News Page
By Ernie Clark
Thursday, December 21, 2006 - Bangor Daily News
Among the multi-team meets on the schedule this Saturday is a five-team Class B event at Hermon High School involving Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield, Camden Hills of Rockport, Gardiner, Caribou and the host Hawks.
And one of the more interesting sub-plots to the meet comes in the 103-pound division and a potential rematch of the 2006 Class B state final between reigning champion Carlin Dubay of Caribou and Kristi Pearse of Camden Hills.
Dubay defeated Pearse twice during the postseason last winter to deny the Camden Hills junior the distinction of becoming the first girl in Maine — and just the second in the nation —to win an individual state wrestling title.
Dubay, also a junior, decisioned Pearse 5-2 at the Eastern Maine Class B meet, then won again a week later in the state final, this time by a 6-0 overtime decision.
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ASIAN GAMES / IN THE SPOTLIGHT 12/23/06
Geetika Jakhar was initiated into wrestling in her hometown, Hissar (Haryana), at a very young age. She was a very aggressive girl and her grandfather thought wrestling was the best way to harness her energies.
Once Geetika developed a passion for the sport, her father Satvir decided to admit her to a proper training programme, obviously with the intention of making her an international star. But then, `akhara' wrestling was not the best way to go about it. However, Haryana's decision to force the `akharas' to provide mats helped Geetika in her early development.
Geetika joined a state-run academy in Hissar and started winning medals by displaying her grit. Her first major break came when she won the gold medal in the 67kg category at the Asian Junior Championship in 2001. A year later, she reached the final in the Asian Championship in New Delhi scoring impressive wins en route. In the final though, Geetika gave up midway through the bout and had to settle for a silver.
Her determination to excel saw Geetika drop her weight by over 10 kilos. She competed in the 55kg category at the Commonwealth Championship in Canada in 2003 and won the gold. In 2005 she successfully defended her title in Cape Town, South Africa, but in the World Junior Championship in Lithuania a week later, Geetika had to be content with a silver medal.
Geetika finally decided that 63kg was her best option for the Asian Games.
The silver medal she won in Doha was just reward for the years of toil she had put in. And by Indian standards, it was a memorable achievement, for it was after a gap of 16 years that any Indian had made it to the final of the wrestling competition in the Asian Games. Ombir Singh was the last grappler to enter a final at the Asian Games — in Beijing.
The loss in the final, that too by a fall to Japanese Icho Kaori, will haunt Geetika, but she has written a new chapter in Indian women's wrestling.
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Many individuals from 28 schools viewed event as a good opportunity
By Loren Ledin, lledin@VenturaCountyStar.com
December 21, 2006
On Wednesday, Jade Anderson was just one of the guys.
OK, she's not really. The 17-year-old Royal High senior was a lone female going up against male competition in the 18th annual Gold Coast Wrestling Classic at Camarillo High.
Though she dropped both her matches, she relished the chance to hone her skills against stronger, more physical wrestlers.
"I really like wrestling against the guys, because I learn a lot more going up against them than I do in competition against other girls," said Anderson. "It's hard. It's tough. I can be 10 times more aggressive in girls' competition than I can be here against the guys. But this is the best way to improve myself and reach my goals."
Anderson happens to be the top-ranked 138-pound girls' wrestler in California, and is aiming for a state title at the all-girls championships Jan. 26-27 at Hanford West High in Hanford.
Though her gender made her unique Wednesday, she also epitomized the attitude of just about every competitor from the 28 schools at the area wrestling showcase.
For any of the hundreds of wrestlers in attendance, the Gold Coast Classic represented opportunity.
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By Chris Gasiewski, Delaware State News 12/20/06
DOVER - Wayne Newsome pointed to this season when he became the Dover High wrestling coach four years ago.
Dover had lots of participation and a bevy of talent like Jamelle Jones, who went on to win two straight state titles and two Beast of the East crowns.
The Senators seemed to dismiss any growing pains, posting an 8-8 record in Newsome's first year. The success continued and Dover went 9-7 last season.
The pinnacle was supposed to be this year. The reality, though, was nothing of the sort.
Dover lost seven grapplers out of its 2005 starting lineup. Two were to graduation. Two transferred and three quit the team last week.
The departures leave Dover reeling with just 14 varsity wrestlers. Wednesday's 54-29 dual meet loss to Polytech was its third straight to open the season.
And Newsome could only scratch his head in disbelief.
"If I look back on paper, everything was in place," Newsome said. "We were better last year and we should've been better this year.
"The numbers aren't there. If you would've asked me last year if this would happen, I would have said no way. It'll cripple any team."
The key losses were Calvin Boggs and Ryan Price.
Boggs transferred across town to Caesar Rodney and Price went to William Penn.
Walking up the stairs of Dover's gymnasium to its wrestling room, one can find plenty of space on the mats that cover the floor.
In addition to the 14 varsity grapplers, Dover fields five on junior varsity. While that may seem daunting, the younger wrestlers do get individual training from Newsome, who coached at Delaware State, and assistant coach Steve Jones, a former heavyweight at DSU.
"My focus is to take the 14 kids we have and make them better wrestlers," Newsome said. "When you get rid of 24 points, it's going to be hard to beat anybody. If we don't make these kids better wrestlers, it's our fault.
"I don't want them to get killed. I want them to learn the sport. I don't want them getting their head smashed in by a senior or junior every day. That's not fun at all."
Freshman Brandon Arrington has already experienced the intimate training, and has made his way into the starting lineup at 140 pounds. Coaches feel Arrington could be the next standout at Dover.
"It's a good year because I'm still learning at the high school level," Arrington said. "Every school is not going to have a great wrestling team. You have schools that are great and you have schools that are good."
Despite the youth and its learning curve, Jamelle Jones feels Dover is the place for him to be, even after returning to the school after spending a year at Winslow Township High (N.J.).
"I love my team," Jones said. "We're small and young. But I have fun with the guys. They look up to me. I teach them.
"If I was at Caesar Rodney, I'd bring something to them. But I don't think they would bring that much to me. I might have an OK workout partner."
The elder Jones is constantly trying to lure participants to the program during the school day. It's worked so far.
Two students joined last week and Dover will soon have a female wrestler in Emily Steffa.
"(Steve Jones) is constantly trying to recruit (in Dover's hallways)," Newsome said. "We're trying to get these guys in camp so we can come back next year and make a dent.
"We're only losing Darryl (Tilghman) and Jamelle. We'll go forward. I've seen them improve."
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`Twas the night before Christmas
‘Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the house
Not a wrestler was stirring
Not a Coach or his spouse
The children were nestled
All snug in their beds
While visions of victories
Danced in their heads
Their singlets were hung
On their doorknobs with care
In hopes that a medal
Would soon join them there
When out on the lawn
There arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed
To see what was the matter
And what to my sleep filled
Eyes did appear?
But a man with a bag
Full of wrestling gear
He wore a striped shirt
A ref he must be
But what was he doing here
Talking to me?
He looked in my eyes
And he said with a smile
I have something to tell you
So sit for a while
He said you’re a winner
I’ve seen your medals all right
But the true “Seasons” about
A baby born on this night When you’re out on the mat
Don’t forget who you are
Think of the brave wise men
Who followed the star
If your arms raised in victory
Or you suffer a loss
Remember who died
His arms spread on the cross
He picked up his whistle
And he blew it aloud
And then he was gone
In a blue misty cloud
I wandered inside
Not sure what to do
But deep down inside
I think that I knew
I fell to my knees
I thanked God for the “Season”
It’s not just about wrestling
I have now come to reason
I will work out my best
I will still strive to win
I will head lock and cradle
To achieve the big pin
But when the bracket is finished
The mat’s rolled away
I will simply be thankful
That I wrestled today