2 - Clarissa Chun (Sunkist Kids
Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Stephanie Waters (Oklahoma City
University) 7-0,6-0
Champ. Round 2 - Rachel Bernardes (U.S. Air Force) won by
decision over Rachael Holthaus (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) 1-0,2-1
Champ.
Round 2 - Mary Kelly (NYAC) won by pin over Guadalupe Perez (Mexico)
4-0,1:59
Champ. Round 2 - Sadowska Nina (Poland) won by decision over Yuliana
Gelmis Alzate Perez (Colombia) 1-0,4-0
Champ. Round 2 - Sara Fulp-Allen
(NYAC) won by tech fall over Julie Huang (Oklahoma City University)
7-0,6-0
Champ. Round 2 - Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by
pin over Angelee Homma (Missouri Valley College) 0:28
Champ. Round 2 -
Stephanie Murata (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by pin over Nicol Hofmann
(Germany) 1:23
Round 2 - Champ & WB (64`s & 32`s)
Champ. Round 1 -
Amantha Hordagoda (Gator Wrestling Club) won by pin over Lene Wood (Oklahoma
City University) 0-1,1:38
Sunday WMFS 55 KG
Round 7
Cons.
Round 4 - Pietrazk Agata (Poland) won by pin over Katharina Peter (Germany)
4-0,1:22
Cons. Round 4 - Jessica Bechtel (Germany) won by decision over
Cherae Pasqua (NYAC) 2-0,0-2,3-1
Cons. Round 4 - Ashley Hudson (Oklahoma City
University) won by decision over Trinty Plessing (Unattached) 2-1,4-1
Round
6
Quarterfinal - Deanna Rix (NYAC) won by injury default over Marcie Van
Dusen (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
Quarterfinal - Bilenska Sylwia (Poland)
won by decision over Katharina Peter (Germany) 0-2,4-0,4-2
Quarterfinal -
Zwirydowska Teresa (Poland) won by decision over Ashley Hudson (Oklahoma City
University) 2-0,2-0
Quarterfinal - Sally Roberts (Gator Wrestling Club) won
by decision over Jessica Bechtel (Germany) 2-0,7-0
Cons. Round 3 - Pietrazk
Agata (Poland) won by pin over Natasha Umemoto (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
0:47
Cons. Round 3 - Chelynne Pringle (Minnesota Storm) won by pin over Tina
George (U.S. Army) 0-1,1-1,1:36
Cons. Round 3 - Cherae Pasqua (NYAC) won by
tech fall over Emma Mercer (Oklahoma City University) 6-0,6-0
Cons. Round 3 -
Trinty Plessing (Unattached) won by pin over Birgit Stern (Austria)
0:37
Round 5
Round 4
Champ. Round 2 - Marcie Van Dusen (Sunkist Kids
Wrestling Club) won by decision over Birgit Stern (Austria)
0-1,3-0,2-0
Champ. Round 2 - Deanna Rix (NYAC) won by injury default over
Randi Beltz (Unattached)
Champ. Round 2 - Katharina Peter (Germany) won by
pin over Emma Mercer (Oklahoma City University) 1:19
Champ. Round 2 -
Bilenska Sylwia (Poland) won by decision over Cherae Pasqua (NYAC)
3-2,4-2
Champ. Round 2 - Zwirydowska Teresa (Poland) won by decision over
Chelynne Pringle (Minnesota Storm) 4-0,2-3,1-0
Champ. Round 2 - Ashley Hudson
(Oklahoma City University) won by decision over Tina George (U.S. Army)
0-1,3-0,4-3
Champ. Round 2 - Jessica Bechtel (Germany) won by pin over
Natasha Umemoto (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) 2-3,1:36
Champ. Round 2 - Sally
Roberts (Gator Wrestling Club) won by decision over Pietrazk Agata (Poland)
8-2,3-0
Round 2 - Champ & WB (64`s & 32`s)
Champ. Round 1 -
Jessica Bechtel (Germany) won by decision over Trinty Plessing (Unattached)
1-2,1-0,2-1
Sunday WMFS 63 KG
Round 7
Cons. Round 2 - Tori
Adams (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by pin over Sandy Nickal (Rio Rancho)
1:18
Round 6
Quarterfinal - Helena Allandi (Sweden) won by pin over
Stefanie Shaw (NYAC) 1-1,0:40
Quarterfinal - Yoselin Rojas (Venezuela) won by
decision over Tori Adams (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
3-2,0-1,3-3
Quarterfinal - Alaina Berube (NYAC) won by pin over Nikola
Hartman (Austria) 1:40
Quarterfinal - Randi Miller (Gator Wrestling Club) won
by decision over Bibiana Sandra Roa Velandia (Colombia) 3-0,3-0
Round
4
Champ. Round 1 - Helena Allandi (Sweden) won by decision over Briana Conway
(Oklahoma City University) 4-0,5-0
Champ. Round 1 - Nikola Hartman (Austria)
won by pin over Sandy Nickal (Rio Rancho) 11-2,0:47
Champ. Round 1 - Randi
Miller (Gator Wrestling Club) won by decision over Odonchimeg Badrakh (Mongolia)
6-3,2-1
Sunday WMFS 72 KG
Round 7
Cons. Round 2 - Anita
Schaetzle (Germany) won by pin over Melissa Simmons (Oklahoma City University)
5-1,1:20
Cons. Round 2 - Wieszczek Agnieszka (Poland) won by decision over
Naranchimeg Gelegjamts (Mongolia) 3-0,1-0
Round 6
Quarterfinal - Stanka
Hristova (Bulgaria) won by decision over Katie Downing (Sunkist Kids Wrestling
Club) 1-0,3-0
Quarterfinal - Iris Smith (U.S. Army) won by decision over
Wieszczek Agnieszka (Poland) 2-0,1-0
Quarterfinal - Stephany Lee (Sunkist
Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Ashley Sword (Oklahoma City
University) 3-0,8-1
Quarterfinal - Ali Bernard (Gator Wrestling Club) won by
decision over Anita Schaetzle (Germany) 4-0,2-2
Round 4
Champ. Round 1 -
Katie Downing (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Melissa
Simmons (Oklahoma City University) 8-0,7-0
Champ. Round 1 - Iris Smith (U.S.
Army) won by decision over Jerasmit Weffer (Venezuela) 1-1,3-1,4-0
Champ.
Round 1 - Stephany Lee (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by pin over Naranchimeg
Gelegjamts (Mongolia) 1-0,0:56
Champ. Round 1 - Anita Schaetzle (Germany) won
by decision over Megan Goldsmith (Dinos) 4-1,6-0
Saturday WMFS 51
KG
Round 10 - 1st & 3rds
1st Place Match - - Alexander Engelhardt
(Germany) won by tech fall over Erica Torres (Oklahoma City University)
6-0,6-0
3rd Place Match - - Audrey Pang (NYAC) won by decision over Claire
Dupont (Golden Wrestling Club) 2-0,0-3,2-2
Round 9 - Cons Semis
Cons. Semi
- Claire Dupont (Golden Wrestling Club) won by decision over Cheryl Wong (NYAC)
0-3,2-1,3-0
Cons. Semi - Audrey Pang (NYAC) won by decision over Jennifer
Peabody (Oklahoma City University) 4-0,1-0
Round 8
Semifinal - - Alexander
Engelhardt (Germany) won by pin over Audrey Pang (NYAC) 1:18
Semifinal - -
Erica Torres (Oklahoma City University) won by decision over Cheryl Wong (NYAC)
5-1,0-5,6-0
Round 6
Quarterfinal - Audrey Pang (NYAC) won by decision over
Claire Dupont (Golden Wrestling Club) 1-0,3-2
Quarterfinal - Cheryl Wong
(NYAC) won by decision over Jennifer Peabody (Oklahoma City University)
3-0,7-0
Saturday WMFS 59 KG
Round 10 - 1st & 3rds
1st
Place Match - - Erin Tomeo (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over
Tatiana Padilla (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) 4-1,1-0
3rd Place Match - -
Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Othela Lucas
(NYAC) 0-4,2-0,2-1
Round 9 - Cons Semis
Cons. Semi - Othela Lucas (NYAC)
won by pin over Samantha Fee (Missouri Valley College) 0:36
Cons. Semi -
Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Natascha
Ballas (Germany) 1-0,2-0
Round 8
Semifinal - - Tatiana Padilla (Sunkist
Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Othela Lucas (NYAC)
1-2,3-0,4-0
Semifinal - - Erin Tomeo (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by
decision over Natascha Ballas (Germany) 5-0,4-1
Cons. Round 3 - Samantha Fee
(Missouri Valley College) won by decision over Sheila McCabe (Oklahoma City
University) 7-2,4-0
Cons. Round 3 - Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids Wrestling
Club) won by decision over Anna Matteson (open) 5-0,7-1
Round 7
Cons.
Round 2 - Sheila McCabe (Oklahoma City University) won by pin over Josie
Sanderson (Unattached) 0:33
Cons. Round 2 - Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids
Wrestling Club) won by decision over Michele Muscato (open) 5-0,6-0
Round
6
Quarterfinal - Tatiana Padilla (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by tech
fall over Anna Matteson (open) 7-0,6-0
Quarterfinal - Othela Lucas (NYAC) won
by decision over Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
2-0,1-0
Quarterfinal - Natascha Ballas (Germany) won by pin over Samantha Fee
(Missouri Valley College) 0:55
Quarterfinal - Erin Tomeo (Sunkist Kids
Wrestling Club) won by pin over Sheila McCabe (Oklahoma City University)
8-0,0:36
Round 4
Champ. Round 1 - Tatiana Padilla (Sunkist Kids Wrestling
Club) won by pin over Josie Sanderson (Unattached) 0:23
Champ. Round 1 -
Samantha Fee (Missouri Valley College) won by decision over Michele Muscato
(open) 4-1,4-1
Saturday WMFS 67 KG
Round 10 - 1st &
3rds
1st Place Match - - Rogien Ewa (Poland) won by decision over Maria
Mueller (Germany) 1-0,1-0
3rd Place Match - - Amberlee Ebert (Missouri Valley
College) won by pin over Stephanie Maierhofer (Austria) 5-0,1:22
Round 9 -
Cons Semis
Cons. Semi - Stephanie Maierhofer (Austria) won by decision over
Ashley Sword (Oklahoma City University) 1-2,1-0,4-0
Cons. Semi - Amberlee
Ebert (Missouri Valley College) won by decision over Sara Hilliard (Oklahoma
City University) 1-0,2-0
Round 8
Semifinal - - Rogien Ewa (Poland) won by
decision over Amberlee Ebert (Missouri Valley College) 3-0,1-0
Semifinal - -
Maria Mueller (Germany) won by pin over Stephanie Maierhofer (Austria)
7-0,1:03
Round 6
Quarterfinal - Amberlee Ebert (Missouri Valley College)
won by decision over Ashley Sword (Oklahoma City University)
1-0,1-1
Quarterfinal - Stephanie Maierhofer (Austria) won by pin over Sara
Hilliard (Oklahoma City University) 1:56
59 kg Women Champion Erin Tomeo (USA) def. Tatiana
Padilla (USA)
updated: Feb 10, 2008 7:43am CST
51 kg Women Champion Alexandra Engelhardt
(Germany) def. Erica Torres (USA)
updated: Feb 10, 2008 7:31am CST
67 kg Women Champion Monica Rogien (Poland) def.
Maria Mueller (Germany)
updated: Feb 10, 2008 9:44am CST
Women semis 51 59 67
updated: Feb 09, 2008 7:14am CST
Women prelims 51 59 67
updated: Feb 10, 2008 6:58am CST
Brackets
Elizabeth Wiley and Gary Abbott USA
Wrestling
02/10/2008
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
– Women’s freestyle
Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York
AC)
“It was definitely an exciting day. I took a peek at the brackets,
and I felt I had a good draw. I had to wrestle the Polish girl. I had wrestled
her in practice a few times. I felt confident. I knew I had to be patient. When
I won that, and after Stephanie (Murata) lost, I felt I could win it all.
“Clarissa (Chun) is someone I have had trouble with. She likes to
scramble. Instead of letting her dance around, I started wrestling. It was wide
open. I was excited during the match. I wasn’t tired and I wasn’t mentally
stressed. There was so much scoring going on. I knew at any moment in the match,
I could get more points.”
55 kg/121 lbs. – Women’s freestyle
Sally
Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
“I feel it went well. You
know, I’m not much about watching video and scouting my opponents. The way I
wrestle, I just want to do my style. I probably should have done some scouting
in the semifinals when I was thrown for three. But it made me wrestle and made
me adjust.
(about her new weight class)
“It is a lot of fun down
here. It’s new. There is no pressure. I am having fun. I can give it my all out
there. I felt really good. I was so excited to be wrestling and not injured
anymore. Even if I am not feeling too well, I don’t care. As long as it isn’t
surgery, I am going to be out there wrestling. After this, I am going to meet
with my coaches and set a game plan for this year.”
(about the Olympic
year ahead)
“It is not on my mind at all. I am out there, having fun. That is
a reason that an athlete can be so lethal. I am just out there
wrestling.”
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Women's freestyle
Alaina Berube,
River Falls, Wis. (New York AC)
“I had a couple of good weeks of
training here after I came back from Russia. I felt prepared and ready to put in
a good performance. I felt like all the hard work is paying off and I am
starting to see the results. I have been concentrating on few things and making
adjustments.”
(about the pin in the finals)
“I wasn’t looking for it.
I fell into it. I was looking to get a point and to end that period. The half
nelson was right there.”
(about her new training situation in
Wisconsin)
“It is going well so far. I like it there. (Coach) Kevin Black is
working with me and is slowly, surely changing my style and getting me to where
I need to be.”
(about the Olympic year ahead)
“I’ll take it one
tournament at a time. I’ll keep taking small steps. The ultimate goal is making
the Olympic team.”
84 kg/185 lbs. – Men’s freestyle
Jake Herbert,
Wexford, Pa. (New York AC)
(On how important this win was)
“It was
a big win. Davyd Bichinashvili of Germany beat a lot of tough guys. There were a
lot of good Americans in this weight and I was glad to come out on top. Really,
it’s more training for the Olymipcs. That’s more important than just getting
this win.”
(On the disputed calls)
“The German coaches thought the
points were more his than they were mine. They thought he initiated a move that
I initiated, and that’s where you get a lot of the disputes.”
(On
adjusting after losing the second period)
“I stepped it up mentally after I
kind of let down in the second. I was getting a little tired but so was he. I
just tried to stay aggressive.”
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Men’s
freestyle
Sean Stender, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
(On
getting this win)
“It feels good to get some international competition in. It
has been while for me. I haven’t wrestled since the World Team Trials last year
and it’s great to get this win headed towards the Olympic Trials.”
(On
his strategy going in)
“I didn’t really have a plan. I didn’t know a lot
about the guy. I had heard that he threw a lot, and he tried to. I just stayed
solid on my feet and stayed aggressive.”
(On what this win means headed
towards the Olympics)
“It’s nice to win at the Schultz. It’s on of the
biggest meets in the U.S. in terms of foreign wrestlers. There is some really
tough competition. The win feels good now and hopefully it turns out the same
way in June.”
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Men’s freestyle
Steve Mocco,
Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
“I looked at this tournament as
preparation for the World Cup first, and the U.S. Nationals and the Olympic
Trials. I knew we were leaving Tuesday for the World Cup and I wanted to get
matches in. There is nothing like the competition feel. I got a good blow, my
lungs and my heart are working well. I’ll be ready for next week.”
THE GAZETTE
February 10, 2008 - 8:00PM
After 15 years of elite-level wrestling, Stephanie Murata remains an
underdog. And a familiar foe stands in her way.
For the Colorado Springs
resident to cap a distinguished career with a berth in the Beijing Games in
August, she must upend Patricia Miranda, the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in the
105.5-pound freestyle division.
Miranda was sidelined because of a knee
injury and Murata settled for a bronze medal Sunday in the Dave Schultz Memorial
International, failing to defend their titles at the Olympic Training Center.
Murata went 5-1 on the final day of the annual tournament that drew more
than 300 wrestlers from about 30 countries. She beat German Nicol Hofmann and
lost to American Alyssa Lampe, then rebounded with wins over American Rachael
Holthaus, Poland’s Nina Sadowska, Colorado Springs resident Mary Kelly and
Lampe.
Weight class champions were German Andriy Shyyka (163 pounds),
Americans Jake Herbert (185) and Sean Stender (211.5) and Colorado Springs
resident Steve Mocco (264.5) in men’s freestyle; and Colorado Springs residents
Sara Fulp-Allen (105.5) and Sally Roberts (121), American Alaina Berube (138.75)
and Bulgarian Stanka Zlateva (158.5) in women’s freestyle.
Miranda, also
of Colorado Springs, has not wrestled competitively since Aug. 14, when she tore
the ACL in her right knee. She plans to compete in the Pan American
Championships, which are Feb. 29 to March 2 at the OTC.
Murata, 37, and
Miranda, 28, should anchor the 105.5-pound division at the U.S. Olympic trials
June 13-15 in Las Vegas, with the winner joining as many as three other weight
class champions in Beijing.
Miranda typically wrestles at 112 pounds, a
non-Olympic division with limited domestic challengers. At 105.5, Murata faces
stiff competition from Fulp-Allen, Kelly and Colorado Springs resident Clarissa
Chun.
“She hasn’t been at 48 kilos (105.5 pounds) for a long time,”
Murata said of Miranda. “It’s different when you get down there, very different.
Am I going to overlook her? Not at all. But I’m looking forward to the match.”
Said Miranda: “I definitely feel challenged by the girls in the
(105.5-pound) weight class. Some people say I’m the person to beat. Some people
say with a knee injury, I’m the underdog. Who knows?”
Regardless of the
outcome, Murata, a 13-time national team member, probably won’t compete past the
Women’s World Championships in October in Tokyo.
She has been to the
world championships eight times, winning a silver medal in 2001. She has won the
Pan American Championships three times. She has won nine national titles. She
has won countless international tournaments, including the Schultz last year.
“If I wasn’t successful and if I wasn’t still in the mix, I wouldn’t be
here,” said Murata, who has qualified for the Olympic trials based on her world
championships appearances. “That’s why I’ve done it for so long. It’s hard to
quit when you’re winning.
“I actually feel stronger, faster. It’s almost
like a time warp. I feel like I’m getting better with age. It’s like I’m a
wine.”
Asked if she’s capable of beating Miranda, Murata said, “When
push comes to shove, I believe I can win.”
