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Lady Vikings begin year with eight medals
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
By Chris Allen/Sports Editor
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HAMILTON, Ont. -- The Missouri Valley College women's wrestling team garnered eight medals during its opening event of the 2005-06 season: the McMaster Invitational, Nov. 4-5 at Hamilton, Ont.
Leading the charge for the Lady Vikings was a newcomer, freshman Sharlee Solis of Castro Valley, Calif. She won the 55-kilogram title with a 3-0, 5-1 decision over freshman Warry Woodard of the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.).
Reaching the finals before losing were three other Valley freshmen: Samantha Schuman (51 kilograms) of Omaha, Neb.; Lacey Novinska (72) of Fennimore, Wis.; and Colette Curtis (82) of Gardner, Kan. Schuman won three of four rounds, Novinska recorded four falls and Curtis pinned three opponents.
Freshman Celeste Contreras (72) was fourth, freshman Christina Varland (48) was fifth and sophomore Britney Sevy (51) -- the only returning letterman among the eight medalists -- and freshman Sara Hilliard (67) were sixth.
Lest one think that the Lady Vikings are almost an entirely new squad, it should be noted that 15 of the 20 entries -- including 12 of 15 medalists -- from their University Nationals lineup of a year ago are back. They just didn't compete in the season opener.
That list is headed by three champions -- senior Brooke Bogren and Kelly Branham and sophomore Brittany Jones -- and finalists in juniors Erika Chew and Julie Duarte and sophomores Rachel Billerbeck and Astrid Gomez. Returning bronze medalists are juniors Angelee Homma, Clarissa Caribuso and Selina Perez.
Bogren and Branham have been ranked among the top U.S. Seniors throughout their careers and Jones made a mark as a freshman, despite wrestling with an injured knee. Billerbeck came on strong late in the season, coming in fifth in the U.S. Senior Nationals and second in the World Team Trials. Calibuso also placed at the trials.
Valley was second to arch-rival Cumberlands at the McMaster meet, 74 to 34 points, and may get to go head to head against the Patriots at the Canadian International Duals, Dec. 3-4 at Thunder Bay, Ont.
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November 5, 2005
Women’s Team Standing
1. Cumberland College 74
2. Missouri 34
3. Lakehead University 18
4. University of Western Ontario 12
5 McMaster University 6
6. University of Guelph 5
7. Queens University 5
8 Vanier College 5
9. Memorial University 3
10. Royal Military College 3
11 Brock University 3
Individual Placement
48 kg
1. Melissa Girard Cumberland
2. Daisy Callado Cumberland
3. Deserre Cazares Cumberland
4. Rinalda DiDious Guelph
5. Christina Varlard Missuori
51 kg
1. Jessica Medina Cumberland
2. Sumantha Schuman Missouri
3. Terri McNutt UWO
4. E. Voice RMC
5. Brittany Owens Cumberland
6. Brittany Sevy Missouri
55 kg
1. Sharlee Solis Missouri
2. Warry Wadward Cumberland
3. S. Mullens Queens
4. Tara Williams Cumberland
5. Antonesia Giles Cumberland
6. Maggy Klank Cumberland
59 kg
1. Katie Patroc Lakehead
2. Othella Luca Cumberland
3. Nikita Chicoine Cumberland
4. Sarah Peasley Wisconsin
5. Leah Daugherty Wisconsin
6. Krystal Kiyuna Cumberland
63 kg
1. Alaine Berubi Cumberland
2. Tasha Eady Lakehead
3. Melody McCauge Lakehead
4. Salpi Mrgdichian MWC
5. Megan Nevil Cumberland
6. Krista Childres Cumberland
67 kg
1. H. Martion Cumberland
2. Shelley Ruberg Cumberland
3. Stef Howorun McMaster University
4. Kerri-ann Everly Memorial University
5. Jessica Fitzgerald UWO
6. Sara Hilliard Missouri
72 kg
1. Tabetha Golt Cumberland
2. Lacey Novinska Missouri
3. Kirby Steinhoff UWO
4. Celeste Contrera Missouri
5. Kristy Ferguson U of G
82kg
1. Toccara Montgomery Cumberland
2. Collette Curtie Missouri
3. Theresa Fennel Cumberland
4. Jen Hansen Brock
5. Natasha Guzman Cumberland
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USA Wrestling to host Body Bar Women’s Nationals at U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 6-7
11/14/2005
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The major age-group national championships for women has moved to a new location, as USA Wrestling announced that the Body Bar Women’s Nationals will be hosted at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 6-7.
This competition provides major USA Wrestling national championships for female wrestlers at three different age levels, the University division, the FILA Junior division and the FILA Cadet division.
University athletes are ages 18-24, including many of the best college wrestlers in the nation. FILA Junior athletes are ages 17-20. FILA Cadet athletes are ages 15-17.
There will be a FILA Junior World Championships for women this year, held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, Aug. 29 – Sept. 3. The Body Bar FILA Junior Women’s National Championships are part of the qualification process for the U.S. Junior World Team.
In addition, a Kids National Freestyle Championships event has also been held alongside the three age-group national tournaments.
Athletes who qualify for Funded Access will be able to stay in the dormitories at the U.S. Olympic Training Center free of charge while participating in the tournament. Contact USA Wrestling National Developmental and Resident Coach Izzy Izboinikov for more details on this tremendous opportunity.
Three years ago, USA Wrestling combined its women’s age-group national events for the first time. The Body Bar Women’s Nationals have been previously hosted in St. Joseph, Minn. and San Diego, Calif.. A combined national championships for young women provides tremendous competition for a variety of age groups featuring the nation’s best wrestlers.
Additional information on the event will be posted when available on TheMat.com.
2005 BODY BAR WOMEN’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
FILA CADET NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
40 kg/88 lbs.- Amy Whitbeck, Duansburg, N.Y.
43 kg/94.75 lbs. - Misty Corwin, Waldport, Ore.
46 kg/101.25 lbs – Alyssa Lampe, Tomahawk, Wis.
49 kg/108 lbs– Michaela Hutchison, Soldotna, Alaska
52 kg/114.5 lbs– Tatiana Padilla, La Verne, Calif.
56 kg/123.25 lbs– Beth Johnson, Garden City, Kan.
60 kg/132.25 lbs– Jackie Cataline, Corona, Calif.
65 kg/143.25 - Paige Rife, Fowlerville, Mich.
70 kg/154.25 lbs- Melissa Simmons, Ridgefield, Wash.
78 kg/170 lbs- Rachel Gomez, W. Sacremento, Calif.
100 kg/220 lbs- Brittany Delgado, Fountain Inn, S.C.
FILA JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
44 kg/88 lbs- Melissa Gerard, Williamsburg, Ky. (Cumberland College)
48 kg/105.5 lbs– Sara Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif. (Menlo College)
51 kg/112.25 lbs– Kapua Torres, Forest Grove, Ore. (Pacific Univ.)
55 kg/121 lbs– Dany Hedin, Marquette, Mich. (USOEC)
59 kg/130 lbs.– Suekoilya Shelly, Bedford, Texas (Cumberland College)
63 kg/138.75 lbs– Jackie Cataline, Corona, Calif. (Cataline’s Wildcats)
67 kg/147.5 lbs– Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio (Cumberland College)
72 kg/158.5 lbs– Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Univ. of Regina) 7
79.5 kg/175 lbs. - Samantha Lang, Tualatin, Ore. (Team Oregon)
UNIVERSITY NATIONALS CHAMPIONS
48 kg/105.5 lbs.- Laura Felix, Bakersfield, Calif. (Cal-State Bakersfield)
51 kg/112.25 lbs– Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs – Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
59 kg/130 lbs– Brooke Bogren, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Ashley Sword, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs - Kelly Branham, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley)
72 kg/158.5 lbs - Brittany Jones, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley)
77 kg/169.5 lbs- Megan Goldsmith, Merillan, Wis. (Univ. of Calgary)
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Verbeek speaks highly of her fascinating wrestling experience
By: Rob Terpstra
Issue date: 11/15/05 Section: Sports
A celebration of excellence is a theme that inevitably follows Tonya Verbeek around.
Thursday night was no exception as Brock's most famous athlete told her story in front of those who hope to follow in her footsteps.
The venue, the Parkway Ramada in St. Catharines, provided Verbeek an avenue in which to relay her advice to Brock's finest student-athletes. The student-athletes, who maintained an 80 per cent average or higher while taking a full course load and participating in a varsity sport, got the privilege of spending an evening with their most famous peer.
Verbeek's greatest accomplishments, aside from her continuing master's degree at the university, have taken the form of sport inside the wrestling circle. The owner of dozens of medals nationally and internationally, Verbeek made noise on the amateur level when she won Canada's first ever female wrestling medal, a silver. At the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens, Greece last year, Verbeek put Brock University women's wrestling on the map.
"I think it's really exciting what she's done for the sport," said Olympics training partner and former Brock wrestler Heather Sweezey. "It's fantastic because she is always driven."
Sweezey was just one of the many of Verbeek's growing family in attendance at the dinner and silent auction, used primarily to raise money for the athletes. The event raised more than $3,500 in donations from several corporate sponsors of Brock's athletics department. Each sponsor's table was represented by several Badgers athletes, with more than 15 varsity sports present.
In speaking to more than 150 student-athletes, business persons, administrators and coaches, Verbeek outlined her road to success, starting at her high school's inception of women's wrestling in grade 11. Verbeek remained undefeated for nearly two years, building a false sense of invincibility heading into university. As the 28-year-old started to lose against tougher competition, she began to doubt herself and considered abandoning wrestling altogether - something shocking, considering her parents were blind sided by their daughter's introduction to the sport just years earlier.
"I was fortunate enough to be able to get back on my feet and understand what I needed to do to be the best," said Verbeek. "It had to come from myself and a lot of support. That's what sport is all about and what it can do for people."
Verbeek climbed the proverbial ladder in Canada's national ranks, topping out at second or third, unable to reach the pinnacle of the 55kg weight division several times throughout her career.
The final pieces to Verbeek's puzzle, a wrestler who had the tools for success, but who was unable to capitalize, came together in, luckily an Olympic year. Every hope seemed to collapse as just before the Canadian nationals, the Beamsville native sustained an ankle injury, severe enough to keep her out of the competition.
Gaining enough points throughout the year, Verbeek was granted a wrestle-off against the top two finishers at the nationals. Taking full advantage of perhaps her road to immeasurable success, she climbed to victory at the right time.
"Wrestling is not a sport that you can do at a recreation or a mediocre level," said Verbeek. "It requires intense training and physical and mental preparation that is unique for a competitive sport."
Still, her journey was far from over - as she still had to qualify for her weight division in the Olympic Trials. Waiting until the completion of the last competition, Verbeek attained the 12th and final spot for a trip to the greatest sporting event on Earth.
Travelling to Athens, Verbeek had an advantageous road to medal contention. The road to glory was in part due to the fact that the Japanese wrestler, Saori Yoshida, undefeated in international competition, was on the opposite side of the draw. This allowed her to proceed to the semifinals and a chance at medalling in the Games. In the early morning of Aug. 23, 2004, Verbeek defeated Ida-Theres Karlsson to advance to the much anticipated showdown with Yoshida.
That day, millions of viewers tuned into CBC, watching the clash of the titans occur before their very eyes. With nothing to lose and the entire school, city and nation behind her, Verbeek would go down fighting, again the victim of the impenetrable Japanese wrestler. Verbeek had lost, but in more ways won, exalting her presence on the international stage and bringing home hardware that no other woman had ever accomplished.
She has no intention of stopping now. Verbeek is fully involved in coaching Brock's wrestling team, completing her degree, and doing the little things in life that she has been putting off for some time. In just a short time, she will again begin the training that has enveloped her life, aiming towards Beijing 2008, the site of her next shot at Olympic glory.
"You can accomplish a lot," Verbeek said. "My message is that there is more to come, but don't settle for mediocrity - you should feel unsatisfied. You should take risks."
Maintaining a balanced life, striving towards goals within reach and becoming the best that is demanded is certainly the message that got through to her audience. What they do with this advice and how it is utilized will be a testament of time.