ALBANY - Five local wrestlers still have their dreams of becoming a state champion intact at the Division 2 New York State Public High School Athletic Association high school wrestling championships at the Times Union Center after Friday's action.

Fredonia's Carlene Sluberski wrestled her way to a 2-0 record in the 96-pound division as did returning state finalist runnerup Kenny Betts at 152. Frewsburg's Kevin Strong (103), Dalton Scalf (125) and John Strong (152) all finished with a perfect 2-0 mark to put themselves in the semifinals today.

Sluberski opened up with a 1:53 pin over Arsley's Drew Longo (Section 1). After that, she knocked off Nick Tighe of Section 3's Phoenix with an 8-3 decision.

Those two wins put her in the semifinals where she will face Tom Page who has defeated Sluberski in the championship match the past two weeks at the sectionals and state qualifier respectively.

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Ohio

Sunday, February 22, 2009

She did it!

Indian Lake's Kerstin Harmon (119) struck a blow for girl power by advancing to next weekend's districts with a fourth-place finish.

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Lakers’ Harmon enters elite company with district berth

Written by Aaron LaBatt

Monday, 23 February 2009 11:05

TIPP CITY — Tears began to stream from Kerstin Harmon’s eyes shortly after qualifying to the Division II district tournament here Saturday. The Indian Lake junior 119-pounder won her qualifying match and eventually placed fourth at the Division II sectional tournament at Tippecanoe High School and joined an elite group of Ohio female wrestlers who have qualified to the district. Indian Lake’s Kerstin Harmon works to reverse Springfield Shawnee’s Ben Russell during their 119-pound district qualifying match Saturday at Tippecanoe High School. EXAMINER PHOTO | AARON LABATT The top four wrestlers in each weight class advanced to the district tournament. Even after winning a USGWA state title, placing fourth at the girls national tournament and being an All-American this past summer in Fargo, Saturday’s accomplishment took precedence in Harmon’s heart. “This is my biggest accomplishment,” said Harmon. “Nationals are big, but you don’t have to qualify. It’s just so tough for girls to compete with guys. So, in my eyes, this means more.” Harmon also became part of history Saturday by qualifying to the district meet. She is one of two female wrestlers to ever qualify in Division II and is one of just four wrestlers to ever qualify to a district meet in Ohio. Coincidentally, the other female to qualify in Division II also happened Saturday as Harmon’s friend Paige Nemec of Crestwood also advanced. Nemec qualified out of the West Branch sectional in northeast Ohio. The other two previous qualifiers were both in Division III. Harmon beat Ben Russell of Springfield Shawnee 7-3 in a consolation semifinals match to qualify. As her hand was raised, Harmon’s eyes began to water as a sense of relief had been lifted off her shoulders. “My first thought was I finally did it,” said Harmon. “I proved to anyone who doubted me that a girl can wrestle with the boys. It means a lot to me. It’s something I never thought I’d have the potential to do. I was 7 and 29 as a freshman and didn’t think it would be possible to do this.” Harmon’s accomplishment also meant a great deal to Indian Lake head coach Scott Tressler. “It means a tremendous amount not just to me, but to the program and mostly to her,” said Tressler. “So often there are females who want to try and be wrestlers, but Kerstin is not that. She is a wrestler who happens to be a female. “I feel privileged to be a part of something like this and am lucky to have her on the team.” Harmon was not seeded in Saturday’s sectional tournament, but obstacles have not stopped her from finding success before. She won a Central Buckeye Conference title in junior high and placed fifth and sixth at the sectional tournament during her first two seasons. After overcoming her latest obstacle, Harmon was quick to thank the person she embraced after the match. “My mom has been my biggest supporter,” said Harmon. “She has never doubted me and I’m just so grateful that she’s been there for everything for me. I also have to thank my stepdad and coach Tressler.” After falling into the consolation rounds on Saturday, the Laker earned a pin and a 7-3 decision. Those two wins set up a rematch with Russell. Harmon had beaten Russell 6- 2 in a tri-meet earlier this season, but lost 4-0 to him at the CBC tournament just over a week ago. A picture of concentration before her match, Harmon was on a mission and left no doubt she would qualify in her go-todistrict bout with Russell. “It was the most focused I’ve ever been in my entire life,” said Harmon. “I wanted to qualify so bad and something just came over me before the match.” Harmon scored an early takedown to lead 2-0 in the first period and eventually won 7-3. She was never in danger of losing the match. “She really embraced having her hand raised in being a district qualifier,” said Tressler. “Every Saturday most guys don’t think much of her being a girl and so I take enjoyment when she goes and takes it to them and can beat them.”

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Photographer/Credit	Barbara Perenic more photos by this photographer
Date	02/14/09 at 10:41 p.m.
Description	Ben Russell of Shawnee wrestles Kerstin Harmon of Indian Lake at 119 lbs. during the consolation round of the Central Buckeye Conference wrestling meet at Tecumseh High School on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009.
Appears in	Shawnee High School sports photos on 08/24/07 Central Buckeye Conference wrestling on 02/15/09

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OHIO

Wrestling notebook Notes from Akron

Published: Saturday, February 28, 2009

Girls: Crestwood’s Paige Nemec (103 pounds) and Ashtabula Edgewood’s Ashley Keenan (112) are the first female wrestlers ever to advance to the Akron Firestone district tournament.

Day Two: Friday’s action included two rounds of championships, with no consolation matches, therefore no wrestler was eliminated from the tournament. Wrestling will begin at 9 this morning with two rounds of consolations, followed by the semifinals and more consolations. The finals will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Eric Hamilton

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OHIO

Published February 23, 2009 12:28 am - MENTOR — When first confronted with the significance of what she had accomplished at Saturday’s Division II sectional wrestling tournament, Ashley Keenan tried to steer the spotlight, and the conversation, away from herself.

KARL PEARSON
Star Beacon

MENTOR — When first confronted with the significance of what she had accomplished at Saturday’s Division II sectional wrestling tournament, Ashley Keenan tried to steer the spotlight, and the conversation, away from herself.

But there was no escaping the magnitude of the Edgewood High School junior’s achievement. For, with her victory in a consolation semifinal match at 112 pounds, Keenan became the first girl from Ashtabula County, if not the entire area, to qualify for the district tournament based solely on her own performance. She ended up fourth in the Lake Catholic sectional to reach the district at Akron Firestone High School, which begins Friday afternoon.

“I’m getting to go to district!” Keenan said in a hushed tone with a slight, but exultant, smile pursing her lips. “It’s exciting that I made it.”

She preferred to shift the attention to her coaches and teammates.

“I wouldn’t have made it without my teammates and my coaches,” Keenan said. “There’s a lot of hard work that has been put into this.”

Coaxed a bit to think about the significance of what she had done, Keenan began to warm up to the subject a little.

“I guess it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” the daughter of Krisia Keenan said. “But I was just worried about wrestling the best I could.”

The importance of what Keenan had achieved was left to others to assess in greater detail. Fortunately, her coach, veteran Greg Stolfer, understood the price that Keenan has paid in continuing on into her third season on the Edgewood varsity despite all the ridicule and the headshaking she has encountered on her quest just to be a good wrestler and a good teammate.

“There have been a lot of people who have been pulling for Ashley and a lot of people who have been against her,” he said. “But what it comes down to is, what she does, she does very well. You know, she’s won more than 20 matches all three years she’s wrestled for us.”

Ironically, the person who probably understood best what it has been like for Keenan to persevere and prosper in a guy’s sport happened to be around at Lake Catholic on Friday and Saturday to see it unfold. Even though she had to watch it all from a stance of outward neutrality, referee Karen Conklin from Youngstown was cheering on the inside for Keenan.

Because Conklin has had to deal with the naysayers throughout her 16-year career as a wrestling official. She has cleared all sorts of barriers and is still the only active female wrestling referee in Ohio.

“I was so impressed with (Keenan),” she said. “Obviously, I couldn’t say or do anything because of my position, but I was amazed at her. And she’s so good! I was so pleased to see her do well. I give her so much credit.”

Keenan had her eye on Conklin, too. The wrestler seemed more impressed with the official than her own accomplishment.

“She’s the only female wrestling official in Ohio!” Keenan said, her eyes growing wide while expressing the thought. “That is so cool!”

Conklin was confronted by opposition from the outset when she began her pursuit of gaining varsity officiating status. She did it because she developed a love for the sport from watching her two sons, Zachary and Adam Yankush, wrestling at Youngstown’s Ursuline High School. Zachary also wrestled at Mount Union College.

“I really learned to love the sport and I didn’t really like what I was seeing in officiating, so I decided I wanted to get involved,” Conklin said.

It wasn’t that tough a decision for Conklin, who was already accustomed to being in a position of control, serving as the administrator for the Lake-to-River Girls Scout Council at the time. But she knew she needed to put some work in to experience just what a wrestler goes through before entering into the world of officiating.

“I actually wrestled a little bit with my sons, just to learn where the pressure points are and to learn more about what a wrestler faces,” Conklin said.

Only then did she decide it was time to take whatever steps were necessary to become a registered official. She recalled the first officials meeting she attended to begin moving toward that goal.

“I was a single mother at the time,” she said. “I went into the meeting and I was dressed in a business suit and heels. When I walked into the room, the man that was running it said, ‘Excuse me, ma’am, but I think you’re in the wrong room.’ I assured him I was there for their meeting.”

That meeting encountered up other doors for Conklin. The man who questioned her presence there has since become her husband of 10 years. She and Gary Offerdahl were both working the Lake Catholic sectional, just on different mats. She has earned the respect of her officiating colleagues.

Conklin still maintains a busy life outside wrestling. She is now serving as the chief executive officer for the Summit County Humane Society.

“I guess you could say I’ve gone from the Girl Scouts to the dogs,” she said with a laugh.

Hers is an example Keenan might follow, although for now the Warrior junior is concentrating on being the best student and the best wrestler she can be. She did admit eventually becoming a wrestling official did have some appeal after some thought on the subject.

“I’m more interested in biology,” Keenan said at first. “But, you know, it might be fun to become an official someday.”

Such a development probably would be least surprising to her coaches. They know Keenan is willing to put in the work.

“I don’t treat her any differently than any of the boys on the team,” Stolfer said. “And Ashley’s willing to work hard.”

One of the concessions Keenan has not made is cutting her long hair. She has to keep it wrapped up in a hair net that fits under her head gear for practices and matches. She usually has to readjust it at least once a match.

The Edgewood coaching staff doesn’t cut her any slack.

“I’m supposed to wear (the hair net) at practice, but I keep forgetting it,” Keenan said with another shy smile. “My coach (assistant coach Wes Cleveland) makes me do 100 pushups with my legs up on a (cafeteria) chair after practice. I’ve done a lot of pushups.”

Doing the pushups with her legs raised increases their difficulty and works muscle groups that are key for a wrestler. Stolfer suspects Keenan forgets the hair net by design.

“I think she does it on purpose,” he said with a laugh. “I think she likes those pushups. I think it may have even helped her get a little bit stronger.”

Such a regimen certainly hasn’t hurt Keenan, especially with her move up from 103 pounds in her freshman and sophomore seasons to 112 this year. Just moving up one weight class pits her against opponents that are a bit older than her old 103 foes and are also a bit stronger.

Keenan said she moved up a weight class because it was best for the team.

“I wanted to do whatever I could to help out the team,” she said. “I knew (freshman) Travis (Dickey) was going to be coming up to the high school this year and I wanted him to be able to get into the varsity lineup.”

Moving up has provided some additional dividends for Keenan, though.

“I’m a lot more comfortable at 112,” she said. “I probably haven’t weighed more than 120 when I ran cross country and played soccer this fall. I only have to make 115 now, and that’s not too hard. I really don’t have to cut weight.”

She doesn’t shy away from heavier wrestlers as her practice partners, either.

“I usually wrestle against Cory Hague, who’s a 152, or Alex English, who’s about 135, in practice,” Keenan said. “I’m able to hit a lot more moves now, too.”

But even when she is faced by wrestlers her own size in competition, and even though they’re generally heavier, Stolfer said Keenan is able to hold her own. He said she has other gifts any wrestler would love to possess.

“Ashley is pretty strong, but the thing about her is that she’s very, very, very flexible,” he said. “Being flexible is every bit as important as being strong to a wrestler. Ashley very rarely gets pinned. She knows what she’s doing out there, too.”

That is shown by the fact, in addition to competing as a distance and middle distance runner in track, Keenan also pole vaults, the ultimate flexibility event.

It’s pretty apparent she is gifted with what football coaches describe as a “motor,” too. She keeps plugging away tirelessly, as evidenced by competing in both soccer during the week and cross country on the weekends this past fall.

But she’s not invincible.

“(Doing both) kind of wore me down and I got pneumonia at the start of wrestling season,” Keenan said. “It set me back for the first couple weeks. I really didn’t start feeling comfortable again until the Wheeling Tournament (just before New Year’s).”

There was a bit of an adjustment period for Keenan when she first started wrestling at Edgewood. She probably has taken the stares, the nasty comments and the negative attitudes of her opponents better than her coaches think.

“When Ashley started out, you had a lot of boys that either wanted to pin her and get it over as soon as possible or would forfeit their match instead of wrestling her,” Stolfer said. “Their parents didn’t like it, either. It was tough for a long time on her.”

Keenan believes she’s won most people over to the concept of competing with the boys by now.

“People are so nice to me now,” she said. “I think most of my opponents respect me now as a wrestler.”

She has little time to process her achievement before concentrating on the next step on the tournament trail. Basking in the glow of her accomplishment will come later.

“I suppose I should be proud of myself,” Keenan said with another smile... and without a trace of arrogance.

Ashley Keenan shows how its done!

WarriorWrestling Pictures

2008 article

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Connecticut

Montville Senior First Girl In CIAC State Wrestling Open

By PAUL DOYLE |The Hartford Courant

February 28, 2009

JESSICA BENNETT tries to pin Montville High School wrestling teammate and sparring partner Dayvon Wynn during a practice. Bennett, a senior and a team captain, is the first girl in state history to qualify for this weekend's CIAC State Wrestling Open. She lost two matches and was eliminated Friday. (MICHAEL MCANDREWS / HARTFORD COURANT / February 25, 2009)

MONTVILLE — - Jessica Bennett lost her Class M title match last Saturday, but her semifinal victory was enough to bring a crowd to its feet and her coach, ex-Marine Gary Wilcox, to tears.

An estimated 5,000 girls are on high school wrestling teams around the country, including a handful across the state, but Bennett stands apart. Last Saturday, she became the first girl in state history to qualify for this weekend's CIAC State Wrestling Open by advancing to the 103-pound Class M championship for Montville High School.

"I just can't say enough good things about her," Wilcox said. "She's just a great person. Her work ethic, her tenaciousness. She's just so consistent in the way she approaches everything. I just felt so proud of her."

On Friday, Bennett lost her first match and then lost a consolation match, eliminating her from the CIAC event.

Getting Started

It all began with a little girl watching her big brother try a new sport.

While Dylan Bennett was in his first year in the town recreation department's wrestling program, Jessica decided she wanted in. When she was old enough a year later, Jessica stepped onto the mat as a fourth-grader.

No one quite knew what to make of her. Boys didn't want to practice with her.

"I mean, in fourth grade, boys think girls have cooties," Bennett said.

Eventually, coaches assigned wrestling partners, and Jessica became just another kid on the wrestling team. It was like that for the next decade.

"Once I got to know people and they got to know me, any awkwardness faded," Bennett said. "Now, I've been doing it for so long that I like to be viewed as any other wrestler."

Which she's not. She is a captain this year and has wrestled during all four years of high school. Throughout that period, she also has been the No. 1 student in her class.

She is leaning toward accepting an academic scholarship from Purdue University and will pursue a career in veterinary medicine, a plan hatched long before high school.

When Bennett arrived as a freshman, she was known to the other wrestlers because she rose through the town's recreation program. She weighed about 90 pounds, yet often wrestled in the 112-pound division. She always lost, but she was never pinned and never discouraged.

"She paid her dues," Wilcox said "She came up the hard way. We cut her no slack."

Among her teammates, Bennett's gender was never an issue. Wilcox warned his wrestlers to treat her just as they would any teammate, and he has never had a problem. He elevated her to captain, based on her popularity and the respect she has from her peers.

"It was never a big deal," said co-captain Dustin Wilcox, son of the coach. "She works hard every day. At this point, I don't think anyone thinks of [her gender]."

Bennett also has earned respect with her performance. She was sixth in the 112-pound division in the Eastern Connecticut Conference tournament as a sophomore. Last year, she was fifth in the Class S 103-pound class, and this year she won her 100th match.

Still, the flip side of her success is that she is beating boys. And those boys aren't always pleased to lose to a girl.

"I think some boys try even harder because they don't want to lose to a girl," Dustin Wilcox said. "I've seen that happen. As far as other teams saying things to her, you don't hear that much."

Bennett said she speaks to other female wrestlers and is aware of her role as a trailblazer.

"I think I have that dual perspective," Bennett said. "I'm not ignorant to the fact that women's wrestling is a growing sport and, in order to make progress and continue to grow, we need participation and awareness. So anything I can do to further that, I'm glad to be doing it because I want there to be opportunities for the people who follow me."

Bennett had hoped to wrestle in college, but was unable to find a school that offered the sport and met her academic needs. There are 13 colleges in the Women's College Wrestling Association, and some schools offer club programs.

If Bennett can find a women's wrestling program outside college, she will pursue the sport. If not, she'll do something else.

"I can't just sit still," she said. "I am competitive."

But Bennett's definition of being competitive reaches beyond sports and academics.

"It's more just a personal thing," Bennett said. "I just want to be the best human being that I can. So, anything that I can push myself a little bit farther, achieve a little bit more, help myself and help other people, then that's my goal. So I guess that comes out in sports."

And in other ways.

"The kids on the team love her and respect her," Wilcox said. "I'll tell you, I'm going to miss her. Jess is a once-in-a-lifetime kid, just an extraordinary kid."

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Connecticut

H.S. Wrestling: Bowman brilliant on way to Open title

By MARC ALLARD

mallard@norwichbulletin.com

Posted Feb 28, 2009 @ 11:37 PM

Last update Mar 01, 2009 @ 01:08 AM

One Montville competitor Wilcox was very happy with was Jessica Bennett, who became the first female to qualify to wrestle in State Open competition. It ended fast for the senior, as she lost to Griswold’s Ron Allen, 6-4, in her 103-pound opener. Bennett then fell to Cam Barnard of Fairfield Warde, 4-2, in a consolation match.

“I got caught having one of those tough matches where it was hard to keep your focus and score the points you need to,” Bennett said of the opening match. “All it really takes at this level is one mistake and I made that one mistake.”

Wilcox said the lack of focus on Bennett’s part could have been because of the commotion she caused just by taking to the mat.

“I know she felt a little pressure being the first girl to perform and, sometimes, that will freeze you a little bit,” Wilcox said. “I think that happened a little bit, but I’m not disappointed with what she showed at all. I think she did a marvelous job.”

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California

Vintage High hosts nation’s oldest girls wrestling tourney Friday and Saturday

Vintage High wrestlers Chelsi Aguayo and Alexis Soto square off during an “Ironman” drill at practice earlier this season. The Crushers will have seven entrants in the 10th annual ASICS Napa Valley Girls Classic on Friday and Saturday at their gym. Lianne Milton/Register |

Thursday, January 10, 2008

By MARTY JAMES
Executive Sports Editor

A year ago, Tiffany Hui was a spectator at the ASICS Napa Valley Girls Classic in the Vintage High School gym.

She was there to see some of the top teams and many of the best that girls wrestling has to offer on the west coast for the two-day tournament.

“It really inspired me because I saw all the other girls wrestling and it looked really fun,” said Hui. “It made me want to be like them because they were really good and it looked like they were dominating on the mat. Some of the schools were really good. That’s when I wanted to join wrestling.”

A few weeks later, Hui joined the girls wrestling team at Vintage. On Friday and Saturday Hui, a sophomore who wrestles at 126 pounds, will be a participant at the 10th annual ASICS-sponsored tournament, which is expected to have 230 to 250 wrestlers from 40 high schools from throughout the state. It’s a double-elimination format, but offers at least a three-match guarantee.

Hui is one of seven Vintage wrestlers who will take to the mat in what is the oldest girls tournament and considered one of the top tournaments in the country. Napa High has four wrestlers entered and Justin-Siena will have two. It runs from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to about 7 p.m. Saturday. Friday’s weigh-ins begin at 10 a.m. Day-of registration is also accepted starting at 9 a.m.

The top seven places in each of the 14 weight classes — 98, 103, 108, 112, 118, 122, 126, 132, 138, 146, 154, 165, 189 and 235 pounds — earn medals. Outstanding lower- and upper-weight class awards will be presented. There is also a team trophy, as it’s a scoring tournament. Three mats will be used in the Vintage gym and an auxiliary mat will be set up in the school cafeteria.

“It’s exciting because you get to represent your school,” said Hui. “It makes your school look good if you win. I’ll try not to get pinned — that’s one of my goals. And to not play it safe. I’m going to try be aggressive and get some takedowns and be in control.”

Hui will be joined by Taedae Martinez (103), Alexis Soto (112), Stephanie Garza (138), Myka Murphy (146), Jean Rabaino (154) and Geovanni Robledo (165). The Crushers’ Chelsi Aguayo and Rebecca Medeiros are injured and not able to compete.

Rabaino (No. 4), Aguayo (No. 5), Garza (No. 7) and Medeiros (No. 7) were all listed by the California Women’s Wrestling Association in the 2007-08 preseason state rankings.

“I’m ready for Friday. I want to get first or second, but it’s going to be hard,” said Rabaino.

For Hui, the last year has been all about learning the sport.

“It’s really fun to get out there and just wrestle and learn moves,” she said at Tuesday’s practice. “It’s a sport where you get to see yourself progress. It’s exciting.”

“Tiffany does have a lot of potential,” said assistant coach Maika Watanabe. “She’s in the practice room all time, trying to get better. She’s gaining more experience, wrestling in these different tournaments. We’re throwing her in the mix with a lot of the JV matches in the duals.”

The fact that this is year No. 10 of the Vintage tournament — which is sanctioned by the CIF, the governing body of high school athletics in California — is a milestone. Hogan, Pittsburg and Vallejo are the top teams that are entered.

“We’re real excited about the tournament, obviously, to have it go 10 years and have it develop the way it has is just a tremendous effort by a number of people,” said Rob Lanterman, the girls coach for Vintage who assists his father, Jim Lanterman, the tournament director and boys coach for the Crushers. Last year, Jim Lanterman was named National Coach of the Year as California won the team title at the USGWA nationals.

“The national recognition for this tournament now is such that, other than the national championships, this is considered the best tournament in the country,” Rob Lanterman said. “The level of competition, the organization, the structure, from top to bottom, next to the national championships, this is the one. Winning here or placing high here really has an impact on where you fall at the national championships when it comes to seeding time and when they make the brackets up at nationals.”

The Vintage wrestlers are working with Watanabe, who was an All-American at Missouri Valley College. Watanabe was also a state champion and a three-time placer at the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association nationals for the Crushers.

“I’m trying to teach all the younger kids,” said Watanabe. “They’re looking strong. A lot of them are young, so they need a little more experience. The team really works hard for this tournament.”

The tournament, founded by Jim Lanterman and former VHS coach Carl Murphree, now the head coach at Missouri Valley, will have up to 32 wrestlers in each bracket, leading up to the finals starting about 5 p.m. There are also matches for third-fourth, fifth-sixth and seventh-eighth place.

“We’ve found that some of our third and fourth-place matches are as good or better to watch and enjoy as the championship matches,” said Rob Lanterman.

The Vintage team is young, said Rob Lanterman, who is looking to see some of his wrestlers place.

“We’re looking to get them experience in a pressure tournament situation so we can continue on with the rest of the season,” he said.

The major tournaments coming up are the CIF Northern Regional at Inderkum High-West Sacramento (Jan. 18-19), California Girls Wrestling Invitational at Hanford West High School (Feb. 1-2), the USGWA Northern California State Tournament at Springstowne Middle School-Vallejo (March 2), and the USGWA Nationals at Livonia Churchill High School in Livonia, Mich. (March 29-30).

Two of the top wrestlers entered are Marina High’s Victoria Anthony (108), last year’s outstanding tournament lightweight, and Scotts Valley’s Haylee Childs (118), who won a state title last year.

As opposed to boys wrestling, which involves a lot of power and strength, girls wrestling is more about techniques being applied, said Rob Lanterman.

“Both the move and the counter move are being applied constantly, so in a trouble situation the girls can’t rely just on strength,” he said. “They have to really know their technique. You’ll be amazed at some of the girls that are out there, at how well versed they are in the actual sport of wrestling. They’re deep into the stylebook of wrestling and really using everything they have.”

Napa High will be represented by Alyx McChesney (122), Samantha Gardner (138), Christian Resbick (122) and Olivia Hansell (122). McChesney has placed second and fourth in tournaments so far.

“I’m really excited for these girls — they’re going to do well,” said Napa assistant coach Jaret Newton. “They’ve been wrestling tough all season.”

Wrestling in their hometown is a big deal, said Newton.

“They obviously want to do well,” he said.

Deborah Jojola (108) and Luisa Jojola (114) will wrestle for Justin-Siena.

“They’re looking forward to it,” said Braves’ coach Roger Bubel.

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California

Marina's Anthony won't be satisfied with CIF title

She will try to qualify for the state tournament a week after making history as the first female wrestling champion in CIF-SS history.

By DAMIAN CALHOUN

OCVarsity.com

HUNTINGTON BEACH – When Victoria Anthony started her varsity wrestling career she said her goal was to reach the CIF state tournament.

She has one more chance, starting Friday.

Anthony, who is a senior 103-pound wrestler for Marina High, will be competing in her second CIF-SS Masters Meet when the two-day state qualifying tournament gets under way at Temecula Valley High.

First-round matches begin at 10 a.m.

She will face Adolpho Riquelme of Centennial of Corona in the first round.

“I feel a lot more prepared, this year,” she said. “This year, I'm a lot leaner and stronger than I was in the past and I'm stronger mentally.”

The top nine wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the CIF State tournament March 6-7 in Bakersfield.

As a sophomore, Anthony had her first opportunity to qualify for the state tournament, but she went 1-2 and was eliminated.

She failed to get out of CIF last year as a junior, setting the stage for her senior year.

“I didn't know what I was doing my sophomore year,” she said. “I was just throwing people and getting away with it.

“Last year, I was wrestling not to get beat and that didn't work at all. My main strategy now is to pressure forward at all times. When I'm on my heels or trying to protect my lead, it doesn't work out.”

Her aggressive approach has led her to new levels of success this season.

To see how fast she has developed in the sport, Friday she will hit the mats as a CIF champion. She is believed to be the first female wrestler to win a CIF title.

“Sometime during the season, I just hit a point, I think it was at Five Counties, where I started wrestling better,” she said.

The Five Counties Invitational was in January. Since then, she avenged a loss to Anthony Leonard in the Sunset League finals to record her third consecutive title.

Saturday, she went 5-0 at the CIF-SS Inland Divisional and picked up Lower Weight MVP honors.

She said that performance was one of her best all year.

“She's hungry because she missed out (on Masters last year),” Marina coach Dennis Piramo said. “Overall, she wrestled tough. I could tell in her eyes (at CIF) that she wasn't going to be broken.”

Now, she has an opportunity to become the first female to qualify for the state tournament.

It is a challenge that she's looking forward to.

“I can't wait, I've been thinking about it every day.” she said. “I feel good right now.”

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Minnesota

Fulda wrestler is first girl to reach state

Marlin Levison, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Fulda/Murray County Central's Elissa Reinsma was defeated by Nate Lynn of Adrian, left, in the 103-pound finale. Reinsma was seeded first and Lynn was second.

Elissa Reinsma finished second in her 103-pound weight class to become the first female qualifier in the 72-year history of the tournament.

By JOHN MILLEA, Star Tribune

Last update: February 28, 2009 - 11:57 PM

LUVERNE, MINN. — Saturday was a big day for high school wrestling across Minnesota, as section tournaments determined the 672 individuals who will compete at this week's state tournament.

For 671 of them, advancing to state is a major accomplishment. For one of them, it is history.

Elissa Reinsma, a pony-tailed 103-pound sophomore from Fulda/Murray County Central, became the first female qualifier in the 72-year history of the state tournament Saturday. She placed second in the Class 2A, Section 3 tournament at Luverne High School and will take a record of 32-8 to the state tournament, which begins Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

She will join her brother Justin, a senior 130-pounder, in St. Paul. Justin, who has finished fifth in Class 2A twice, will compete at state for the fifth time.

Elissa said she has been dreaming about the state tournament for four years, beginning when she made her first trip to cheer for Justin in St. Paul.

"I went up to watch him and said, 'That's where I want to be,''' she said Saturday.

Both Reinsmas were seeded first in the section tournament, which began Friday night. After receiving a first-round bye, Elissa won her only Friday match by a score of 9-6. On Saturday she pulled out a 2-1 semifinal victory over ninth-grader John Weeding of Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd and lost to second-seeded Adrian ninth-grader Nate Lynn 4-3 in the championship round. The top two wrestlers at each weight class advance to state.

Reinsma and Lynn have met five times this season, with Reinsma winning three times. In Saturday's match, Lynn went ahead 2-0 with a first-period takedown, a reversal by Reinsma made it 2-2 in the second period, Lynn scored a reversal for a 4-2 lead in the third period and Reinsma finished the scoring with an escape at the 40-second mark.

Lynn, who also will make his first trip to state, said, "Once you're out there you try not to think about it, and act like it's a guy you're wrestling. She's really quick and good on her feet."

Wearing a black T-shirt under her singlet and tucking her shoulder-length hair into a tight cap under her headgear, Reinsma was a model of efficient wrestling. With long arms and an aggressive style, she accomplished what she came so close to last season. She placed third in the 2008 section tournament.

Reinsma, who is ranked No. 7 in her 2A weight class by The Guillotine wrestling publication, has a pedigree in the sport. Her grandfather, Clet Blegens, is a former head wrestling coach at Slayton High School (which is now Murray County Central). He was in the stands Saturday to watch his granddaughter make history.

Elissa has a twin brother, Matt, and a younger brother, Mitch; they both play basketball.

Now in her third year as a varsity wrestler, Reinsma also plays volleyball and softball. She made what might have been the biggest decision of her athletic career in junior high. She almost went out for basketball, but chose wrestling instead.

And the rest, now, is history.

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Female Wrestler Qualifies For Minnesota State Tournament - 02/28/2009 11:28 PM

Video
02/28/2009

Female Wrestler Qualifies For Minnesota State Tournament

As Reinsma geared up for Saturday's semi-final matchup, she knew what was on the line.

A Minnesota high school wrestler has made history. And it had nothing to do with numbers or records. 

Elissa Reinsma of Fulda/Murray County Central finished second in the 103 lb. division at Saturday's Class 3AA District Championships. And with that accomplishment, Reinsma became the first female in history to qualify for the Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament. 

She says support from a wrestling family helped her reach her goal today. 

As Reinsma geared up for Saturday's semi-final matchup, she knew what was on the line. And she also knew everyone from Fulda was rooting for her, including her brother Justin. 

"The team really had her back," said Justin Reinsma. "They really supported her throughout the year. She had a lot of support throughout the school. And she had her teammates and coaches and family and she had everyone behind her. So she knew she could do it." 

After a narrow victory in the semi-finals, Elissa Reinsma reached the district championship. And in the final match, she lost a close contest. While she didn't finish as district champion, earlier results had already guaranteed her spot at the tournament, and with that, her place in history.

"She's had a goal," said Clet Blegen, Reinsma's grandfather. "Get to the state tournament and be the first girl. She's put a lot of pressure on herself, I'm sure." 

Reinsma's love for the sport came at an early age, growing up in a house of wrestling fans. 

"I started about first grade and yeah, I don't know. I just wrestled with everyone in the house, with my brothers," said Elissa Reinsma. "And I just couldn't do it without them." 

And while she knows making it to the state tournament is already an accomplishment, Reinsma wants to prove she's more than just a participant. 

"I know with her competitive drive," said Mike Loosbrock, a Fulda wrestling parent. "She's going to want to go up there, show people from the whole state that she's not a fluke. She's good, she deserves it, and hopefully, she can win a couple up there and maybe even make the podium." 

"I still got to work hard," said Elissa Reinsma. "But it's more of a relief, you know, now that I've done it, I know I can do it and for the years to come, I'm going to do it again." 

Elissa will have some company at the State Tournament. Her brother Justin won the 130 lb. division and also qualified for State. 

The Minnesota State Tournament starts next week at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

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Canada

CIS championships Day 2: SFU men end Brock domination, Calgary women back on top

2/28/09 

PICTURES

WOMEN

Outstanding wrestler: Heidi Erdle, Calgary

Rookie of the year: Jade Parsons, Regina

Coach of the year: Andy Hutchinson, Calgary

Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Amy Dyck, Saskatchewan


2009 FINAL TEAM STANDINGS:


WOMEN

Calgary 62 points
Simon Fraser 47
Saskatchewan 34
Brock 33
Regina 24
UNB 23
Lakehead 22
Western Ontario 18
Guelph 13
Concordia 8
Memorial 6
Alberta 6
Toronto 4
McMaster 3


WOMEN

48 kg
GOLD - Ashley McKilligan (Simon Fraser)
SILVER - Hajar Ashtiani (Regina)
BRONZE- Jasmine Mian (Brock)
4th - Jessica Bershatsky (Lakehead)
5th - Krista Betts (UNB)
6th - Carla Bryant (Memorial)
7th - Kerstyn Yates-Sandberg (Calgary)
8th - Lindsay Oldham (Western)

51 kg
GOLD - Gen Haley (Calgary)
SILVER- Jade Parsons (Regina)
BRONZE - Sam Stewart (Western)
4th - Natasha Kramble (Saskatchewan)
5th - Emilie Guitard (UNB)
6th - Jenni Kaija (Guelph)

55 kg
GOLD - Jill Gallays (Saskatchewan)
SILVER - Rita Pare (Simon Fraser)
BRONZE - Jasmine Slinn (Regina)
4th - Lesley McCallum (Western)
5th - Sarah Ashmore-MacDonald (UNB)
6th - Victoria Ralph (Memorial)
7th - Kelly McNivel (Brock)
8th -Alex Demars (Lakehead)

59 kg
GOLD - Heidi Erdle (Calgary)
SILVER - Amy Dyck (Saskatchewan)
BRONZE - Michelle Fazzari (Brock)
4th - Raissa Dickinson (Simon Fraser)
5th - Leah Dougherty (Lakehead)
6th - Liz Sera (Western)
7th - Josiane Bourque (UNB)

63 kg
GOLD - Justine Bouchard (Calgary)
SILVER - Celeste Rodrigues (Brock)
BRONZE - Danielle Lapagge (Simon Fraser)
4th - Koren Pitkethy (Saskatchewan)
5th - Aislynn Torfason (Lakehead)
6th - Caitlyn Goodfellow (McMaster)

67 kg
GOLD - Vanessa Wilson (Calgary)
SILVER - Stacie Anaka (Simon Fraser)
BRONZE - Nikita Chicoine (Concordia)
4th - Laura Steffler (Brock)
5th - Jessica Fitzgerald (Toronto)
6th - Ashley Routliffe (Guelph)
7th - Inga Van Vliet (Regina)
8th - Ruth Porier (UNB)

72 kg
GOLD- Erica Wiebe (Cagary)
SILVER - Rachelle Pinet (UNB)
BRONZE - Katherine Martin (Alberta)
4th - Erin Church (Simon Fraser)
5th - Allison Leslie (Guelph)
6th - Kirby Steinhoff (Western)
7th - Deborah Jehu (Brock)

82 kg
GOLD - Leah Callahan (Calgary)
SILVER - Emma Brightwell (Lakehead)
BRONZE - Beth Thompson (Saskatchewan)
4th - Hillary Greening (Simon Fraser)
5th - Jocelyn Dresser (Brock)
6th - Steph deVries (Guelph)
7th - Andrea Davidson (Concordia)


CIS TEAM CHAMPIONS

Women (first championship in 1998-99)

2008-09 Calgary
2007-08 Simon Fraser
2006-07 Calgary
2005-06 Simon Fraser
2004-05 Simon Fraser
2003-04 Simon Fraser
2002-03 Simon Fraser
2001-02 Brock
2000-01 Calgary
1999-00 Calgary
1998-99 Calgary

Men (last 20 years)

2008-09 Simon Fraser
1998-99 to 2007-08 Brock (won 10 straight titles)
1997-98 Regina
1996-97 Regina
1995-96 Brock
1994-95 Brock
1993-94 McMaster
1992-93 Manitoba
1991-92 Brock
1990-91 Manitoba
1989-90 Western Ontario & Concordia (co-champions)

-CIS-

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RI

East Providence freshman Jacob Burrows will have plenty of eyes on his consolation final match at 103. Burrows faces the darling of the event, Katlin Bouyssou of Scituate. The only female in the meet, Bouyssou defeated North Providence’s Nick Pizzi in her semi. Burrows defeated North Kingstown’s Christian Heibner, 13-7, in his consi semi. Burrows led 5-2 at the end of one period, which included a near pin. He upped his lead to a commaning 10-5 at the end of two.

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New York

Best Of The Best

Carlene Sluberski's victory in the 96-pound semifinal is what made her run so impressive. After losing the past two weekends to Tom Page of Eden, Sluberski was able to shock Page with a 6-5 decision and a ticket into the championship match.

''She was too calm,'' Conti said about Sluberski before the match. ''I brought her out for warmups and the blood started flowing as soon as she saw the crowd and got going.''

In the finals, the state's first-ever female finalist didn't wrestle the way she had all weekend as she fell, 7-2, to Jacob Goddeau of Section 7's Peru.

''I felt bad for Carlene, because Carlene did not show what she had,'' Conti said. ''She did all weekend. Give her props. She wrestled some tough kids. This finals match would have been a little bit different if she had wrestled the way she is capable of. I just wish she could have pulled this off.''

To her credit, initial thoughts are she broke her finger in the second period.

Goddeau was able to record two points on a takedown shortly before the first period ended for the lead.

In the second period, Sluberski got a bloody lip, forcing three stoppages and taking away any momentum she had gained.

Goodeau began the second period on bottom and eventually earned a reversal for two points and the 4-0 lead.

''Down 4-0, I wasn't worried,'' Conti said. ''She has home-run moves that she is capable of. She just couldn't execute them.''

However, it was Goddeau who almost had the home run as he had Sluberski in position to pin, but Sluberski was saved by the time as the horn sounded, getting her out of the jam.

In the third period, Goodeau was able to hold off Sluberski. With five seconds remaining, Sluberski was able to get two points on a takedown, but it was too little, too late.

''I couldn't be more amazed and proud.'' Conti said. ''She is a warrior. She is a pleasure to coach every single day. There hasn't been a day where she hasn't been a pleasure to coach. I will miss her (and) her work ethic. She inspires people just by working. Her kind demeanor is something any parent can be proud of. To finish a New York State tournament in second is pretty awesome.''

Though her high school career comes to an end, her new season is just beginning as she will take part in freestyle wrestling.

Her season begins at the national tournament in May.

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Texas

03/01/2009

Associated Press

Hilary Cordero and Daffney Barbosa won individual titles to lead the Amarillo Caprock girls to their sixth straight University Interscholastic League team wrestling championship Saturday.

The Canyon Randall boys defended their title, holding off Allen 147-126.

The Caprock girls have won seven of the 11 state titles after beating second-place Katy 101-84. Cordero, named the outstanding wrestler of the meet after pinning all four opponents, defended her title at 95 pounds. Barbosa won at 148 pounds.

Since Arlington Sam Houston won the first girls state title in 1999, no school outside the Panhandle has taken the crown.

The Randall boys had four individual winners: Mike Roberts (125), Victor Dotson (140), Jace Bennett (160) and Joseph Flores (189).

Erik Spjut of The Woodlands was named the wrestler of the year after capping a 65-0 season with his third straight state title.

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Texas