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In this week’s “Fresh Voices,” Susie Levitt, 18, discusses why she loves wrestling and encourages other girls to give the sport a try. Below are a few facts about girls’ wrestling and some online resources to learn more about this growing phenomenon:
• About 4000 girls wrestle at the high school level in the U.S. (compared to 239,000 boys), according to the USA Wrestling Association.
• High school girls’ wrestling has only been sanctioned in two states: Hawaii and Texas (both since 1999).
• Until girls’ wrestling teams are numerous enough to get state sanctioning, girls have to compete at informal divisions or meets instead of state tournaments—or compete against boys. In 2005, there were 17 girls who qualified for boys’ high school state tournaments around the country, and six of those girls placed.
United States Girl’s Wrestling Association (USGWA)
Visit the USGWA’s Web site to find tournaments, see rankings and join a discussion forum.
USA Wrestling Association
Get the latest wrestling news, tournament results, athlete bios, a directory of clubs, and information about Title IX and women’s wrestling.
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Susie Levitt, 18, of Danbury, Conn., ,as ranked No.4 by the United States girls Wrestling Association for the 2004 season. As women's wrestling gains momentum (it became an Olympic event last summer), Levitt explains why she hopes more girls will live the sport a chance.
My older brother was an All-American wrester, and my dad became a wrestling zealot and started an elementary league. My sister and I were the only girls on he team. When I was 7, I beat every boy in the league in my weight class.
I didn't get to wrestle again until high school-I was the only girl on a
team full of state champions. By then, he boys were all stronger. I have a lot f muscle, but the boys are naturally faster. In practice, I'd have to push myelf as hard as I could just to keep up.
During practice my sophomore year, the team captain said to me-in front of everyone, ''Why do you wrestle? You suck." I went to the bathoom and cried. He didn't undertand that I'm really good against girls, but I'm practicing with all guys
and can't compete fairly. Still, a lot of guys have refused to wrestle me because they're afraid of losing. (And a
few have cried when they did lose.) That's why I'm hoping more girls will come out for wrestling, so we don't have to be matched with guys. It's actually a lot harder to wrestle other girls, because we're flexible and can do lots of moves guys can't.
At first, everyone thought I was out there just to be with the boys. But I proved I was serious. I love wrestling because I'm competitive. It's a team sport, but you compete individually. And it's a great workout. People are shocked when I tell them I wrestle, because I'm so girly: I wear makeup, have long hair and curves. It
shows that you don't have to be a tomboy or weird. You can just be'a regular girl who wants to wrestle.
-As told to "Fresh Voices"
contributor Mama Kula
Girls: Are you ready to wrestle?
For more on girl's wrestling, visit www.parade.com and click on "WebUnks."
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2005 Junior Nationals -Women Freestyle Competitors (by state)
7/20/2005
Meredith Wilson/USA Wrestling
WOMEN FREESTYLE
Alaska
110 Michaela, Hutchison
California
95 Panganoran, Deanie
102 Jimenez, Michelle
110 Campbell, Kristen
110 Fulp-Allen, Kathrine
110 Tran, Christina
119 Germany, Jennifer
119 Padilla, Tatiana
119 Plessinger, Trinity
128 Cunningham, Christine
128 Espana, Emiley
128 Harris, Bethany
128 Jauck, Jessica
138 Brown, Stella
138 Garlinghouse, Eva
138 Reif, Amanda
138 Wilborn, Katrina
148 Evan-Smith, Ashlee
148 Havens, Amy
148 McCabe, Shelia
148 Ratto, Stevie
160 Gonsalez, Monica
160 Lamon, Georgetta
175 Fenton, Amanda
195 Basulto, Paloma
Colorado
102 Sauer, Brooke
119 Brouillette, Jen
138 Lucero, Melanie
Connecticut
128 Corden, Megan
138 Clodgo, Erin
138 Shaw, Stefenie
148 Pirozhkov, Elena
Florida
95 Vazquez, Vanity
102 Brayboy , Christina
110 Bone , Tara
110 Shockley , Audrey
128 Gallo , Breisja
138 Isaac , Maria
148 Maloff , Leila
160 Glover , Jennifer
220 Henderson, Leka
Georgia
138 Timbs, Krissa
Hawaii
102 Hirata, Rayna
102 Oshiro, Joleen
102 Watase, Carla
110 Manglaylay, Sheryl
119 Aoki, Sarah
119 Iokia, Shyla
128 Kalalau, Pi\'ikea
128 Poling, Ashley
128 Primiano, Lauren
138 Kiyuna, Krystal
138 Takasaki, Kara
175 Memea, Desiree
Illinois
110 Chase, Caitlyn
160 Monreal-Berner, Dallas
Indiana
119 WEBER, MICHELLE
128 MOISANT, CAITLIN
150 DURBIN, CAITLIN
150 LYBARGER, ASHLEIGH
175 MATTHEWS, STEPHANIE
Iowa
119 Morley, Heather
119 Peterson, Chandra
138 Storm, Paige
Kansas
110 Ward, Regina
119 Mercer, Emma
128 Engel, Chandra
128 Karol, Tina
148 Leak, Cherasa
160 Howey, Yaslyn
175 Bowser, Libby
Kentucky
110 Turner, Charlotte
Louisiana
138 SCHENCK, HOPE
Maine
110 Pearse, Krist
128 Rix, Deanna
Maryland
102 Woody, Nicole
Michigan
95 STEVENS, SHELBY
110 ST AMOUR, ALISSA
110 STEIN, JESSICA
119 LESNER, MELISSA
119 OLSON, SHASTA
119 PORTER, AMNORINA
128 CODDEN, JAMIE
128 KUJAWA, DEANN
128 KULAS, TRISHA
138 GORMAN, SAMANTHA
138 KAFFENBERGER, CYNTHIA
138 NETJES, NIKITA
138 RIFE, PAIGE
138 VANHOUTEN, ROBYN
150 CARPENTER, KATIE
165 CHITTENDEN, AMANDA
Minnesota
95 Heidemann, Erica
102 Holthaus, Rachael
110 Rassmussen, Kelli
110 Short, Alicia
119 Lowe, Audra
119 Pringle, Chelynne
119 Thomas, Adara
128 Johnson, Ashley
138 Fergason, Maraela
148 Doran, Leah
Montana
101 Flores, Hildi
110 Jolley, Stephanie
138 Caceido, Ashley
138 Higgins, Arbana
New Jersey
95 Price, Brandy
138 Fee, Samantha
138 Hesse, Alaina
New York
95 Whitbeck, Amy
102 Acors, Dianna
119 Darrow, Nicole
119 Thompson, Heather
128 Brown, Shorna
128 Lohan, Ashley
138 Norton, Kyra
160 Copeland, Toni
175 Russell, Juanita
North Dakota
128 Desjarlais, Kirsten
138 St. Germaine, Jordan
Ohio
102 Price, Samamtha
110 Beatty, Catey
110 Bowling, Erica
110 Breezley, Amanda
119 Garcia, Nena
128 Peabody, Jennifer
128 Walker, India
138 Oswalt, Vanessa
138 White, Ashley
160 Simmons, Qadriyah
175 English, Sarah
Oklahoma
102 Miller, Joey
128 Stokes, Cheyenne
Pennsylvania
95 Fuller, Chelsea
110 Baron, Jessica
110 Hiner, Erin
119 Alton, Raquel
119 Tran, Diem
128 Hardy, Andrea
128 Kaghler, Reneta
128 Morales, Bianco
148 Poraczky, Lindsey
South Carolina
195 Delgado, Brittany
195 Oliver, Kelly
Texas
95 Timmons, Helen
101 Grajeda, Crystal
101 Lowe, Aubrey
101 Martin, Emily
101 Wood, Lene
110 Courtcamp, Beth
110 Molinar, Crystal
110 Painter, Ashley
119 Barney, LeAnn
119 Van Allen, Sarah
119 Woodruff, Raquel
128 French, Desiree
128 Howe, Karen
138 Epps, Vanessa
138 Redner, Lisa
138 Skinner, Hannah
150 Brooks, Lindsey
150 Griego, Alannah
150 Marsolek, Lauren
165 Barrientons, Gladys
165 Dalke, Clarissa
165 Moriel, Daphne
165 Rodgers, Toni
175 Birks, Lauren
175 Clark, Carrie
175 Crane, Kelsey
175 McClendon, Erica
Virginia
110 Brown, Schuyler
Washington
102 Conder, Whitney
102 Yeik, Camie
110 Watkins, Melissa
119 LaMonica, Dana
128 Liebman, Hillary
128 Montgomery, Amberle
138 Williams, Sarah
160 Simmons, Melissa
West Virginia
110 Barrett, Krissy
128 Griffin, Shannon
Wisconsin
102 Lampe, Alyssa
119 Harper, Emily
119 Miracle, Amber
138 Ebert, Amberlee
160 Novinska, Lacey
Wyoming
102 Varland, Christina
