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Possibilities growing for St. Michael wrestling
By ROBIN FAMBROUGH
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Feb 7, 2007
St. Michael the Archangel wrestling coach Kris Kienzle expected his team to grow.
But not even Kienzle expected his squad to grow eight times larger than last year. The Warriors have 32 wrestlers, including 23 freshmen.
With the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s State Wrestling Tournament set to begin Friday, St. Michael could be one of Baton Rouge’s biggest success stories in more ways than one.
“I really can’t explain why things happened the way they did,” Kienzle said. “This is my seventh year and the biggest group I ever had before this was seven guys.
“Last year we had four wrestlers. And to go from four to 32 — let me tell you, it’s really been something.”
Freshman Ben Willeford (103-pound class, 37-10) and sophomore Marshall Leavoy (171, 28-8) are seeded second in their respective weight classes for the Warriors, who are shooting for a top five finish in Division II-Class 4A.
Will Bellefontaine (125), Zach Braud (135) are both seeded third in their weight classes.
The two-day LHSAA tourney will be held at Kenner’s Pontchartrain Center and Kienzle plans to take his wrestlers on a walkthrough of the eight-mat set up Thursday.
“This has been a year of teaching,” Kienzle said. “We’ve had to break everything down to basics. It’s all new for these guys.
“That’s one of the reasons we didn’t push them too hard in the beginning. We wanted them to learn and win a couple of matches. Once they got a couple of wins under their belts they were hooked.
“Hopefully, by taking them to see how the Pontchartrain Center is set up will keep them from getting too nervous.”
Kienzle, a non-faculty certified coach who works as a local paramedic, says the year started much like any other.
The addition of physics teacher Nathan Patla as an assistant coach was a key element in wrestling’s “growth spurt” at St. Michael.
“Coach Patla is enthusiastic and he really beat the bushes,” Kienzle said. “He talked to kids at school and got them excited about trying wrestling.
“We’ve got a group of freshmen who maybe figured they were too small to excel at other sports. We also have guys who were involved in soccer and basketball. It is a good combination.”
Hard work has been essential for the St. Michael squad which is made up of 28 boys and four girls. However, work ethic was something Kienzle was skeptical about at first.
“In the past we’ve had 20 to 25 sign up for the team,” Kienzle said. “Out of that you might get 15 to 20 to show up and then within a few weeks you’re down to less than 10.
“This year we had 34 sign up and the team still has 32 the week of state. We’ve worked hard to try and keep them all involved and it’s paid off.”
Seth Fontenot wrestlers for the Warriors at 140 one year after earning all-district honors in soccer. Seth LeBlanc, who wrestles at 152 and is a No. 4 seed, previously played basketball.
“I played basketball for a long time and I wanted to try something different,” LeBlanc said. “I like the fact that wrestling is a one-on-one sport.
“You have your teammates and you cheer for each other. When you compete it’s just you against the other guy and that’s what I like.”
As one of the squad’s veterans, Leavoy has been impressed by his new teammates.
“At first, it was different having so many people,” Leavoy said. “Everybody has learned and worked. They haven’t let up and I think that’s why we’ve improved so much.”
Regardless of how the Warriors fare their weekend, Kienzle sees a bright future that will include a new Warrior Wrestling Club, an off season wrestling program.
When asked about the possibilities, Kienzle says, “All we’ve done this year is scratch the surface.”
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PREP WRESTLING: State title races affected by dearth of depth
By Jay Drew
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 02/07/2007 12:45:13 AM MST
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Because of the way qualification is set up for the state high school wrestling tournaments, the big question leading up to the annual five-ring circus seemingly never changes.
Is it better to have depth or superstars?
When teams don't have both, superstars usually carry the day.
What will happen this year?
The Class 5-A and 4-A state meets begin today at Utah Valley State College, while the 3-A and 2-A meets begin Thursday. The 1-A meet starts Friday.
Although there are only 14 weight divisions, many teams will send more wrestlers than that, some as many as 20, because junior varsity wrestlers are allowed to qualify for the state meet if they finish fourth or better (in most cases) at their region tournaments.
"The way it is set up, it becomes more of a numbers game than anything else," said Wasatch coach Steve Sanderson.
In 3-A, for instance, four-time defending champion Wasatch has been ranked No. 1 all season and will almost assuredly win three individual titles: Casey Smith at 130 pounds, Jake Salazar at 145 and Ethan Smith at 160.
But deeper Uintah walloped the Wasps at the Region 10 tournament (302-268.5) and qualified 20 wrestlers, while Wasatch got in just 15. The Utes had six region champions, like Wasatch, but have only two surefire state champs: Zack Reynolds at 112 and Jared Ruppe at 171.
"We felt all year our junior varsity team was a little better than most," said Uintah coach Gregg Stensgard. "It definitely gives us confidence that we're capable of doing it."
Although Region 8 champ Delta barely edged North Sanpete (332-328.5) for that league's title, the Rabbits qualified 18 wrestlers and could have a say, too, in what traditionally has been the state's toughest wrestling classification.
Delta has won 26 state titles, Uintah 23 and Wasatch 16.
As noted in Tuesday's Salt Lake Tribune, Uintah sophomore Candace Workman will be the first girl to wrestle in a Utah state tournament when she faces Tooele's Jake Prather on Thursday, having placed third in Region 10 last week.
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Girl Wrestler Will Be First In State Contest
kutv.com 2/6/07
SALT LAKE CITY Candace Workman doesn’t think about smashing stereotypes or making history, but she’s doing both.
On Thursday the Uintah High sophomore will hit the mat at the Class 3-A state high school wrestling tournament as the first girl to wrestle in the event. Workman’s first match is against Tooele freshman Jake Prather.
“I will just be thinking about winning my matches,” she said. “Maybe later, I will think about the significance of it.”
Workman earned her slot in the state tournament with a third-place finish in the 103-pound division at the Region 11 meet last weekend in Morgan. She pinned one competitor in less than a minute in one match.
For the season, Workman has a 22-6 record in varsity matches. Her overall record is 35-6. Since starting the sport nine years ago, she’s also won four female national titles for her age group. Her goal is to make the U.S. Women’s Olympic Wrestling Team.
“What it means and all that is probably up to other people to decide,” she said. “I just hope other girls who think wrestling is a great sport will see it and read about it and think, ‘If she can do it, so can I.”‘
In 2004, Workman drew some attention when she was excluded from wrestling against boys at a Spanish Fork tournament. Legal action was threatened and officials reversed their decision.
Washington state and Hawaii both have separate competitions for high school girls. But Workman doesn’t want Utah to do that.
Her Uintah coach, Gregg Stensgard, said Workman’s novelty wore off long ago. He says she works out, runs and lifts weights like every other wrestler.
“She’s legitimate,” said Wasatch coach Steve Sanderson, father of Olympic Gold Medalist Cael Sanderson. “She’s a good athlete, she’s dedicated and she’s tough.”
This year, six boys from out-of-state schools forfeited matches rather than wrestle Workman. Some said they didn’t want to lose to a girl, while some cited religious reasons.
“I hate that,” Workman said. “There were two brothers from Wyoming that said it was against their morals and their religion. That made me upset. They are (Latter-day Saints) and so am I. It’s not anything sexual out there, trust me.”
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Making History
With enthusiasm and skill White River girls wrestling takes down the critics
By Brenda Sexton-The Courier-Herald Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Chantel Sutphin earned a second-place finish Saturday to help lead the Lady Hornets to their first subdistrict title. To view and buy photos go to www.courierherald.com Photo by Dennis Box |
Leanna Holmes and Chanel Sutphin always wanted to hit the mats.
Shantel Allstot and Kim Lind are adventure seekers and willing to give anything a try.
Ashley Orr and Samantha Lovelace thought it might be fun and different to shoot at opponents and score points for takedowns and near falls.
The six are making history as White River High's girls wrestling team. Turning out this season has put the Lady Hornets on the cutting edge of a sport that in three short years is churning up waves of excitement.
“It might have been a novelty at the start, but not now,” said Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Assistant Executive Director Jim Meyerhoff.
Two years ago, 56 schools with a total of 110 female wrestlers participated in the sport. Last year, the numbers nearly doubled with 100 schools and 156 wrestlers. This year, 125 schools and 375 participants are on the mat competing.
“The girls take their wrestling seriously,” Meyerhoff said, noting Kentwood High has two wrestlers who are nationally ranked and Kelso has a team of about 19.
Washington is one of about three states in the country that offer a girls high school wrestling program. According to Meyerhoff, this season two girls will be wrestling in the boys tournament - grandfathered in by the WIAA based on previous seasons - and the rest will be in the inaugural girls Mat Classic.
Meyerhoff said member schools were seeing more girls wrestling and although there were no problems with the male-female wrestling, the girls deserved their own arena.
“They've lived the sport for years and never got to participate,” Meyerhoff said.
Kim Lind is one of those who've lived it for years. Her father Ron wrestled for White River and younger brother Robert wrestles by her side on the Hornets' varsity boys team.
Despite the tradition, Kim, like some of her teammates, said she had to convince her parents to let her participate.
“Dad was really against it at first because it's a man's sport,” said Kim, who is also a WRHS cheerleader, Log Show participant and fastpitch player. “After I won it was OK. I guess he thought I was going to go out there and cry. It gave me a new perspective on what my brother does.”
“Me and my dad were against it at first but we came around and decided it would be the best thing for the sport,” Robert Lind said, explaining that maybe more colleges will add wrestling programs if they can add both a girls and guys team.
The sport is gaining momentum in that arena. Several colleges, including Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., offer women's wrestling programs, and at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, for the first time women participated in wrestling.
There hasn't always been acceptance.
“I can understand why my mom wouldn't want me to, it's very intense,” said Allstot, a junior who wrestles at 130 pounds.
“And you only hear the bad things,” Lovelace, a freshman, added.
That wasn't the case in the Sutphin house, where 135-pound sophomore Chanel Sutphin has been active in martial arts and a number of other “hands-on” sports, as well as band.
“My dad wanted me to because I'd be the first Sutphin to go to state,” she said. “It'll be a great girls sport. I think it's just not something they're use to.”
Holmes, a 119-pound senior, and Allstot participated last year with the guys team. They say the difference this year is having same-sex sparring partners most of the time.
“Some girls are able to run with the guys, but girls and guys are different,” Holmes said.
“They're a lot faster. They shoot a lot faster and they're more aggressive,” noticed Sutphin in her first year out.
Maybe.
Coach Kevin McNulty said the girls may have fundamental mat skills, but they're quick learners, good listeners and compete with spirit.
“It's made me rethink wrestling. They have the intensity, every bit of a high school varsity, sometimes more,” McNulty said.
Competitive, you bet.
There were a limited number of dual meet opportunities for girls' teams this season, but a number of weekend tournaments across the state.
None of the Hornets entered Saturday's subdistrict postseason tournament lower than a No. 6 seed.
Kim Lind was a top seed. The 125-pound senior went 10-3 during the regular season and also won the Emerald Ridge tournament. Sutphin went 9-1 and won the Kelso tournament earlier in the season. She entered Saturday's subdistrict tournament as the 135-pound top seed. Holmes also earned a first-place finish in Kelso.
McNulty said the group is filled with quick learners. They all know postseason means they restart with no wins and no losses, but “top four gets a week more.”
A top-four finish Saturday earns wrestlers a spot into the regional tournament, where a top three finish sends them to state.
“It'd be nice to add a female downstairs to our Wall of Fame,” McNulty said.
Some might argue the Lady Hornets take time away from the boys program, but McNulty pooh-poohs that notion. He said it enhances it, especially when the guys look across the wrestling room and see the girls working every bit as hard.
“There not here to goof around. They're here for serious business. They don't step out on the mat to lose,” McNulty said. “If they're wrestling girls I want them to be the best they can be.”
“We're part of the team. He makes us do every up-down the guys do,” Allstot said.
“The guys have been really good, too. They're really accepting of us and they're really mature about it,” Kim Lind said.
“And they help us out,” Allstot said.
“They're just like another member of the team,” White River captain Justin Purves said. “Our fans are into it. A drill partner's a drill partner. We don't even notice.”
Bottom line, it's a sport and it's about doing well.
“I want her to win,” Robert said of his sister Kim. “She's doing awesome. It sucks she's a senior. I wish she would have stared earlier. She's improving every day.”
If there's a down side that may be it for the Hornets. They will lose two experienced wrestlers to graduation, but McNulty is optimistic since there was female interest at the middle school level this year. Add that to the role models he has on the mat now and the Hornets' future looks bright.
“It's fun to watch the growth. I see things happening in girls wrestling, at the state level. It's only going to grow,” McNulty said. “I hope it grows in numbers to warrant a women's coaching staff.”
“The coaches do a lot for us,” the girls said. “It takes time away from their families.”
To be able to compete as a team, a school must have five members. The Lady Hornets started with nearly a dozen this season and they honestly thought with the buzz around school, this year's team would be larger.
Wrestling's discipline and responsibility, the two characteristics the Lady Hornets said they've learned the most this season, took a toll on the team and cut its numbers to six.
The physical demands didn't help either, they said.
Wrestling is rigorous. The girls have learned about eating healthy (except for their pre- or post-tournament stops at Wendy's for burgers and Frostys), staying hydrated and getting into condition. Girls say cutting weight isn't an issue. They just maintain the weight they started at and if they're staying active and eating right, that's not a problem.
Holmes said all the running, sparring and up-downs keep her in shape between cross country and track seasons.
“I didn't have to build up that aerobic base again,” she said of last season.
Even with the conditioning, match time isn't easy.
“It's tougher than I thought,” Kim Lind said. “Coming to the third (period) you're dead.”
“That's one of the reasons I thought I should do it, she said. “I wanted to try anything and everything. It's my senior year.”
“I always wanted to (wrestle) and I didn't want to have the regret of not trying it,” Allstot said.
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Simon Fraser wins CIS Women's Wrestling
2/7/07
ST. CATHARINES, Ont.- Simon Fraser University won its third straight CIS women's wrestling championship and it was sophomore Miranda Dick (Kamloops) who led the Clan to victory Saturday in St. Catharines, ON.
Simon Fraser captured the team championship for the third straight year finishing with one gold, three silver and one bronze. The Calgary Dinos finished second while the Brock women were third.
SFU's Miranda Dick pinned former CIS Champion and No. 1 ranked Krista Wells from Calgary in the 48-kilogram final in the first of many upsets on the women's side. Dick had entered the tournament ranked second in the weight class and had a 30-13 record.
At 61kg, McMaster's Ellen Macro battled back in both rounds to defeat the two-time defending CIS Champion Emily Richardson (North Vancouver) from SFU, winning the first round 3-2 and tying the second round 1-1. It was Richardson's first loss in three years at the national tournament. For her performance Macro was named the 2005 CIS Outstanding Female Wrestler.
Saskatchewan's Megan Buydens captured gold for the first time in her university career after three silver medal performances at 70kg. She defeated the Clan's Ashlea McManus (Port Alberni), who picked up silver. Regina's Ali Bernard closed out her rookie campaign with a gold medal performance at 80kg, being named the 2005 CIS Female Rookie of the Year. Bernard knocked SFU freshman Shayla Turcotte (Midway) in the final.
Alberta's Erica Sharp also made history as she captured her fifth CIS National title in seven years, becoming the first woman wrestler to accomplish this. At 57kg, Calgary's Brit Laverdure knocked off Brock's three-time CIS Champion Heather Sweezey (3-0, 1-0). SFU Jessica Petersen (New Westminster) won the bronze at that weight.
At 65kg, Brock's Megan Dolan captured her first CIS gold knocking off No. 1 ranked Heidi Kulak from Alberta (2-1, 1-1).
Other special award winners were Marty Calder (CIS Men's Coach of the Year), Mike Jones (CIS Women's Coach of the Year) and McMaster's Sheldon Francis who won the RW Pugh Fair Play Award.
CIS Outstanding Male Wrestler - Ryan Weicker, Brock
CIS Outstanding Female Wrestler - Ellen Macro, MAC
CIS Male Rookie of the Year - Bo Gregson, SFU
CIS Female Rookie of the Year - Ali Bernard, Regina
CIS Male Coach of the Year - Marty Calder, Brock
CIS Female Coach of the Year - Mike Jones, SFU
RW Pugh Fair play award - Sheldon Francis, McMaster
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St. Catharines, ON - The Following are the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medal Winners from this weekend's National Championships hosted by Brock University.
Womens 48kg
1) Miranda Dyck, SFU
2) Krista Wells, Calgary
3) Alana King, Brock
Womens 53kg
1) Erica Sharp, Alberta
2) Andrea Ross, Calgary
3) Terri McNutt, Western
Womens 57kg
1) Brit Laverdure, Calgary
2) Heather Sweezy, Brock
3) Jessica Peterson, SFU
Womens 61kg
1) Ellen Macro, McMaster
2) Emily Richardson, SFU
3) Justine Bouchard, Calgary
Womens 65kg
1) Megan Dolan, Brock
2) Heidi Kulak, Alberta
3) Stefanie Howorun, McMaster
Womens 70kg
1) Megan Buydens, Saskatchewan
2) Ashlea McManus, SFU
3) Kerri-Ann Evely, Memorial
Womens 80kg
1) Ali Bernard, Regina
2) Shayla Turcotte, SFU
3) Leanne Ashworth, Guelph
Steve Frost
Media Relations
Simon Fraser University Recreation and Athletics
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U of S getting set to host Canada West and CIS Wrestling Championships
Canadian Interuniversity Sport 2/7/07
The University of Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon are quickly taking centre stage when it comes to hosting National events. Fresh off the most successful Vanier Cup in history, Huskies Athletics is once again gearing up for two of the most important sporting competitions at this time of year. The 2007 Canada West Wrestling Championship, as well as the CIS Wrestling Championship will be held in the City of Bridges, and you can bet that the Chair of this year's Championships, Gil Wist, will have these events running at peak performance.
"I began in late September of 2006. Only 4 - 5 months ago... since then there has been an incredible amount of effort put in by many people on the organizing committee. Our host committee has over 20 people involved in the planning of these championships."
While having a strong host committee is important, perhaps the community support is just as significant. Saskatoon has always had an incredible amount of local sponsorship and support, and once again says Wist, this is the case.
"Community support is now coming in. We have a number of major community sponsors on board, including The Hilton Garden Hotel (host hotel) and Sask Sport, as major sponsors. Weight class sponsors include Chianti's Restaurant, Federated Co-op, Budget Rentals, Active Auger, Global Sports and Saturn Auto Centre," says Wist. "As well there are another 10 or so minor sponsors that have contributed gifts in kind and/or actual cash donations."
One has to wonder just how much pressure there is on the home-town Huskies, seeing that it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Who better to ask then the Wrestling Head Coach at the University of Saskatchewan, Todd Hinds, who eats, sleeps and breaths wrestling. One thing is for sure, come Canada West and CIS Championship time, he will have his team ready to go.
"Yes there is pressure at home, but there is also some comfort too. I have been asked if there is any pressure on us a few times now, and all I know is that the athletes are going to be comfortable at home and have the food they prefer. I am excited because Saskatoon gets to see our best perform," says Hinds. "Around this time of year, I get excited and can't stop thinking about scenarios and match-ups!"
As you can see Coach Hinds is now just counting the days until he can take his team into battle. He does have one last pitch to you however, if you're still contemplating on whether or not to come and watch these two incredible competitions...
"The Canada West Championship is a spectator-friendly way to view a wrestling tournament. The competition is in a dual meet format, which allows for friends and family to watch their team from the lightest weight class up to the heaviest class, one after another. Though the tournament is about individuals qualifying, the team gets right into it because they are right there to cheer their teammate on," says Hinds. "At CI's (CIS Championship), it is our Stanley Cup, our Superbowl, and the finals on the Saturday are amazing!"
Now that we know just how excited the Coach of the team is, one has to wonder if it carries over to the students he coaches. Keith Folkersen, one of the key members of the Huskies Men's wrestling team, and a home-town boy, is more than ready to take part in the pinnacle of his sport.
"There is a lot of pressure on this year's team going into the Canada West and Canadian Interuniversity Sport Championships. We have a team that has a lot of pressure to succeed that will contend for a men's team title," Folkersen says. "We have a very strong women's program this year but are in a rebuilding phase with a lot of young talent. Rookie sensations like Troy Lange and Daniel Oliver will do very well; the core of veterans on our team know that it is a very important year. Many key members are in their last year of competition and we know for this crew, many of whom grew up together, it is now or never. It's gonna be a heck of a ride."
The buzz is in the air about not only hosting the CIS National Championship, but also getting a tune-up a couple of weeks earlier when the U of S also hosts the Canada West Championships . While it is a lot of organization and commitment, Acting Athletic Director at the University of Saskatchewan, Bill Seymour, says this is just another chance for this community and institution to highlight its world-class hospitality and unbelievable event planning.
"Not only are the Huskies wrestlers going to show that they are at the top of their game during these events, the U of S is going to once again show that when it comes to pulling off the big Championships, Saskatoon and the University of Saskatchewan are the places to be," says Seymour. "This is another exciting time and I have no doubt that every other team that comes to these competitions are going to be impressed by the job done by the so many volunteers and committee members."
Feb. 16-17 will see the Education Building on the U of S Campus filled with athletes from universities across Canada West: Alberta, Calgary, Regina, Simon Fraser, and the hometown Huskies. It'll be a sneak peak of what is to come, as the CIS Championship is set for Mar. 2-3 at the PAC on College. Both events will conclude with a Banquet on the Saturday night. Fans can look forward to seeing top Canadian wrestlers, international athletes and future Olympians!
It is going to be a couple of weekends of wrestling extravaganza, and with the Huskies expected to be competing at a very high level, both Championships will be that much more exciting. When Gil Wist was asked what the best thing about these Championships would be, he was quick to respond.
"These events will include the best university wrestlers in the West for CanWest and in the country for the CIS Championships. Our host U of S teams are very competitive with our men's team in contention for both the CanWest and CIS titles." says Wist. "The host Huskies feature many local athletes who have distinguished themselves on the national stage. Some of these include Ryley Walker, Jeff Adamson, Josiah Boyd and Keith Folkersen on the men's team, and Amy Dyck, Pam Ewanishin and Beth Thompson on the women's side."
Tickets for both the Canada West Championship (Feb. 16-17) and CIS Championship (Mar. 2-3) are available at the door. Be sure to come early for your choice of seating! For tickets to the Championship Banquets (Feb. 17 and Mar. 3), call 306-966-1023 or email huskies@usask.ca.
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