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By Joe Tuscano, Staff writer 1/17/09

jtuscano@observer-reporter.com

MONONGAHELA - The first clue that this was not an ordinary wrestler was the white hair net. The second was the similar color T-shirt that was required attire under the singlet.

Rachel Katus is an exceptional figure in scholastic wrestling, a female 112-pound sophomore from Burgettstown High School.

It's rare for females to compete on the varsity level in wrestling but, interestingly, not uncommon in the Tri-County Wrestling Tournament, which got under way Friday night at Ringgold High School. There were two females in this tournament.

Katus was pinned in 1:34 by Waynesburg's Zach McGinnis in the first round of this two-day event. The last female to compete in this tournament was Malissa Mort, a lightweight for Beth-Center. She competed in the first Washington County Tournament three years ago.

"I've been wrestling since I was 7," said Katus. "I love everything about it."

Katus is the fourth member of her family to wrestle in Burgettstown's program. David, who is 23, and Nathan, who is 20, competed on the varsity. Zach, who is 18, wrestled through junior high.

"I used to wrestle them," she said. "My parents have been supportive. They've let me do what I want to do."

Katus has a 4-9 record that includes a 4-1 decision over another female wrestler, Amanda Salamone of Freedom. Katus has three forfeit victories. Her closest bout against a male came Dec. 10 in a 6-3 loss to Jaron Martin of South Side Beaver.

"I was a little nervous wrestling her," said McGinnis, a sophomore who raised his record to 20-2 with the pin. "I didn't want to lose to a girl. I just wrestled it like any other match. That's the first time I ever wrestled a girl, even in the youth leagues."

Waynesburg had one of the most well-known female wrestlers in Terri Harding, who competed 20 years ago. Harding is believed to be the first female wrestler to compete in a dual meet for a Greene County team.

Burgettstown first-year head coach Chris Day said he had some concerns when he learned a female was on the team.

"We had a female wrestler in junior high when I coached at Ringgold and she didn't work that hard," said Burgettstown head coach Chris Day. "When I saw Rachel work out, that totally changed the way I thought. She works out as hard as she can."

Day wanted Dom Pulcini to make 112 but when he had trouble with the weight, Pulcini stayed at 119.

"She won't back down from anything she comes across," Day said. "She really helped us. We would have had to forfeit at 112. She's won some matches and not gotten pinned in others. She's done more than just fill in."

Day said Katus hopes wrestling is a stepping stone in her education.

"She wants to stay in shape because there is a women's tournament after our season," Day said. "There are colleges that are starting to pick up (women's) wrestling teams. She's hoping to get a scholarship."

Katus wasn't the only female in the tournament. Brittany Kulenovic, a junior from Uniontown, is in Katus' weight class. The two could meet in today's consolation rounds.

Notes

Action gets under way at 9:15 this morning and finals are set for 7:30 p.m. ... Canon-McMillan, which has won three Washington County Tournament titles, made the trip with just nine wrestlers and each one advanced. The others were left behind because of nagging injuries or illness. ... The top four placewinners in each weight class receive medals

TEXAS

Randall wants to put on show as host

Five area wrestling teams will see how they stack up against representatives from other regions today.

Amarillo is hosting the Texas High School Wrestling Coaches Association Dual Championships at The Courts of Amarillo. The area is represented by defending state champion Randall and Amarillo High among the boys and defending state champion Caprock, Tascosa and Hereford among the girls.

"It is a great honor to host the state dual championships," Randall coach David Quirino said. "These teams coming in have to qualify to get here. We want to make sure we show them we know what we're doing in the Panhandle as far as wrestling is concerned."

The tournament, set to start at 8 a.m., will feature 16 boys teams, including four of the top 11 finishers at last year's University Interscholastic League state tournament. Of the 12 girls teams entered, five were among the top 10 in the 2008 UIL state meet.

The teams will be divided into four pools, with the winner of each pool advancing to the championship level. Finals for the girls start at 2 p.m., while the boys finals begin at 3:15 p.m.

"It has been a tough event, and it is getting tougher," Quirino said. "To win it this year would be great because the caliber of the teams is so great."

Hereford coach Sion King says this is the best opportunity for his girls to gain valuable experience against tough competition.

"I basically just tell them it is more mat time and more experience," King said. "The only teams we haven't seen yet are from Houston. We get to see all of the teams. We get to see some of the better talent out there before we face off at state."

Quirino says being the defending state champion as well as the tournament host adds to the already intense pressure.

"Especially since its at home, all the pressure is on us," Quirino said. "On your home turf, it is an opportunity that doesn't come very often. We want to win it. We have been runner-up three times. We really want to win this thing."

Randall features five wrestlers who placed at state last year, but Quirino is also looking for contributions from some of his younger wrestlers.

"We are going to call up some junior varsity kids to step up to give our older kids a break," Quirino said. "The expectation is for them to go out and win."

Missouri


LINDENWOOD — The Lindenwood women's wrestling team lost 45-1 to Oklahoma City in the Lady Lions' first home match in history Friday night. Priscilla Caldera scored the only point for the first-year LU team in her decision loss.

Oklahoma

Ashley Hudson had a pin Friday.