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MAKING STRIDES;Since becoming a UIL-sanctioned sport in 1998, wrestling continues to see a steady growth in Texas high schools.
THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
November 16, 2000
When Bill Middendorf started the Keller wrestling program
last season, his first challenge was to correct the
perception several athletes had of the sport.
"Most of them had no experience with wrestling. Their experience
was WWF," he said. "Last year I had to have them buy into it."
Middendorf, who formerly coached wrestling in Kansas, is one of
dozens of coaches who has introduced the sport to a Texas high
school since its first University Interscholastic League-sanctioned
season in 1998. That came 10 years after the sport was first
organized in Texas high schools by the volunteer-run Texas
Interscholastic Wrestling Association.
While the sport has not exploded since wrestling became a UIL
sport, there has been steady growth, said UIL spokesman Mark
Cousins. There are about 165 public-school boys teams in the state,
he said, compared with the 134 public and private-school teams that
competed in the TIWA state tournament in 1988.
There are also 104 public-school girls teams, up from the handful
of programs that existed in 1998.
"The boys side has seen steady growth. The girls side has just
exploded," Cousins said. "About 20 schools add wrestling each year,
and I wouldn't expect that to decrease."
In some ways, Texas wrestling made big strides in 2000. In June,
the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials were in Dallas. At that meet,
Amarillo native Brandon Slay became the first wrestler from Texas
to make an Olympic wrestling team and went on to become the U.S.
freestyle squad's only 2000 gold medalist.
Texas high school coaches still face several challenges. Few
coaches in the Northeast Tarrant County area have paid assistants,
despite the often large number of athletes they work with, and many
coaches said they still struggle to get their schools to pay for
practice room and equipment.
Terry Knouse, who wrestled for Iowa State and runs the powerhouse
MacArthur program, said there are other roadblocks, as well.
"I see too many places that are still hiring coaches with no
wrestling experience. A lot of schools hire football coaches who
know absolutely nothing about wrestling," he said. "If you've got
someone who doesn't care, the kids won't care and it will fall apart."
Schools that have shown dedication to wrestling have gotten
results. Grapevine, coached by former University of Northern Iowa
wrestler Steve Wills, has become a state powerhouse in less than
seven varsity seasons. Last year, the Mustangs had an NCAA Division
I signee in Alejandro Alvarez. The school is building a new
wrestling room.
Knouse said Keller has the potential for a successful future. The
Indians went 10-5 in duals and had three wrestlers place in the top
eight in the regional tournament. Middendorf was selected
Star-Telegram/Northeast Coach of the Year.
Middendorf, who is also an assistant football coach, said he sees
the sport fitting in at the school. Middendorf's top returner,
189-pounder Kasey Kromer, is also a starter on the football team.
"Really, I had no idea what to expect last year. They did better
than I probably expected," Middendorf said. "This year we'll have
probably 20 kids with experience, and that will be a big
difference, I hope. The kids really seem excited."
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SPREADING THE WEALTH;
Wrestling coach wants to share his sport's benefits with students
THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
November 16, 2000,
New Sam Houston wrestling coach Ryan Menard knows a thing
or two about the sport he loves.
In South Dakota, Menard was a high school state champion wrestler
in 1983. He went on to wrestle collegiately at the University of
Nebraska-Omaha from 1984-88 and, for the last three years, was
coaching the junior national team for South Dakota.
Menard, 34, is trying to share his knowledge and love for the
sport with the wrestlers at Sam Houston. If that means he has to
get on the mat and show his team how to execute a move, then he
said he'll do it.
"The area that I come from, it's very prestigious to wrestle for
your high school team," said Menard, who was hired in August. "
Here, there are some misnomers that if you wrestle, you're going to
jump off the turnbuckle or wrestle in a cage. It's not like that at
all. Wrestling is an excellent sport for athletes."
Menard said the reason he came to Texas was because the teacher
salary is better than what it is in South Dakota, and he wants to
be part of the growing tradition of wrestling in Texas. He said he
will be coaching a girls team for the first time in his career.
"Wrestling in Texas is in its infant stages, but with help from
the community, it can grow to be a great sport like it is in other
parts of the country," he said. "We have what it takes. The girls
here are focused, disciplined and have had a taste of victory. I
want the whole program to get that feeling."
Menard's biggest challenge this season is the program's waning
numbers. There are about 50 boys and girls wrestlers combined, but
Menard wants more. He said if his team reaches 60 members, then he
will get another assistant coach. Now, only Tommy Bonds, an
assistant football coach and former wrestling coach from El Paso,
serves as Menard's assistant.
What Menard does have is dedication and commitment, he said.
Brandy Killingsworth and LaTosha Gillon are providing leadership
for the entire program.
"The kids that have made a commitment, have dedication and
perseverance are those that will come out on top," he said. "Right
now, it looks like we have that."
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Sam Houston girls need higher numbers
THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
November 16, 2000,
The Sam Houston girls team, which finished second at the state
meet last season, will have a hard time winning the title this
season if it can't get more athletes out for the team.
New coach Ryan Menard said the Texans can't fill the 102-, 110-,
119- and 128-pound slots. Four empty weights could put a serious
dent in a team that returns three state place-winners.
The Texans return senior state runners-up Maria Garza (165) and
Latosha Gillon (heavyweight) and senior Brandy Killingsworth (185),
as well as juniors Ember Brettman and Glory Dalton. Though Menard
has promising newcomers in sophomore Thau "Kim" Bui, Jennifer
Reyes, Bran-dee Craven and Monica Coleman, he said the Texans need
more athletes in the room.
"I'm really impressed with the work ethic of the girls," said
Menard, a former high school state champion in South Dakota who
also wrestled at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. "Brandy is
unbelievably focused. After winning [state] as a sophomore and
losing last year, she's doing everything right not to be denied a
second time."
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Area wrestling hits the mat tonight
By STEVE BELVIN 11/16/2000
Globe-News Sports Writer
Wrestling season officially begins tonight and what better way to start it off than with two of the top girls programs in the state going head-to-head in a dual match?
That's what happens tonight at the Palo Duro gym when the Lady Dons and Lady Longhorns square off at 7 p.m. Other season opening action has the Caprock and Palo Duro varsity boys squaring off at 6 p.m. at Palo Duro and Boys Ranch and Amarillo High getting started at 7 p.m. at the Amarillo High gym. Saturday, a lot of the area teams will be in action at the Dumas tournament.
The Caprock Lady Longhorns are coming off a state championship season, where they finished ranked No. 1 in the country according to United States Girls Wrestling Association.
Last year Caprock won the girls state title with 90.5 points, three points more than Arlington Sam Houston. Palo Duro finished third with 69 points.
But even though Caprock got the last laugh last year, Palo Duro had its share of laughs in between, winning the district dual championship and district team championship.
But there's one distinct difference from the teams this year- Caprock lost almost its entire state championship winning team to graduation while Palo Duro returns virtually its entire team.
"We have our whole team back and they lost most of their kids. But they are still the defending state champs," said Palo Duro coach Steve Nelson. "On paper, they're probably the favorite because they're still ranked No. 1 in the country, But with all the kids coming back, we expect to win."
The Lady Dons are so deep that its heavyweight, senior Dyana McIntire, won't be competing in this match because she was beaten out by sophomore teammate Juanetta McCampbell. McIntire is ranked No. 2 in the nation by the USGWA.
Also back for Palo Duro is Kruncy Inthirath, the defending state champion in the 95-pound division. There's also Jennifer Fuller (102), Lauren Lindsey (119), Viviana Ross (128), Tabitha Powell (138) and Janice Gooden (148). Gooden was beaten in the state finals by Caprock's Tori Adams, considered the best prep wrestler in the country last year. This year, Gooden is ranked 7th nationally.
Casey Brittan (165),who ranks 7th nationally, and Rachael Morgan (185) round out the squad.
Caprock assistant coach T.J. Johnson said the young wrestlers on his squad are showing vast improvement.
"If we had the same girls back as last year defending our championship, that would be great. Unfortunately we don't have them back so it's going to be hard," joked Johnson. "Honestly, these young girls are working hard, they're really shinning. We have a couple that have not wrestled before."
The Lady Longhorns return junior defending state champion Maria Hernandez in the heavyweight division and Dedra Puentes (110).
Johnson said he and head coach Scott Tankersley have let the girls know what's ahead of them being the defending state champs.
"I'm sure coach Nelson will have his girls jacked up for us," he said. "We're the defending state champs and people are going to come after us whether we like it or not, so we might as well get used to it."
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Wrestling: Palo Duro girls beat defending state champs
Friday, November 17, 2000
The Palo Duro Lady Dons won Round 1 of the battle of wrestling powers as they dominated the defending state champion Caprock Lady Longhorns 45-8 in the season opening match at Palo Duro gym.
Caprock, which lost virtually its whole team from last year, managed only two victories in the match. In the 110-pound weight division, Hope Jones defeated Stormy Grear 15-0 and 119-pounder Dedra Puentes defeated Lauren Lindsey 9-4.
Perhaps Palo Duro's biggest victory was sophomore Juanetta McCampbell pinning Marie Hernandez in 3:13. Hernandez is the defending state heavyweight champion.
Palo Duro also got four other pins in the match. Ninety-five ponder Kruncy Inthirath pinned Monica Harris in 45 seconds; 102-pounder Jennifer Harris pinned Nadia Hernandez in 1:28; 165-pounder Casey Brittain pinned Amanda Flores in 1:02 and 185-pounder Rachael Morgan pinned Christine Parker in 1:45.
Palo Duro coach Steve Nelson was very pleased with his team's win.
"In July of this year in Dayton, Ohio, I was inducted into the United States Hall of Fame for my silver medal finishes in the 1991 and 1994 World Amateur Wrestling Championships." Nelson said. "The joy of that honor does not even compare to the excitement I get out of seeing my kids be successful. I am very proud."
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