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Heading far east

NT siblings to compete at international wrestling tournament in Japan

By Jay Skurski 7/1/06
Niagara Gazette

NORTH TONAWANDA — Try as they might, Scott and Brandy Testa never had much success in keeping their daughter, Lauren, off the wrestling mat.

“She would always just follow her brother out there,” Scott Testa said.

Lauren doesn’t just compete, though. According to Scott, she sometimes dominates.

“She beats the heck out of some of those boys,” he said with a laugh.

Lauren, 8, and Michael, 11, have wrestled for the past three years. They’ll get a chance to continue their hobby in Japan later this month.

The younger Testas will travel to Tokyo on July 14 for an international wrestling tournament as part of Dick Beyer’s Destroyer Team USA group.

“They get a chance to see what life is like on the other side of the world,” Scott Testa said. “And hopefully bring home some medals.”

Brandy Testa will accompany her children on the trip, which will be the first time the kids have ever traveled by plane.

“It should be fun,” Lauren said.

When members of the group aren’t wrestling, they’ll get a chance to stay with Japanese families and immerse themselves in the culture. In that way, the trip will be as much about the learning that will take place away from the sport.

The wrestling in the tournament is freestyle, which differs from the folk-style wrestling used in American competitions.

Scott Testa said the format will be a good opportunity to learn a different technique.

“They’re getting to workout with Japanese wrestlers, so it should really broaden their horizons,” he said.

Lauren will get the opportunity to wrestle girls, which will be a new experience. Since so few females compete in wrestling in Western New York, she often has to wrestle males.

“This will be one of her first tournaments where she’ll be wrestling girls,” Brandy Testa said.

Both Lauren and Michael attend Spruce Elementary School in NT.

A fund-raiser will be held at 6 p.m. July 9 at Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant in Blasdell to help raise money for the group. The team seeks corporate and individual sponsors and will hold raffles and other events prior to the trip. The money will be used for travel, lodging, food and training costs.