Westwood's Hilary Lucarelli, top, dominates Gladstone opponent Allen Kirkpatrick during a match last year. Now a senior, Lucarelli has been wrestling for nine years. (Journal file photo by Aaron Peterson)
News Page
Amat's Gochioco making her mark on the mat
By Steve Ramirez , Staff Writer 2/5/03
Monica Gochioco is not a girl who wrestles, but a wrestler who happens to be a girl.
The Bishop Amat High School junior showed off her talents this past weekend when she placed second in the 122-pound division during a girls tournament in Vallejo.
Gochioco defeated second-seeded Jennifer Germany of San Diego Elake 13-3 before losing in the final to April Pabilona.
"Monica is tough,' coach Gustavo Lopez said. "She makes big impressions in boys tournaments, as well. All the guys shake her hand and they can't believe how good of a wrestler she is.'
Gochioco, who also is on the Lancers' boys junior varsity team, is a combined 19-4 in both boys and girls competition. Lopez expects her to compete on the varsity next season.
"She's really improved since she came out for the team her freshman season,' Lopez said. "She was fifth at the girls state tournament last season. She's really dedicated and her strength is unbelievable. I'm pretty sure she will do well at nationals this season.'
This past weekend was a pretty enjoyable three days for three former All-Valley baseball players who began their collegiate baseball careers in helping No. 7 Cal State Fullerton to a three-game sweep over previously No. 3 Stanford.
Diamond Bar graduate Dustin Miller led a group that also included Danny Dorn (Diamond Bar) and Sergio Pedroza (Northview), by giving up just one run over six innings in an 8-2 victory over the Cardinal on Sunday. He gave up just four hits and was named Big West Pitcher of the Week.
Dorn, who was an All-Valley baseball and football player last year, went 4 for 8 with a triple, home run and seven RBIs.
Pedroza, a two-time All-Valley player, went 2 for 3 with two RBIs on Sunday.
The CIF state office has announced the sites for the upcoming basketball regional and state finals.
Long Beach Arena will host the Southern California Regional final for Divisions I, II and III for boys and girls on March 15. Divisions IV and V will be at Cal State Fullerton, also on March 15.
The state finals are scheduled for Arco Arena in Sacramento on March 21-22.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Wrestling Welcome Mat Rolled Out for Girls
Channel 9 Eyewitness News 2/10/03
"It's a sport if their boy can't handle it tough."
Gina Hutts' five year old daughter Kimberley has no problem handling her competition. A recent meet at Heelan put her in the mix with over 200 entries. And she placed first in her division. Kim was one of just five female wrestlers.
Another wrestler, Lacy Neff, says, "it doesn't really matter to me but when I have to wrestle
girls I like it more because people think it's gross when you wrestle a boy."
Due to the lack of female competitors, girls like Lacey rarely have the option of wrestling same sex opponents.
Niki Pridie, of the Tri-City Titans, says, "I probably wrestle a girl three times a year." Parent Tonya Bauman says, "of course as a parent I prefer that she wrestle girls but if she wants any significant mat time, she has to go out there with the boys."
While finding competition is a struggle for girls many boys struggle with public perception. Wrestler Chad Morehead says, "you go out to win but then again you don't want to touch her, cause I don't want to do any thing wrong because I've been taught that's sexual harassment." But Tri-City wrestler Jessica Strassner says, "I don't see anything sexual about it. It's just wrestling."
The Heelan meet marked the first time Ruben Ritz faced a girl. "I try not and touch her some where I just try and wrestle, she's was stronger than most of the boys."
As wrestlers enter their teens, strength becomes more of a factor. East High School's Jeff Butcher and Andrew Anderson are two of Iowa's top ranked grapplers. And though the two have never been matched with a female, they wrestle with the idea. Butcher says, "I don't think I could wrestle a female. I was raised never to be aggressive towards women." Anderson says, "girls have their own basketball teams. They should have their own wrestling team, it goes hand and hand."
But with the support of parents and coaches females continue to make their way onto the mat. Mike Fuller, the Titans assistant coach says, "I have mixed emotions, but I often use the phrase if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. If girls want to wrestle, let them wrestle."
When boys wrestle girls there are no special adjustments or any changes in the rules. And that's exactly the way these girls want it. "I think girls should have the right to do anything boys can."
And that's exactly what is happening. Female wrestling will be an event in the 2004 summer Olympics.
----------------------------------------------
WHS’s Lucarelli finds place in a male-dominated sport
By CRAIG REMSBURG
Senior Sports Writer 2/10/03
|
Westwood's Hilary Lucarelli, top, dominates Gladstone opponent Allen Kirkpatrick during a match last year. Now a senior, Lucarelli has been wrestling for nine years. (Journal file photo by Aaron Peterson) |
ISHPEMING — All she wanted was to be like her older brother Dustin, who happened to like wrestling.
To that end, Westwood High School senior Hilary Lucarelli decided in fourth grade to take up the male-dominated sport, not knowing then how far it would take her.
“I wanted to do everything Dustin did,” she said. “I’ve been wrestling for nine years now.
“I like to compete and love winning. Wrestling is one of the most rewarding sports in that it lets you do both. It’s just you out there (on the mat).”
The 5-6 Lucarelli, wrestling at 125 pounds, has more than held her own in the sport. She’s 26-10 this season heading into district tournament play Wednesday and 87-51 over her prep career.
Last year, she won the M-PC championship at 119 pounds. This season, she took the Marquette County Meet crown at 125 for the Upper Peninsula’s No. 1-ranked Patriot grapplers.
“She has a lot of natural ability,” said WHS coach David Bleau (pronounced blue). “She works really hard in perfecting what she does on the mat.
“Hilary’s always in top physical condition, too. She has to be, going against boys.”
Her skills don’t end there, however.
“She’s mentally strong,” Bleau added. “That comes from dedication and preparation. She’s always ready to go.
“She has developed into a skilled wrestler.”
Lucarelli says her strength on the mat is in takedowns.
“I have to out-technique guys because they’re always stronger than me,” she said. “It’s really intimidating going against a guy because their muscles are huge and here I am, a scrawny girl, compared to them.
“But wrestling is 90 percent mental. It’s mind over matter.”
She has never wrestled a female during the regular season, just during national competition in downstate Lake Orion
Twice, she has come across a male high school opponent who took a forfeit rather than wrestle her.
“Guys have a lot more respect for me now,” Lucarelli said. “When they’re on the mat with me, I hope they think I’m a wrestler like any other.
“I don’t want to be looked on as a girl. I just want to be recognized as a wrestler.”
Said coach Bleau, now in his fourth year of coaching at WHS: “There’s nothing to be ashamed of in losing to Hillary. She’s that good.”
Her teammates hold her in high regard.
“She’s very important to us,” said Patriot senior grappler Jim Bleau, one of two sons of the coach — the other is Tim, a senior — wrestling at WHS this season. “She’s an excellent wrestler.
“You can usually count on her for a win. She tries so hard and just won’t give up. Everyone (on our team) respects someone when they give it their all.
“We’re a pretty tight group — like a family. Hilary’s a big part of our (wrestling) family.”
Said Lucarelli: “They’re all like my brothers and I love them so much. It’s great to have teammates behind you all the time.”
They don’t treat her with any kid gloves during practice, however, even though some of the Patriots she works out with outweigh her by 10-20 pounds.
“I come home every day from practice with another bruise,” Lucarelli said. “They don’t take it easy on me. But I’d rather have it that way.”
Holder of a 3.2 grade-point average, she’s torn between a basketball or a wrestling career in college.
Last fall, Lucarelli helped lead her Westwood High School girls’ basketball team to a 17-3 regular season record, an M-PC title and a berth in the Class C regional tournament championship game.
The guard averaged 11 points a game, came up with 48 total steals and made a name for herself with her strong defensive play.
She was named to the All-Upper Peninsula Class A-B-C Second Team.
“I’ve talked with Finlandia University (in Hancock) about basketball and with Cumberland (Ky.) about wrestling,” she said. “I’m torn between the two (sports) right now. I’m just not sure what I want to do.”
Lucarelli realizes she has broken down a few doors in U.P. wrestling circles during her prep career.
“When I started out, I didn’t realize what a big thing it was with a female going into a male-dominated sport,” she said.
“But now, I’m glad I overcame the barrier. It’s an accomplishment beating a boy in wrestling.
“I just want to be considered a wrestler.”
-------------------------------------------------------
Marshwood`s DeeDee Rix became the first girl to win a match in a Class
A state meet when she pinned Cony`s Eric Leinonen during the second
period of their consolation-round match. Only the second girl to wrestle in the
Class A state meet, she went 1-2 in the double-elimination competition.
----------------------------------------------------
Region I Wrestling Championships
Caprock Activity Center
Saturday's ResultsGirls 2/10/03
Finals
97-Crystal Valdez, Caprock def. Stormy Grear, Palo Duro 7-3. 104-Angel Diaz, Tascosa pinned Marisol Chavira, EP Montwood :52.
112-Brittany Owens, Palo Duro pinned Tina Chavarria, EP Hanks 3:42.
121-Lauren Lindsey, Palo Duro def. Kim Quinonez, EP Hanks. 9-1.
130-Amenda Howland, Caprock pinned Nancy San Ramon, EP Andress 1:20.
140-Astrid Gomez, Hereford pinned Houston Shephard, Tascosa 1:56.
150 ñTamica Jules, Tascosa def. Hannah Skinner, Amarillo High 10-3. 167 ñTamron Johnson, Tascosa def. Diana Reveles, EP Hanks 3-2.
187-Shaleb Bowie, Palo Duro pinned Shanta Taylor, EP Bel Air :30. HW-Julie Aquino, Hereford pinned Celia Mergy, EP Hanks 1:35.
State qualifiers
97-Crystal Valdez, Caprock. Stormy Grear, Palo Duro.
104-Angel Diaz, Tascosa
112-Brittany Owens, Palo Duro
121-Lauren Lindsey, Palo Duro
130-Amenda Howland, Caprock
140-Astrid Gomez, Hereford .
150-Tamica Jules, Tascosa. Annie Thomas, Palo Duro.
167-Tamron Johnson, Tascosa
187-Shaleb Bowie, Palo Duro.
HW-Julie Aquino, Hereford.
Team Totals (Top 6)
1. Palo Duro 148; 2. Caprock 119; 3. Tascosa 108; 4. El Paso Hanks 85; 5. Hereford 51; 6. Amarillo High 50.
------------------------------------------------------
Palo Duro won the girls' regional title, edging rival Caprock 148-119.
'Palo Duro's girls, the 2001 state champions, picked up first-place finishes from Brittany Owens (112 pounds), Lauren Lindsey (121) and Shaleb Bowie (187).
Tascosa (108 points) placed third, and Amarillo High was sixth (50 points).
Perhaps the most compelling performances of the finals were turned in by the Lady Longhorns' Crystal Valdez and PD's Stormy Grear in the 97-pound division.
Valdez, who hadn't defeated Grear all season, used two reversals and a near fall to beat her chief rival 7-3.
The defending state champ Grear was visibly upset with the outcome and received a chorus of boos from the overflow crowd when she initially refused to shake Valdez's hand following the match. After some prodding from PD head coach Steve Nelson, she eventually met her rival at the center of the mat.
"I just wanted it so bad," said the Longhorn sophomore, who had lost her No. 1 ranking and the District 5 title to Grear a week ago. "I needed to do whatever I needed to win and getting those early points was big."
Valdez was one of two Caprock girls to qualify for the state tournament. Amenda Howland pinned Nancy San Ramon from El Paso Andress in 1:20 to punch her ticket to state.
Following Grear's defeat, Palo Duro's girls bore down on their remaining competition. Brittany Ownes pinned Tina Chavarria of El Paso Hanks in 3:24. Then, Shaleb Bowie (187) pinned El Paso Bel Air's Shanta Taylor in 30 seconds.
No Lady Don win was bigger than Lauren Lindsey's 9-1 victory over Kim Quinonez of El Paso Hanks. The former All-American Quinonez had lost one match all year coming into the 121-pound final. Ironically, it was Lindsey, named the tourney's outstanding girl wrestler in the lower weight divisions, who had been the only wrestler to beat the senior this season. Make that twice.
"She might have wrestled a little bit flat, but Kim's a great wrestler," said Nelson
-----------------------------------------------
Wrestler Terry earns state berth
By NIKI HERBERT 2/9/03
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
Melissa Terry wanted to play basketball, but her mom wanted her to wrestle. Three years into her wrestling career, Terry, a junior at Katy, is going to state after winning the Region III girls 95-pound weight class Saturday at Allen.
Terry, the Chronicle girls athlete of the week, remains undefeated this year. Surprisingly, the bubbly teenager has no idea what her overall record is.
"Our trainer keeps up with that," she said.
Katy will send all eight of its girls to the state meet. Four of the girls won their respective weight classes at Allen. Terry pinned her opponent in 55 seconds in her first match Saturday. She then pinned her opponent in 1:30 in the championship match.
"It takes a lot of hard work in wrestling," Terry said. "It's mental toughness pretty much. If you want it bad enough, you go after it."
Terry said she used to think it was about her, until coach Tim Ripperger instilled the team concept. How can an individual sport be about the team?
"It's not just me that's working hard," Terry said. "It's the whole team. We want to do good and place at state. That's a team goal. Our girls will work hard to achieve that goal."
Terry said her team "works just as hard as football, but football gets all the attention."
But she said none of her teammates cares about a lack of notoriety.
"People come because they hear we're doing well," Terry said. "But we don't care. Our team is more serious than any other team I've been around in the past.
"And our coach makes us better people, like with our attitudes. Wrestling has helped me with my personality. It's gotten me in the best shape I'll ever been in."
-----------------------------------------------------------
The Lady Highlanders had three of their four competitors reach the finals and qualify for state. The top two girls in each weight class earned berths to state.
Sarah Smith captured the regional crown in the 148 pound class as she defeated Katy's Mary Reddick in the finals.
Kristin Williams finished second in the 119 pound class to Katy's Stephanie Haver while Karen Howe was second in the 128 pound class to Katy's Teri Lopez.
As a team, the Lady Highlanders finished third overall behind region champ Katy and second-place Katy Taylor.
"On the girls side, its outstanding for the girls as we only wrestled four," said Dunn. "That's a phenomenal achievement to get that high."
------------------------------------------------------------
Fourth title for Fulp-Allen
Sara Fulp-Allen , a senior at Half Moon Bay High School, has put her name in the Napa Valley Girls Classic Wrestling Tournament record book.
By defeating Jessica Hsieh of Vintage 11-2 in the finals of the 105-pound division, Fulp-Allen became the first person in the tournament's five-year history to win titles all four years.
She was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament, held on Jan. 18.
Fulp-Allen began the tournament by pinning Elizabeth Labransda from Hogan in 30 seconds. In the semifinals, Fulp-Allen defeated Renee Moreland from Roseville, 18-3.
That sent Fulp-Allen to the finals, where she had complete control over Hsieh. The only points Hsieh would get would be when Fulp-Allen let her go to get takedown points from the standing position.
Hsieh finished second in 2001 at the United States Girls Wrestling Association National Tournament.
Fulp-Allen's sister Katherine placed second at 100 pounds. The Half Moon Bay freshman won her first two matches by technical fall.
In the semifinals, she defeated Valerie Prise from Diamond Bar.
But in the finals, Fulp-Allen lost to Ashley Bayonjan of Jesse Bethel 9-5.
Half Moon Bay had three other wrestlers participate in the meet.
Camille Kelley (114) and Tori Steeves (122) both finished eighth. Audrey Asche did not place.
As a team, Half Moon Bay finished in fifth place out of 57 teams with 51 points.
-------------------------------------------------------
girls wrestling
Bud Black
Sun Feb 9 21:32:35 2003
63.36.7.110
It's getting to the point where we need to stop being so politically correct and get these girls off of the boys wrestling mats. For two consecutive weekends I've witnessed the emotional devistation of middle school boys who lost to girls (let's keep in mind that girls at this age mature physically faster than boys and also the FACT that they will never amount to even an average high-school wrestler). The parents who put these want to be males on a wrestling with boys should have their heads examined. Start a girls league! There might be alot of young men who would like to play girls softball and field hockey, but I guess that wouldn't be fair (especially at a high-school level).
Bud
P.S. And to anyone who thinks that this will benefit titleIX- you are wrong! We will wind up with an 8 weight class team.