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Forest wrestling on top for 4th straight year

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Forest won the event with 212 points, 41.5 more than North Marion, which had one of its best-ever finishes at an area event.

Dunnellon (156), Lake Weir (131), Belleview (127), Vanguard (103) and West Port (16) rounded out the overall team standings.

Forest used its depth and finished with three conference champions to tie Belleview and North Marion for second place behind Dunnellon, which had the most individual winners with four.

The match of the day took place in the heavyweight class between Forest's Rickey Carter and North Marion's Matt Pringle.

After Pringle tied the bout on a takedown with 28 seconds left, Carter scored on a reversal and near fall just 13 seconds later to pick up an 8-3 win.

“I was just trying to wrestle my match,” said Carter, who defeated Pringle by disqualification in last year's MCIAC semifinals on his way to scoring a late pin in the finals over Belleview's Jared Blackburn. “I wasn't really paying attention to the time. (Pringle) is only a sophomore and he's a real good kid and I expect him to do real well at state.”

Backing Carter for Forest were champions Josh Keith (125) and Ethan Pittman (152), who both repeated as MCIAC champions. Keith won at 112 in 2009, while Pittman was champion at 171.

The trio of Wildcats were the only repeat winners at the event

Helsel earned a pin in the semifinals and then won via forfeit in the finals to claim to the title at 103 pounds.

“It feels good to win,” said Helsel, a two-time state champion in girls wrestling and one-time fourth-place finisher. “I think I will win districts. I really want to make it to state.

“That's my goal. It's cool breaking records. I was the first (female) to place at the Hernando (Kiwanis Tournament) and now this. I never thought I would do this well. I'm really happy about the way things have gone.”

The first female grappler in state history to make the boys state meet was Gainesville High's Miriam Jenkins, who qualified at 103 pounds back in 1999. Jenkins went 32-11 during her senior season and won a bout at state.

Brother-sister duo enjoying time together on Chelsea wrestling team

Chelsea senior All-State wrestler Dakota Cooley watches his freshman sister, Taylor, compete in a Southeastern Conference quad meet on Thursday. (Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com)

Dakota Cooley sits crouched in the corner normally reserved for coaches during the 103-pound match at a recent Chelsea High School wrestling meet.

“Hit it! Hit it!” he yells, an All-State senior captain encouraging his freshman teammate to end the match in spectacular fashion.

The diminutive Bulldog didn’t disappoint, hitting a textbook gator roll - a move where both wrestlers are spun 360 degrees while parallel to the mat - and finishes with a pin.

While the entire Chelsea bench was in an uproar over the win, their elation paled in comparison to that of Cooley, whose smile stretched from ear-to-ear.

That wasn’t just any teammate hitting the crowd-pleasing move. That was his baby sister, Taylor.

Dakota (left) and Taylor Cooley talk strategy before a recent match. (Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com)

The scene is the norm at Chelsea’s matches. Dakota imparting his wisdom from the corner, while little sis tries to absorb as much knowledge as possible while simultaneously flipping gender norms, and opponents, upside down.

“If I don’t know a move he always helps me out. He’ll coach me a lot,” says Taylor, who loves the fact that her first season at the varsity level is being spent under the tutelage of her big brother. She’s not alone in the feeling.

“It’s nice to have her on the team for the last year that I’m here,” Dakota says. “It kind of gives me some extra motivation.

“I get pumped up when she wins. It gets me more ready to go.”

That’s bad news for Dakota’s opponents. With a perfect 25-0 record so far this season at 145 pounds and a pair of Division 2 All-State medals already to his name, Dakota is anybody but someone who needs “extra motivation.”

Regardless, that’s exactly what he gets the majority of the time from Taylor, who was 13-4 at week’s end.

“She’s very competitive,” says Chelsea coach Kerry Kargel who in his 30 years of coaching had never had a girl come out for the team.

Though Kargel thinks having Dakota as a brother couldn’t have hurt, he credits Taylor’s work habits and success for the way her teammates have accepted her as just another wrestler.

“I think it eases the transition that she’s scoring points for us on the team,” Kargel says. “When she goes out there, I’m counting on her to score points, and in the practice room she does everything everybody else does. You can’t even tell she’s in there.”

One person who does know she’s in there is Dakota and Taylor’s father, Jerry Cooley.

“Taylor said she really wanted to wrestle this year so she could wrestle on the same team as her brother and it’s kind of just made it nice,” Jerry says. “We’d all be at the tournament anyway, so it’s nice to have her out there at the tournament with him.”

While mom Karen Cooley says her nerves don’t discriminate based on gender, Jerry’s outlook is that of a classic father.

“She’s my little girl," he says. "So I definitely get more nervous watching her.”

TERRY SHIBAO / Imaging Plus Hawaii photo
Maui High School’s Anna Mari Andres tries to turn Lanai’s Traci Ige en route to winning by pin in a 103-pound match Saturday at King Kekaulike

In the girls competition, Lahainaluna and Maui High each had four champions. Winners were Maui High's Chanel Sijalbo (98), Miya Fukushima-Piligrin (103), Ashley Bumatay (114) and Samantha Morris (125); Lahainaluna's Kazia Lecker (108), Makanalani Hussey (140), Isabela Pinto (175) and Gina-Bella Mataafa (220); and Baldwin's Hailey Namauu.

The next MIL meet is Saturday, Jan. 23 at Kamehameha Maui starting with weight-ins at 8:30 a.m.

Bethel girls, St. Pat's Gillus claim regional wrestling titles

"We were a little shorthanded," Lepper said in a phone interview, "but the girls came out and did some really good things."

Top six team scores: 1. Warden 161, 2. All-Star Team 139, 3. Fife 100, T4. Federal Way 98, T4. Burlington-Edison 98, 6. Mount Baker 97.

With nine finalists and nearly a 20-point lead, Bettendorf was sitting in a fairly comfortable position going into the final round of the Mississippi Athletic Conference meet Saturday afternoon at Pleasant Valley.

However, it was the efforts of the Bulldogs' four non-finalists that ultimately made the difference against a hard-charging Assumption squad. With the Knights claiming six weight-class titles to Bettendorf's four, and winning five of the last eight championship matches, Bettendorf needed every point it could scrounge up.

Enter third-place finishers Keaton Jurevitz (160), Trent Moorehead (215) and Brody Berrie (285), plus fifth-placer Roni Goodale (119), who all won their place matches - Goodale, Jurevitz and Berrie by fall - to allow the Bulldogs to escape with a 257-251.5 victory over Assumption and win the conference tournament title.

"Those three pins were the difference in the whole tournament, because we only won by (51/2) points," said Bettendorf coach Dan Knight, citing the bonus points awarded for pins. "They (Assumption) had six champs. They closed the gap in a hurry. We always tell our kids how important the back side (consolation rounds) is, and, yeah, four guys did it (win titles) for us, but our back side didn't lose."

In so doing, Jurevitz and Moorehead avenged earlier losses to North Scott's Cegan Long and Clinton's Jon Oldaker-Bahnsen, respectively.

Long had beaten Jurevitz 9-7 in overtime in the quarterfinals but won by fall in 4 minutes, 34 seconds in the third-place match. Moorehead lost 8-5 in the quarters at 215 but came back for a 5-4 win over Oldaker-Bahnsen.

Goodale, the tournament's only female competitor, won two matches on the day - decisively.

"She's an undersized 119, and the muscle factor is definitely against her," Knight said. "To do what she is able to do and give up the strength situation is just incredible. It was just a very, very good day for us."

Highland County offers mixed martial arts

By Heather Kays/staff • hkays@newsleader.com • January 17, 2010 

MONTEREY — To watch a mixed martial arts bout on cable channels such as Spike is to see a bloody sport in action. And to a parent, MMA taken on its face might seem like the last activity in which a child should be involved.

But officials in at least one public school system believe the increasingly popular sport — banned in many states during the early 1990s — can be taught to kids in a safe and useful way.

Hoping to take advantage of the sport's draw among young generations, Highland High School and Highland Middle School have launched one of the few MMA clubs in the country offered by a public school.

Club instructor A.J. Panebianco attributes MMA's exploding popularity to a better understanding of the highly technical sport.

"It gives you confidence, values, a worth ethic, and discipline," Panebianco said. "There's not really any concern if you have control of the kids and they understand the concept."

Mixed martial arts is a combination of several fighting techniques — including striking and grappling — both while standing and on the ground.

To keep it safe, school officials have removed the striking — punching and kicking — and are placing an emphasis on discipline, just like what is taught in many forms of karate. The program will focus on the self-defense aspects of the sport and primarily ground work, which will include elements of wrestling and Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, both of which are Panebianco's areas of expertise.

He said the school will allow striking, but only on punching bags, in the months to come.

Growing trend

Kelly Gilmore, principal of both schools, said he got the idea for the club when he saw an ESPN story earlier this year about a Winchester, Mass., high school starting a similar club.

The sport traditionally incorporates elements of wrestling, boxing, kickboxing and submission wrestling. Mixed martial arts has grown mainstream; it's been featured on reality TV shows, blogs and forums. Gyms and classes are forming nationally, including in the Shenandoah Valley. Cable channels regularly feature professional bouts, and it has gained profits that rival pro boxing.

Panebianco said classes at his studio for students as young as 5 have grown popular. For these young students, he uses simple exercises to teach them how to get control of a situation. In one such exercise, he attaches a balloon to one child's back and has another student try to pull it off.

'All about safety'

The first meeting of the club was Wednesday morning at Highland High. Students were attentive during their club day, which is built into their schedules as an alternative to study hall.

"Pay attention. You could hurt somebody very badly if you play around," said Panebianco, who coaches submission grappling at Virginia Military Institute, owns Buena Vista Brazilian Jui-Jitsu and is police chief in Buena Vista

"It's not a race. I don't want to see you passing anybody," Panebianco said, as students shuffled sideways on their feet across the floor mats during a warm-up exercise.

"I'm the test dummy," said school principal Gilmore. "I get beat up on. The kids love it."

"Granted I am stronger and better looking than he is, but I can't really get him off balance," Panebianco said, while demonstrating an arm bar, one of the most popular and basic moves in MMA. "I'm going to pull him this way, because I want him close. I am going to grab an arm, leg, whatever I can get to break his hold. See, now I am on top."

After a series of individual warm-up exercises, Panebianco had the students practice straightening an opponent's elbow, which allows you to use the leverage of that hold to flip them over.

Seven high school girls, in typical teenage fashion, grouped themselves together. The 15 boys in the class quickly found spaces at the edge of the mats and quietly awaited instruction.

Joey Brendel, 16, and Kimber Fines, 15, were the only boy and girl to be matched up as partners. Giggles rose in spurts from students, who either realized it can be somewhat embarrassing to have to sit on a classmate of the opposite sex, or recalled the teens had briefly dated last year — unbeknownst to the instructor.

Hoping to take advantage of the sport's draw among young generations, Highland High School and Highland Middle School have launched one of the few MMA clubs in the country offered by a public school.

Club instructor A.J. Panebianco attributes MMA's exploding popularity to a better understanding of the highly technical sport.

"It gives you confidence, values, a worth ethic, and discipline," Panebianco said. "There's not really any concern if you have control of the kids and they understand the concept."

Mixed martial arts is a combination of several fighting techniques — including striking and grappling — both while standing and on the ground.

To keep it safe, school officials have removed the striking — punching and kicking — and are placing an emphasis on discipline, just like what is taught in many forms of karate. The program will focus on the self-defense aspects of the sport and primarily ground work, which will include elements of wrestling and Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, both of which are Panebianco's areas of expertise.

He said the school will allow striking, but only on punching bags, in the months to come.

Growing trend

Kelly Gilmore, principal of both schools, said he got the idea for the club when he saw an ESPN story earlier this year about a Winchester, Mass., high school starting a similar club.

The sport traditionally incorporates elements of wrestling, boxing, kickboxing and submission wrestling. Mixed martial arts has grown mainstream; it's been featured on reality TV shows, blogs and forums. Gyms and classes are forming nationally, including in the Shenandoah Valley. Cable channels regularly feature professional bouts, and it has gained profits that rival pro boxing.

Panebianco said classes at his studio for students as young as 5 have grown popular. For these young students, he uses simple exercises to teach them how to get control of a situation. In one such exercise, he attaches a balloon to one child's back and has another student try to pull it off.

'All about safety'

The first meeting of the club was Wednesday morning at Highland High. Students were attentive during their club day, which is built into their schedules as an alternative to study hall.

"Pay attention. You could hurt somebody very badly if you play around," said Panebianco, who coaches submission grappling at Virginia Military Institute, owns Buena Vista Brazilian Jui-Jitsu and is police chief in Buena Vista

"It's not a race. I don't want to see you passing anybody," Panebianco said, as students shuffled sideways on their feet across the floor mats during a warm-up exercise.

"I'm the test dummy," said school principal Gilmore. "I get beat up on. The kids love it."

"Granted I am stronger and better looking than he is, but I can't really get him off balance," Panebianco said, while demonstrating an arm bar, one of the most popular and basic moves in MMA. "I'm going to pull him this way, because I want him close. I am going to grab an arm, leg, whatever I can get to break his hold. See, now I am on top."

After a series of individual warm-up exercises, Panebianco had the students practice straightening an opponent's elbow, which allows you to use the leverage of that hold to flip them over.

Seven high school girls, in typical teenage fashion, grouped themselves together. The 15 boys in the class quickly found spaces at the edge of the mats and quietly awaited instruction.

Joey Brendel, 16, and Kimber Fines, 15, were the only boy and girl to be matched up as partners. Giggles rose in spurts from students, who either realized it can be somewhat embarrassing to have to sit on a classmate of the opposite sex, or recalled the teens had briefly dated last year — unbeknownst to the instructor.

Amarillo to host state duals

Wrestling begins for girls and boys squads at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Courts of Amarillo, 1111 E. Loop 335 South.

The girls championships are scheduled for 3 p.m., with the boys set to start at 4:20 p.m.

What better place to put on this battle of wrestling brawn than in the backyard of the two-time defending UIL state champion Randall Raiders and six-time defending state champion Caprock Lady Longhorns.

There is only one problem. Caprock's girls will be a no show.

Caprock coach Anthony Hoppe said his team had a prior commitment to attend the Lone Star Duals before it received an invite for the THSWCA State Dual Championships.

The absence of Caprock, winners of this tournament last year, lowers the caliber of the 10-team girls field.

Caprock has been the best girls team in the state for the past decade.

The Lady Longhorns have captured seven UIL state crowns since 2000, along with sprinkling in a few dual state championships. Those accomplishments easily make Caprock one of the top dynasties in Texas regardless of what UIL sport or era you are talking about.

But for an Amarillo team to have the state duals in its backyard, that team needs to be present.

"It's unfortunate," said Mike Eaton, head wrestling coach for Frisco Centennial and president of THSWCA. "It's a big omission. I wish they were there. We really wanted them."

The Lone Star Duals in Arlington will give Caprock a chance to see several new foes as opposed to several familiar faces by staying at home.

Even without Caprock, the Amarillo-area is well-represented with Hereford, Amarillo High, Tascosa and Palo Duro claiming berths in the tournament.

The boys side of the state duals likely will come down to two teams, defending champion Allen and Randall, which lost to Allen in last year's finals. It is a good chance for all 16 teams to get a feel for what other teams from across the state are about.

"This tournament is good for experience," Hereford coach Sion King said. "Obviously, our goal is to go to Austin and win the title, but it would be nice to win a title here."

Of the 26 teams entered in the tournament, 25 are in the 4A and 5A ranks. Only Boys Ranch, a 1A, represents a school that is a Class 3A or smaller. Way to go coach Paul Jones, keep up the good work.

Tough at 145: I had a hard time deciding the top three wrestlers in the 145-pound weight class this week. Tascosa's Adam Prado made the drop to 145, making an already deep and talented class that much tougher. Borger's Andrew Cosper is the best of the bunch, but Amarillo High's Dalton Clear, Randall's Skylar Moseley and Prado are equal wrestlers. Moseley, Clear and Prado will wrestle in the District 5 tournament, where only the top two can advance to regionals. One good wrestler will unfortunately be left at home.

Where's the love?: On Feb. 14th, the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame will have its induction ceremony and also present yearly awards. Eight sports are represented for having a coach and player of the year, and wrestling isn't one of them. It's a shame that with all the achievements our area athletes have been able to accomplish that they can't get recognized by the PSHOF. Amarillo girls teams have brought home every UIL state title since 2000, and Randall has brought back two straight on the boys side. The Amarillo-area produced nearly one-third of the state champions in both divisions this past season, with eight out of 25 weight classes. It is about time that these athletes, and coaches, get the opportunity to be recognized.

Terrence Hunley covers wrestling for the Amarillo Globe-News. He may be reached at 806-345-3307 or terrence.hunley@amarillo.com

NAPA, CA (KGO) -- Over the past decade, high school wrestling has changed dramatically in California with more and more girls wanting to compete. The sport is quickly growing in popularity with what is usually considered the "gentler sex."

Napa's Vintage High School held their 12th annual girls only wrestling tournament last weekend with 263 participants. There were only 36 competitors the first year.

"I think girls like it because it a sport that demands a lot of training and skill and also your only accountable to yourself," says Vintage High wrestling coach Ron Lanterman.

Napa High senior Samantha Gardner has always loved "guy" sports.

"I like to do the kind of things girls don't usually do. So I was interested, I went and tried out, and fell in love with it ever since," says Gardner.

Wrestling has really boosted her self esteem.

"I proved to myself I can do stuff that I never thought I could do before," says Gardner.

Gardner was the first girl to join the Napa High team and her mother was shocked.

"I struggled with her wrestling boys, but after you get used to what's going on, it's fun to watch," says Samantha's mother, Suzie Gambill.

"I've actually made a guy quit on Vintage's team and Napa's team. It's pretty cool," says Gardner.

The girls have bonded and do a lot to help each other get better.

"They get competitive about it because they know what they did wrong and they want to do better the next time," says Pittsburg High wrestler Desirae Coniglio.

Injuries are a part of wrestling, but these girls love to compete, and their coach says they add a lot to one of the fastest growing high school sports.

"It's made a big difference for them. It's a way to challenge yourself. It's a whole different world," says Lanterman.