Stephanie Jolley watchers her dad Tom Jolley give a quick run-down of a wrestling move Tuesday night at Darby Junior High School. ERIN HOLLERN - Ravalli Republic
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Ready to rumble
Four local wrestlers gear up for nationals
By ERIN HOLLERN - Ravalli Republic 7/22/05
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Stephanie Jolley watchers her dad Tom Jolley give a quick run-down of a wrestling move Tuesday night at Darby Junior High School. ERIN HOLLERN - Ravalli Republic |
Whoever said that wrestling is a sport solely for boys forgot to tell this group of ladies.
All this week in Darby eight dedicated, determined girls worked twice-daily training for this year's upcoming wrestling season. Not only were they gearing up for next spring but four of them will be heading to the National Wrestling Tournament that kicks off next week in Fargo. It'll be the first time Montana will be represented by women wrestlers - ever.
"It's really exciting that we have four going to represent Montana for the first time," said coach Tom Jolley. "But all eight wrestlers we have here are working hard this week."
And who better to train with than the reigning National Champion herself -Sally Roberts.
Robert's flew in Monday from her home at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to assist coach Jolley in preparing the girls for the national tournament. Roberts is the 2003 National Champion, the 2003 World Bronze Medalist and the 2003 World Cup Champion.
"Part of my requirement to live at the training center is to volunteer my time to state services that need you," said Roberts. "So if there's a girls camp going on they try to get us out there and promote the sport and show the girls the possibilities they could have in the future if they stick with it."
For Roberts wrestling didn't come naturally and after 10 years of losing most of her matches in high school to boys she began wrestling other women and started winning. Now with two National Championships and a World Bronze Medal she currently is training to compete in the Olympics in Colorado Springs.
"I tried out for every sport in high school and got cut but I needed something to focus my attention on," said Roberts. "So I took up wrestling and ended up loving it. I stuck it out and now many years later it's my job."
Being a girl in a male-dominated sport never crossed her mind - it's just the direction she chose to take.
"Instead of being a volleyball player or a basketball player I chose wrestling," added Roberts. "It worked out for me because I was persistent and I worked hard at it."
The drills and techniques that Roberts brought to Darby from the Olympic training center was the same system that coach Jolley had already been teaching. His coaching staff was ecstatic that what they've been doing all along was what they were teaching at the top level.
"It's off the hook that she was here this week with us," said Jolley. "The one great thing for our coaching staff is that we were getting confirmation on the way we were already training. It solidified everyone's confidence in what they have been working on and what I do."
Darby currently has seven girls from fourth grade through high school involved in wrestling and coach Jolley thinks that per capita, it's probably the largest group in Montana.
"These girls have inspired each other to be here," added Jolley. "The numbers have increased and it's probably the largest group in the state."
After high school, girls have a slight advantage over boys to get scholarships because women's wrestling in college is growing rapidly. More and more women are wanted with each season.
"I've always been able to affect guys entire lives," said Jolley. "With girls I had to coach them with a grain of salt because they didn't have a goal. Now there're opportunities for scholarships, Olympics opportunities and national titles. I can now coach them on the same level and bingo, I'm changing their lives like the boys."
"These girls have great opportunities to get scholarships mainly because women are so wanted in the wrestling industry," said Kelly Jolley. "All colleges are supported through the USA wrestling foundation so their opportunity to travel is unbelievable."
Next week in Fargo Ashley Caicedo, Hildia Flowers, Stephanie Jolley all from Darby and Arbana Higgins from Browning will be competing for a chance to train in Colorado Springs. The top six in each weight class will get an opportunity to work with the best of the best at the Olympic Training Center - all expenses paid.
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7/22/2005
Live Sports Video/
Watch the USA Wrestling ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet National Championship finals!!
All five gold-medal championship rounds will be taped live and then web cast, starting Friday, July 29th, at 5pm on www.LiveSportsVideo.com
USA Wrestling and Live Sports Video.com team up to bring you this excitement “On-Demand.” You no longer have to worry about a TV schedule. You can watch the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet National Championship finals when it is convenient for you, anytime from your computer.
Up to 4,500 wrestlers from 49 different states will compete at the event, spread on over 20 mats on the floor of the FargoDome on the campus of North Dakota State. The nation’s best young athletes will be in competition, battling for coveted national titles.
For only $4.95 for one week, fans can watch all of the web casts. No matter when you subscribe to www.LiveSportsVideo.com, you can watch all of the Junior and Cadet National Championship finals. See schedule dates below for when web cast first becomes available to the public.
Web cast available date: (All webcasts made available after 5pm)
* Cadet Greco-Roman Finals, Web cast starting Friday July 29th - 5pm
* Junior Greco-Roman Finals, Web cast starting Saturday July 30th - 5pm
* Cadet Freestyle Finals, Web cast starting Tuesday August 2nd – 5pm
* Junior Freestyle Finals, Web cast starting Wednesday 3rd – 5pm
* Junior Women Finals, Web cast starting Wednesday August 3rd – 5pm