Jasmine Norman, top left and below, is the No. 2 seed in the 130-pound weight class at the state tournament. Jazmine Cockett, top right, is the top seed at 130 pounds.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
News Page
U.S. wins team title at Klippan Ladies Open, led by individual champions Lamb and McMann
3/9/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The United States claimed the team title at the highly respected Klippan Ladies Open at Klippan, Sweden, led by a pair of individual champions: Lauren Lamb (Troy, N.Y./Michigan WC) at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.5 lbs.
The tournament, held March 8-9, featured most of the world’s best wrestling nations, as well as a large number of World Champions and medalists. The United States had 14 points, followed by Germany with 13 points and Japan with 12 points.
McMann was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the championships, after pinning five-time World Champion Nikola Hartmann-Dunser of Austria in the finals.
In the semifinals, McMann stopped 2002 World bronze medalist Lene Aanes of Norway, 6-1. It was the third meeting between the two within a month. McMann defeated Aanes at the Dave Schultz Memorial International, and Aanes beat McMann at the Titan Games.
In the pool competition, McMann also stopped 2002 World Champion Kaori Icho of Japan, 6-3. Icho had pinned McMann in the pool competition at the 2002 World Championships.
Lamb scored a tight 8-7 win over Helena Allandi of Sweden in the gold-medal finals. Lamb, a member of the 2002 U.S. World Team, has competed on six U.S. World teams and has placed as high as fifth in the World Championships.
Winning a silver medal for the United States was Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Downing was defeated in the gold-medal finals by Ewelina Pruszko of Poland, 3-1. Pruzsko was fourth at the 2002 World Championships.
Claiming a bronze medal for the United States was Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Miranda defeated U.S. rival Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) with a 10-0 technical fall in the bronze-medal match.
In the semifinals, Miranda lost to 2002 World Champion Brigette Wagner of Germany, 6-2. Miranda has wrestled Wagner three times this season, defeating the German star the first two times. Chun was pinned in the semifinals by Irina Melnik of Greece, who won the tournament. Melnik previously competed for Ukraine, and is a past World Champion.
Japan had three individual champions at the tournament: Chiharu Icho at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Seiko Yamamoto at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Kyoko Hamaguchi at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Icho and Hamaguchi were 2002 World Champions, and Yamamoto is a past multiple World Champion.
An example of the quality of the tournament came at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., where six-time World Champion Christine Nordhagen-Vierling of Canada did not qualify for the medal rounds.
KLIPPAN CUP
at Klippan, Sweden, March 8-9
Medal Match results
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold - Irena Melnik (Greece) dec. Brigette Wagner (Germany), 4-3
Bronze - Patricia Miranda (USA) tech. fall over Clarissa Chun (USA), 10-0
51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Gold -Saori Icho (Japan) dec. Alexandra Demmel (Germany)
Bronze - Nicole Hauptmann (Germany) dec. Charisse Reece (Sweden)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Seiko Yamamoto (Japan) dec. Natalie Oeltes (Russia), 5-4, ot
Bronze - Erica Sharp (Canada) pin Tonya Verbeek (Canada)
59 kg/130 lbs.
Gold - Lauren Lamb (USA) dec. Helena Allandi (Sweden), 8-7
Bronze - Stephanie Stuber (Germany) dec. Cecelia Aneston (Sweden)
63 kg/138.5 lbs.
Gold - Sara McMann (USA) pin Nikola Hartmann-Dunser (Austria)
Bronze - Lene Aanes (Norway) dec. Lotta Anderson (Sweden)
67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Gold - Ewelina Pruszko (Poland) dec. Katie Downing (USA), 3-1
Bronze - Julietta Batonaskia (Russia) dec. Anikka Oertli (Germany)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold - Kyoko Hamaguchi (Japan) dec. Monika Kowalska (Poland)
Bronze - Nina Englich (Germany) dec. Svetlana Martinenko (Russia)
Team Standings
1. United States, 14
2. Germany, 13
3. Japan, 12
4. Poland, 7
5. Russia, 6
6. Sweden, 5
7. Greece, 4
8. Austria, 3
8. Canada, 3
10. Norway, 2
All medal match results not available.
More complete results to be published when available.
Event web page is below (results not yet updated)
http://ymer.klippan.se/kbk/lady_open.htm
----------------------------------------------
Eight U.S. women wrestlers unbeaten after first day at Klippan Open in Sweden
3/8/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Eight U.S. wrestlers were undefeated after the first day of action at the Klippan Ladies Open in Klippan, Sweden, Saturday, March 8.
The wrestlers without a loss included:
Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Tela O’Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Lauren Lamb (Troy, N.Y./Michigan WC) at 59 kg/129 lbs.
Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.5 lbs.
Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Miranda went 2-0 for the day. She will face two-time World medalist Carol Huyhn of Canada in the quarterfinals. Miranda beat Huyhn earlier this season at the Kurt Angle Classic.
Chun also went 2-0 at that weight class, defeating a German opponent as well as American Gina Heinzelmann.
George and O’Donnell both advanced with 2-0 records at the same weight class. O’Donnell will face an athlete from Austria in the quarterfinals. Also 2-0 for the day was Lauren Lamb a weight class higher at 59 kg.
McMann’s 2-0 record featured wins over talented athletes from Sweden and Japan. She defeated Japan’s 2002 World Champion Icho by a 6-3 margin. This was revenge for McMann, as Icho pinned her in the pool competition at the 2002 World Championships.
Downing had a 3-0 record for the day, and advanced to the semifinals. Among the athletes she defeated were from Japan and Russia.
Lyle was 1-0 with a win over an athlete from the Czech Republic. She still has another match in her pool competition, so she has not yet advanced into the championship bracket.
A number of young U.S. athletes participated in the Cadet division of the Klippan Cup. Claiming a gold medal was Ali Bernard of Minnesota. Placing fourth was Minnesota’s Kelli Rasmussen.
KLIPPAN CUP
at Klippan, Sweden, March 8
U.S. athlete first day records
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) - 2-0 record
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) - 2-0 record
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Gina Heinzelmann (St. Joseph, Minn./Minnesota Storm) - 1-1 record
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) 1-1 record
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Katie Kunimoto (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) - 0-2 record
55 kg/121 lbs. - Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) - 2-0 record
55 kg/121 lbs. - Tela O’Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) - 2-0 record
55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) 1-1 record
59 kg/129 lbs. - Lauren Lamb (Troy, N.Y./Michigan WC) - 2-0 record
63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) - 2-0 record
63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) - 1-1 record
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) - 3-0 record
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Randi Miller (Chanute, Kan./Dave Schultz WC) 1-3 record
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Elena Mena (Chanute, Kan./Dave Schultz WC) - 0-2 record
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) - 1-0 record
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) 0-1 record
-------------------------------------------------
Wrestlers earn OFSAA gold medals
thebramptonguardian.com3/9/03
Three Brampton athletes brought home gold medals from the two-day Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association (OFSAA) wrestling championship which concluded Wednesday in Sarnia.
Among those is two-time winner Stefanie Howorun of Mayfield, who captured her second consecutive OFSAA gold medal by taking the girls'72 kilogram division.
In the gold medal bout, Howorun defeated Natalie Mancini of Port Credit. Both are members of the Matmen United Wrestling Club.
Also earning gold in the woman's division was Crystal Tremblatt of Chinguacousy, who took the girls unlimited title.
In the boys' division Frank Mensah from Bramalea took the 54 kg crown. Chris Camarata of St. Augustine came close to a gold, earning a silver medal for losing in the final at 51 kg.
-----------------------------------------------------
Big Island grappler finds way to mat
By Dennis Anderson 3/10/03
Advertiser Staff Writer
It looked like Jasmine Norman's greatest passion was going to be taken away in her last year of high school.
|
Jasmine Norman, top left and below, is the No. 2 seed in the 130-pound weight class at the state tournament. Jazmine Cockett, top right, is the top seed at 130 pounds.
|
Norman, a senior at Kealakehe High on the Big Island, was going to be effectively denied her wrestling season.
Norman has made it to the state tournament the past three years mainly wrestling against boys. There are a relative handful of girl wrestlers on the Big Island and none of them want to wrestle against Norman.
This season, Big Island Interscholastic Federation athletic directors voted that girls could no longer wrestle against boys. That left Norman with one opponent in her 130-pound weight class — one or two matches all season to prepare for the state tournament.
Until the Interscholastic League of Honolulu came to the rescue.
Pac-Five girls coach Keith Matsumoto arranged an invitation for Norman to come to O'ahu and wrestle ILH girls.
She flew from Kona twice with her father, Mark, and made such an impression that yesterday she was seeded second in this weekend's state championships.
Why such a passion for wrestling? She also excels at soccer and running.
"It challenges me," Norman said. "Wrestling is the only sport that pushes every aspect — physical coordination, endurance, muscular strength, mindset.
"I've never done anything so invigorating. I just love it."
She developed a lot of those qualities working on her dad's coffee farm in Holualoa — body-slamming 100-pound coffee bags.
Jasmine Norman, bottom, had to default against Jazmine Cockett, top. |
She was so intimidating in her freshman year at Kealakehe — the new school in Kailua, Kona — that boys on the wrestling team called her "She-Man."
So she body slammed them.
Norman is seeded second to Jazmine Cockett, Kamehameha's undefeated 130-pounder.
They wrestled at Kekuhaupi'o Gym on Feb. 22, and Norman was leading with seconds to go before Cockett forced the match into overtime.
After the first overtime ended still 3-3, Norman was on the verge of losing her breakfast and had to default.
What did you learn here today?, she was asked. "Don't eat pancakes before you wrestle," she answered.
QUICK PINS: Jasmine Norman won her third straight BIIF championship Saturday night on a first-round pin against the only other 130-pound entrant. . . . Wrestling, working at a book store, volunteering at a home for the elderly, helping clean highways and coaching an under-10 soccer team has not hindered Norman academically. She got a 4.75 grade point average (out of 5) taking advanced placement courses last fall, and has a cumulative GPA of 3.97 out of 4. . . . She placed sixth in last year's state wrestling championships. . . This weekend's tournament will be held at Blaisdell Arena Friday and Saturday . . . Kamehameha coach Mike Tanimoto has invited Norman to train with Cockett after states for the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association national championships on March 29 and Moanalua coach Joel Kawachi invited her to travel to the nationals at Lake Orion, Mich., with his team.
-------------------------------------------------------
Local pair goes to the mat to teach life lessons via wrestling
A Slice of Life by Doug Bloom March 10, 2003
The club also features seven of the state’s 14 female wrestlers, who will be attending the all-girl nationals in two weeks in Massachusetts.
"We taught these kids about respect from day one -- respect us, yourself, the mat, everybody ... and it was really important because of the girls," Upegui said. He added that some of the boys were hesitant to wrestle the girls at first, but he tried to make it clear to them that they are facing an opponent, not a member of the "weaker sex."
"The girls are really tough," Gagne said. "They take out a lot of the guys," Gagne said. Among the girls, there is a set of twins, Cassidy and Brittney Goodhart, 13, who are so devoted to the sport that they have recently set up in a wrestling room in their basement, according to Gagne.
---------------------------------------------------------
Northwest wrestlers down Central City
January 12, 2001By Jeff Apel
The Independent
The emotions that Grand Island Northwest wrestler Dallas Collister went through during the Vikings 55-19 win against Central City on Thursday can best be described as first date jitters.
Collister was understandably nervous when he stepped on the mat to take on Lillie Stander in a 112-pound match. Fortunately for the Vikings, the Northwest sophomore overcame nerves that resulted from facing a girl and claimed a 9-0 major decision victory.
"I was a little nervous,'' Collister said. "I did my best and did what I could.''
Stander showed good determination while avoiding being pinned by Collister at the end of the first period. The match that pitted members of the opposite sex against one another proved to be the highlight of a two-team event that was dominated by Northwest (3-2).
"I was really happy to get a win,'' said Northwest coach Stan Mills. "I was really happy to see some improvement in some of our wrestlers.
"We've had a few good practices this week. Hopefully we'll keep that going into some of the big tournaments at the end of the year.''
Collister would just as soon not see another female wrestler for the rest of the season. He took a lot of ribbing from his teammates before the match, then was given a hard time afterwards because he picked on a girl.
"It's tough for a guy to wrestle a girl because coming off the mat there's no way a guy can win,'' Mills said. "Other people are going to make fun of him whether he wins or loses.
"All you can do is go out and give it your best shot.''
Central City coach Todd Westover said Stander always gives a good effort on the mat. The junior has been wrestling since she was in eighth grade.
"We don't think about her anymore. She's been around so long,'' Westover said. "She is a real goer.''
For obvious reasons, Stander doesn't weigh in with the rest of her teammates. Other than that, she is just another competitor.
"It's just an interesting situation,'' Mills said. "You don't see that in athletics very often.
"In track I can see somebody running against a girl. But in wrestling they're in close contact.''
Stander is the second girl Collister has faced on the mat. The sophomore last took on a female wrestler as a fifth grader.
Both times, his teammates let him know all about it.
"They were giving me a hard time,'' Collister said. "I was just ignoring them.''
Collister's victory -- major decisions are worth four points in the team standings -- helped Northwest race out to a 16-point lead. The Vikings were never threatened by a Central City team that was open at four weight classes.
Forfeits cost teams six points apiece.
"We're really short on numbers,'' Westover said. "We usually start 24 points behind from the start and we've got a lot of young kids that need some experience on the mat.''
Northwest 55, Central City 19
103--Michael Higgins, NW, pinned Chris Claussen :18
112--Dallas Collister, NW, major dec. over Lillie Stander 9-0
119--David Munoz, NW, won by forfeit
125--Trent Varley, CC, pinned Matt Berry 5:10
130--J Lautenschlager, NW, pinned Elliot Wegner 1:22
135--T.J. Dethloff, NW, pinned A.J. Strecker 1:36
140--Don Webben, NW, dec. Cole Williams 5-2
145--Zach Meyer, CC, major dec. over Kirk Hellwege 8-0
152--Sean Dillenback, NW, won by forfeit
160--Kyle McCormick, NW, won by forfeit
171--Zeb Graham, CC, dec. Dan Kershaw 7-1
189--Travis Herrold, NW, pinned Isaiah Graham 2:21
215--Joe Dexter, CC, pinned Josh Rhoads 3:22
275--Andy Hanquist, NW, won by forfeit