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Sharp tempered
As one of Canada's premier wrestlers and a seasoned leader of the U of A Pandas wrestling team, Erica Sharp is ready for nationals
By SCOTT ZERR -- Edmonton Sun - MARCH 4, 2005
Erica Sharp owes a big thank you to a girl from her past - if only she could remember her name. And then Sharp would roll her up, bend her spine like a pretzel and score the pinfall victory.
It was a teenage spat that resulted in Sharp becoming one of the premier wrestlers in Canada, shooting for a fourth CIS gold medal at this weekend's national championships in St. Catharines, Ont.
"My dad was the high-school wrestling coach but it was this girl that said something nasty to me," said the University of Alberta Panda. "I never had wrestled. I guess you never know why people do what they do, but the first day I did it, I loved it. But I never did get a chance to wrestle that girl."
Sharp, a 53-kg competitor, leads a three-woman Pandas crew into the finals. She and Heidi Kulak (65 kg) are both ranked at the top of their classes with Jaclyn Hedges seeded third in the 80-kg category. The Bears, meanwhile, are ranked eighth and will have eight wrestlers in the medal hunt.
Sharp's credentials are impressive - three golds and a silver at past CIS championships, although this will be her first in U of A colours after earlier successes came with the Calgary Dinos. She has racked up international fame with a silver at the 1999 world championships and a bronze at the World Cup in Tokyo last October.
Experience definitely isn't an issue. At 29, she's the oldest and most seasoned member of the Pandas, although that has its own drawbacks.
"Having been around the national team for a long time, I remember coming in and there were all these old guys. It just occurred to me that I'm one of the old guys now," laughed Sharp, who is now starting to feel the wear and tear on a body that's been bruised and battered for 15 years. "I'm not recovering from things as quickly now. When you're a grinder and like to get physical, it takes a bigger toll on you and that's the kind of wrestler I am.
"But it's still nice to be in a young room because everyone here is enthusiastic."
While leadership isn't such a big deal in such an individual sport, Sharp can certainly be a fine example to follow. "At the CIS level there is nobody that can match her power and speed," said U of A wrestling coach Vang Ioannides.
Sharp, who is likely heading to the world championships in Budapest come September, not only had to be at the top of her game heading into the nationals, but she's been forced to do some serious schedule-juggling along the way. In addition to her education studies in an accelerated after-degree program, she's preparing to start student teaching at Dunluce elementary while maintaining a coaching role with the Edmonton Wrestling Club.
"I'd like to say I'm exercising good time-management skills but I'm not. That's why I'm taking so long at my university career. For a long time, wrestling was No. 1 for me, which is why it took me so long to get my first degree (arts). I'm starting to make the transition now and school is starting to move up higher on the priority ladder."
But the books take a backseat this weekend. There's gold to be mined.
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South Kamloops female wrestlers win
British Columbia, CANADA
Mar 02 2005
South Kamloops secondary school had three of their female wrestlers win their weight classes to help the school win the B.C. High School Wrestling Championships.
Held in Port Coquitlam last weekend, Taylor Dick, Charlaine Langevin and Hayley McLeary won their respective divisions to give the school 48 points as the team finished four points better than Mission's Carihi secondary school.
Dick won the 57-kilogram class, Langevin finished first in the 60-kilogram weight division and McLeary is the champion in the 75-kilogram division.
Jon Sharkey, also of South Kamloops secondary finished third in the 110-kilogram division.
North Kamloops secondary school's Mark Delgado was crowned champion in the 48-kilogram weight class for boys.
Jordan Jones of Valleyview secondary finished fourth in the 45-kilogram division.
TANGLED UP IN BLUE - Carson Graham's Lisa Bjornson (bottom) grapples with an opponent from Ucluelet during the B.C. high school wrestling championships at Pinetree secondary in Coquitlam last Friday.
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Iolani girls, Kamehameha
boys win wrestling titles
Raiders come from behind to top
Baldwin for the state girls crown
By Billy Hull 3/6/05
bhull@starbulletin.com
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM |
The phrase "every match counts" might seem like nothing more than a clichŽ, but for the Iolani Raiders, their belief in it is why they are now called state champions.
A year's worth of dedication and hard work all came down to the final weight class of the HHSAA/Chevron 2005 State Girls Wrestling Championships as unseeded Akemi Holmes, needing a victory by pinfall, defeated Farrington's Ashlee Lilo in such fashion to give Iolani a come-from-behind one-point victory over Baldwin to win the school's first-ever girls state wrestling title yesterday at Blaisdell Arena.
"It has come full circle for these girls," Iolani coach Matt Ha said. "In 2003 I think the girls got tired of people laughing at them. We only had four wrestlers and while they would all win, we would get crushed in the dual meets."
Holmes, who had been pinned by Lilo earlier in the season, had no idea that the team championship was going to come down to her match.
"I think I was glad I didn't know," she said. "In the ILH (championships), I knew it might come down to me and I got a little pressured, but this time I just went out there focused, concentrated and gave it my all."
A fast start by the Raiders yesterday set the table for Holmes' final match as Iolani claimed the first three weight divisions.
In the opening and arguably most exciting final, top-seeded senior Kira Tamashiro forced overtime against third-seeded Joyce Transfiguracion by scoring a takedown with just 5 seconds left to tie the score in regulation, and then turned the clinching takedown into a pin with 4 seconds left in the extra period to claim the 98-pound state title, her first.
"I really don't know what happened at the end; it's all a blur," Tamashiro said of the overtime period. "I just was thinking about the team and how hard we all worked. Our one-team spirit is really strong."
"She could have just gotten up after the takedown and won," Ha added. "But she kept with it and pinned her and that was so huge because we needed it in the end."
Continuing Tamashiro's trend, top-seeded Carla Watase also needed overtime to win the 103-pound title, defeating Kahuku's second-seeded Danica Auna 4-2 with a takedown 17 seconds into the extra period. Only a sophomore, Watase kept her dreams alive to become a four-time state champion. She was the 98-pound champion last year.
"That's my goal since I started," Watase said. "This was definitely the hardest match of the year. When the referee said 'OK girls this is sudden death' I was really nervous."
Completing the trifecta for Iolani was Joleen Oshiro, the top seed at 108 pounds. After two overtime matches, last year's 103-pound state champion made the final in her new weight class seem easy, defeating Farrington's third-seeded Tani Ader 10-4 to complete an undefeated senior season.
"This one is actually better than last year's one," Oshiro said. "Everyone wanted to take me down and I was the target this year, so I had to work a lot harder. I felt like I had all this pressure because people expected me to dominate."
The only other returning state champions to successfully defend their titles were Kamehameha's Randolyn Nohara, who needed just 61 seconds to pin Waianae's Chasity Molina, and Waipahu's Delilah Joung, who narrowly defeated Moanalua's Alicia Fu 7-6 in the 155-pound championship.
In an all-freshman 125-pound final, unseeded Chaelynn Tan's dramatic run to the finals ended on a sour note as she was pinned by Moanalua's Danica Kamakana with 38 seconds left in the first round. Tan had knocked off top-seeded Nicole Chorney on Friday.
Other surprise unseeded winners included 114-pound champion Cory Arisumi from Roosevelt, 175-pound champion Tilana Kawaa of Kamehameha, and Kahuku's Summer Alo, who tied the 140-pound final late in regulation, and then scored a takedown with 18 seconds left in overtime to beat defending state champion Krystal Kiyuna.
Baldwin's Shyla Iokia and Punahou's Kara Takasaki successfully lived up to their No. 1 seeds, winning the 120- and 130-pound titles.
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Chevron/HHSAA 2005 Girls Wrestling Championships
Yesterday's final results
At Blaisdell Arena
Team
1. Iolani, 130.5; 2. Baldwin, 129.5; 3. Kahuku, 116; 4. Moanalua, 92; 5. Pearl City, 91; 6. Farrington, 86; 7. Kamehameha, 82; 8. Kealakehe, 77; 9. Punahou, 67.5; 10. Waipahu, 62; 11. Aiea, Kaiser, Kapolei, 37; 14. Waianae, 35; 15. Lanai, Roosevelt, 29; 17. Lahainaluna, 21; 18. University, Word of Life, 20; 20. Castle, 19; 21. Kaimuki, 18; 22. McKinley, 16; 23. Kailua, 15; 24. Maui, 14; 25. Kohala, Mid-Pacific, 11; 27. St. Anthony's, 10; 28. Leilehua, 8; 29. Maryknoll, 7; 30. Kamehameha-Hawaii, 6; 31. Molokai, 5; 32. Hawaii Prep, Konawaena, Kamehameha-Maui, 4; 35. King Kekaulike, 3.
Individual
98 pounds--1. Kira Tamashiro, Iol; 2. Joyce Transfiguracion, Keal; 3. Candace Sakamoto, Cast; 4. Agriana Aguino, Kah; 5. Kristanlyn Daquip, Bald; 6. Erin Uwaine, MPI.
103--1. Carla Watase, Iol; 2. Danica Auna, Kah; 3. Samantha Batoon, Farr; 4. Keri Kaneshiro, Kaim; 5. Tonya Kageno, PC; 6. Ashley Hayase, Lah.
108--1. Joleen Oshiro, Iol; 2. Tani Ader, Farr; 3. Shaelene Kamakaala, Kam; 4. Vanessa Chavez, Bald; 5. Lisa Katsura, Moan; 6. Vickey Milanio, Lah.
114--1. Cory Arisumi, Roos; 2. Danica Lute, Lan; 3. Catherine Chan, Iol; 4. Sarah Aoki, WOL; 5. Clarissa Reidy, Kap; 6. Lianne Tomishima, McK.
120--1. Shyla Iokia, Bald; 2. Lauren Primiano, Pun; 3. Ashley Poling, Kais; 4. Ashlee Estioko, Kah; 5. Cherae Pascua, PC; 6. Brandee Toyama, Iol.
125--1. Danica Kamakana, Moan; 2. Chaelyn Tan, Kap; 3. Nicole Chorney, Pun; 4. Natasha Chang, Bald; 5. Kalimari Billings, PC; 6. Shante Hookano, Kais.
130--1. Kara Takasaki, Pun; 2. Pukea Kalalau, Bald; 3. Merisa Wong, Keal; 4. Jackie Baniaga, Waip; 5. Kuuipo Bedayos, Wain; 6. Punahale Luafalemana.
140--1. Summer Alo, Kah; 2. Krystal Kiyuna, Aiea; 3. Nicole Young, PC; 4. Kuulei Barton, Keal; 5. BN Alafonso, Farr; 6. Candice Coratibo, Bald.
155--1. Delijah Joung, Waip; 2. Alicia Fu, Moan; 3. Lani Visesio, Maui; 4. Amanda Soliai, Kah; 5. Penny Rodrigues, Keal; 6. Faye Toyama, Aiea.
175--1. Tilana Kawaa, Kam; 2. Desiree Memea, UHS; 3. Leolani Corpuz, Bald; 4. Stacey Ikawa, PC; 5. Kiele Lehel, Kail; 6. Christine Meredith, Kah.
220--1. Randolyn Nohara, Kam; 2. Chasity Molina, Wain; 3. Akemi Holmes, Iol; 4. Ashlee Lilo, Farr; 5. Andrea Reyes, Moan; 6. Autumn Williams, PC.
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Raider girls use their depth to edge Baldwin by a point
By Wes Nakama 3/6/05
Advertiser Staff Writer
Iolani became the first private school to win a girls wrestling state title since the tournament began in 1998, edging Baldwin by one point in the team standings, 130.5 to 129.5.
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The Raiders also won state championships in boys basketball, and boys and girls swimming eight days ago, but last night's victory broke new ground.
"Four years ago, we had only two girls in our program, and three years ago, we only had four," said Matthew Ha, who coaches Iolani's girls wrestlers. "But these seniors made a pact — they said they didn't want anyone laughing at them anymore."
The Raiders got the last laugh thanks to individual champions Kira Tamashiro (98 pounds), Carla Watase (103) and Joleen Oshiro (108), plus key victories in the consolation rounds by Catherine Chan (114), Brandee Toyama (120) and Akemi Holmes (220).
Every one was crucial, down to Holmes' win by fall over Farrington's Ashlee Lilo for third place in the tournament's final match. That pushed Iolani past Baldwin by one point. Kahuku (116 points) took third, followed by Moanalua (92), Pearl City (91) and Farrington (86).
"It actually was everybody who won it for us," Ha said. "Everybody had to score on the front side (championship rounds) and everybody had to score on the back side, and that's exactly what they did for the team. The whole team needed all of the points they got."
Two of the individual Raiders champions won by slim margins. Tamashiro, who did not qualify for any of the past three tournaments, trailed her title match 4-1 to Kealakehe's Joyce Transfiguracion before rallying to tie it with 15 seconds left in regulation. Tamashiro then scored a pin with four seconds left in overtime.
"It was all for the team, to go for the extra pins," Tamashiro said. "Coach (Ha) said we were in third place, that we were still in the running for the team championship, so I told myself, 'Don't be lazy. Just do it, go for the pin.' "
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Watase, last year's state champion at 98 pounds, also needed overtime to defeat Kahuku's Danica Auna, 4-2. Auna took a 2-0 lead in the first period on a takedown. Watase tied it at 2-2 early in the third period on a reversal, then won with a reversal 16 seconds into the overtime period.
Oshiro, who won last year's 103-pound title, defeated Farrington freshman Tani Ader, 10-4.
Chan, the No. 2 seed, was upset in Friday's quarterfinals but came back to win third place over Word of Life's Sarah Aoki.
"I was disappointed (Friday), but I felt like I owed it to my teammates (to win in the consolation rounds)," said Chan, a senior who won a state judo championship in 2004. "I found the motivation to do what I can on the mat. It's awesome for my teammates, because they all worked so hard. We came far, and I'm glad I got to be part of it."
Toyama also lost in the quarterfinals but came back to take sixth place. Iolani's other wrestlers were Courtney Whang (125), Sridevi Fourmier (140) and Lindsey Tufono (175).
Waipahu's Delilah Joung repeated as the 155-pound champion, defeating Moanalua's Alicia Fu, 7-6. And Kamehameha's Hoku Nohara retained her 220-pound title, pinning Wai'anae's Chasity Molina.
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State wrestling powers
coming for Kahuku
By Paul Honda 3/3/05
phonda@starbulletin.com
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Nicole Chorney of Punahou, left, is the No. 1 seed in the girls 125-pound division at this weekend's state tournament.
They may be defending boys champions, but the Kahuku Red Raiders are up against a lineup of Goliaths in this week's Chevron State Wrestling Championships.
The tourney begins tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at Blaisdell Arena. The semifinal and consolation rounds resume Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The girls championship and consolation finals begin Saturday at 4:30 p.m and the boys championship and consolation finals follow at 6:30.
Injuries will make a state title run even tougher for Kahuku. Baldwin, Iolani and Kamehameha have the inside track, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres believes.
"Baldwin has a lot more quality wrestlers. They have five top girls," he said. "Pearl City, Farrington and us have numbers, but states is more about quality."
Twenty-one years have passed since Torres began coaching wrestlers at Kahuku, the last 12 as head coach. Under his tutelage, the Red Raiders have won five of the last six Oahu Interscholastic Association boys championships.
Kahuku's girls have won the last three titles, including last weekend's three-point margin of victory over Pearl City.
The titles came at a price. Misia Kamaka'ala, Kahuku's contender in the girls 130-pound weight class, suffered a shoulder injury and was knocked out of contention. Simione Mapu, challenging in the 189 division, suffered sprains to her knee and ankle.
"He tried to counter, but he didn't step," Torres said.
There were an alarming number of injuries at the OIA championships.
"It's just something that happens. It's a fluke," Torres said.
Kahuku earned three individual crowns on the boys mats. Torres' younger son, Richard, won the 119-pound division. Daniel Morita captured the 135 title, and Max Fairclough took the 275 crown despite being relatively undersized.
Danica Auna may be just a freshman, but she's no rookie. Auna began wrestling in the intermediate program at Kahuku. This season, she captured the 103-pound title at the OIAs.
Being a student of the game didn't hurt.
"She started a notebook at camp, like a study guide," Torres said. "She's one of the few who kept doing it all season."
In the book, Auna wrote her goals and kept notes on every wrestler she faced. This weekend, she's seeded second behind Iolani's Carla Watase, who won the state title at 98 pounds last season.
Moloka'i is bringing a contingent of Maui Interscholastic League titlists and contenders. Jon Small and his team hope to start strong and maintain intensity. "We worked on the kids with being mentally prepared. We do a lot of visualization," said Small, a first-year head coach.
The Farmers will stay at McKinley High School.
"We're staying away from the crowds. McKinley is quiet, and we can walk over and stretch," Small said.
A year ago, Matthew Tanielu was a rather svelte, agile battler in the 215 division. He finished second statewide to Konawaena's Dylan Rush.
The Moloka'i senior returned this season at 260 pounds. Less svelte, but just as agile.
"He's one of the most athletic heavyweights I've ever seen," Small said. "He's just as quick as last year."
Tanielu melted down to 250 and proved his mettle in MIL action. He defeated the formidable Alika McGurn of Baldwin, but stepping up at states right off the bat will be key.
"The MIL's not the toughest league for heavyweights," Small noted.
At Molokai, Tanielu has no competition.
"So I throw on my shoes every day. All our coaches do," said Small, who is 200 pounds.
Tanielu is a cousin of former Molokai standout Justin Luafalemana, who won the state 215 crown in 2002.
"He's put in the work and prepared physically," Small said. "I really expect big things from him. He's just gotta have fun."
The young squad at Saint Louis has made strides this season under second-year coach Kendrick Kakazu. The Crusaders won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship last week despite having just four seniors.
"A lot of our sophomores came through in the semifinals," said Kakazu, who was an assistant for one season before taking over for Todd Los Ba–os.
A pair of juniors, Brandon Low and Jared Silva, captured titles. Low won the 125 weight class, while Silva took the 189 title.
"They've given us leadership. Our young boys look up to them," Kakazu said. "They're learning to be verbal, but they lead more by example. They know what it takes, and if the team doesn't do it, they let 'em know."
Charles Smiley, a transfer, has also boosted the Crusaders. He finished second at 152 in the ILH championships.
Contending for a state championship won't be simple.
"We had eight in the (ILH) finals and won only two, so I'm a little bit disappointed," Kakazu added. "But state tournaments are determined by an entire team."
Kakazu coached at Waipahu for six years before becoming a fourth-grade teacher at Saint Louis. The list of powerhouses is impressive, he says.
"Kahuku is the defending champion, and Baldwin beat the (MIL) preseason favorite, Lahainaluna," he said. "If we wrestle the way I think we can, we can surprise."
One of the most intriguing athletes in the tourney is Konawaena's Rush. He won the 215 crown as a sophomore last season, but also excels in football as a two-way starter and is a track and field athlete. The 6-foot-3 junior is also an outstanding weightlifter.
Last year's state girls champion, Farrington, sustained key losses to graduation and finished fourth in the OIA championships.
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Chevron State Wrestling Championships: Division by division
Oahu schools have dominated the state wrestling championships.
Since the state championships began in 1966, no neighbor island team has won the boys crown. The girls tournament began in '98, with Oahu Interscholastic Association schools winning every team title.
Baldwin may have a say in this year's championships. The Bears bring perhaps their strongest boys and girls teams ever.
Individually, the battles are widespread. Here's a look at the boys and girls weight classes:
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By ROBERT COLLIAS, Staff Writer 1/25/05
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KAHULUI – When Leilani Visesio is on the wrestling mat, rest assured, she is wide awake.
The Maui High School junior will miss the Maui Interscholastic League wrestling meet this weekend on Molokai because she suffered cracked sixth and seventh ribs when she was off the mat a couple of weeks ago in Lahaina.
’’I fell off the bleachers at the Lahaina tournament when I was sleeping,’’ Visesio said. ’’I knew I hurt myself when I did it, but I still finished the tournament.’’
Oh yes, and like all the other 10 matches she has wrestled this season, she won that title match at the Lahainaluna gym.
Visesio is the fourth of Trish and Joe Visesio’s children to excel in a sport at Maui High. Visesio Visesio and Joe Visesio Jr. both played football in the mid-1990s and sister Clisha Visesio graduated in 2003 as a four-time MIL wrestling champion.
Last year, Leilani was fourth in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournament at 140 pounds. Her only two losses all year came after she reached the state final four.
This season, she is 10-0 with three tournament titles at 155, including one in the prestigious Maui Invitational Tournament, the top prep event in Hawaii outside of the state championships.
’’She is one of our top girls wrestlers on Maui and I think she has a good opportunity to take states this year,’’ Maui High coach Nikom Los Banos said.
Los Banos, who is the brother of longtime St. Louis School wrestling coach Todd Los Banos and father of MIL football rushing champion and wrestling champion Jonathan Los Banos, said that Visesio is working harder this year than in either of her MIL title campaigns of the last two years.
’’She is a special girl and she has lots of talent and she could do even better,’’ Los Banos said. ’’She has a lot of talent and with me and her working together she is starting to realize the talent she has. She has been challenging herself even more and she has been working harder than ever before.’’
Both coach and wrestler admit that raw talent has been enough for Leilani to excel in previous years. She joined the team as a freshman with no wrestling experience and held her own the first year with her sister, who was a senior and returning state placer at the time.
’’My sister, she always just told me to come to practice and work hard to get better,’’ Leilani said. ’’She is the reason I wanted to start wrestling.’’
It is perhaps now that her sister is serving in the U.S. Army in Germany that the youngest Visesio hears the advice the most. Los Banos said he sees a possible college wrestling future for his best female grappler.
After winning the MIL title as a freshman at 130 pounds, Visesio missed the state championships with academic problems. Now, not only are the grades under control, but Visesio also finds time to tutor peers at Hui Malama Learning Center.
’’We all help each other out’’ is the way Leilani puts it.
’’She has the potential to go far,’’ Los Banos said. ’’She is a leader for the girls team for us, no doubt.’’
There are only four girls Saber wrestlers, but when Los Banos has the chance, he will be working with Visesio to recruit more for next year.
’’Next year, we are going to go full force to get a girls team going and she will be a focal point and an example for the new girls,’’ Los Banos said.
He hopes the others can see how Visesio progressed past relying on her raw talent.
’’In the past she has been able to slack off and do real good on pure talent alone,’’ Los Banos said. ’’I have been stressing to her it is not like that in college. To go to the next level, she has to realize that not everything in life comes easy and there will plenty of times that it is going to get tough and she has got to be prepared and start working hard now. She understands that ... I think she has a good opportunity to go forward now and win a state title this year and next year. After that, she can keep going.’’
Visesio said the goal is clear.
’’Take states,’’ she said. ’’That is what I want to do this year. I have been working harder, but I’m out for a week right now.’’
Have no worries, she will not fall asleep on the job again. She knows that her goal of studying criminal justice in college could depend on the opportunities that wrestling provides.
She talks to her older siblings and father about all of it. Last year she beat eventual state champion Chaneal Meletia of Hawaii Baptist at the MIT, but lost to her in the state semifinals.
’’All of my family just says, ’Stay with it, keep going to practice and you’ll go far,’ ’’ Visesio said. ’’I know now how hard I have to work if I want to keep getting better and go where I want to go.’’
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Iokia sets sights on state title
By BRAD SHERMAN, Staff Writer 3/2/05
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WAILUKU – Shyla Iokia can see herself winning a state championship.
The Baldwin High School 120-pound wrestler doesn’t have to imagine it. It’s right there on paper.
’’I place my girls before I go against them. I just drew a poster of me standing first and putting the girls from the other schools in their bracket,’’ Iokia, the Chevron State Wrestling Championships’ No. 1 seed at 120, said Monday.
Iokia has spent some time waiting for the opportunity that will come Friday and, she hopes, Saturday at the Neal Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.
In 2004, Danyelle Hedin claimed a third straight state title by pinning Iokia in the 125-pound state final. That was Hedin’s senior season at Kailua, however, and Iokia believes her moment has arrived.
’’I feel very confident this year knowing she is gone,’’ said the 2004 Maui Interscholastic League Girls Wrestler of the Year. ’’The end of last year, all I could think about was this year. I was disappointed getting second place. I wanted first. Second is not in my mind. My goal is first place.’’
Baldwin coach Mike Donahoo expects the 120-pound bracket to present some challenges.
’’She’s in the toughest weight class in the state,’’ he said. ’’Her and (second-seeded) Lauren Primiano from Punahou are both nationally ranked.’’
Primiano was sixth in the state at 130 in 2004. The No. 3 seed is Ashley Poling of Kaiser, who was fourth at 114 in 2004. Keoniana Flavin-Sylva of Kohala is the No. 4 seed.
Iokia (11-0) will open against Kayla Furtado of Waipahu, a state qualifier last year.
Iokia, who won by fall in both of her matches at the MIL tournament, has plenty of state meet experience.
’’That’s a big thing, knowing, ’This is what we have to do,’ ’’ Iokia said.
With the Baldwin girls in contention for a team title, Iokia hopes to contribute some extra points.
’’Two points can be a state title,’’ she said. ’’My first couple of matches, I plan on getting a lot of points or trying to pin them.’’
Brad Sherman can be reached at bsherman@mauinews.com
CHEVRON STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
MOST GIRLS SEEDS
Baldwin 7
Kealakehe 6
Iolani 4
Punahou 3
Kamehameha Oahu 3
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Wythe wrestler is one of a kind at state meet
Hadley Perona is the only girl who advanced to the Group A or AA championships in Salem.
By Randy King 3/5/05
The Roanoke Times
One didn't have to be a private eye to pick out Hadley Perona in the crowded congregation of 447 wrestlers assembled for Friday's start of the Group A and Group AA tournaments at the Salem Civic Center.
In a testosterone sea full of rippled physiques and muscle mania, Perona was the one with the long and flowing blonde locks. She was the only girl on the mats.
No big deal, said the 103-pounder from George Wythe High School.
"Basically, I look at it as if I'm just like one of the guys," Perona said. "I mean, I clip my nails shorter, that's about the only difference. I do paint my toenails before every match, so I'm probably the only one who does that. And I'm almost definitely the only one with their toenails painted pink."
Sounds like a safe pin there.
Only the third female wrestler ever to participate in a Virginia state wrestling tournament, Perona came agonizingly close to rewriting history Friday afternoon. She had Parry McCluer's Brandon Cash in prime position for a pin in their first-round Group A consolation match, only to let him escape.
"I thought I had him," Perona said. "That was my big chance and I let it get away."
As 99.9 percent of the house expected, Cash eventually became money, pinning Perona's shoulders to the canvas a minute later.
"Hadley was so close, so close to making history as the only girl to ever win a match in a state tournament," said Maroons coach Trey Jones, shaking his head. "Just a little different move here or there and she maybe could have won both of those matches today."
Perona, a senior, may not have accomplished her goal of putting her name in the record book, but so what. Hey, you still go, girl, even though you've wrestled your last foe.
"Hadley has got nothing to be ashamed about," said Kris McSheehan, GW's senior 275-pounder. "I respect her so much for doing what she's done. Everybody on this team is so proud of her."
After winning only one match in her first two years on the squad, Perona came to the state tournament with a 9-18 record. She pinned John Battle's Will Haderer in 1:56 in last Saturday's third-place Region D match to join Andee Sears of Shawsville and Firen Gassman of Herndon as the only girls to qualify for the state event.
"I bet that kid heard some stuff at school about that," McSheehan said, referring to Haderer. "If I was a dude, I would quit wrestling if I got beat by a girl."
Billy Lewis, the Maroons' senior 215-pounder, said he's glad that Perona has been on his side.
"She has wrestled some really tough guys, guys I thought she couldn't beat, and she's rolled 'em over and pinned 'em," Lewis said. "I know it makes the guys nervous. There were a few who actually forfeited because they didn't want to wrestle a girl. I couldn't."
Perona, who comes across as anything but the "tomboy" type, was never oblivious to the heavy burden to win placed on guys facing her.
"I understand why guys would be upset losing to me," she said. "Hey, I'm a girl! I've lost to a girl and that was maybe the worst loss in my life because I don't like losing to girls, either."
Of course, the girl did pay her dues. Her teammates acknowledged that Perona has worked as hard as they have the past three years in the steamy GW wrestling room.
"She's a tough girl, a different type girl," McSheehan said. "She's like one of us. She talks like us, acts like us."
Well, in most ways. Before taking up wrestling in her sophomore year, Perona already was used to wearing tights. Ballet tights, that is.
"I decided I needed a winter sport before track season because there wasn't much ballet in Wytheville and I was just sitting around," she said. "I had a friend on the wrestling team and none on the other winter teams, so I went that route."
Perona's parents, who moved to Wytheville from Northern Virginia her freshman year, didn't exactly turn flips when their daughter came home one day and informed them that she wanted to go out for the wrestling team.
"My dad said, 'Well, I don't know if you know what you're getting yourself into,'" Perona said. "Now that I've liked wrestling so much, my dad has put all three of my little brothers into wrestling, and they're loving it.
"Still, I'll never forget when I started wrestling. I came down the hallway and somebody cursed and snapped their fingers and handed over like $5 to another guy because they had bet on whether or not I would show up at practice. The next day, the same thing happened. Finally, they stopped betting because I guess they figured I was going to keep coming. The guys have been with me the whole way since.
"Hey, I've taken my share of butt-whoppings. But I was having too much fun to quit. Some of the best matches I've had is when a kid just kicked my butt."
Talk about a one-of-a-kind girl.
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Gonzalez, Knight wrestle way to first
By Times-Herald staff 3/7/05
Eunice Tjon, in red, a former Vallejo High wrestler now attending UC Davis, and CCSF student Denise Lee, competed in the open division at Sundays USGWA Northern California womens wrestling tournament at Springstowne Middle School. Photo: Mike Jory/Times-Herald |
The string of success for the Vallejo High girls wrestlers continued at the USGWA Northern California women's wrestling tournament on Sunday at Springstowne Middle School.
With the national meet looming on March 19 and 20 in Lake Orion, Mich., Monica Gonzalez and Lauren Knight each claimed first-place finishes at Sunday's open meet, an event not affiliated with school competition.
Competing in the high school division, Knight won the 144-pound class by topping state meet runner-up Ashley Evans-Smith of Ukiah. Meanwhile Gonzalez, weighing just 165 pounds, defeated Christine Elderheld, also a state-meet runner-up, in the 190-pound division.
"It was a great match," said Vallejo assistant coach Carl Lastrella of Gonzalez's effort. "Giving up that much weight, she really fought hard."
Other Vallejo finishers included Jaime Sage (second place, 124 pounds), Angie Miller (second, 138) and Maria Angara (third, 108). In the open division, Vallejo graduate Eunice Tjon, now a student at UC Davis, took second at 120 pounds. Tjon lost in the final to Denise Lee, a CCSF student and the head wrestling coach for the boys, girls and junior varsity at Lowell High in San Francisco.
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Female wrestler makes her mark
By ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT 3/4/05
When Fleetwill Hernandez recently wrestled in her first girls'
tournament, there was a lot of pride at stake. She couldn't imagine anything worse
than losing to a girl.
The Lemon Bay High School sophomore didn't disappoint herself. She won
all five of her matches, including four by pins, to capture the 112-pound
girls' state championship.
The 5-foot, 112-pounder likes be different from other folks. "I don't
like to be like everyone else and do what people expect me to do. I've
always been a tomboy and done the things boys do growing up," Hernandez said.
Her mother, Carmella, said Fleetwill did a lot of girls' things in her
younger years -- playing with dolls and the like -- but even as little
girl she had her sights set on higher goals.
"When Fleetwill was 8 years old, she told me she was going to go to
college, and now she has a 4.5 GPA (weighted)," Carmella said. "She is the
youngest of my three children, and I never had to worry about her. She never
gave me any flack and has devoted her life to sports. She is so quiet and
reserved and congenial, you would never think she was a wrestler."
Fleetwill's older sister, Angela, a 2000 Lemon Bay graduate, was one of
the first girls to wrestle on the Lemon Bay High team. When Fleetwill first
saw her sister compete, she was not impressed.
"I remember Fleetwill saying it was the dumbest thing she ever saw, but
that was five years ago," Carmella said.
Fleetwill began venturing into the world of boys' sports in seventh
grade, when she plaed in the Englewood Pop Warner Football League. She played
wide receiver her first year, but switched to the defensive line in eighth
grade to be closer to the action.
When Fleetwill came to high school, she wanted to play football, but
she didn't because she wasn't big enough. She decided to take up wrestling,
where she could compete against people her own size.
At first her mom was reluctant to give her permission. She wanted to
make sure Fleetwill had a smoother path to walk than her older sister.
"When Angela wrestled for Lemon Bay, she didn't get a lot of
camaraderie from the guys on the team, mainly because of some parents, and I didn't
want that to happen to Fleetwill," Carmella said. "I went to the coach (Greg
Rivera), and he assured me that wouldn't happen. Everything has worked
out great."
Fleetwill finished with a 10-13 record on the varsity this season,
competing in the 112-pound class. Of her 10 victories, two were pins. More
important, she proved to herself and others that she could compete against the
guys.
"My goal is to qualify for the boys' state tournament when I am a
senior and hopefully get a scholarship to wrestle in college," Fleetwill said. "I
need to get stronger and improve my technique. I am going to have to work
harder than any of the guys and be more confident."
Rivera said Fleetwill is capable of great things on the mats.
"Fleetwill has all the potential in the world and could become the
first girl to qualify for the boys' tournament," Rivera said. "For a girl to
wrestle against guys is very hard. I would imagine they are giving up a
strength advantage the lion's share of the time. And you also have to
deal with the stigma from a good part of the wrestling community that
doesn't feel girls should be wrestling against boys or wrestling at all. I
personally would love to see her make states."
Fleetwill says she is not out to break down barriers or become a
pioneer. The 16-year-old just wants to wrestle. She plays on the Lemon Bay
softball team and tried other sports growing up, but nothing has captured her
imagination the way wrestling has.
"Wrestling is my favorite because it's an individual sport," Fleetwill
said. "If you make a mistake, it's your fault, and it teaches you a lot about
self discipline.
"I've always liked rough sports. I got it from running around with my
brother and sister and watching sports on television. The boys on the
wrestling team have treated me with a lot of respect. The team has
become like a family, and I am like their little sister."
Fleetwill says there is a difference playing for a girls' team compared
with being on the wrestling team. She has to temper her personality on the
Lemon Bay High softball team.
"The girls are more sensitive. If you make fun of them in a joking way,
some look at it as a big deal and won't take it as a joke," Fleetwill said.
"You have to watch what you say more with girls because they will turn
on you at any moment."
In the coming weeks, Fleetwill will get a chance to show how good she
is against other females. This Sunday, she will compete for another state
title in the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association tournament at Lemon Bay High
School. On March 19 and 20, she will wrestle in the national girls' tournament
in Michigan.
Fleetwill's future ambitions are just as big as the ones she has now in
her wrestling career. She hopes to go to medical school some day and become
a plastic surgeon.
"It's something I've always wanted to do because making people look
perfect would make me happy," Fleetwill said.
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