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Western’s Women Mustangs take Two Gold at Toronto

University of Toronto Open, Ontario, Canada - January 10, 2004 .

Two Gold for the Women Mustangs

Terri McNutt - University of Western Ontario pinned former mustang, Rachel Dean, now representing Lakehead University in the 53 kg final to place first in the University of Toronto Open Wrestling Tournament, Jan 10/04. The mustang captain was losing 3-0 early in the first round when McNutt caught Dean, a Purple Blanket winner at UWO and now enrolled in the graduate program at Lakehead, with a “knee tap” followed a “head and arm pinning hold.” McNutt, a 3rd year nursing student and defending OUA (Ontario University Association) champion, remains undefeated this season in the OUA conference and is ranked 3rd in the CIS (Canadian University) at 53 kg.

The UWO mustangs second gold was from rookie, Jill McCallum placed first at 65 kg. The 1st year King’s College student from London Saunders S.S., also used a “head and arm pinning hold” to beat Brock University opponent, Jodi Dykstra by pin. “McCallum was a great addition to our team,” said Ray Takahashi, head coach of the mustangs. “At Saunders, she was coached by Harry Geris, a 3-time Olympian, and won gold at her weight at OFSAA (Ontario Highschool) last year.” McCallum was also member of the varsity women’s rugby team that won the OUA championship team title. McCallum was selected as Wrestler of the tournament for the UWO mustangs who recorded two pins on her way to GOLD medal.

Lesley McCallum (no relation to Jill) placed 3rd at 57 kg representing the London-Western wrestling club. Takahashi said “McCallum had a good tournament and should do well at the junior provincials for us.” Takahashi is also head coach of the London-Western club.

Women Results

1st Terri McNutt (53 kg)

1st Jill McCallum (65 kg)

3rd Lesley McCallum (57 kg) * London-Western Wrestling Club

Mustang Wrestler of the Tournament

Women: Jill McCallum

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Pioneer blazes trail in Oregon

Jill Remiticado helped build Pacific's third-ranked women's wrestling team

By Dennis Anderson 1/11/04
Special to the Star-Bulletin

JILL Remiticado, who was a catalyst for female wrestling in two states, is a finalist for one of Oregon's most prestigious honors.

Remiticado, a 1999 Iolani School graduate from Aiea, graduated from Pacific University in Oregon last May.

She was not the first female high school wrestler in Hawaii, but the media attention Remiticado attracted because of her success wrestling on Iolani's boys team in 1996 and '97 helped generate interest in the sport.

The Oahu Interscholastic Association held a small girls championship in 1997 and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association held the first state girls championship in 1998. Hawaii is still one of only two states that conduct sanctioned girls high school championships in the sport (Texas is the other).

Remiticado won the first 114-pound state championship.

When Remiticado went to Pacific, near Portland in September 1999, she again was the only female on a male team.

Within two years, Pacific formed a varsity women's club team, then elevated it to full varsity status in 2002. The team now has 13 members, is getting its own coach, and is ranked No. 3 in the U.S.

Four members of Pacific's first women's team -- including Katie Kunimoto (Castle '99) -- were selected for USA Wrestling's first resident Olympic Development program in Colorado Springs.

"Jill was the driving force behind the creation of Pacific's women's wrestling program," university spokesman Blake Timm said.

Remiticado, who weighed 120 pounds most of her collegiate career, was a four-time U.S. Girls Wrestling Association collegiate All-American, winning freestyle national championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002, and finishing third in the 114-pound class in 2003.

She is the only Pacific athlete to win three national championships in any sport, and one of two four-time All-Americans in school history.

Last May, Remiticado graduated in physics with a double minor in math and Japanese and a B-plus average and was selected as the university's Outstanding Female Senior Athlete. She is helping coach at Iolani and participating in regional power-lifting tournaments.

It was announced Friday that she is one of five finalists for the Ad Rutschman Award, which honors the top male and female athlete from Oregon's non-Division I colleges. Nominees must have made exemplary accomplishments in their sport that bring credit to Oregon, their school and to the individual.

"To be named is quite an honor," Remiticado said. "It is one of those things that validates that I actually made a difference in my career."

The winner will be announced at the Oregon Sports Awards on Jan. 25 at the Tiger Woods Center on the Nike World Campus in Beaverton.

"Jill typifies the type of person I look for in a wrestler, male or female," said Scott Miller, Pacific's director of wrestling. "This is an outstanding honor for her and I cannot think of a better person to be recognized."

Remiticado said that she hopes that being named a finalist will help lend credibility to women's wrestling, which is still a new concept.

"Things like this paint a more realistic view of the sport and it shows that it is gaining more respect," she said. "Accomplishments like these give more credibility to the sport."

More wrestling
Wrestlers from Hawaii won three first places and a second at the Menlo College Women's Open Tournament yesterday in Atherton, Calif.
Champions -- all freshmen -- were Stephany Lee (Moanalua '02) of Missouri Valley in heavyweight; freshman Caylene Valdez (Moanalua '03) of Menlo at 55 kg (121 pounds); and Debbi Sakai (Mililani '03) of Missouri Valley at 51 kg (112 pounds).

Another freshman, Ku'u Johnson (Radford '03) of California's Lassen junior college, placed second at 67 kg (148 pounds).

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A Look Back No. 1: No one better in the state than Gonzalez or Grim

By KEN HART, Times-Herald sports editor 1/12/04

Whoever says that the City of Vallejo is a basketball town definitely hasn't seen the local wrestling talent recently.

Vallejo had two high school wrestlers become state champions this year. Bobby Gonzalez won a boys California Interscholastic Federation title for Vallejo High School while Maribeth Grim won a Girls California Wrestling Championships crown for Bethel. And the combined efforts of both have become the Times-Herald's top local sports story of the year.

Gonzalez defeated Bakersfield's Alex Herrera 3-1 to win his 135-pound title March 8 at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.

"It was overwhelming, I didn't know how to react. I just kind of jumped and threw my hands in the air," the former Apache senior recalled in a recent interview.

Gonzalez had come into the tournament as the top-ranked wrestler in his class. So though he was elated to become a state champion, he and others weren't surprised.

"I knew going into the tournament if I wrestled the way I'm capable of wrestling, nobody in the State of California would be able to beat me," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez became the first wrestler from Vallejo to win a state title since his role model Mark Muñoz won the 189-pound crown in 1996.

Vallejo coach Mike Minahen said Gonzalez's work ethic was just as high as Muñoz's was.

"Every single day he just busted his rear end trying to be the best wrestler he can be," Minahen said.

Grim won her title right in her hometown. She defeated Half Moon Bay's Katherine Fulp-Allen 4-0 to win the 100-pound title Feb. 1 at Bottari Gym. She went 5-0 to win the one-day tournament.

"It was just something that I wanted so bad I knew I was going to get it. Anything can happen. You just gotta believe," recalled Grim, now a senior at Bethel. "It's still sinking in, even though it's the beginning of a new season."

Both wrestlers were also named the Times-Herald Athletes of the Year on June 26.

Grim, who became Bethel's first state champion any any sport, added to the success that local girls have had in the tournament. Vallejo's Shiela Lerit had won a title in each of the previous two seasons. Vallejo's Lenci Landaker also won a title in 2002.

Just like Lerit, Grim now has the chance to win the title again, which may be even tougher.

"This year she has to work harder to maintain that she is the state champion," Bethel coach Mike Sariano said. "Other people are going to be coming after her. She's aware of that and she's working harder in the weight room."

Said Grim: "I feel there's a lot of pressure to live up to last season. When you're at the top of the weight class, you're setting the bar for everyone. Everyone's going after you."

But she's also confident about her chances to repeat.

"I don't want to say that I'm going to go out and win, but I'm going to wrestle my hardest," she said. "I'm going to make my last year be my best year."

Gonzalez is now a freshman at the University of California, Davis. He has rejoined Muñoz, who is an assistant coach with the team. Gonzalez, however, will not wrestle for his new team this year. He is redshirting instead.

"I understand my role. I'm there as the redshirt freshman where I have to do my part in training," he said. "I'm just looking forward to next year and becoming an All-American. If not, I still have three years."

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Perspective Women's Wrestling:
Hard work pays off for Claire DuPont

By: Mike Simpson (WIN Magazine)

Whenever asked my opinion of females wrestling, I always say the same thing. I think it is wonderful. If my wife and I had been blessed with a daughter, I know I would have introduced her to the mat at a young age, just as I did with my sons, Jason and Aaron.

Well, I wasn¹t blessed with a daughter, but whenever I watch the films of my daughter-in-law, Kendra, wrestling at the tender age of five or six, I can¹t help but get a tear in my eye and swell up with pride. In this article, I¹ve included a picture of her on the medal stand after she had been beaten by one point for the championship in a tournament in Michigan. Her arms are crossed and she is visibly disappointed by the defeat. I have another picture of her with a bloody nose trying to score on a double leg and the look of determination is quite evident.

Kendra earned both her bachelor¹s and master¹s degrees in about six years, and worked part-time while doing so. I am quite proud of her, to say the least. She tells me that wrestling taught her many lessons, and that it was wrestling that really helped her self-esteem.

Another young lady who I am quite proud of is Claire DuPont. Claire recently won the women¹s Junior national tournament at 110 pounds. Claire is the daughter of Art and Mary DuPont of Leadville, Colo. Art and I have been the best of friends for 40 years. I have known Claire and her brother, Camille, for all of their lives, and I am quite proud of all their accomplishments.

Winning the women¹s Juniors tourney was even more significant when you consider that she had to upset the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association Champion, Debbie Sakai, 12-8.

By beating Sakai, Claire avenged an earlier loss in Michigan at the USGWA tournament. This upset of Sakai and Claire¹s tremendous wrestling ability must have impressed someone because she was voted the tournament¹s Outstanding Wrestler.

When I called Claire to congratulate her, I asked her what the difference was between the match with Sakai in Michigan and the match in the finals of the Jr. Nationals. Her answer: "Four points."

I told her, I mean what was the difference in your being able to defeat a national champion after you had lost to her five 5-1 earlier in the year? Claire¹s response was classic. "Well, I worked hard,"she replied. Getting Claire to talk about herself is about as difficult as getting gold and silver out of the spent mines surrounding the mining town of Leadville.

Even though Clair is quite humble and reacts to a big win in about the same manner that she reacts to a defeat, she let me in on a few secrets. Her training regiment includes running, swimming, lifting weights, and wrestling with her brother Camille.

Claire¹s brother, Camille, who was a Colorado State Champion during his junior year, has signed a letter of intent with the Mountaineers of Western State College in Gunnison, Colo., his dad¹s and my alma mater.

Camille is quite a catch and could compete at the Division I level. Camille¹s losses at the Junior Nationals in Fargo were both by a single point. His final loss was an 8-7 decision to the tournament¹s No. 2 wrestler.

Claire gives a lot of credit to her brother for his support and encouragement. In fact, when I asked Claire if she had a sports hero when she was growing up, she replied that she has always looked up to her brother. She told me she would not have reached any of her goals if it had not been for her brother pushing her and encouraging her.

By claiming the Junior National title and by being named the tournament¹s outstanding female wrestler, Claire has set herself up as one of the best female high school wrestlers in the country. She not only competes against other females, but has been on the men¹s wrestling team in Leadville for the past three seasons. Her high school record is 23-36, and she still has another year to compete. She has lettered three years and has been a varsity wrestler for two.

I get out to Colorado every year to see the DuPont kids wrestle and I am always amazed at how much they have improved every time I see them. I have seen Claire hit takedowns in men¹s varsity tournaments that very few, if any, males from my day could have hit at the high school level. Claire¹s skills are amazing. I predict an Olympic berth in the near future. In fact, she is looking to 2008 as her goal to make the team.

Claire not only wrestles, but is a great runner on the cross-country team and the girls track team. She is also an avid weight lifter and an accomplished flutist.

Now something that I have not mentioned - and is noteworthy - in that Claire trains at an elevation in excess of 10,000 feet. Leadville, Colo., is the highest incorporated city in the United States. Athletes who train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, are only working at an altitude of a little over 6,000 feet. Compare this to the 10,160 foot elevation at which Claire trains.

Athletes who train in Leadville, require a lot longer recuperation period. Just living at that elevation is a challenge, but when you see Claire DuPont out running five miles at a time, lifting weights, swimming and wrestling, you realize that this is, indeed, a very special young lady.

Will Claire need to rely on her athletic prowess to attend college? Probably not. You see, she is a straight-A student and is No. 1 in her class. Her courses include the toughest college preparatory load that her school offers. She will probably receive academic scholarships, but women¹s college wrestling coaches out there should keep an eye on this rising star who lives and trains in the clouds.

About the author: (Mike Simpson is a long-time wrestling and weight-lifting coach. His career record was 213-37-1 in his 25 years of high school coaching in Nebraska and Arizona. Mike was inducted into the Nebraska Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1988. He has held national and world records in the bench press and currently holds both the national and world record bench press for the master division over 50 age group. He also is the father of Arizona State¹s two-time All-American, Aaron Simpson, who wrestled for the Sun Devils from 1994-1998.) n --

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Law sticks together on the mat

By PHIL SOTO-ORTIZ , Correspondent 1/9/04

The members of the Law wrestling team left their meet with Masuk Wednesday night basking in the glow of victory.

Not victory for their team, just as individuals, as the team dropped a 45-30 decision to fall to 0-10.

At best, this will be the norm this season. Law has strong athletes, but there are only nine of them, and most have little experience. So on a night when only one Masuk wrestler won his match, the team got an easy win as the Lawmen had to forfeit seven of the weight classes.

"We can't win matches," said Law coach Scott Miller, referring to his team's lack of wrestlers. "Tonight (Wednesday), we wrestled six matches. We won five of them. Our lack of success this season is about numbers."

Miller is in his third year at Law. He saw 53 students sign up for wrestling his first year. Forty showed up for the first day of practice. Fifteen of them quit in the first week, seven more during the season, leaving 18. By the end of the first week last season, Law was down to nine wrestlers, the same number Miller has now.

"But I'll take these nine," Miller said. "Because they're so (few), they're a team. You can have 40 guys and they're not a team. These kids are a team."

All but three wrestlers are freshmen or sophomores, but they have a role model in senior Nick Newell (130 pounds), who took fourth in the SWC and in Class M last year, despite being born with one arm

the other goes only to the elbow. The other upperclassmen are girls. Senior Emily Sopchak managed the team for three years and decided to wrestle this year. She is wrestling junior varsity.

Junior Amber Wing (119) is in her third year of wrestling and is 3-1 in league matches this season. Miller said the team has no issues with wrestling with girls or against them in practice.

"No one's given her anything," Miller said. "She's earned it. No one takes it easy on her, and she'll let you hear it if you don't give your best (against her)."

Miller also has plenty of praise for his assistant coach, Matt Schoonmaker, a former Law wrestler who graduated in 1991 and has stayed involved with the program. Miller said he considers himself and Schoonmaker co-coaches.

"He could be a head coach anywhere he wants," Miller said. "He's that good. Matt was part of the glory days of Jonathan Law as a coach and as a wrestler, and I'm hoping someday to be a part of that same tradition."

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Wrestling, more than other high school sports, is the one in which younger athletes have to learn from their older teammates because a coach can teach only two wrestlers at a time.

Fairfield Prep is an easy example of that. Senior Adam Mocciola (130 pounds) gives his freshman brother, Paul (112), a clinic all the time. That is the team's only familial pairing, but Prep's five seniors have caught on and pitched in to help coach the nine freshmen.

"The seniors we have seem to really take an interest in the first-year wrestlers," said Jesuits coach David Judd, who spent 12 years at Xavier and is 3-7 in his first season at Prep. "They really want to help them learn the moves. It's sort of brotherly.

"I've been with some teams where there's been some division between older and younger. The older kids kind of go off to themselves."

Judd expects Adam Mocciola as well as fellow seniors Parker Gleason (152), David Welchman (125) and James Solomito (119) to place well at the SCC tournament, and he has especially high hopes for a pair of juniors in David Bernstein (215) and Nabil Boutagy (171).

That would set a winning example.

Phil Soto-Ortiz covers wrestling.