Lindsey Brooks (to the right of former Klein Collins wrestler Kyle Jones) competing at a wrestling tournament in North Dakota during the summer.
KAREN WARREN: Chronicle
News Page
Girl joins high school wrestling squad
By Linda Franz, Sentinel Reporter, November 15, 2006
Big Spring junior Erin Lowery donned sweats and a T-shirt Tuesday and joined the Bulldog wrestling team for its second official practice of the season.
Lowery, 16, was granted an exception Monday to district policy that bans girls from the football and wrestling teams after writing a letter to the school board requesting an opportunity to compete on the team. The board approved the exception on a 6-3 vote with no discussion. Board members Beverly Miller, Robert Barrick and Saundra Deaver voted against the request.
Moves up from manager
“She came to me and wanted to be something more than a manager,” athletic director Bob Gaetano says. “She wanted to actually participate in it. She thinks it’s the greatest sport.”
Second-year wrestling coach Richard Hilleary says about 30 students are trying out for the team. Big Spring begins the season with the Dog Duals at home.
The district tightened its policies concerning sports participation three years ago. It approved a policy that bans girls from football and wrestling and boys from girls’ field hockey, volleyball and softball teams after three boys played on Big Spring’s varsity field hockey team.
“We’ll be looking at the policy in the near future,” Big Spring Superintendent Richard Fry says.
Girls who wrestled before
Lowery isn’t the first girl to wrestle on a local team. Five years ago, Seneca Schue wrestled as a junior on the Shippensburg Area Senior High School team. While Schue competed through the season, her matches usually ended with her pinned in less than a minute.
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WRESTLING NOTEBOOK: Clear Lake goes to mat
By TERRY CARTER
For The Chronicle 11/15/06
TEXAS' TOUGHEST?
Two Houston-area leagues could be among the most challenging districts in the state.
Realignment has added The Woodlands to District 20, which already featured Region III powers Klein and Klein Oak. Last February Klein, Klein Oak and The Woodlands finished second, third and fourth at the Region III tournament in Allen.
So expect a war on the boys' side here as all three are ranked in the top 10 among Greater Houston's programs.
District 22 has traditionally brought Katy ISD's elite girls' teams together in team battles between the top two squads for the Region III crown. At state, Katy Taylor finished tied for third, only to be outrun by second-place Katy. Now Waller has been added to the mix, and Waller finished fourth in Region III behind Taylor, Katy and Brazoswood.
The Clear Creek Independent School District is bringing wrestling to the mat this week, and new Clear Lake wrestling coach Brian Palazzi is thrilled with the support he has seen for the new sport.
Palazzi said he has received full support in initiating a viable grappling program for the Falcons.
"When I got here in July, we had two kids signed up for wrestling. So I was a little hesitant, but once I put my face with the program, it's helped the kids join," said Palazzi, a recent transplant from New Jersey. "It's been very positive feedback from the kids and parents and administrators. We now have 55 kids out for wrestling, and every weight class is filled."
In the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area where Palazzi competed as a wrestler in high school and college, he said wrestling is regarded with as much respect as football in Texas.
Palazzi has formed a bond with Clear Brook's new coach Crockett Ladd and Clear Creek's Eric Thompson as both are also from outside Texas.
Those schools also are filling weights with new talent in a hurry, according to Palazzi.
In Katy, Morton Ranch's new coach Mark Balser experienced a similar situation with no returning girls' on the Mavericks' squad. He knew with regional powerhouses Katy Taylor, Katy, Waller and Cinco Ranch in the district, Morton Ranch would have to be good quickly.
He took the common-sense approach of talking to students, looking for athletes with an interest in trying something new.
The strategy worked as the Mavericks now have a dozen girls on the mat. They will fill approximately eight of 10 weights, and Balser expects Morton Ranch girls to surprise teams outside Katy.
"The first girl was Ashley Campos, a cross country runner. Some other girls approached me, but I think it just took one to start," the Morton Ranch coach said. "They work as hard as the boys, and many are proven competitors."
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Brooks' grit matches talent
Klein wrestler wears reputation like warning badge
By TERRY CARTER
For The Chronicle 11/15/06
|
Lindsey Brooks (to the right of former Klein Collins wrestler Kyle Jones) competing at a wrestling tournament in North Dakota during the summer. |
Lindsey Brooks' skill and reputation are known in Texas wrestling circles. On the mat, she is dynamite with a short fuse.
Some know the Klein senior wrestler for dominating her state tournament opponents with speed, dynamic takedowns and back-to-back state crowns. As a result, others are determined to avoid the 148-pound weight class this winter.
She is 88-1 over the past two years. The difference this year is Brooks wants to leave her mark on wrestling, a mark other girls can use to measure their own progress.
As Klein coach Matt Stoeberl said, she will leave opponents, fans and coaches with a solid impression.
"I expect a state championship from Lindsey, barring injury," Stoeberl said. "I don't want people to think she won state because she was in a weak weight class.
"I want them to see her as the best wrestler at state, period, not as the best girl wrestler at state."
Brooks, who invested her summer in wrestling national freestyle competition in Fargo, N.D., finished third despite suffering a minor knee injury in her first match.
After posting a 7-1 mark, Brooks, who is 140-4 in her career according to Stoeberl, began preparing for the season.
"Nobody lasted six minutes with me last year," said Brooks, who didn't begin wrestling until her freshman year. "I redline most of my matches. I just go so hard I wear people down."
Brooks leads a team that includes Taylor Busboom at 102 pounds, Elyse Luquette at 110 and Jessica Selph at 128.
Katy Taylor on top
Katy Taylor sits atop the rankings. The Katy Taylor girls from District 20 finished first in Region III and tied for third at state last season.
Among Katy Taylor's leaders this year are Heather Manhardt (26-13) at 95 pounds, Region III champion Courtney Hole (37-10) at 102, Robin Adams (27-19) at 148, Venus Barron (32-3) at 165 and third-place state finisher Adele Kurt (26-3) at 185.
Kurt has her eyes on a state crown this season although the Mustangs senior will have to battle defending 185 state champion Carrie Clark of Vista Ridge. Clark edged Kurt 3-1 in their semifinal state bout at Austin's Delco Center.
"I'm really excited about this season," Kurt said. "We have a lot of work to do, but I know this will be a great year for Taylor."
Katy, ranked fifth in the area, will be led by Alex Bradshaw at 138 pounds and Alana Jimenez at 165.
Waller's Whitney Disotelle and Cinco Ranch's Tabitha Wilson also have received preseason attention.
Beyond District 20 where No. 1 Taylor, No. 2 Waller, No. 5 Katy and No. 8 Cinco Ranch reside, Houston Lee, Cypress Fairbanks, The Woodlands, Brazoswood and Klein will field solid teams.
Cy-Fair junior Angela Murray (36-8) has been tabbed as the state favorite at 119 pounds by InsideTexasWrestling.com. Murray advanced to the state finals before being pinned by Katy Taylor's Lara Hamilton.
Beware Bobcats
Murray and 110-pound Courtney Weisner (37-5), who finished fourth at state, will power the team, Cy-Fair coach John Banas said.
"Last year was my first year to coach girls, and I treated them like a poison snake," Banas said. "The girls have worked very hard to get this far. Angela quit the cheerleading team to wrestle, and she has a good shot at winning it.
"She got some Team Texas experience this summer, and I knew she was capable of that kind of run at state."
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Strong group of American wrestlers set to compete at Henri Deglane Challenge
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
11/14/2006
Eight members of the United States National Team in men’s and women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestling are scheduled to compete at the Henri Deglane Challenge on Nov. 23-25 in Nice, France.
The tournament offers a unique format with five weight classes for men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and three weight classes offered for women’s freestyle. There are seven weight classes in each style in most international events.
The men’s weight classes include the middle five weights that are offered internationally. They include 60 kg/132 pounds, 66 kg/145.5 pounds, 74 kg/163 pounds, 84 kg/185 pounds and 96 kg/211.5 pounds. The women’s divisions include 55 kg/121 pounds, 63 kg/138.75 pounds and 67 kg/147.5 pounds.
National Team members scheduled to compete in freestyle include Cliff Moore at 132 pounds, Jared Lawrence at 145.5 pounds, Joe Heskett at 163 pounds, Clint Wattenberg at 185 pounds and Nik Fekete at 211.5 pounds. Fekete returns to defend his title from 2005.
Chris Fleeger, coming off a tournament title at the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open last month, also will compete at 132. Past National Team member Nate Gallick also is expected to wrestle at 132.
National Team members expected to compete in Greco-Roman include Jeremiah Davis at 132 and R.C. Johnson at 211.5.
Reigning U.S. Nationals champion Sharon Jacobson is scheduled to compete in women’s freestyle at 121 along with 2006 U.S. Nationals runner-up Randi Miller at 147.5.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, NOV. 23
6:30 p.m. – Weigh-ins, men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman (60 kg, 66 kg. 84 kg)
FRIDAY, NOV. 24
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Elimination rounds, men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman (60 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg)
5 p.m. – Weigh-ins, men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman (74 kg, 96 kg)
5:30 p.m. – Weigh-ins, women’s freestyle (55 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg)
6-9 p.m. – Finals, men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman (60 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg)
SATURDAY, NOV. 25
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Elimination rounds, men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman (74 kg, 96 kg), women’s freestyle (55 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg)
6-9 p.m. – Finals, men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman (74 kg, 96 kg), women’s freestyle (55 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg)
U.S. ROSTER
MEN’S FREESTYLE
60 kg/132 pounds – Chris Fleeger, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
60 kg/132 pounds – Nate Gallick, Ames, Iowa. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 pounds – Cliff Moore, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye TC)
66 kg/145.5 pounds – Jared Lawrence, Roseville, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 pounds – Joe Heskett, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
84 kg/185 pounds – Bryce Hasseman, Bloomsburg, Pa. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 pounds – Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 pounds – Nik Fekete, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Coach – Jim Humphrey, Canal Winchester, Ohio
GRECO-ROMAN
60 kg/132 pounds – Jeremiah Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 pounds – Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (USOEC/Gator WC)
74 kg/163 pounds – Jake Plamann, Kaukauna, Wis. (Gator WC)
84 kg/185 pounds – John Wechter, East Lansing, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
96 kg/211.5 pounds – R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WOMEN’S FREESTYLE
55 kg/121 pounds – Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
63 kg/138.75 pounds – Vanessa Oswalt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
63 kg/138.75 pounds – Kaci Lyle, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.75 pounds – Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
67 kg/147.5 pounds – Elena Pirozhkov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Northern Elite)
Coach – Vladislav “Izzy” Izboinikov, Colorado Springs, Colo.
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Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
11/15/2006
Top international wrestlers in the three Olympic wrestling styles will be showcased at the American Airlines/New York Athletic Club Holiday International Championships on Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19.
The competition will be held at the legendary New York Athletic Club in Manhattan, New York City. Talented wrestlers from the United States will compete against stars from a number of other countries in men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle wrestling.
Leading the field in men’s Greco-Roman will be 2006 World bronze medalists Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio/USOEC/Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Both won New York AC Holiday International titles last year.
Other U.S. Greco-Roman competitors expected to wrestle include 2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and 2004 Olympian Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.
The women’s freestyle field will feature two members of the 2006 U.S. Women’s World Team, Mary Kelly (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Downing was a World bronze medalist in 2005, and is a defending champion at the New York AC Holiday International.
Among the others who are expected to attend are 2005 World champion Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., 2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and 2006 U.S. Nationals champion Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Wong was the Outstanding Wrestler in the women’s division at last year’s New York AC Holiday International.
The men’s freestyle field will feature 2006 U.S. World Team member Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. Hrovat was among the individual champions at last year’s New York AC Holiday International.
Other top freestyle athletes who may compete include 2005 U.S. World Team member Mo Lawal (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and 2004 Olympic Team Trials runner-up Jared Lawrence (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Among the athletes who were runners-up at the 2005 World Team Trials who are expected in freestyle include Jared Frayer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Clint Wattenberg (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Damion Hahn (Ithaca, N.Y./Minnesota Storm) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Among the nations who have indicated that they may enter athletes include Canada, Russia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, India and Japan.
Canada, which placed third in the 2006 Women’s World Championships, traditionally has a strong turnout for this event, including a number of strong club teams. Last year, two Canadian women won gold medals in this event, Breanne Graham at 130 pounds and Megan Dolan at 138.75 pounds.
Among the talented international stars expected to enter is 2006 Junior World champion Djamel Otarsultanov of Russia at 55 kg/121 lbs.
The tournament will be a double-elimination bracket, with wrestlebacks to third place. National Team bonus money will be available in all three divisions, as part of USA Wrestling’s National Teams athlete support program. Only tournament champions from foreign nations will receive prize money.
The competition will be held in the sixth floor gymnasium at the New York Athletic Club, which is located near Central Park South. There is a dress code for the lobby of the New York Athletic Club, which men must wear a sports coat and slacks and women must wear casual business attire, with no sneakers or jeans.
For more information, print off the PDF version of the event flier at:
http://www.themat.com/eventfliers/2006/06NYAC.pdf
AMERICAN AIRLINES/NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB HOLIDAY INTERNATIONAL
At New York, N.Y., Nov. 18-19
Competition Schedule
Saturday, November 18
9:00 a.m. – Men’s Greco-Roman and men’s freestyle competition
1:00 p.m. – Men’s Greco-Roman and men’s freestyle competition
Sunday, November 19
9:00 a.m. – Men’s Greco-Roman, men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle competition
1:00 p.m. – Men’s Greco-Roman, men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle competition
4:00 p.m. – Championship finals for all three styles
New York AC Holiday International individual champions
Men’s freestyle champions
55 kg/121 lbs. – Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Travis Lee (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Lawrence (Minneapolis, Minn./Minn. Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Kakhabez Khubezhty (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Nick Preston (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids)
Women’s freestyle champions
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
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. - Breanne Graham (Calgary, Canada/UCWC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Megan Dolan (Calgary, Canada/UCWC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Tabitha Golt (Chesapeake, Va./Cumberland)
Men’s Greco-Roman champions
55 kg/121 lbs. – Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Joe Warren (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio/USOEC/Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Sasa Petkovic (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Noumouvi Melonin (Rosny, France)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Adam Wheeler (Lancaster, Calif./Gator WC/USOEC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
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Cloquet wrestling program to make history
The Pine Journal
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 15th, 2006 03:40:31 PM
Make history and join the Cloquet wrestling team! Informational meetings will be held at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, in the small gym at the Cloquet High school.
Interested adults and male or female students can also receive information and sign up during the first three days of practice, Nov. 20, 21 and 22. Practice begins at 3:40 p.m. in the small gym at CHS. An information table/person will be available by the door for your questions.
Any student in grades 7-12 who is enrolled in either Cloquet Schools or Fond du Lac Schools may participate; students from other schools may not participate this year.
The meeting will cover the required paper basics, fees, times, schedule, expectations and more. Contact head coach Al Denman at 590-6152 for further questions.
This is a historic year for Cloquet athletics. For the past 10 years the Cloquet Area Youth Wrestling Association (CAYWA) has been teaching wrestling to area youth pre-K to eighth grade. Now, after a four-year phase-in period, and with the CAYWA’s support, the sport of wrestling is finally returning to Cloquet High School after a 43-year hiatus.
Many in the area are not familiar with the winter sport wrestling because many northeastern Minnesota schools do not offer it. Wrestling does, however, flourish in the rest of the state.
Wrestling schools participate in three classes and eight sections that qualify to a state championship at the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul. Nationally, Minnesota wrestlers frequently rank highest. At the NCAA level, the University of Minnesota has won two recent national championships and is currently the No. 1 ranked team in Division I.
A unique aspect of wrestling is that an athlete may advance to the state tournament as part of a team and/or individually. Wrestlers value the accountability of one-on-one competition and gain satisfaction from knowing their victories on the mat add to their team’s overall score.
With 14 weight classes ranging from 103 pounds to 285 pounds, wrestling can accommodate any size and shape athlete. Successful female wrestlers are also becoming a more common sight on typically all-male teams.
Wrestling has been described as the toughest six minutes in sport. A young athlete participating in wrestling will attain very high levels of physical fitness, dramatic strength gains and increased agility. As a result, wrestlers typically have an advantage in fall and spring sports. Many great football athletes were also wrestlers.
Parents and athletes who would like more information on this new winter sport opportunity should attend either of the informational meetings or contact coach Al Denman at 590-6152.