Hilton Head High School student Andrea Dryden, 16, practices a takedown move during wrestling practice with the school's varsity team on Thursday.
Pete Marovich/Carolina Morning News
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HILTON HEAD ISLAND: Female cheerleader makes transition to wrestler without a problem.
By Matt Coffey 11/22/03
Carolina Morning News
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Hilton Head High School student Andrea Dryden, 16, practices a takedown move during wrestling practice with the school's varsity team on Thursday. |
You might see cheerleaders yelling for their school's wrestling team, but you seldom find them on the mat, throwing chokeholds and pinning opponents.
Well, consider Andrea Dryden exception.
Dryden is Hilton Head High School's starting wrestler in the 103-pound weight class. She is also a former varsity cheerleader.
Dryden has practiced with the wrestling team for the past two months, suffering through practices alongside her male teammates.
"I'm one of them," Dryden said after practice Thursday. "I don't do anything different during practice than they do."
That means when it's time to run laps or sprints, she's right there with them. When it's time to practice moves and techniques, she's on the mat, learning as much as she can, and she doesn't get any special treatment.
"That's one thing I've tried to instill in this team," said head coach John Hollman. "Her opponents aren't going to give her special treatment; we can't prepare her by giving her special treatment."
Dryden, 16, was a varsity cheerleader during the recent football season, but has since decided to commit to wrestling.
"It's a challenge," she said. "You work hard and get in shape, but it's tough."
One reason she decided to wrestle, she said, was because her boyfriend, Alex Piper, wrestled.
Piper went undefeated on the Seahawk team last season and won the state championship in the 145-pound weight class.
He now wrestles for the Citadel.
The toughest part for Dryden could be outside practice, in the school's halls, where she gets teased.
"I heard a lot of ribbing at first," Dryden said. "People thought I was there just for the guys. Even my grandma was ribbing me. But I think it's mostly joking."
There is one place all jokes are put aside: on the mat.
"I'm sure guys will come in thinking they can beat me because I'm a girl," she said, "but I'm going to try my hardest to change their mind."
And determination is not something she lacks, Hollman said.
"She'll run that extra lap after practice for her own sake and still beat some of the guys," he said. "She'll do twice as many pushups and work on technique just to get stronger. That's all any coach can dream of."
The determination to succeed could come from the support she gets from her teammates.
"They're all awesome," she said. "There's never a time when the guys are like, 'You're a girl.' They're really supportive. They're all like brothers to me."
Hollman agreed.
"There's an air of excitement about (Dryden being on the team)," Hollman said. "I think a lot of the guys realize how good she can be. They know her personally and know she's physically and psychologically tough."
Matt Spado, who is in his fifth season with the team, said Dryden is an inspiration.
"She works a lot harder than most kids (on the team)," Spado said. "I'm not sure exactly why, maybe it's because she's different. But she never gives up and that's something it takes to succeed."
As for opponents facing off against a female, Dryden said she will use it to her advantage.
"Some opponents will look at (wrestling a girl) as a cake walk," Hollman said. "Others will feel intimidation and apprehension about wrestling a girl. Either way, it plays to her advantage. Let them walk in with a swollen ego and she'll be more than happy to shrink that down to size."
That means putting opponents in, well, compromising positions, and being put in those positions. But Dryden isn't worried.
"What if they do?" she asked. "If I go into a match expecting people to not put me in certain holds or positions, I'm crazy. But I'm not worried; I'll do it back to them."
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At Women of Influence luncheon Hilditch honoured for achievements
The Mississauga News
Nov 21, 2003
Mississauga's Brooke Hilditch is being honoured for her brains and athletic prowess.
The bio-medical science graduate at Guelph University was one of 18 recipients of an Ontario University Association (OUA) female scholar/athlete award at the 'Women of Influence' luncheon in Toronto yesterday.
Hilditch was a member of Guelph University's women's rugby and wrestling teams last year while maintaining an 85.5 per cent grade average.
Hilditch earned OUA medals in both sports. She earned silver at last year's wrestling championships and sixth at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship.
As a member of Guelph's women's rugby team, Hilditch was a high-scoring outside centre the past three seasons. Last year the team won the OUA title and finished fourth at the CIS championship.
Individually, she was the team MVP, OUA All-Star, OUA Player of the Year, CIS All-Canada and CIS Tournament All-Star. She received the university's President's Scholar award signifying academic/athletic excellence and was co-recipient of the Female Athlete of the Year award.
Hilditch was also a CIS All-Star in 2001.
She's now attending graduate school in bio-medical science at McMaster University in Hamilton and has played two years for Canada's under-23 rugby team.
Hilditch received an OUA jewelry box with her name engraved on it, an autographed copy of Dr. Roberta Bondar's newest book and other gifts.
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Wrestling Federation Invites 28 to Bayelsa
November 21, 2003
Posted to the web November 21, 2003
Boye Ajayi
Athens 2004
The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) has invited 28 wrestlers to camp for the Athens 2004 Olympic qualifiers slated for Slovak and Bulgaria from 1-16 of February next year.
THISDAYSports gathered from the NWF Secretary General Josephert Ochi that the camping programme, which has been located in Bayelsa State, would involve both male and female wrestlers in the Free Style category.
"All the invited wrestlers are from the free style category, while none from the Greco- Roman since the country will only compete in the former based on our strength," Josephert said.
According to the NWF scribe, names of the invited wrestlers include Sammy Oziti (48kg), Rose Daniel (48kg), Affiong Okon (51kg), Mercy Anaeke (51kg), Hanna Sanni (55kg), Lovina Odohi (55kg), Oyins Tangi (59kg), Helen Okus (59kg), Happiness Brutu (63kg), Becky Ademoh (63kg), Helen Opara (67kg), Korutimi Pabor (67kg), Josephine Moses (72kg) and Priscillia Seidu (72kg) for the female.
But for the male, the listed names are Isaac Jacob(55kg), Oziti Joe(55kg), Dorgu Tebe (60kg), Isaac Boaz(60kg), Fred Jessey (66kg), Darosa Blessing (66kg), Dick Adebo (74kg), Boltic Sinivie(84kg), Robert E. Daufagha (74kg), Joel Enetimi(84kg), Are Agberekeme(96kg), Samuel Ebikabowei (96kg), Seiwari Wilson (120kg) and Uwandu Onyewuchi (120kg).
He disclosed that the team of the male and female wrestlers would be handled by a five-man coaching crew to be led by the technical adviser of the federation, Panov Stonel, while a training tour of Bulgaria would be undertaking in January by the athletes to train along side world rated wrestlers before the qualifier.
He, however, said that the Olympic qualifiers which will not be based on continental arrangement is aimed at emergence of the best wrestlers in the world as only the fittest will survive the purge.