Jenny Wong has spent most of her wrestling career as an afterthought

By John Marshall 10/17/02
Associated Press

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - Jenny Wong has spent most of her wrestling career as an afterthought. From the club level to high school to two different NCAA Division I programs, Wong's development on the mat has always taken a back seat to the needs of male wrestlers.

Not anymore.

The U.S. Olympic Committee has created a year-round resident program that focuses solely on developing women's wrestling -- something Wong and most of her fellow competitors never had.

``It's been totally different. When you're in Division I men's (wrestling) rooms, you're not the focus,'' said Wong, of Stillwater, Minn. ``The coaches are great and will help you when they can, but their job is to get the guys ready for NCAAs. Now we're wrestling women, and it's great.''

The USOC and USA Wrestling have supported women's wrestling since it began about 20 years ago, but never gave it the resources to put the U.S. team on the same competitive level as countries where the sport is more popular.

That changed in September 2001, when women's wrestling was added as an Olympic sport.

``Before, if girls wanted help, they'd come in here and the coaches would help them when they were done with the guys,'' U.S. women's coach Terry Steiner said. ``But they were kind of pushed all over the place until it gained Olympic status, which changed USA Wrestling to go full blast with it. An Olympic medal is an Olympic medal, and that is how they look at it, too.''

The program, which began in August, has 18 women who live in dormitory-style rooms at the USOC Training Center in Colorado Springs. The women stick to a regimented program that includes two workouts per day, five days per week, and have full use of the USOC training, medical and food facilities.

They also have access to sports psychologists, bio-mechanists and strength and conditioning coaches.

``It was a really big change to have time to devote to the other aspects of the sport, like really fine-tuning wrestling, being able to come in for extra sessions to watch videos -- all the stuff that I knew was good for my wrestling but I never really had time to do because I was trying to go to classes,'' said Patricia Miranda, who wrestled with Stanford's men's team before joining the resident program.

It's off to a good start with the hiring of Steiner.

He was a three-time All-American at Iowa and won a national title in 1993. Steiner coached at Wisconsin and Oregon State, and has worked with Olympic-caliber wrestlers, giving the program instant credibility.

Along with his coaching responsibilities, Steiner has spent time trying to change perceptions about women's wrestling and has worked to build support for the sport.

``It's the first time that I really feel like somebody is committed to focusing on developing women's wrestling and getting us medals in 2004,'' Miranda said. ``Just not holding any punches, really getting behind developing this wrestling.''

Even with Steiner's efforts, women's wrestling still has a long way to go.

Many coaches, particularly those who have been in the sport for a long time, believe a wrestling mat is no place for a woman. That mind-set has kept the sport from building a foundation at the lower levels.

On the club level, many girls are forced to wrestle boys because there aren't leagues designed for them. The same is true in high school, where just two states, Texas and Hawaii, have high school leagues for girls.

The collegiate level is where many Olympic-caliber wrestlers come from, but there are only about a dozen programs. The NCAA requires at least 20 schools to have a program before it can be considered for sanctioning.

The result is that wrestlers such as Wong and Miranda spend their careers competing against men who are often stronger and faster.

``You've got to look how wrestling has evolved in the U.S.,'' Steiner said. ``It's been a guys' sport since the beginning, so you have a lot of coaches and people out there who think it should remain a guys' sport. I think that the thing you really have to look at was what I've gained from the sport off the mat. Why should we limit that to half the population?''

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2002 Women’s World Championships Preview at 51 kg/112.25 lbs.

10/17/2002
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

Japan has dominated this weight class for many years. Hitomi Sakamoto claimed the 2000 and 2001 World gold medals with dominant performances, and Japan won the individual gold medal with other athletes the previous two seasons. Sakamoto was also a World Cup gold medalist last year, the first year of the event for women athletes.

According to Japanese journalists, Sakamoto will not be competing this year, due to knee surgery. Her replacement is expected to be Chiharu Icho, the 2002 University World champion and 2001 Junior World Champion. This means that the Japanese win streak may be at risk.

Taking second to Sakamoto in 2001 was American Stephanie Murata, who returns to this division after competing most of the year at 55 kg. Murata lost in the U.S. Trials finals to veteran Tina George at 55 kg, then dropped down to win a Special Wrestle-off against Jenny Wong to make the World team. Murata was a Pan American Champion this year, competing up at 55 kg, and is one of the most experienced athletes in the world at this division. The USA has won a silver medal for two straight years at this division, with Patricia Miranda taking second in 2000.

Gao Yanzhi of China was the 2001 World bronze medalist and also captured a World bronze medal in 1999. She won silver medals at the 2001 World Cup and the 2002 World University Championships.

Ida Hellstrom of Sweden was the 2001 World bronze medalist and also placed second in the 1998 World meet and third in the 1996 Worlds. Hellstrom placedsecond at the European Championships this year.

Canada’s Lyndsay Belisle was fourth in the 2001 World meet and has shown some tremendous improvement, winning numerous tournaments during the 2002 season. Belisle was third at the 2002 World University Championships.

Russia’s Natalia Karamtchakova placed fifth in the 1999 and 2001 World Championships. However, she may not be the Russian entry, as Olga Smirnova of Russia was the 2002 European Champion. The European bronze was captured by Inessa Rebar of Ukraine, who was fourth in the 2000 World Championships and 10th at last year’s World meet.

The 2001 European champion was Sofia Poubouridou of Greece, who placed ninth in the 2001 World Championships. Alena Kareish of Belarus was the 2001 European bronze medalist, and went on to place eighth in the 2001 World Championships.

Marta Wojtanowska of Poland placed fourth in the 2001 and 2002 European Championships. Veteran Djulia Okot of Bulgaria is a talent who could challenge for medals. Another top athlete is Magdelena Arellano of Mexico, who placed sixth at the 2000 World Championships and second in the 2002 Pan American Championships.

Other athletes who could be a force are 2001 Junior World Champion Vanessa Boobryem of France and 2002 African champion Nour El Houda Bejaoui of Tunisia. Others with potential include Laurianne Mary of France, Jessica Bechtel or Alexandra Demmel of Germany, Elena Tolstenko of Russia and Nadir Percin of Turkey.

As a non-Olympic weight class, we may see some defection of athletes either up or down, but that decision may be delayed a year until next year’s World Championships. The big question here is whether we will see a break in Japan’s hammerlock on this weight division, and if the United States can crack through with a champion.

2001 World Championships results
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Gold - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan) won by tech. fall over Stephanie Murata (USA), 12-1, 4:59; Bronze - Gao Yanzhi (China) pin Lindsay Belisle (Canada); 5th - Natalia Karamthakova (Russia); 6th - Vanena Boobryem (France); 7th - Djulia Okot (Bulgaria); 8th - Alena Kareisha (Belarus); 9th - Sofia Poubouridou (Greece); 10th - Inesa Rebar (Ukraine)

2000 World Championships results
51 kg/112.25 lbs - Gold - Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan); Silver - Patricia Miranda (USA); Bronze - Ida Hellstrom (Sweden); 4th - Inna Rebar (Ukraine); 5th - Elena Egochina (Russia); 6th - Magdalena Arellano Morelos (Mexico); 7th - Yvonne Hees (Germany); 8th - Faira Bjaoui (Tunisia); 9th - Li-Chuan Wu (Taipei); 10th - Marta Wojtanowska (Poland)

1999 World Championships results
51 kg/112.25 lbs - 1st - Seiko Yamamoto (Japan) dec. Erica Sharpe (Canada), 6-4; 3rd - Yanchi Gao (China) won by ref. dec. over Stephanie Murata (United States), 2-1, ot, 9:00; 5th - Natalia Karamtjakova (Russia); 6th - Ida Hellstrom (Sweden); 7th - Anne Catherine Deluntsch (France); 8th - Annett Kamke (Germany); 9th - Yulianni Orellana (Venezuela); 10th - Margarita Starikova (Latvia)

Each day this week, TheMat.com will preview a weight class at the 2002 Women’s World Championships, set for Halkida, Greece, Nov. 2-3. Please visit TheMat.com each day for a new preview of the championships. To discuss the World Championships with other fans, please visit the International Board or the Women’s Wrestling Board on TheMat.com Message Boards.

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Committee looks at Title IX results

By Kelly Rayburn 10/17/02
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
krayburn@media.ucla.edu

Nine state assembly members came to UCLA Wednesday to hear testimony from athletes, doctors and academics regarding access to athletics for women of color.

The assembly members are part of the Speaker Herb Wesson's, D – Culver City, select committee on Title IX, which was formed to examine compliance with the federal law in California's schools.

The now-controversial federal legislation requiring that men and women be given the same opportunities to participate in all school-sponsored activities has increased women's participation in both high school and college sports greatly. Supporters say it has helped lead to increased opportunities in academics and the working world as well.

Nevertheless, most of the speakers embraced the same theme Wednesday: while Title IX has done well, there is room for improvement, especially in providing access to athletics for women of color.

Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D – Long Beach, who is a vice-chair of the Title IX committee, said the committee's mission is to ask, "Are we meeting the mission and the goal of Title IX for every woman?"

"Are we meeting that challenge for women of color?" she asked.

Little research has been done concerning the access to athletic programs for women of color, said a report published by the committee. The research indicates that Title IX has not provided the same benefits to white women as it has to non-white women.

Only 3 percent of female college athletes are Latina and 1.8 percent Asian American, the report said. Outside of basketball and track, only 2.7 percent are black according to the report.

Additionally, in an attempt to comply with Title IX, many schools are adding sports like soccer, rowing and golf, which have not been as successful in recruiting women of color as other sports, the report said.

Speakers said that participation in sports is beneficial in countless ways – it keeps people physically fit, increases self-confidence, and lowers the chance of participation in risky behavior, like smoking.

Graduation rates and standardized test scores are higher for those who participate in athletics, speakers said. Additionally, young women who exercise regularly are less likely to turn to dieting and, thus, are less at risk of developing an eating disorder, said Dr. Carol Otis, a sports medicine physician.

Given these benefits, many found that the lack of access women of color have to athletics is troubling though they expressed satisfaction with Title IX's overall effectiveness.

Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg said, "I'm sold (on the importance of Title IX)."

"I played basketball when women could only bounce the ball three times and couldn't cross the center line," she said.

In the years before Title IX, women's basketball differed from the current version of the game. Three women basketballers played defense and three played offense; none of them could cross onto the other half of the court. After three dribbles, players had to pass or shoot. Given that restriction, "We could pass like sons-of-guns," Goldberg said.

She added that while Title IX has contributed to some academic as well as athletic advancements for women, she still has concerns. Fewer than 50 percent of high school graduates are women, she said. For communities of color, that figure is "much, much worse."

As for solutions, many said the first thing that needs to be done is more research.

Rita Cameron Wedding, professor of women's studies and ethnic studies at CSU Sacramento, said when considering the effectiveness of Title IX, people need to consider the levels of minority participation in sports as well as the level of women's participation.

But "if some people get their wishes, that might be impossible," Cameron Wedding said, referring to Ward Connerly, whose Racial Privacy Initiative may appear on the 2004 ballot and would ban state agencies from collecting race data.

Outreach was also discussed as a way to address the gap for women of color.

Alisa Carilla, who shared her personal experience as an athlete at Saddleback High School and Orange Coast College, recommended the committee establish development camps for female athletes as a vehicle to playing at four-year universities.

In response, UCLA associate athletic director Betsy Stephenson pointed out the university's limitations to reach out further to under-represented athletes.

"There are are a limited number of coaches who have a limited opportunity to go out and recruit student-athletes," she said.

Wednesday's event was hardly reflective of the national debate concerning Title IX. In fact, some believe the Title IX should be done away with because it hurts small-time men's sports.

Currently the National Wrestling Coaches Association is suing the Department of Education, arguing that the current enforcement of Title IX results in a gender quota.

Chancellor Carnesale, making a brief appearance at the event, mentioned that five out of UCLA's seven sports teams last year that were ranked in the top five nationally were women's teams.

However, two other top UCLA programs – men's gymnastics and men's swimming – no longer exist because Title IX requires the university to allocate money to women's sports.

But advocates Tuesday said that since Title IX's implementation athletic opportunities for men have increased overall.

Indeed, in 1971, when Title IX was implemented, just over 170,000 men participated in college athletics. In 2000, nearly 210,000 did.

"Removing Title IX, frankly, is not an option," said Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, D – Santa Barbara, who along with Wesson co-chairs the committee.

With reports from J.P. Hoornstra, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.

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North students get living political lesson

10/09/02
John A. Williams

The questions ranged from the serious to the awkward — from raising teachers’ salaries to co-ed wrestling teams. But, it was a great lesson in government and politics for North High School students as candidates for governor, Steve Largent, Gary Richardson and Steve Paris representing Democratic candidate Brad Henry answered students questions Tuesday.

“It’s important to get them interested in politics,” said Mike Jenkins, social studies teacher at North. “Whoever gets elected governor is going to be governor the next four years, and these kids are going to be 21 or 22, and it will effect them.”

The hour-long debate was moderated by the League of Women Voters and featured questions written by the students. Some of the questions concentrated on why the candidates want to be governor, their support of school vouchers, use of drugs among teens and gun control.

All three said they were against a school voucher system, though Richardson said he favored a tuition tax credit program. The three said they opposed gun control laws with Paris saying he personally didn’t care for guns but said candidate Henry believes there are enough gun control laws to provide safety.

Jenkins said he has taught lessons on political parties and public opinion and has followed the election process since the primaries. The cost of college tuition is something the students are concerned about for the future, he said.

“With the budget crisis the state is facing now it looks like we are going to raise tuition rates by about 7 percent, so that should be of big concern to these kids,” he said.

Howard Coleman, a student at North, said having candidates debate in front of students is important.

“They need to encourage people to vote when they are young or it’ll be a long time before they do,” he said. This will be the first time he is eligible to vote.

Asked who he would vote for, Coleman said, “it won’t be Brad Henry.”

Kristi Davis, a senior at North, said she was interested in what the candidates had to say about school budgets and teacher pay. Senior Chad Franz said it was unfair that teacher pay ranked 49th in the nation and that Largent presented himself the best in the debate.

Asked if they supported using Title IX funds to allow girls to wrestle on boys teams, the two candidates and Paris said they supported Title IX funding for women’s sports but skirted the issue of girls wrestling with boys.

Coming back to the question later, Largent joked that perhaps that was the cause of the increase in the teen pregnancy rate.

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Canada's Women's Team ready for 2nd Women's World Cup in Cairo, Egypt

October 16, 2002

Ottawa -The 2nd Women's World Cup is being held in Cairo, Egypt, October 18-20, 2002. The countries competing in the event are Canada, Japan, Russia, Tunisia, Ukraine, China and the host country of Egypt. It is being held in conjunction with the World Cup of Greco Roman Wrestling.

At 48 kilograms (kg) the Canadian Team will have Julie Harris (Edmonton, AB -- University of Calgary W.C.) competing in her second World level competition. Julie competed for Canada at the FISU World Championships in Edmonton, AB this past June, placing 9th. Julie is a two-time CIS National Gold Medalist and former Junior National Champion.

51 kg - Teresa Piotrowski (Guelph, ON - Guelph W.C.) is the only member of the 2001 Canadian World Cup team to return this year. She placed 5th in 2001. She is a former National Senior Champion and competed for Canada at the World Championships in 1998.

55 kg - Tonya Verbeek (Beamsville, ON - Brock W.C.) is competing in her first World Cup. She represented Canada at the FISU World Championships early this year, placing 3rd. Tonya is a former Espoir National Champion and has been competing at the Senior level since 1994.

59 kg - Helen Hennick (Burton, NB - Black Bears W.C.) is competing in her first World level competition for Canada. She is a two-time CIS National Champion and former Espoir National Champion.

63 kg - Viola Yanik (Saskatoon, SK - Saskatoon W.C.) is a two-time Junior National Champion and placed 4th at the 2001 Junior World Championships. She last represented Canada at the FISU World Championships in Edmonton, AB this past June, placing 2nd.

67 kg - Megan Dolan (St. Catharine's, ON - Brock W.C.) is a new comer to the National Team and will be making her first international appearance at the World Cup. She placed 2nd at the 2002 Senior National Championships.

72 kg - Ohenewa Akuffo (Brampton, ON - Guelph W.C.) is a veteran of the Canadian Team. She is a former CIS National Champion, Junior National Champion and two-time Senior National Champion. Ohenewa has competed at two World Championships for Canada with her best placing being 10th. She was the 2002 Pan American Champion.

The team is coached by Dave Mair (Hamilton, ON - Guelph W.C.) and Jeff Allen (Fredericton, NB - Black Bears W.C.).

The Canadian Team finished 5th at the first World Cup held last year in Levallois, France. The competition starts on Friday, October 18th.

For more information, contact:

Mike Payette

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