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Wildcats part of emerging crew of female wrestlers
By Tim Hower 1/24/06
Star-News Correspondent
Who said wrestling is a sport strictly for boys?
Tell New Hanover’s Shannon Phillips and Brenda Gibson that girls should be allowed on the mat, and they will let you know how they feel by shooting a double-leg takedown and taking you straight to your back.
“If I can stick through it, then I am going to do it,” said Gibson, who competes at 119- and 125-pound weight classes. “I’m not going to stop just because I’m a girl.”
Both juniors have been vital members of New Hanover’s team that sits in second place in the Mideastern Conference.
“They are mentally tougher than most boys,” Wildcats coach Britt Morton said. “At the conference tournament, I don’t think anybody can beat Shannon except maybe the kid from Jacksonville (state qualifier Chris Teeter).”
Phillips, who wrestles at 103, has beaten all her conference opponents but two: Teeter and Laney’s Brendan Hou, who took a 6-5 decision. On Saturday at the PFWB Coke/Sundrop Invitational at Laney, she got the best of Hou, winning 8-6 in overtime.
While there are few girls wrestling in Southeastern North Carolina, interest in the sport is growing nationally. Kent Bailo, the director of the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association, estimated that 200 girls wrestle for high school teams in North Carolina. Nationally, he puts the number at 5,000, including 2,000 in Texas, which has sanctioned girls-only wrestling.
The N.C. High School Athletic Association has not sanctioned wrestling for girls, but Gibson finished second at 112 pounds last season at a USGWA state meet in Goldsboro.
This prep season, Phillips has a 19-22 record with 10 pins. Gibson is 16-19.
“Brenda’s tough; she’s at a tough weight class, and that’s why next year we’re gonna get her at a weight class where she can compete,” Morton said.
While both are glad to be participating in the sport, they took different paths to get involved.
Gibson started taking karate the summer before her fifth-grade year. The program focused on wrestling one time a week. She went on to wrestle with local youth programs but gave the sport up for a few years. Last year, she decided to try it again and has been a mainstay in the New Hanover lineup since.
Phillips, on the other hand, didn’t have any wrestling experience entering high school. She just wanted to prove all her doubters wrong.
“Everybody told me I couldn’t do it for one, so I was like, ‘I am going to do it,’” said Phillips, who wrestled at Eastern Randolph High before moving before this school year to New Hanover.
She has done what she set out to accomplish, and along the way she and Gibson have impressed their male teammates.
“They get after it pretty good; they don’t ever stop,” 160-pounder Jon Farrow said. “Going right after it and never quitting is what this whole thing (New Hanover’s program) is built after. If you quit, you aren’t going to get anywhere in life.”
Developing good chemistry on a team with boys and girls is not easy, but the Wildcats boys made sure to make Phillips and Gibson feel like a part of the team.
“We don’t really treat them any differently than anyone else,” returning state qualifier John Thomas said.
Phillips agrees that the team has done a good job of making Gibson and her feel included.
“It’s like a family to me,” Phillips said. “Whenever I’m not at home and I’m with the wrestling team, it’s practically my second home.”
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Prep spotlight -- Armani Emmal, Naches Valley wrestler
yakima-herald.com 1/5/07
ARMANI EMMAL
Naches Valley wrestling,
sophomore
The buzz ...
After three years of exhibition competition during Mat Classic in Tacoma, the WIAA is sponsoring its first official state wrestling tournament for girls next month and Emmal is a good bet to qualify and do well. Making Naches Valley's varsity lineup at 103 pounds, Emmal has competed in 15 matches this season -- each time against boys -- and won three on the mat and three by forfeit. She competed in three tournaments in December and will be in Saturday's field for Naches Valley's New Year's Classic. Last year, Emmal participated in the state exhibition in Tacoma and won two of her three matches by pin.
Audible ...
Q: What got you started in wrestling?
A: My dad used to have a Judo club in the Seattle area when I was little and I did that for years, from about 4 (years old) until I was 12. I always thought if I got to a school where wrestling was offered I'd do it. We moved here before my eighth-grade year and I turned out at the middle school.
Q: How much did Judo help with learning wrestling?
A: It helped quite a bit. The throws and the shots are similar and so are the pinning moves. If I hadn't done Judo, which I enjoyed a lot, I might not be wrestling.
Q: How did that first year go in middle school?
A: I was 10-3 and it was against all boys, no girls. That's where the Judo helped -- I knew some technique and leverage moves.
Q: You've wrestled more than 40 matches in three seasons and only five against girls, all last season. Is there a difference between wrestling boys and girls?
A: Guys have more upper-body strength, so I try to counter that by being better technically. I don't really mind having to wrestle guys most of the time. I just go as hard as I can.
Q: When it comes time to qualify for the first state girls tournament, will all these matches against boys help you?
A: It should be an advantage. I wanted to make varsity because that way I'd get more matches. When you're JV you never know how many matches you'll get. I'm getting matches and most of them are tough, but I'm getting better. I'm stepping it up and being more aggressive.
Q: What's the hardest part of the sport for you?
A: Conditioning, and that's probably true for everybody. I ran cross country to get in better shape, but the wall-to-wall drill we do at the end of practice still kills me.
Q: What's your best memory of wrestling so far?
A: Going to the Tacoma Dome last year. The whole experience was great -- to be there and see everything. I'll be doing this all four years in high school and I want to keep going to Tacoma.
-- Scott Spruill
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Just one of the guys
Despite the odds, Raulerson continues to walk out on the mat
BY MIKE STELLA 1/5/07
STAR-BANNER
OCALA
Sometimes winning the match isn't the only thing. Just walking on the mat makes the wrestler a winner.
Thus is the case for Kimber Raulerson.
The West Port High School senior, who hasn't won a match this regular season except for forfeits, is the captain of her varsity team.
This 112-pound blonde-haired girl looks more like a prom queen than a brute wrestler, but she has gradually won over the team.
"The other wrestlers made her a captain," said West Port coach John Peters. "She earned the respect of the other boys. She's a teacher of technique for the younger wrestlers. She's earned their respect by her dedication and her ethics."
West Port senior Kimber Raulerson was named captain of the Wolf Pack wrestling team this season by her teammates. |
Raulerson called it "a privilege" to be voted captain.
"She's an inspiration to me, too," Peters added. "In the sense that she has had to overcome a lot of odds. You know, everywhere we go people are saying something about her. Some people don't think it's a great idea (for her to wrestle boys)."
Raulerson doesn't let that get to her.
"Basically, it's a lot harder," Raulerson said about wrestling boys. "I have to do a lot of weight training to keep up with them. And really, when I hear them talking crap, basically it just makes me angry and makes me want to try harder. So really, it's not a bad thing."
Of course, the challenge for Raulerson is competing with the boys.
"She always loses," Peters said. "It's hard for her. The boys are just bigger and stronger. But she did beat some boys last year. The reason she wrestles boys is that she has earned it. But it is really difficult for a girl to win."
Raulerson recalls her two wins last year, both of them pins.
"It was very satisfying," Raulerson said with a smile. "I made one of them cry."
How did Kimber first get involved in wrestling? It was her big brother, Draker, who first sparked her interest.
"It's just an aggressive sport, and it looked like a lot of fun," said Kimber.
Big brother, who currently is a freshman at the Savannah College of Art and Design, encouraged her to get involved.
"She talked to me about it," Draker said. "She sounded very interested in it. I told her that if you want to try, go out for it. It's a great program and it will keep you in shape.
"She works hard. Anything she does, she's committed to, period."
Draker has been able catch most of his sister's matches this season, while he is on break from college.
"She handles herself pretty well," Draker said. "As long as she doesn't get hurt, I'm happy.
"It's hard for her. Because she is at 112 and at that weight, guys have strength and they are a little bit superior. But when she goes against girls, nine times out of 10 she beats them. She just has that much more experience."
Last season, Raulerson finished sixth at the girls state tournament at Osceola High School. It's a non-sanctioned event by the Florida High School Athletic Association where the best girls in the state, some who are on full girls teams and compete against other girls during the season, gather to see who is the best.
"That is very, very tough," Peters said of the tournament. "I expect her to do even better this year."
Asked whether she thinks it might be more beneficial to be on an all-girl team, Kimber emphatically said no.
"Girls are way too emotional," Kimber said. "And I guess I kind of missed that because I have lived with my dad and my brother my whole life."
The county tournament is coming up on Saturday, and Kimber will be on the mat in the 112-pound weight class. Her goal is the same as it always is - to do her best.
"I hope to do pretty good," Raulerson said.
And as to the chance that she may face someone like Dex Christmas, Belleview's 112-pounder who placed fifth in the state last year, that excites Kimber.
"I'm willing to wrestle anyone I'm put up against," she said. "I might not do that great, but ..."
With that kind of attitude, Kimber Raulerson is already a winner, win or lose.
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U.S. Junior women encouraged to attend Nordhagen Classic in Canada, Feb. 2-4
Michelle Thilges USA Wrestling
01/05/2007
U.S. Junior women wrestlers are encouraged to attend the Nordhagen Junior Classic International Women’s Wrestling Tournament at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Canada from Feb. 2-4.
The tournament is named after Canadian wrestling star Christine Nordhagen, a six-time World champion. Nordhagen was the first woman inducted into the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Entries for the Nordhagen Junior competition are due by January 12. Entry fee is 25 Canadian dollars per athlete. Weigh-ins are on Friday Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. The competition starts on Saturday Feb. 3 at 9 a.m.
USA Wrestling’s National Women’s coach Terry Steiner said the tournament is a great experience that is hard to pass up.
“For the U.S. girls to be so close not to participate in the tournament would be misfortunate,” said Steiner. “International competition is the biggest thing we struggle with, with costs to foreign countries. This makes financial sense.”
Leigh Vierling, Canada’s National Women’s Coach and the host of the tournament, said the event was started to give wrestlers more experience with international competition. Vierling said wrestlers who are entering the Senior level sometimes only experience this kind of competition the summer before World championships.
“We are trying to entice people to come by offering two competitions and a training camp,” said Vierling. “There are a number of matches, training sessions and a great learning experience.”
On Feb. 4 the Calgary Open for Senior women wrestlers will be held. All Junior wrestlers who meet eligibility requirements are encouraged to enter.
The competition is open to women born from 1987 to 1989. Wrestlers born in 1990 are eligible to participate with permission from a doctor and coach.
Weight categories are 44 kg/ 97 lbs., 48 kg/ 105.5 lbs., 51 kg/ 112.25 lbs., 55 kg/ 121 lbs., 59 kg/ 130 lbs., 63 kg/ 138.75 lbs., 67 kg/ 147.5 lbs. and 72 kg/ 156.5 lbs.
Following the tournament, wrestlers are encouraged to attend a training camp running from Feb. 5-7. If interested in the camp, contact Vierling at lvierling@wrestling.ca
All U.S. wrestlers who plan to attend the tournament must contact the National Women’s Developmental Coach Izzy Izboinikov at (719) 598-8181 or through e-mail at izzy@usawrestling.org.
NORDHAGEN JUNIOR CLASSIC
Friday Feb. 2
5-5:30 p.m. – Weigh-ins
Saturday Feb. 3
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Elimination Rounds
2 to 4 p.m. – Consolation Bracket
4 p.m. – Welcoming Ceremony
4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Final Matches
CALGARY OPEN
Sunday Feb. 4
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Elimination Rounds
2 to 4 p.m. – Consolation Bracket
4 p.m. – Finals
Click here to download event flyer
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Calgary is No. 1 in TheMat.com North American Women’s Poll for January 2007
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
01/05/2007
TheMat.com North American Women’s College Wrestling Poll for has been published for January 2007. It is the first poll of the new women’s college wrestling season.
These rankings reflect results from the Lakehead North American College Duals in Canada, as well as a number of early season tournaments across Canada and the United States.
Taking all five first place votes to claim the early season No.1 was the Univ. of Calgary, coached by Mitch Ostberg. The Dinos won the team title at the Lakehead North American Duals, and had many strong performances in early individual tournaments. Calgary was second at the CIS Canadian Nationals last year.
Claiming No. 2 was the Univ. of the Cumberlands, a NAIA school in Kentucky coached by Kip Flanik. The Patriots were second to Calgary at the Lakehead North American Duals, and have been very successful in early season events.
Ranked No. 3 is Simon Fraser Univ. of British Columbia, Canada, coached by Mike Jones. The Clan won the CIS Nationals last year and finished the year as the top team in North America.
No. 4 in the poll was Missouri Valley College, an NAIA school coached by Carl Murphree, and No. 5 in the poll was the Univ. of Regina, a CIS and NAIA school in Saskatchewan, Canada, coached by Leo McGee.
Rounding out the Top 10 were No. 6 Brock Univ., No. 7 the Univ. of Western Ontario; No. 8 Lakehead Univ.; No. 9 the Univ. of Saskatchewan; and No. 10 Pacific Univ.
A total of 20 teams were ranked, and other teams receiving votes were also recognized. The January 2007 poll can be found at:
http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=945
The team ranking poll is elected by a panel of women’s college coaches, three from Canada and two from the United States. Eligible for ranking are college varsity and club women’s wrestling programs.
There are eight weight classes ranked in Women’s College wrestling. They are the seven international weight classes contested in Senior-level women’s wrestling, plus an additional weight class which is recognized by North American women’s college programs as their highest weight division (82 kg).
Two wrestlers who finished the 2005-06 college season as No. 1 ranked athletes returned this year and claimed No. 1 rankings in January 2007: Alaina Berube of the Univ. of the Cumberlands at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Stephany Lee of Missouri Valley College at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
The Univ. of the Cumberlands is the only team with more than one No. 1 ranked athlete. Joining Berube as a top-ranked wrestler in January is Heather Martin of the Univ. of the Cumberlands. Both Berube and Martin have been among the top-ranked U.S. wrestlers on the Senior level in recent seasons.
Six of the eight top-ranked wrestlers attend college in the United States. Along with Berube, Martin and Lee are Sara Fulp-Allen of Menlo College at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Kapua Torres of the Univ. of Pacific at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Brandy Rosenbrock of Central Michigan Univ. at 55 kg/121 lbs.
The two Canadian women’s college wrestlers with No. 1 rankings are Michelle Fazzari of Brock Univ. at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Shayla Turcotte of Simon Fraser Univ. at 82 kg/176 lbs.
The January 2007 North American Women’s College Individual rankings can be found at:
http://www.themat.com/rankings.php?page=ranking_details&RankingID=946
The individual rankings are selected by TheMat.com, with assistance from coaches. Athletes who are considered for ranking are eligible full-time college students, and are members of their college women’s varsity or club program, or a member of their college men’s wrestling team.
Women’s wrestling is a growing sport in Canada and the United States on the college level. Women’s freestyle wrestling was the newest sport in the Summer Olympic Games, making its debut at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The United States and Canada are among the most successful women’s wrestling nations in the world.
Copyright 2007 by USA Wrestling and TheMat.com.
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Torres, Pacific Women Make North American Poll
Blake Timm (timmbr@pacificu.edu) on Jan 5, 2007
Summary:
The Boxers' star at 51 kilograms earns a No. 1 ranking among North American women's wrestlers, while the Boxers rank 10th as a team in the season's first North American poll
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FOREST GROVE - Never mind that Kapua Torres (Jr., Kahuku, Hawaii) never saw action on the mat last year. All raters needed to know is that she was back in action.
Torres has been ranked No. 1 among 51-kilogram wrestlers in the first North American Women's College Wrestling Poll of the season, released on Jan. 5 by USA Wrestling's Web site, TheMat.com. Torres is the only Pacific wrestler to earn a ranking in the opening poll.
As a team, the Boxers are ranked 10th on the 20-team poll, earning 53 of a possible 100 points. Pacific is the third highest ranked U.S. program behind Cumberlands (Ky., 2nd) and Missouri Valley (4th).
"The rankings for both Kapua and our team is impressive and surprising, especially considering how few matches we have wrestled so far," said Pacific head wrestling coach Scott Miller. "As we return to the mat, I hope that all of our girls are able to live up to the bar that has been set high for them."
Torres was the 2005 champion in the 51 kg. bracket at both the National College Women's Wrestling Championships and the Body Bar U.S. Junior Nationals, but sat out the 2005-06 season with pinched nerves. So far in 2006-07, Torres has amassed a 4-2 record and is 2-0 against other opponents from U.S. and Canadian colleges. Her win tally includes a 5-1, 4-2 victory over Missouri Valley's Samantha Schuman, who is ranked No. 6 in the North American poll.
The Boxers have not competed since dueling Simon Fraser at the Vision Quest Duals on Nov. 11. They will return to action on Sunday at the Portland State Open in Portland.
The University of Calgary took the No. 1 spot in the poll, with the Dinos taking all four first place votes. Cumberlands is second with 95 points and Simon Fraser is ranked third with 90 points.
TheMat.com's North American Women's College Wrestling Poll is selected by a panel of women's college coaches with three from Canada and two from the United States. College varsity and officially recognized club teams are eligible for the team rankings. Individuals in the rankings must be full-time college students and member of either a college varsity of club program or a member of their college's men's wrestling team.'
The full poll can be found online at TheMat.com.
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