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Pacific Univ. Women's Wrestling Team earns varsity status; Four Boxer wrestlers selected for resident program

8/14/2002
Blake Timm/Pacific Univ.

BOXER WOMEN'S WRESTLING TEAM EARNS VARSITY STATUS

FOREST GROVE¯After one season of success operating
at the club level, Pacific University has announced
that women's wrestling will compete as an
intercollegiate varsity sport beginning with the
2002-03 season.

Women's wrestling becomes the 17th varsity sport at
Pacific, and the first team added since men's and
women's track & field were resurrected to varsity
status in 1997.

"Wrestling has always been very successful at
Pacific on the men's side, and it only seemed
logical to throw our commitment and resources behind
the women as well," said athletic director Judy
Sherman. "The success that our women have shown
over the last four years proves that the new program
will be no different."

Women's wrestling programs, while still unique at
the collegiate level, are beginning to grow in
interest. According to themat.com, the Pacific
program is only the fifth recognized varsity program
in the United States and the first at an NCAA
Division III institution.

Additionally, the varsity spots that the women's
program provides affirms Pacific's commitment to
providing opportunities for females in collegiate
athletics.

"We remain committed to providing the best possible
opportunities for both male and female athletes,"
Sherman said. "The addition of this program allow
us to give our female athletes another avenue in
which to have a successful and enjoyable Pacific
experience."

Women's wrestling at Pacific began with the arrival
of former high school national champion Jill
Remiticado in 1999. She was Pacific's lone female
grappler until the creation of the club program in
2001. The new team drew seven more wrestlers for a
total of eight.

Since that time the Boxers have not disappointed
wrestling fans, wrestling to a No. 2 national
ranking in their first season and taking a team
second place trophy at both the NAIA North American
Championships and the U.S. Girl's Wrestling
Association Collegiate Freestyle Nationals. Seven
Boxers were ranked individually and earned
All-American status.

Furthering the Boxers' early success, four Boxers
have been selected to participate in the first ever
Women's Wrestling Resident Training Camp at the
United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs, Colo. Katie Kunimoto, Kaci Lyle, Sally
Roberts and Tela O'Donnell begin their residency in
late August.

"Pacific's tradition of excellence is only advanced
further with our women's team," said first year
Boxer coach Scott Miller. "We have seen great
things in just one season, and I expect only greater
success as our program grows. Just like our men's
program, women's wrestlers can expect nothing less
than the best."

The Boxer women will open their first varsity season
at the Sunkist Open, Oct. 18-19 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Their first home match takes place Fri., Nov. 29 vs.
Simon Fraser.

A member of NCAA Division III and the Northwest
Conference, Pacific University is entering its 153rd
year of academic and athletic excellence.

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WOMEN WRESTLERS NAMED TO OLYMPIC TRAINING PROGRAM

* Four Boxers to take part in first-time U.S.
Olympic Training Camp

FOREST GROVE- Four members of the Pacific University
women's wrestling team are one step closer to making
their Olympic dreams a reality.

Katie Kunimoto, Tela O'Donnell, Sally Roberts and
Kaci Lyle begin resident training Monday at the
United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs, Colo. The four Boxers are part of a select
18-member group chosen to participate in USA
Wrestling's first-ever women's wrestling resident
training camp. The camp will help prepare wrestlers
for women's wrestling competition at the 2004
Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

All four women were chosen, the most of any American
college, based on their success as part of a
two-month training camp at the USOTC. Five Boxer
wrestlers attended the camp, and only 18 wrestlers
were selected for the resident program.

"The selection of these four is a testament to what
the Pacific program accomplished last season," said
USA Wrestling spokesman Gary Abbott. "Clearly, the
Pacific program has emerged as one of the best in
the country."

The commitment to the program will last one year and
may be renewed based on performance and
opportunities.

"I am sorry that we will lose those four from our
program this season," said head wrestling coach
Scott Miller, "but this is a tremendous opportunity
for them. It is great to see the sport of wrestling
expanding in the U.S. and to have four Boxers be a
key part of that is great."

Kunimoto (Jr., Kaneohe, Hawaii), who finished the
season ranked fourth nationally at 112 pounds, led
the four Boxers to the camp after winning her weight
class at June's World Team Trials. She will train
with Jenny Wong, who beat Kunimoto in the final
challenge match at the trials.

O'Donnell (Fr., Homer, Alaska) and Roberts (Jr.,
Federal Way, Wash.) each won their weight classes at
the USGWA Collegiate Freestyle Nationals. O'Donnell
finished the season ranked No. 1 at 121 pounds,
while Roberts was ranked No. 3 at 138 pounds. Lyle
(So., Eureka, Calif.) placed second at the USGA
nationals, but still garnered the No. 1 ranking at
158 pounds.

"We looked for the work ethic, attitude and the
tremendous talent all four of those wrestlers have,"
said national team coach Terry Steiner. "If they
can keep that attitude, all four have the potential
to be great Olympians."

The Pacific women's wrestling program will wrestle
as a varsity team in 2002-03 after a phenomenal club
year in 2001-02. As a team the Boxers finished as
the No. 2 ranked team in the country, and ranked
seven of eight individuals among the top-five
nationally in their weight classes. The Boxers
finished second at both the NAIA North American
Women's Wrestling Championships and at the USGWA
Nationals.

The Boxer women begin the 2002-03 season Oct. 18-19
at the Sunkist Open in Phoenix, Ariz.

The past year has seen many milestones for women's
wrestling. The women's resident program is just one
of many examples of the progression of women in the
sport. Since the International Olympic Committee
announced in September 2001 that women's freestyle
will be added to the official program at the 2004
Olympic Games, the opportunities and the promotion
of women's wrestling have greatly increased.

Additional information on the USA Wrestling Women's Wrestling Resident
Athlete Program can be found online at
http://www.themat.com/newusaw/usapressdetail.asp?aid=5402