News

The little school that can

By Don Bodger
Apr 25 2006

Queen of Angels school is a small package where good things are happening.
The importance of sports at the tiny school has soared to an unprecedented level through its ground-breaking wrestling program and the increased productivity of its girls’ and boys’ basketball teams.
There are other sports, but wrestling and basketball top the list. The older Grade 7 through 9 students are setting an example that’s having a trickle-down effect all the way to the kindergarten children.
Several factors can be attributed for the resurgence.
The first is the support of principal Gerald Fogal and vice-principal Ellen Hannon.
The second has been the arrival of keen staff members with a solid foundation in sports — Ciaran McLaverty in May of 2003, Christan Hiscock for two years as a working staff member and three as a coach and newest addition Nick Zuback last September.
The school is raising money toward purchasing a $9,000 wrestling mat and the basketball teams are making ambitious plans to attend a tournament in December in either Hawaii or California.
“When I first came here three years ago, there was absolutely nothing,’’ said Hiscock, who serves as athletic co-ordinator. “We were practicing with rubber basketballs.’’
With the addition of new Top-Flight basketballs came a whole new attitude. The emergence of wrestling has given students not as likely to succeed in basketball a second option.
The older students now want to stay at Queen of Angels through their Grade 9 year rathher than transferring earlier to other schools in the district.
“Both programs, together, we’re really working at it,’’ said Hiscock.
The school has 385 students in kindergarten through Grade 9. There’s only 115 in Grades 7, 8 and 9, but the numbers are climbing and giving Queen of Angels a solid foundation for its sports teams.
“Next year, we’re going to have two Grade 9 classes which is going to be a first since the school started,’’ noted Hiscock.
Pride in the achievements of the school sports teams is at an all-time high. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
WRESTLING
Originally from Ontario, Zuback brought his passion for wrestling with him to Queen of Angels.
“I’m really proud and glad that Nick is able to start the program in the school as well,’’ noted Hiscock.
Zuback, 27, wrestled in high school and university. He knows his stuff and 36 kids in Grades 6 through 9 have taken up the challenge.
“They caught on really quick,’’ said Zuback. “I was really impressed, especially with the younger ones.’’
Zuback took nine students to one of the biggest meets in B.C. at Port Alberni and “they did awesome,’’ he said.
The Queen of Angels contingent combined for two silver medals, two bronze medals and a couple of fourth and fifth-place finishes. The girls were fifth overall among 20 teams.
“That was just with a couple of weeks of practice,’’ noted Zuback.
Zuback doubles as the Island regional coach for the B.C. Summer Games, taking place at Kamloops in July.
“There’s a few kids here I’ve asked to go to the qualifying camp,’’ he indicated.
Queen of Angels also hosted its own meet earlier this year that brought the sport up close and personal for the entire school.
“What I want to do is open it up to the rest of the Valley and start a club team,’’ said Zuback.
With any group, there are athletes who shine. Zuback’s prize wrestlers are Mitchell Larmand, 13, a Grade 7 student, and Carmen Esquivel, 13, who’s in Grade 8.
“I’ve always wanted to try wrestling and it’s always been something interesting to me,’’ said Larmand.
“I really love it,’’ added Esquivel. “I went through many sports before. The feeling I get with wrestling was completely different than other sports.
“Mr. Zuback is a really good teacher. The way he explains it to us and does it, it really stays in our heads.’’
Larmand was fourth in the 51-kilogram boys’ class in Port Alberni and won the gold plus male MVP at the Queen of Angels meet. Esquivel attained the same results for the 48 kg girls’ class and was the female MVP in the local meet.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
The girls’ basketball team always has its hands full on the junior circuit against Grade 10 students but topped the Valley Tier II league this year and went to the Grade 9 provincials for the first time.
“I think we have fewer numbers to choose from, but the commitment is that much more,’’ said coach McLaverty.
“We see the kids every day — not just in training, but in class. I think being in a smaller school they’re a bit fiercer in competition. They want to do that much better against the bigger schools.’’
Three of the school’s total of 11 Grade 9 girls are on the team. The rest of the spots were filled with Grade 7 and 8 players.
“Being able to bring those Grade 7s and 8s into the team, they get to learn the system we play,’’ noted McLaverty.
Grade 8 students Marly Cardin and Siobhan Willow are two of the star players coming back next season.
“I’ve always liked it,’’ said Cardin. “I was picked for the team last year.’’
“I joined the Duncan Basketball Association when I was in Grade 4,’’ noted Willow. “I did that for two years. Last year, we got asked to play on the Grade 9 team.
“When we first started, we didn’t really play much because we weren’t that great, but we’ve improved a lot,’’ added Willow, who already stands 5’11 1/2.’’
Making a major trip will be a great benefit for the girls, McLaverty believes. He borrowed the idea from witnessing successful Belmont and Lambrick Park programs in Victoria where he grew up.
“If we don’t make it, we’ll have built up a reservoir of funds to channel into other tournaments or trips,’’ said McLaverty.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
The Queen of Angels team catapulted to prominence by making the provincial tournament for the first time two years ago.
“It kind of boosted the whole atmosphere of all the sports at our school,’’ said Hiscock, who started coaching the team while still playing for the Cowichan Thunderbirds.
Grads Ben Kneen and Chris Smith, who are destined for greatness at Cowichan secondary, have become the poster boys for the program.
“When they leave, they really miss it,’’ said Hiscock. “It helps when we know these kids are speaking highly of our program as well.’’
The future rests with players like Jacob Campagne, 13, a Grade 8 student.
“It’s just fun being on a team, travelling with a team and playing against teams distances away rather than just Cowichan,’’ said Campagne, a point guard.
“Quite a few of the kids in Grade 8 played on the Grade 9 team,’’ he added.
Hiscock likes the looks of the talent coming up in the school.
“We have a bunch coming up that are really going to be good for our program next year,’’ he noted.
The bottom line, Hiscock said, is “keeping the kids interested and wanting to come back and play.’’

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Female wrestler does well at nationals

By Diana Jorgenson
Portola Editor 4/26/06

Misha Furniss, a junior at Portola High School, placed 15th in her weight class at the United States Girls' National Wrestling Championships, held in Lake Orion, Mich., on April 1-2. Some 700 grapplers competed in folk-style or collegiate wrestling.

Prior to this latest accomplishment, Furniss took third in the Northern Section of California, was seventh in the state, fifth in San Leandro, third in Castro Valley and seventh in Napa Valley.

She has tallied 46 takedowns, 28 reversals, 22 near falls (2 points), 40 near falls (3 points) and 16 escapes in her short career. She has 33 wins and 11 losses and a total of 31 pins.

She is a three-time state qualifier and took third in the first California Intercollegiate Federation-sponsored girls' wrestling tournament. She was fifth in the USA Wrestling Girls' High School Folk-style State Championships, first in the USGWA West Coast Girls' Wrestling Championships and fifth in the Freestyle Tournament in Carson City.

Furniss went to the national championships in Michigan as part of an all-star, all-California team that won first-place honors at that event.

"I like the challenge of wrestling," says Furniss.

Girls who become wrestlers are rare. Young women who excel at wrestling are even rarer. Misha Furniss is part of that rare breed who is working to expand those boundaries.

"I wanted to prove people wrong when they say that women can't do sports. I'd like to encourage young girls to enter wrestling," she said.

But first, Furniss had to expand her own boundaries.

"I was told I couldn't do sports because of problems with my feet," Furniss explained, "I have bunions."
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European Wrestling Championship Start in Russia

By Sports News Desk, Istanbul
Published: Tuesday, April 25, 2006
zaman.com

The European Wrestling Championship will begin with the women’s competitions in the Russian capital, Moscow, today.

At the six-day long championship, the women’s league will compete on April 25-26, Greco-Roman wrestling will be held on April 27- 28, and free style wrestling will be held on April 29-30.

Russians show great interest in the event. More than 64,000 tickets have been sold for the championship, which also includes other entertainment and sporting activities.

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Body Bar U.S. Women’s Nationals set for Colorado Springs, Colo., May 6-7; Nation’s top age-group wrestlers to compete at U.S. Olympic Training Center

Erin Phipps USA Wrestling
04/25/2006

The major age-group national championships for women, the Body Bar Women’s Nationals, will be hosted at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 6-7.

Major USA Wrestling national championships for female wrestlers will be held at three different age levels: University, FILA Junior and FILA Cadet. In addition, a Girls Freestyle National Championship will be held for two age divisions, Grades 3-6 and Grades 7-8.

The Body Bar FILA Junior National Championships, as well as the Girls National Championships, will be held on Saturday, May 6. The Body Bar FILA Cadet Nationals and the Body Bar University Nationals will be held on Sunday, May 7.

To qualify for the Body Bar Women’s Nationals, all contestants must present proof of a current USA Wrestling Membership card at registration. Membership is available for purchase online at www.TheMat.com or through the State Chairperson or State Membership Director of the athlete’s state of residence.

To qualify for Women’s University, athletes must be born between 1982-1988, and the wrestler’s class must have graduated from high school.

To qualify for Women’s FILA Junior, athletes must be born between 1986-1988. Those born in 1989 may compete with a written statement from a medical officer stating the athlete is of sufficient physical and emotional maturity to compete at this level.

To compete in the Women’s FILA Cadet division, athletes must be born between 1989-1990. Athletes born in 1991 may compete with a written statement from a medical officer stating that the athlete is physically and emotionally capable of competing at this level.

For the Girls’ Freestyle Nationals, wrestlers must be enrolled in Grades 3-6 or Grades 7-8.

Past champions on the University level include Jenny Wong of the Sunkist Kids, a champion at the 2005 U.S. Nationals, as well as a 2003 World bronze medalist. Marcie Van Dusen of the Sunkist Kids, was a 2004 University World champion. Laura Felix of the New York AC, a 2005 University Nationals champion and silver medalist at the 2004 FILA Junior Nationals, also was a champion at this level last year.

Sara Fulp-Allen of Menlo College, Ali Bernard of the Univ. of Regina, Heather Martin of the New York AC and Dany Hedin of the USOEC are also nationally ranked wrestlers who won gold at the FILA Junior level last year. Fulp-Allen was a silver medalist at the 2005 U.S. World Team Trials, as well as the 2005 U.S. Nationals champion. Bernard is a two-time Junior World champion, and a 2004 U.S. Nationals champion. Martin won a silver medal at the 2004 U.S. Nationals and the 2005 Junior World Championships. Hedin was a 2004 FILA Junior Nationals champion.

Michaela Hutchison, a Cadet champion from last year’s tournament, became the first girl to win the state high school wrestling tournament in Alaska. Another returning champion is Jackie Cataline, who won gold on both the FILA Junior and Cadet levels last year. Cataline placed second this year at 138 pounds in the U.S. Nationals. Another 2005 FILA Cadet champion, Melissa Simmons, also competed at the 2006 U.S. Nationals, placing sixth at 72 kg.

There will be a FILA Junior World Championships for women this year in Guatemala City, Guatemala, Aug. 29 – Sept. 3. Champions from the Body Bar FILA Junior Women’s National Championships earn the right to represent the USA at the FILA Junior World Championships.

There will also be a University World Championships for women this year, held in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, June 15-20. Champions from the Body Bar University Women’s National Championships earn the right to represent the USA at the University World Championships.

Registration for all divisions will last from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, May 5. FILA Junior wrestlers will have their Medical Check/Weigh-ins beginning at 7:30 p.m. that same day.

Registration will resume for Girls freestyle (Grades 3-8) at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, with their Medical Check/Weigh-ins following at 10 a.m.

FILA Cadet & University registration will resume at 6 p.m., Saturday, May 6. Their Medical Check/Weigh-ins will immediately follow at 7 p.m.

All Girls’ division wrestlers (Grades 3-8) must be present at the beginning of weigh-ins.

There will be a training camp for women wrestlers on the FILA Cadet, FILA Junior and University levels prior to the tournament from April 30 – May 4. Athletes will have access to the National Coaching staff and the USOTC resident athletes during the camp. Anyone interested in the camp must contact Jaimie McNab of USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181 by Friday, March 31.

Athletes also have the opportunity to stay in the dormitories at the USOTC during the training camp and the Body Bar National Championships. Priority is given to Funded Access athletes and are based upon availability. For questions or to reserve a room, contact Jaimie McNab of USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181 by Friday, March 31.

There is an approved list of achievements for placements in major USA Wrestling events that qualify an athlete for Funded Access status. For more information, contact National Women’s Developmental Coach Izzy Izboinikov for details at 719-598-8181.

The competition also provides a chance for young athletes to see the U.S. Olympic Training Center and meet the nation’s top women wrestlers who live and train there.

For more information, contact Craig Sesker at 719-598-8181 or csesker@usawrestling.org. A pdf file of the event flier can also be downloaded from www.TheMat.com.

Body Bar Women’s National Championships, May 5-7, 2006
Tentative Event Schedule
Friday, May 5
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.—Registration for all divisions
7 p.m. – Conclusion—Pairing Officials Clinic & Tournament
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.—FILA Junior Medical Check/Weigh-ins
7 p.m. – Conclusion—Setup – FILA Junior

Saturday, May 6
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.—Girl’s FS (Grades 3-8) Registration
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.—FILA Junior – Session I
10 a.m. – 10 a.m.—Girls FS (Grades 3-8) Medical Check/Weigh-ins
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.—Tournament Setup – Girls FS
1 p.m. – Conclusion—FILA Junior – Session II
1 p.m. – Conclusion—Girls FS (Grades 3-8) Preliminaries thru Finals
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.—Registration – FILA Cadet & University
7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.—FILA Cadet & University Weigh-ins/Medical Check
7 p.m. – Conclusion—Tournament Setup – FILA Cadet & University

Sunday, May 7
9 a.m. – Conclusion—FILA Cadet and University Preliminaries thru Finals

Champions from last year’s event include:

University Women’s Freestyle
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/170 lbs. – Megan Goldsmith, Merillan, Wis. (Univ. of Calgary)

FILA Junior
44 kg/88 lbs. – Melissa Gerard, Williamsburg, Ky. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Sara Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif. (Menlo College)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Dany Hedin, Marquette, Mich. (USOEC)
59 kg/130 lbs. – Shelly Suekoilya, Bedford, Tex. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Jackie Cataline, Corona, Calif. (Cataline’s Wildcats)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Univ. of Regina)
79.5 kg/175 lbs. – Samantha Long, Tualatin, Ore. (Team Oregon)

FILA Cadet
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, Alas.
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 lbs. – 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.

Midget
52 lbs. – Reni Gallan, Parker, Ariz. (River Kids)
61 lbs. – Katie Agey, Des Moines, Iowa (Maroon Mat Club)
61 lbs. – Caroline Cotton, Glendale, Ariz. (Blazin Divas)
70 lbs. – Alora DeAragon, Sandpoint, Idaho (Top Dog)

Novice
69 lbs. – Kolby Brown, Big Piney (Big Piney Pinners)
73.4 lbs. – Montana Drum, Neosho, Mo. (Wildcat X-treme)
79 lbs. – Jenna Holman, Billings, Mont. (Billings WC)
92 lbs. – Makeba Elliott, Chicago, Ill. (Harvey Twisters)
100 lbs. – Morgan Ottesen, Shawnee Kansas (Kansas Krusaders)
111 lbs. – Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif. (Broncos)
155 lbs. – Shelby Bowman, Kansas (Prairie Fire)

Schoolboy/Girl
83.6 lbs. – Hanna Martin, El Reno, Okla. (El Reno)
101 lbs. – Candace Workman, Vernal, Utah (Uintah)
112 lbs. – Samantha Lopez, W. Covina, Calif. (Wolverines)
129 lbs. – Rachel Hannan, Ore. (Cobra)
148 lbs. – Laura Gourley, Ore. (Cobra)