Craig Sesker- USA Wrestling
03/01/2008
Tanya Verbeek 55kg - Canada qualifies for 2008 Olympic Games
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, USA – You can’t fault Marcie Van Dusen’s effort. She was the aggressor from the outset, constantly pushing the pace and being on the attack in her quest to qualify her women’s freestyle weight class for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.But in the end, the only shot Olympic silver medalist Tonya Verbeek of Canada took was the difference in the Pan American Championships finals match at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Verbeek shot in on a single and dumped Van Dusen to the mat halfway through the third period for a takedown. She then held on as Van Dusen charged in desperately to try and score the winning takedown late Saturday afternoon at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Verbeek pulled out a 1-1, 0-1, 1-1 victory over Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in the finals.
The U.S. will have two more chances to qualify for the Olympics in women’s freestyle at 55 kg/121 lbs. Qualifiers remain in May in Canada and Sweden.
"I think I did fairly well, but I have to learn from my mistakes and go from there," Van Dusen said. "I expected to win this match. I feel I am the better wrestler."
The U.S. has already qualified for the Olympics in the other three weight classes for women’s freestyle. The American squad edged Canada 67-64 for the team title. Van Dusen, a 2007 World Team member, beat Verbeek in the semifinals of the 2007 Pan American Games.
Van Dusen drove in on a leg attack to score the first point of the match, but Verbeek won the period after scoring a point of her own after countering to push Van Dusen out of bounds. Van Dusen came back late in the second period, firing in on a single-leg shot and finishing with one second left for a takedown to even the match.
The decisive third period followed and Van Dusen quickly took control, shooting in on a leg attack and finishing for a takedown just 20 seconds into the period. Verbeek responded by shooting for the first, and only, time in the match and finishing on the leg attack with one minute left.
Van Dusen nearly spun behind Verbeek after being taken down, but was unable to break free. Van Dusen then tried valiantly to shoot in and score in the final 30 seconds, but Verbeek countered effectively to preserve the win.
"Today was all about me pushing through it and believing in myself," Verbeek said. "This wasn’t my best match by any means, but I got the job done."
Van Dusen was asked about the challenges of trying to finish against a strong foe in Verbeek.
"I will have to watch some video," Van Dusen said. "I feel I am the best wrestler, but she got the better of me today. It won’t happen again. I am always a better third-period wrestler. She was waiting for me to take my shots. I needed more setups for my shots."
In the other women’s freestyle weight classes, Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) won the title at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. with a 3-0, 2-1 win over Ingrid Cuellar of El Salvador. Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) won the title at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. with a 6-0, 7-1 win over Canada’s Vanessa Brown. The 2004 Olympic bronze medalist and two-time World silver medalist returned to the mat for the first time since suffering a knee injury just before the 2007 World Championships.
Tatiana Padilla (LaVerne, Calif./Sunkist Kids) won the gold medal at 59 kg/130 lbs. after prevailing in the round-robin competition. Elena Pirozhkov (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) won the gold medal at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. after downing Canada’s Megan Dolan 1-0, 3-1 in the finals. Stephany Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) won the gold medal at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. after winning the round-robin competition in her class. Tori Adams (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) won a bronze medal at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Other wrestlers who qualified their countries for the Olympics were Ingrid Cueller of El Salvador at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Martine Dugrenier of Canada at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Ohenewa Akuffo of Canada at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Dugrenier won the gold medal while Cuellar and Akuffo each won silver medals.
The two silver medalists from the Pan American Championships qualified their countries for the Olympics by virtue of being the highest finishers among the countries that had not already qualified for the Olympics
Wisconsin
stevenspointjournal.com 3/3/08
Although we as parents of girls who have chosen to wrestle often hear people say, 'Don't worry it's only a girl, you'll take it to her,' 65 girls would be willing and very eager to prove you wrong.
Saturday, my husband and I along with our family, friends, and the SPACS Youth Wrestling Club, were honored to host the first Wisconsin Wrestling Federation Girls State Folkstyle Wrestling Tournament. After our daughter, Emily, won the WWF Boys State Tournament last year, we had been contacted by Kevin Black, the WWF Girls Wrestling Director. After several months of brainstorming, the decision was made to make Stevens Point the official site for this tournament.
"Girls wrestling is growing, and it is very important to us (WWF) to give as many girls the opportunity to participate in the WWF Girls State Tournament as possible. Stevens Point was centrally located, and Steve and Amy know what they are doing when it comes to running a wrestling tournament," Black said. "Girls wrestling is so different to watch. There really is something unique about it. It's great to see the numbers growing every year. This year eight colleges have varsity women's teams, which is two more than last year."
Last year's all-girls wrestling tournament in Point brought in 47 girls. This year that number went up to 65. To some that number may seem small, but when looking at the bigger picture, it was only a few years ago that we hadn't even heard about girls wrestling. Growth is always a step in the right direction. When talking to some of the wrestlers Saturday, there was one name they all had in common, Alyssa Lampe. As some of you may or may not know, she was the first girl in Wisconsin to make it to the WIAA Boys State Wrestling Tournament.
So the groundwork has truly been laid. It won't be long until we see others follow in her footsteps.
Three local girls competed this year. Delaney Mace of Plover took a first place in the elementary division. Emily Raczek of Stevens Point won first place in the middle school division. Kaylee Frisch of Plover claimed first place in the high school division.
While Raczek is now preparing to defend her WWF Boy's title and also to compete at the USA Women's National tournament, Frisch is honing her skills and preparing to travel with Raczek to Oklahoma City to compete at the USA Women's National Tournament also.
Date Published | Mar. 3, 2008 |
OFSAA wrestling
It was a banner year for Greater Sudbury wrestlers at the recent OFSAA Wrestling Championships in Hagersville. Chelmsford high school were the big winners. Sheldon Burton won gold in the 64-kilogram class while younger brother Spencer won gold in the 67-kg division. Dylan Byrnes (95-kg) won silver. Macdonald Cartier’s Lee-Anna Taillefer won silver in the 77-kg class. Over 300 teams competed. Chelmsford finished fifth overall in the boys’ teams standings and fourth overall in the combined (boys and girls) standings. No school has ever placed as high in boys’ or combined team standings.
Article Launched: 03/03/2008 03:07:48 AM PST
Things changed after receiving the news that the Pittsburg High School girls wrestling team recently earned honors at the North Coast Section championship, qualifying three members to compete March 14 at the national championships in Oklahoma.
Brittani Romero, Janelle Vison and Frainkie Silva all qualified to make the trip to the national competition, where they will battle athletes from across the country, as well as share the stage with participants in the collegiate championships. The winning girls team is coached by Gil Gutierrez, with Michael Tumbaga overseeing the wrestling program at Pittsburg High.
Girls wrestling was something that I scarcely knew existed, but I've come to learn exactly how much the sport has grown in participation and popularity, not only on a national level, but right here in town. In just a few years, our Pirates girls team has grown in both numbers and skills, to the point where 30 girls went out for the team this year. Initially, there was some resistance to the idea of girls competing not only alongside boys, but with them. However, natural athletic ability, specialized protective gear, and a strong competitive spirit on the part of all team members have gone a long way to encourage not only acceptance, but participation.
This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who is familiar with Pittsburg's support of our high school athletes. Our community has a rich history of cheering on our hometown sports figures.
Longtime residents know that we're not about discriminating, so the fact that Pittsburg now has the largest girls wrestling team in the Bay Area isn't lost to anyone who knows us. We encourage, we promote, we advocate, and sometimes, when our kids are involved, we just keep pushing. We have volunteers in town who work around the clock, often creating special events and fundraisers designed to provide support when dwindling budgets would leave many programs without funding, and athletes without equipment or uniforms.
Currently, fundraising efforts are in the works to assist these winning wrestlers, so they can travel to the national championship in Oklahoma, coming up in two weeks.
Anyone interested in assisting or donating should contact Greg Strom, Pittsburg High School Director of Athletics, at 925-383-6648.
If you haven't checked it out, visit the official site of Pittsburg High School Athletics at http://www.pittsburg.k12.ca.us/phsathletics, it's a great source of information and pride.
As for girls wrestling, a few thoughts come to mind. I really regret there was no girls wrestling team when I was younger. There must have been a move that would have halted the torment of an older sister whose idea of fun was sitting on my chest and forcing me to eat things I hated. (Imagine canned peas, anchovies and anything with mayonnaise.) I wonder if they have a senior ladies division. They say it's never too late to have a happy childhood.
Sarah Jacobson is a Pittsburg resident. Her column publishes every Monday. Reach her at sarahspittsburginfo@yahoo.com.
Howard Tsumura, The Province
Published: Monday, March 03, 2008WRESTLING
CLAN WOMEN WIN
Simon Fraser's women's team -- led by Kamloops's Miranda Dick -- won the CIS title Saturday in Calgary, edging the host Dinos by two points.
Dick, picked the national CIS female wrestler of the year, won gold at 55 kilos.
North Vancovuer's Ashley McKilligan (48) and Victoria's Stacie Anaka (67) also won their weight classes for Simon Fraser.
It was the Clan's fifth national women's wrestling title.
MEN FALL JUST SHORT
The Clan's men finished second by just four points to Brock University, which won for the 10th straight year.
SFU was led by a gold medal at 90 kilos by Dustyn Fisher of Pincher Creek, Alta.., who was named CIS male wrestler of the year.
Canada
Tim Switzer, The Leader-Post
Published: Monday, March 03, 2008Not much Ali Bernard does on the wrestling mat surprises University of Regina Cougars head coach Leo McGee anymore.
On Saturday, Bernard won her fourth consecutive gold medal at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships when she defeated Nicole Plummer of the Lakehead Thunderwolves in the 82-kilogram weight class.
"Ali is in a situation right now where she's still improving," said McGee. "I was pretty confident we could put her in that weight class and she could still get it done and get it done in a big way."
Bernard could compete down in the 72kg class, but was so dominant there throughout the season, McGee decided to have her wrestle up a division.
Bernard, who could not be reached Sunday, won her two previous medals at 72kg and the first one at 80kg as a rookie.
Erica Sharp who wrestled for the Calgary Dinos and Alberta Pandas is the only other female wrestler to win four or more CIS titles, but she did not win her five golds in consecutive years. She won three with the Dinos between 1999 and 2001, one with Calgary in 2003 (in a tie for first) and one with Alberta in 2005, the year Bernard won her first title. Two men's wrestlers -- Concordia's Pat Sullivan and Brock's Ryan Weicker -- won five straight golds.
Bernard is expected to be back for a run at No. 5 in 2009.
The Cougars won four more medals at the CIS championships on Saturday. Cory Horsburgh (61kg), Jeff Jones (65kg) and Alex McStay (130kg) won silver medals and Peter De La Cruz (68kg) won bronze to help the men's team to a fourth-place finish overall.
Jarret Coels (72kg) and Justin Eckert (54kg) both placed sixth for Regina, while Chad Bates (57kg) finished in seventh place.
On the women's side, Kelli Rasmussen (51kg) finished in fifth place and Inga Van Vliet (67kg) placed eighth. The Cougar women were eighth overall. The Simon Fraser women and the Brock men won the overall team titles.
The CIS titles are nice and all, but those are not the only one's on Bernard's mind these days. The New Ulm, Minn. product will also compete at the U.S. nationals in April (in the 72kg/158-pound division) and hopes to moves on to the Olympic trials in June for a shot at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
"After the (Dave) Schultz (International meet), she beat some very good international people and was right with the top Americans," said McGee. "She's a threat at that weight class and she's a contender at any level of competition.
"We have to make the next step up the ladder and compete against the top senior wrestlers in the U.S. She's got the youth, she's got the athletic ability and she's getting consistently better technically. She will be one of the top three kids in that weight class this year.
"If she doesn't make an Olympic team this year, I still think she's the future for the United States in that weight class."
Green, 2 more win
All three Brickhouse wrestlers reach finals
It was Daniel's only loss in five matches.
Ashley Taylor, in the 103-pound middle school division, and Andrea Anderson, in the 115-pound middle school class, also brought home championships.
They are teammates of Daniel in the Brickhouse Grappling Club out of Yuba County.
Texas
08:43 PM CST on Tuesday, February 13, 2007
There are four boys and six girls from Cy-Fair High School's wrestling team who are going to state.
They are all talented, but two of them standout from the rest.
John Banas is the Cy Fair Wrestling Coach. "It's rare when you have one like that, but two have two from the same team and the same family, that's pretty incredible."
And one of the them gave up cheerleading to wrestle.
Angie Murray, "Cheerleading is not easy because you have to hold people up in the air and everything, but wrestling is about conditioning and it's not only physically but mentally challenging as well."
Angie Murray, a junior, is ranked number one in the area.
Brother Michael, a senior, is ranked number one in the state. Both are undefeated on the season and just for the record, Michael says Angie has never beat him in a fight... even the ones that took place when they were little.
Michael Murray, "She tried to pinch every now and then and did a little scratching. It's good we have the whole family wrestling also. The only person who doesn't do wrestling is my Mom."
And as Cy-Fair heads to Austin next week, Angie and Michael could become the first brother sister combination to ever win state wrestling titles.
Matt Musil, 11 News, Sports.
Texas
Katy girls wrestling is tough, too Video
Body Bar Systems Owner and Chairman Awarded FILA Gold Star
Arno Niemand Earns Highest Award from World Governing Body of Wrestling
BOULDER, Colo. – March 3, 2008 - Body Bar Systems, Inc., a premier fitness company specializing in products and educational tools for fitness enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, announced today that owner and chairman Arno Niemand was awarded the prestigious FILA Gold Star, the highest honor awarded by the international wrestling federation.
The International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles, also known in French as Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées (FILA), is the governing body of international amateur wrestling. Mr. Niemand was awarded the FILA Gold Start on the mat prior to the men’s freestyle finals in Colorado Springs on March 2 during the Pan American Championships.
“My commitment to wrestling stems from my own extraordinary experience with the sport,” commented Mr. Niemand. “Wrestling competition has affected my life in ways that go beyond fitness. I am dedicated to helping today’s young men and women experience the many life-long benefits wrestling will bring. I am deeply honored to accept the prestigious FILA Gold Star.”
Mr. Niemand was a varsity starter for Cornell University in the mid-1950s. He is a long-time supporter of amateur wrestling and a renowned wrestling historian and speaker. As a strong proponent of women’s wrestling, Body Bar Systems has sponsored the USA Wrestling Women’s National Team since 2003. The team continues to use the Body Bar® as they train for the 2008 World Championships and Olympics in Beijing.
“It is a privilege to award Mr. Niemand with the FILA Gold Star,” commented Raphael Martinetti, president of the Federation of International Wrestling Styles (FILA). “His knowledge and expertise continues to influence and inspire the wrestling community worldwide. Wrestlers everywhere have benefited from his contribution to the sport.”
“It is wonderful that Arno has been recognized for his commitment to our great sport,” commented world champion, Olympic team coach, and Hall of Fame wrestler Tricia Saunders. “His dedication to women’s wrestling has been instrumental to its continued growth. Because of his support, many athletes’ dreams have become realities. He is most deserving of this honor.“
"Arno’s progressive approach to women’s athletics, especially in regards to women’s wrestling, is commendable and he is deserving of the highest honor the International Wrestling Federation can bestow - the FILA Gold Star" said Terry Steiner, USA Wrestling women’s national team coach.
About Body Bar Systems, Inc.
Founded in 1987, Body Bar Systems provides the infinite workouts and solid educational tools that fitness enthusiasts of all ages and abilities still choose after almost 21 years - because they work. The company has created a strong presence through the original weighted fitness bar, The Body Bar®, and the extensive “Master Your Body” DVD series of workout programs. Body Bar Systems is committed to enhancing the fitness and well being of the world by providing quality products and education with passion, integrity, and fun. Body Bar Systems is a member of the IHRSA network. www.bodybar.com 1-800-500-2030.