News Page
Cougar wrestlers get gold The Leader-Post
Published: Monday, March 05, 2007
University of Regina Cougars grapplers Ali Bernard and Cory Horsburgh returned to Regina with gold medals from the CIS wrestling championships on Saturday.
Bernard continued her dominance of the women's 72-kilogram division at the Saskatoon meet with a win over Leah Callahan of the Calgary Dinos in the gold-medal match.
This is the third gold medal from nationals for Bernard in her three years at the U of R.
Horsburgh was named the CIS rookie-of-the-year after winning the men's 57 kg division with a win over Lakehead's Chris Camerata in the final.
He is the first Cougars to win the award since it was created in 2003.
Hajar Ashtiani took home the only silver medal for the Cougars. Ashtiani lost to Calgary's Gen Haley in the women's 51 kg final.
Alex McStay made it four medals for the Cougars on Saturday when he won a bronze over Western Ontario's Ian Patton in the men's 130 kg final.
Sean Leblanc (68 kg), Chad Bates (61 kg) and Rachael Holthaus (48 kg) all fell in their bronze-medal matches.
Sarah Mercer (63 kg) and Kelli Rasmussen (55 kg) won their Saturday consolation matches to finish fifth. Kyle Dumont (65 kg) was sixth.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Written by Bill Tipple
Monday, 05 March 2007
Three Logan County girls competed in the USGWA/Girls Wrestling Challenge at the Arnold Sports Festival yesterday in Columbus.
In the High School Division, Kiersten Harmon of Indian Lake finished 2nd in the 119 pound weight class.
In the Middle School Division, Darby Newman of Bellefontaine placed 2nd in the 85 pound weight class.
In the Elementary Division, Benjamin Logan's Taylor Hites came in 4th in the 60 pound weight class.
Congrats to all three of them!!
--------------------------------------------------------
Moody bags rare wrestling double
Waikato Times | Monday, 5 March 2007
Rangiora's Joe Moody scored a rare senior-junior double to be the star turn among the New Zealanders competing at the Oceania Wrestling Championships, which finished in Hamilton yesterday.
Moody, wrestling in the 96kg heavyweight category, took out both the senior and junior freestyle titles, heading Palau's John Tarkong in the senior division and fellow Kiwi Sam Belkin in the junior section.
Australian Patryk Karpiesiuk was third in both.
The titles went with the junior Greco-Roman 96kg title he took on Friday and the second placing in the senior equivalent behind Australian Ivan Popov.
Last year Moody took freestyle second placings in the Canada Cup and the Commonwealth championships in Glasgow and is regarded as one of New Zealand's most promising wrestlers.
New Zealand's other title on Saturday came in the senior female category where Tawa's Sian Law took out the 55kg title from Australian rival Kyla Bremner.
Hamilton's Toby Fitzpatrick, who on Friday won the junior Greco-Roman 84kg championship, could only manage fourth in the freestyle equivalent yesterday, one place behind fellow Hamilton wrestler Caleb Dobbs. Australians Mark Anthony and Daniel Opdam finished first and second.
New Zealand Olympic Wrestling Union president and tournament controller Brian Stannett said the Oceania event had proved very successful, paving the way for such competitions to be held regularly in the future.
A spinoff had been the interest shown by visiting nations in returning to Hamilton to contest the New Zealand championships in August, Waikato's Stannett said.
--------------------------------------------------
Whitbeck falls short of placing
Duanesburg girl defeated in bid at 103 pounds
By DAVID FILKINS, Staff writer
First published: Sunday, March 4, 2007
ALBANY -- Duanesburg junior Amy Whitbeck was eliminated from the state wrestling tournament Saturday morning at Times Union Center, losing a 5-1 decision to Matt Peters of East Aurora High School in the Division II 103-pound consolation quarterfinals.
Peters scored early in the first period to take the lead before Whitbeck controlled the second period from the top. She was unable to score despite the advantage, and registered her only point on an escape in the final period.
Whitbeck, who won an opening-round and consolation match on Friday to become the first girl in state history to reach Day 2 of the tournament, would have been guaranteed a place finish had she defeated Peters.
Heartbreak for Galvin Corinth senior Ed Galvin suffered what may have been the toughest loss of the tournament in the Division II 125-pound semifinals.
He led Jared Lemke of Alden High School 6-4 late in the third period before a controversial call by the referee in the final seconds resulted in an 8-6 defeat.
Lemke controlled Galvin from behind with both wrestlers on their feet in the final minute of the third period. With seven seconds remaining, Lemke attempted a tying takedown which Galvin thwarted by spinning to his right. Both wrestlers lost their balance and fell, and the referee awarded Lemke two points for a takedown, tying the score 6-6. Lemke rolled onto Galvin with two seconds left and the referee awarded Lemke two back points for a last-second victory.
Galvin, distraught after the match ended, rebounded to win a consolation semifinal match before losing in the consolation final. He finished fourth.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Let reality take over
COMMENTARY
Friday, March 2, 2007 12:19 AM EST
Every time sexist dinosaurs groan out tired stereotypes -- like girls can't compete with boys, or girls sports are boring to watch -- the girls, given a chance, prove them wrong.
But the main reason, and in many cases the only reason, girls have gotten those chances is that, since 1972, federal law under Title IX has banned discrimination by sex in schools.
Title IX is a great argument for the use of force. When the law was passed, almost all public schools gave short shrift to girls sports programs. Forced by federal law to do the right thing, now almost all communities have embraced girls programs, and the programs have flourished.
But you still hear from the dinosaurs occasionally, although their roaring is more like mewling now.
We have heard from them in the context of the recent triumph of two local girl wrestlers, Sarah Anderson and Amy Whitbeck, who both won Section II titles recently and are wrestling in the state championships this weekend.
One wrestler, Brian Walsh of Loudonville Christian, said before the Section II championships he'd forfeit rather than face Whitbeck. His school's rules required the forfeit but Walsh and his parents also said they think it's disrespectful to wrestle girls.
It didn't matter, as it turned out, because Walsh didn't reach the finals and never had to face Whitbeck.
But in sports, refusing to compete against an opponent is the height of disrespect. You show respect by doing your best to win.
And if you lose against a tough, skilled wrestler like Amy Whitbeck, as most of her opponents have, you should shake her hand respectfully.
New York itself still raises a sexist barrier before girls like Whitbeck and Anderson, with a "mixed competition rule" that requires them to pass two tests -- one for fitness, one for "physical maturation" -- before they can compete.
The tests are only required for girls trying out for a boys team or vice versa, which, in practice, means they are almost exclusively applied to girls.
These tests are a holdover from the dinosaur age, when people actually believed girls could not compete with boys or that it would be humiliating for a boy to lose to a girl. The tests are reminders of a time, not so long past, when women's opportunities in many aspects of life were far narrower than men's.
Once given a chance, girls and women have quickly banished biases with reality. It is hard to hold onto a fantasy of girls as weak when one of them is pinning you to the mat.
Will Doolittle is features editor of The Post-Star. He may be reached at will@poststar.com.
------------------------------------------------------------
Staff
03/27/2007
Send letters to The Saratogian by e-mail at letters@saratogian.com
To be considered for publication, letters should be no longer than 300 words, and must include an address. Please also include a daytime phone number for verfication. All letters will be edited for length and clarity.
Speaking outs should be no more than 500 words long, and follow the same guidelines as the letters.
For more information, call Managing Editor Barbara Lombardo at 518-583-8711.
©The Saratogian 2007
Reader Comments
Submit your own comment!
Added: Sunday February 18, 2007 at 01:24 PM EST
Media Attention
I recently attended the Section II Wrestling Championships at the Glens Falls Civic Center. I applaud all the wrestlers and their championships along with the media attention usually not given to this sport.
My friend and wrestling partner at Burnt Hills, Max Miller, recorded an upset and won the large school championship at 103 pounds. Max is only an 8th grader. When congratulating Max on his championship, I noticed very little attention being given to his accomplishment relative to that being received by Amy Whitbeck of Duanesburg. Although I greatly appreciate the talents of Amy (both this and last year), I believe Max was equally deserving of the "media attention," especially from Fox Sports. After all, his accomplishment was equally impressive based on his victory over the number one seeded wrestler (Max was seeded third) who is a sophomore at Shenendehowa with several more years of wrestling expereince than Max.
Congratulations again Max, Amy, and all the other wrestlers.
Schuyler Meyers, Burnt Hills JV Wrestling, 103 pounds
Schuyler Meyers, Burnt Hills New York
==============-------------------------=================
Ortiz 1st at local wrestling meet
By Times-Herald staff
Article Launched: 03/05/2007 07:10:45 AM PST
The USGWA girls state wrestling meet was held at Springstowne Middle School on Sunday, an open tournament held by the Vallejo Sports Club featuring girls from all over the state, from under six-years-old through college age.
The meet, not affiliated with high school participation, featured a good turnout of the local wrestling contingent, including a first-place finish from Pennycook Elementary fifth-grader Mariah Ortiz in the 90-pound division.
Other locals faring well included Hogan High students Christine Alcantara (second place, 98 pounds), Samantha Hoover in the match of the day (second, 126), Alice Hoover (fourth, 118), Carrie Armijo (sixth, 132) and the much-improved Brianna Grant (sixth, 114). Pennycook fourth-grader Alecza Hoover was fourth in the 67-pound division.
On April 20-21, the Vallejo Sports Club will host the West Coast Nationals wrestling tournament at the Solano County Fairgfounds. The club hopes to welcome as many as 2,000 boys and girls wrestlers from under 6-years-old to high school age.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Women's Wrestling's Best Come To Forest Grove
.goboxers.com 3/5/07
Summary:
Pacific prepares to play host to the nation's best collegiate women's wrestlers as the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships come to the Pacific Athletic Center this Saturday
FOREST GROVE - The best collegiate women's wrestlers in the United States will make an appearance in Forest Grove this weekend as Pacific University plays host to the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships this Saturday.
Preliminary sessions begin at 9:00 a.m., at the Pacific Athletic Center. Championship matches will take place in the evening session, which begins at 7:00 p.m. Admission for the full day is $4 for adults, $3 for students 17 and under and senior citizens.
This is Pacific's first chance to host the national meet in their five years as a varsity program. "We are thrilled to be able to showcase the absolute best in women's wrestling here at Pacific this weekend," said Pacific head wrestling coach Scott Miller. "We will have a chance to see women who could represent the United States at the next Olympics, which will be a special treat for all of us."
Pacific will be one of four varsity teams participating in the nationals, joining programs from Menlo College (Calif.), University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) and Missouri Valley College. In addition, the meet will feature club programs from Cabrillo Junior College (Calif.), Clark College, Arizona State, Portland State and the Spartan Wrestling Club, which comprises wrestlers from San Jose State, San Jose City College and Fresno State.
Cumberlands is the defending national champion and is the odds-on favorite to repeat in 2007. The Patriots were runaway winners in 2006 with 113 points, compared to Missouri Valley's second place total of 98 points. Cumberlands claimed national titles from Jessica Medina at 51 kg., Othella Lucas at 59 kg., Alaina Berube at 63 kg., Heather Martin at 67 kg., and Tocarra Montgomery at 80 kg. In the latest North American College Poll, released by TheMat.com, Cumberlands had four wrestlers ranked at the top of their weight class.
The host Boxers finished third in last year's championship and enter the tournament ranked No. 11 in North America. Kapua Torres (Jr., Kahuku, Hawaii) is the team's lone ranked wrestler, earning a No. 4 North American ranking at 51 kg.
The National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships will be a showcase for the sport of women's wrestling, which continues to experience steady growth at both the high school and collegiate levels. Recognized as a medal sport for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, all four of the nation's varsity programs will be represented on Saturday. A fifth varsity program at Oklahoma City University is slated to come online for the 2007-2008 season.
More details about the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships, including a full schedule of events, can be found online at Pacific's National Tournament Web Site.
------------------------------------------------------
Russia's strongest wrestlers to participate World Freestyle Wrestling Cup in Krasnoyarsk,
Pavel Rostovtsev 3/5/2007 3:30:27 PM
The Krasnoyarsk Territory sport agency head Pavel Rostovtsev said he hopes for the victory of Russia's national team at the World Freestyle and Women's Wrestling Cup in Krasnoyarsk. "There is no doubt that we have a competitive spirit and the strongest lineup now. Our spirit is based upon the fact that the tournament is held in Russia for the first time and we have never won it."
Rostovtsev said the women's team's has a little chance to win. The agency head also stressed that one of the most important social objectives of the world cup is to promote a healthy lifestyle. "The authority of this competition will help to attract the youth," he is convinced.
Pavel Rostovtsev mentioned one more advantage of hosting the Cup. It is an opportunity to repair Ivan Yarygin's Sport Palace. "The sport palace has not been repaired for a long time," he noted.
The world cup is scheduled to be held in Krasnoyarsk from March 22 to 25, 2007. Krasnoyarsk Territory Governor Alexander Khloponin had signed a contract for hosting the tournament with FILA in December 2006.
----------------------------------------------------------
Athletes of the Week 3/5/07
Female: Laura Skopelianos (Third Year, Kinesiology, London, ON)
Laura Skopelianos placed 3rd beating arch rival Liz Martindale of Brock in the bronze-medal match at the CIS national championships, leading the Mustangs women's squad to an overall team bronze, Western's only team to medal at the CIS level in the 2006-07 season. The third-year kinesiology student is a skilled wrestler making her way up the ladder.
According to head coach Ray Takahashi, she had tough competition throughout the nationals. "But she's a real competitor and does well in tight matches." Skopelianos also defeated Martindale in February in the OUA championship bout helping the Mustangs women to an OUA team gold medal.
------------------------------------------------------------
McMann and Pirozhkov win gold at Klippan Ladies Open
Michelle Thilges USA Wrestling
03/05/2007
KLIPPAN, SWEDEN – 2004 Olympic medalist Sara McMann (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) and Elena Pirozhkov (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) won gold medals at the 2007 Klippan Ladies Open, March 2-4.
McMann beat Monika Rogien of Poland, pinning her in the second period to win her first match. She also beat teammate Vanessa Oswalt 4-0, 3-3 in the semifinals. In the championship round, she defeated Agoro Papavassiliou of Greece.
Pirozhkov beat Maja Erlandsen of Norway 3-0, 5-0 and Julia Bartsnouskava of Russia 3-1, 3-0 in her first two matches. In the finals, she defeated Emma Weberg of Sweden.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Klippan Ladies Open
At Klippan, Sweden, March 2-4
Individual Results
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1. Anne Chaterine Deluntsch (France)
2. Iwona Sadowska (Poland)
3. Valentina Kvasova (Russia)
3. Sofia Mattsson (Sweden)
51 kg/112.25 lbs.
1. Ai Shimizu (Japan)
2. Sachiko Suzuki (Japan)
3. Myriam Prost (France)
3. Alena Adashinskaya (Russia)
55 kg/121 lbs.
1. Anna Gomis (France)
2. Sofa Poubouridou (Greece)
3. Sylvia Bilenska (Poland)
3. Johanna Mattson (Sweden)
59 kg/130 lbs.
1. Ida Therese Karlsson (Sweden)
2. Galina Legenkina (Russia)
3. Meryem Selloun (France)
3. Gudrun Hoie (Norway)
63 kg/138.75 lbs
1. Sara McMann (USA)
2. Agoro Papavassiliou (Greece)
3. Monika Rogien (Poland)
3. Helena Allandi (Sweden)
67 kg/147.5 lbs.
1. Elena Pirozhkova (USA)
2. Emma Weberg (Sweden)
3. Julia Bartnovskaya (Russia)
3. Paulina Grabowska (Poland)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1. Alena Starodubtseva (Russia)
2. Jenny Fransson (Sweden)
3. Marina Gastl (Austria)
3. Maria-Louiza Vrioni (Greece)
U.S. Performances
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 5th
WIN Chihiro Nonaka (Japan), 2-1, 7-1
LOSS Anne Declutch (France), Pin 4-1, 1:30
WIN opponent not identified
LOSS Sofia Mattsson (Sweden)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), dnp
LOSS Sylvia Blinks Bilenska (Poland), 0-2, 5-0, 0-3
55 kg/121 lbs. – Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), dnp
WIN Sarka Andrlova (Czech Republic), 1-0, 2-0
LOSS Sylvia Bilenska (Poland), 2-3, 2-4
59 kg/130 lbs. – Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), dnp
WIN Agnese Gaile, (Latvia), Pin 1:26
LOSS Gurdon Hoxie (Norway), Pin, 3-3, 1:47
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Sara McMann Iowa City, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Monika Rogien (Poland), Pin, 1-0, 1:45
WIN Vanessa Oswalt (USA), 4-0, 3-3
WIN Agoro Papavassiliou (Greece)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Vanessa Oswalt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 5th
WIN Nadia Meier (Switzerland), 2-0, 3-0
LOSS Sara McMann (USA), 0-4, 3-3
LOSS Monika Rogien (Poland)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 1st
WIN Maja Erlandsen (Norway), 3-0, 5-0
WIN Julia Bartsnouskaya (Russia), 3-1, 3-0
WIN Emma Weberg (Sweden)
Team Standings
1. Sweden, 64 pts.
2. Poland, 54 pts.
3. France, 53 pts.
4. Russia, 49 pts.
5. USA, 35 pts.
6. Greece, 32 pts.
7. Japan, 23 pts.
8. Austria, 21 pts.
9. Norway, 17 pts.
10. Latvia, 10 pts.
(of 19 teams)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Collegiate Women's Championships set for Pacific Univ. on Saturday. March 10
Blake Timm Pacific Univ.
03/05/2007
Women's wrestling¹s best comes to Forest Grove; National Collegiate Women¹s Wrestling Championships to take place at Pacific Athletic Center this Saturday
FOREST GROVE The best collegiate women¹s wrestlers in the United States will make an appearance in Forest Grove this weekend as Pacific University plays host to the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships this Saturday.
Preliminary sessions begin at 9:00 a.m., at the Pacific Athletic Center.
Championship matches will take place in the evening session, which begins at 7:00 p.m. Admission for the full day is $4 for adults, $3 for students 17 and under and senior citizens.
This is Pacific¹s first chance to host the national meet in their five years as a varsity program.
"We are thrilled to be able to showcase the absolute best in women¹s wrestling here at Pacific this weekend," said Pacific head wrestling coach Scott Miller. "We will have a chance to see women who could represent the United States at the next Olympics, which will be a special treat for all of us."
Pacific will be one of four varsity teams participating in the nationals, joining programs from Menlo College (Calif.), University of the Cumberlands(Ky.) and Missouri Valley College.
In addition, the meet will feature club programs from Cabrillo Junior College (Calif.), Clark College, Arizona State, Portland State and the Spartan Wrestling Club, which comprises wrestlers from San Jose State, San Jose City College and Fresno State.
Cumberlands is the defending national champion and is the odds-on favorite to repeat in 2007. The Patriots were runaway winners in 2006 with 113 points, compared to Missouri Valley's second place total of 98 points.
Cumberlands claimed national titles from Jessica Medina at 51 kg., Othella Lucas at 59 kg., Alaina Berube at 63 kg., Heather Martin at 67 kg., and Tocarra Montgomery at 80 kg. In the latest North American College Poll, released by TheMat.com, Cumberlands had four wrestlers ranked at the top of their weight class.
The host Boxers finished third in last year's championship and enter the tournament ranked No. 11 in North America. Kapua Torres (Jr., Kahuku,Hawaii) is the team's lone ranked wrestler, earning a No. 4 North American ranking at 51 kg.
The National Collegiate Women¹s Wrestling Championships will be a showcase for the sport of women's wrestling, which continues to experience steady growth at both the high school and collegiate levels. Recognized as a medal sport for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, all four of the nation¹s varsity programs will be represented on Saturday. A fifth varsity program at Oklahoma City University is slated to come online for the 2007-2008 season.
More details about the National Collegiate Women¹s Wrestling Championships, including a full schedule of events, can be found online at
http://www.goboxers.com/wwr/nationals
--------------------------------------------------------------
Samuels and Bush named athletes of month
By Lorna Jablonski, Okeechobee News 3/5/07
Two members of the Okeechobee High School wrestling team were chosen as the Okeechobee News/Publix Super Market athletes of the month for January.
Evettah Samuels, a junior at O.H.S., received the female athlete of the month award for her outstanding contributions to the Lady Brahman wrestling team.
Samuels who has been wrestling for two years, placed in three tournaments in the month of January. She was also a runner-up at the girls' state wrestling championship tournament in Kissimmee.
She is also on the O.H.S. honor roll with a 3.5 grade point average. Her future plans include attending college for training in crime scene investigation.
Samuels is the daughter of Hubert Samuels, Sr. and Eva Samuels.