Female wrestlers ready for Napa Valley Girls Classic

By Vince D'Adamo
VallejoNews.com 1/18/2002

NAPA - Hogan High leads the way for a group of 18 Vallejo area high school female wrestlers that will be well-represented at the fourth annual Napa Valley Girls Classic Saturday at Vintage (Napa) High Gym.

The Spartans will have 11 grapplers participating: April Bauzon, Ruth Ramos, Jamie Hilario, Sonia Ali, Marissa Gonzalez, Marissa Munar, Liza Sana, Rowena Hernandez, Andrea Santos, Jessica Robles, Reeny Belamide and possibly Asia Abad. Robles, Belamide and Abad return from last year's event.

"It's pretty competitive," Hogan assistant coach Mike Bryant said. "They are some really tough girls out there. You would think it's just a bunch of girls out there flopping around on the mat but I see great technique. We have to prepare really hard for this tournament. There's some tough competition, just like there is for the guys. We have some girls that will do well and others that won't. This is the first time we've had veteran girls. Last year, all we had were beginners and it was like the blind leading the blind. It's almost like having another coach in the room now."

Sheila Lerit, who won the championship in the 109-pound bracket in last year's event, is one of four Apaches along with teammates Lenci Landaker, Tara Thomas and Tiffany Thomas. Maribeth Grimm, Ashley Bamyansen and Jayme Barden will represent Bethel.

The tournament was established in 1999 with the hope of one day having all-girls wrestling teams as opposed to the current situation of girls wrestling against boys. Tournament director Carl Murphree, who coaches Vintage's wrestling team along with Jim Lanterman, projected the tournament to have over 100 entrants.

"It's a great opportunity for girls to showcase their skills," Bryant added. "A lot of times against the guys, their strength is a big factor. There's always been girls that have wanted to do it but have not always had the opportunity. There's a lot of girls that do not know about the tournament."

The tournament has a new wrinkle in that it will be California's first with real team scoring. The host Crushers lost one starter from their State Championship team of last year but will have its full lineup for the first time this season with the return of Christie Rafanan, Vintage's star 118-pounder who was a champion in her weight class last season. Also leading the Crushers are Maika Watanabe (100) and Emilee Murphree (144). They are part of a team of nine girls, coached by Carl Murphree, who is the father of Emilee and Dan Murphree (a State qualifier last season).

Thousand Oaks boasts the largest team at the tournament. Key wrestlers to watch from this Southern California team, coached by world medalist Shannon Williams, are Ashley Kvarda, Mollie Craven (134) and Melissa Gadbury (138).

Carl Murphree added that San Leandro, the State runner up in 2001 has been looking good all season. San Leandro coach Dylan Souza's team will be led by Madeliene Briones (130) and Alexis Gonzalez (118) will help the Pirates contend for the title.

Ygnacio Valley (Walnut Creek) and Roseville also have the numbers to slip into the team race. There figures to be fierce competition for individual titles as well. Sara Fulp-Allen (104) of Half Moon Bay will be looking for her third Napa title. Orland's Emily Rinehart (138), Half Moon Bay's Alisa Gammon (114), Teresa Dal Ben (122) of Laguna Creek and Silvia Cortez (114) of Hanford West should all make strong runs at a title.

Vallejo's crop hopes to be in that category too.

The Tournament Schedule

Session I: 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Championship Round I, three mats
Session II: 10:00 a.m. to Noon, Championship Round II, three mats
Consolation Round I
Session III: Noon to 1 p.m., Consolation Round II, three mats
Session IV: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Championship semifinals, three mats
Consolation quarter finals
Session V: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Consolation semifinals, three mats
Session VI: 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., Consolation finals, three mats
3rd/4th place matches - mat 2
5th/6th place matches - mat 1
7th/8th place matches - mat 3

Session VII: 4:15 p.m. to 6 p.m., Championship finals, one mat

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