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By Scott Mallory, The Porterville Recorder 11/17/03
The had 103
potential grapplers working out the other day, including seven girls.
"It's not just a guy's sport," said Cassie Ward, a 5-foot, 9-inch,
150-pound sophomore. "It's fun, and it's a way to meet people."
If you're a person who likes to be physical, this is the place to be,
she said.
Krystel Adams, a 130-pound sophomore, is following in her father's
footsteps.
"My dad was second in nationals at Ventura High," Adams said.
There isn't a girls division; so girls wrestle boys, but there is a
women's Olympic wrestling team, and the sport is growing. It probably won't be
too long before enough girls are doing it to create their own league.
Monache coach Jim Short loved the crowd.
"It's great to see everyone in here," Short said. "And we don't cut
anyone, which we pride ourselves on; so they're here as long as they want to
be."
One of the team's mottos is: "Can't out give Monache wrestling."
"If a kid wants to be out here and doesn't have the money for shoes or
the physical, we find a way to make that happen," Short said.
Chris Rogers, who is returning for his senior season as a Monache
wrestler, has been accepted at the United States Coast Guard Academy.
The academy receives 82,000 applications a year. Rogers is one of the
300 new cadets that will start classes in June 2004.
"I feel awesome," Rogers said. "It's dream come true."
He's going to study electrical engineering. When he graduates, he'll be
an ensign. Then he'll have five-year obligation to serve in the Coast
Guard.
"I'm going to stay in longer than that. It's my career," Rogers said.
The 6-1, 171-pounder is expected to challenge for the East Yosemite
League title this year.
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How to qualify for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team in wrestling
11/17/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
In early 2004, USA Wrestling will conduct an open Olympic Trials process to determine the U.S. athletes that will compete in wrestling at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. These events are open to all U.S. citizens who meet age requirements for the Senior level.
The final deciding event will be the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling , set for the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Ind., May 21-23. Athletes must qualify to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, through a series of qualifying events all around the nation.
Qualifying events
1. 2004 U.S. National Championships, Las Vegas, Nev., April 9-10
Placewinners at the Olympic weight classes will earn the right to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling. Each of the champions at the Olympic weight classes earn a spot in the championships series in Indianapolis. Those who place 2-8 in each Olympic division also advance to the Challenge Tournament portion of the final trials event.
2. Regional Olympic Team Trial Qualifiers
USA Wrestling will hold these in strategic locations across the nation, opening the Olympic Trials process up to all competitors. The champions only from these Regional Olympic Team Trial Qualifiers will advance to the challenge tournament at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling in Indianapolis.
The men’s qualifiers are set for:
* St. Joseph, Minn. (March 12-14)
* Laramie, Wyo. (March 25-27)
* Battleground, Wash. (March 27-28)
* Brockport, N.Y. (April 16-18)
* New Orleans, La. (April 22-24)
The women’s qualifiers are set for
* Battleground, Wash. (March 27-28)
* Brockport, N.Y. (April 16-18)
* New Orleans, La. (April 22-24)
3. Other qualifiers
* In Greco-Roman, the champions of the Armed Forces Championships in March 2004 advance to Indianapolis
* In women’s wrestling, the champions at the University Nationals in St. Joseph, Minn., March 12-14, earn the right to compete in the Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling
U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, Indianapolis, Ind., May 21-23
The winners of this event in each weight class earn the right to compete in wrestling at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. All three styles will be contested at the same time – men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman.
The first portion of the event is the Challenge Tournament. All of the qualifiers except the 2004 U.S. Nationals champions, must compete in the Challenge Tournament. Only one athlete in every weight class will win the Challenge Tournament and advance to the finals series at the division.
The Championship Finals Series is a best-of-three battle between the 2004 U.S. Nationals champion in each weight class and the winner of the Challenge Tournament from the day before. The wrestler who wins two matches in this series will be declared the winner and earn the position on the U.S. Olympic team. All of the Championship Finals Series will be held on May 23rd.
Note: If one of the 2004 U.S. National champions are injured prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, he/she can request an extension of the Championship Finals Series to a later date and location. Only the 2004 U.S. Nationals champion can request an extension. This has happened before, so there is a possibility that the one of the spots will be determined after May 23.