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Fitchburg: 3 place at girls' wrestling meet
Sunday, March 11
Three girls from a club made up of Mount Greylock wrestlers placed at the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association New England Nationals at Montachusett Vocational Technical High School this weekend. The tournament was made up of competitors from the New England states and New York.
Stephanie Lindner of Lanesborough led the way with a second place finish in the high school 103-pound division, Britnee Bohl of North Adams took 3rd place in the high school 119-pound division, and Lanesborough's Nicole Clement was third in the middle school 103-pound division.
The trio advanced to next weekend's New York States tournament, and will wrestle at the National Qualifier in Dorchester in a few weeks. A good showing there puts them in the Women's Open Nationals in Las Vegas in April.
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Indian women wrestle with success
AFP, NEW DELHI
Saturday, Mar 10, 2007, Page 16
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Sonika Kaliraman remembers how her father, Indian wrestling legend Chandgi Ram, used to share newspaper articles among his daughters to inspire them with stories of women doing well in different fields.
One day he showed them a couple of clippings, and said: "This is what you girls are going to be like."
His three daughters were elated, looking at a picture of Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra who was crowned Miss World in 2000.
"I was so happy, I thought he's going to put us in modeling," recalled the six-foot [1.8m] Kaliraman, 23, wearing a gray shirt, black lycra pants and a bandage on her sprained ankle at her father's wrestling training camp in New Delhi.
But her dad pushed forward two other pictures — of Laila Ali, daughter of boxing champion Muhammad Ali, who was winning boxing bouts in 2000, and south Indian Karnam Malleswari, who won an Olympic gold in Sydney for weightlifting.
Even though she grew up in a wrestling camp, Kaliraman remembers being horrified, thinking she would end up unmarried, and with nothing to show for her sporting life but broken bones.
But at 72kg, she is now one of India's leading female wrestlers and has won championships in neighboring Haryana and Punjab states, where the sport is adored.
"I couldn't have got a better opportunity," said Kaliraman, who says an Indian wrestler can make almost US$14,000 in prize money in a good year.
In India, sport can also be a ticket to a better life, with government agencies and the police forces keen to give good athletes jobs to improve their sports teams.
"Winning feels great. How to stop yourself from getting beaten up no matter what — that's wrestling. It's do-or-die, beat or be beaten," said the young wrestler.
She went to the Asian games at Doha, and though she didn't win there, another Indian female wrestler, Geetika Jakhar, came away with a silver medal.
Kaliraman now hopes to make it to next year's Beijing Olympics after women's wrestling became an Olympic event for the first time in 2004.
The Wrestling Federation of India says it has been promoting the women's sport more in recent years, following the lead of the Swiss-based International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles.
There are now about 200 professional women wrestlers in India, the Indian body said, compared to 1,000 men.
Kaliraman, who loves competing, says the sport transformed her from a timid teenager into someone who can intimidate men into silence.
"In our communities, girls are taught to stay at home, to be scared, as if you are something to be eaten up," said the heavyweight wrestler.
"Now I am so frightening, no boy dares to say a thing to me. This is a rough-tough game and your mind gets rough and tough."
As she and her sisters participated in bouts in Haryana and Punjab, where mud wrestling among men has long been a popular village sport, families would flock to see the famed wrestler's daughters.
And other girls began to ask how they could take up the sport. Many of the nine or 10 girls staying at Chandgi Ram's camp on the banks of the Yamuna say their parents supported their choice.
In Haryana everyone knows Chandgi Ram. I heard that his daughters do it and he had a wrestling camp," said short-haired Kamlesh, 22, whose husband also lives at the camp but does not wrestle.
From 4pm to 7pm every evening, as the sun filters through a large ramshackle room with mats on the floor, the girls, wearing T-shirts and track pants, perform warm-ups before doing paired combat, as male coaches supervise.
During the training session, Chandgi Ram, who is now in his seventies, sits outside in front of a red Hanuman Temple, dedicated to the vigorous monkey god revered by Indian wrestlers.
"We want medals. If girls can win medals then let's train girls," said Chandgi Ram, matter-of-factly, about his decision to begin training women at his camp.
"In India there's opposition for women everywhere. But we have to go forward."
Sudesh, a 14-year-old from Haryana, said that she had faced some criticism for being a wrestler, though not from her parents.
"Older people get more upset but girls are doing well in it," said Sudesh, who has been training for two years. Unlike many Indian girls, she is far from thinking about marriage.
"Not 'til I bring some medals."
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Rochester to host U.S. Beach Wrestling Nationals and World Team Trials, July 6-8
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
03/10/2007
USA Wrestling has named Rochester, N.Y. as the host for the 2007 U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships and World Team Trials, set for July 6-8. The bid was awarded to the Monroe County Sports Commission.
The competition will be held on Charlotte Beach, which is located on Lake Ontario in Rochester. Held alongside the USA Wrestling Beach Wrestling Nationals will be two other major sports events, the American Power Boat Association’s Toyota Water Jam and the New York Beach Volleyball Championships.
The competition will serve as the qualifying event for the U.S. team that will compete in the World Beach Wrestling Championships in Antalya, Turkey, Sept. 7-9. The United States placed second in the 2006 World Beach Wrestling Championships in the men’s division and third in the women’s division, and had three individual World medalists.
“Sports have a significant economic impact in our community and we are proud to be selected as the host of the 2007 Beach National Championships. We look forward to welcoming the athletes, officials, and families to our community to experience a special weekend at Ontario Beach Park,” said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks.
“USA Wrestling is pleased to award the 2007 U.S. Beach National Wrestling Championships to Rochester, N.Y. and look forward to presenting an outstanding event,” said Pete Isais, USA Wrestling National Events Director. “The Rochester community has proven its ability to organize sports competitions, and has been very successful with USA Wrestling events. We are also very excited with the opportunity to showcase Beach Wrestling alongside other popular summer sports activities.”
In addition to the Beach Wrestling Nationals, the APBA jet-ski competition and the beach volleyball tournament, there will be other community activities held during the weekend. The second annual Ontario Beach Sports and Music Festival will be held in the city, with numerous entertainment opportunities.
“We did this last year and it came off very well,” said J.B. Shares of Nova Event Management, who works with the Ontario Beach Sports and Music Festival. “There was a huge turnout. The Toyota Water Jam Series is a big success. We have run volleyball events in Rochester for 20 years, and the beach volleyball tournament was successful. This year, we will have a DJ Jam on the beach and along the boardwalk. There will be bands at the after-party. We hope to have a break dance competition on the boardwalk. We will continually add more things as we move forward.”
Serving as event director for the U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships and World Team Trials will be Don Murray, the head wrestling coach at SUNY-Brockport. Murray has served many years as event director for successful USA Wrestling competitions, including the annual Northeast Regional Championships as well as a number of Regional Olympic Trials competitions.
“This is great for Rochester and the local wrestling community,” said Murray. “It will be fun for the citizens of this region to see this exciting wrestling competition at the beach. It will also be an outstanding opportunity for local wrestlers to compete in a national tournament held in their area. It is tremendous to have another national event coming to Rochester. It shows the outstanding job that the Monroe County Sports Commission has done attracting major national events to our area.”
Beach Wrestling was added as a new style of international wrestling, starting in 2005. The first World Beach Wrestling Championships was held in 2006. Athletes compete on sand, in a style that features takedowns within a ring. The sport has been growing in popularity across the nation.
This will be the second year that USA Wrestling has hosted a national championship event in Beach Wrestling. The first U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships was held at the Hilton Singer Island Waterfront Resort in Riviera Beach, Fla., August 19, 2006.
A flier with specific details on the U.S. Beach Wrestling National Championships and World Team Trials will be published shortly.
There will be both men’s divisions and women’s division at this tournament. In addition to the Senior competition, there will also be national championship events in Beach Wrestling on the Veterans, Junior, Cadet and Kids levels.
For the U.S. Beach National Championships in all age divisions, weight classes will be determined after weigh-ins.
The World Team Trials, which will determine the U.S. team for the World Championships, will be held in the weight classes recognized by FILA, the international wrestling federation. The weight classes for men are Under 85 kg/187.25 lbs. and Over 85 kg/187.25 lbs. and the weight classes for women are Under 70 kg/154 lbs. and Over 70 kg/154 lbs. The medalists in each weight class at the U.S. Beach National Championships on the Senior level will qualify to compete at the World Team Trials, which will be held immediately following the completion of the Beach Nationals competition.
Wrestlers and their families are encouraged to mark their calendar for July 6-8, and plan to attend a great weekend of wrestling action and outdoor fun in Rochester, N.Y.
Information regarding the U.S. National Beach Wrestling Championships, Ontario Beach Sports and Music Festival and the other activities during the weekend will be updated regularly at:
http://www.monroecountysports.org
About the Monroe County Sports Commission
The Monroe County Sports Commission (MCSC) is a private, non-profit, 501c(3) corporation whose goal is to bring organized sporting events of all kinds for all ages to Rochester, New York. MCSC actively solicits amateur championships, sports-related clinics and conventions.
MCSC and the Greater Rochester Visitors Association work together to assure that your visit will be a memorable one. Our experience in event planning, sponsorships, public relations and hospitality services can help make your event a complete success.
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Cumberlands dominates Women’s Collegiate Nationals with four champions
Blake Timm Pacific Univ.
03/11/2007
FOREST GROVE, Ore. - For the second year in a row, the University of the Cumberlands proved to be a runaway winner on the national stage, collecting four individual titles to win their second straight National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship Saturday at the Pacific Athletic Center.
Cumberlands scored a total 106 points, 34 better than second place Missouri Valley, thanks to championships by Jackie Stiles at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.., Othella Lucas at 59 kg/130 lbs., Alaina Berube at 67 kg/147.5 lbs., and Bethany Harris at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
"I love my girls, and they work hard," said Cumberlands head coach Kip Flanik following the meet. "Every one of them deserved to be in the finals."
The nation's four varsity programs claimed the top four spots in the tournament. Missouri Valley was second with 72 points and host Pacific was third with 56. Menlo finished fourth with 46 points.
Berube, a senior wrestling in her final national tournament, claimed her second straight national championship by taking the 67 kg. title after winning the 63 kg. class the year before. Berube encountered little resistance from Amberlee Ebert from Missouri Valley, collecting a 1-0, 6-0 victory and finishes having never lost a collegiate match.
Lucas also collected her second straight national title at 59 kg, defeating teammate Rachel Hubbard by a 5-0, 5-0 tally. In all, a total of seven Cumberlands' wrestlers competed in the championship matches.
Menlo's Sara Fulp-Allen prevented the Patriots' Jessica Medina from collecting her second straight title at 51 kg. After losing the first round 1-0, Fulp-Allen rebounded to fight to a 1-1 tie in the second, claiming the round thanks to scoring the final point. A two-point throw would be all that the No. 1 ranked wrestler in North America would need to take the round and the title.
Sarah Peasley of Cabrillo JC also managed to surprise a Cumberlands title hopeful in LeAnn Barney. The No. 3 ranked wrestler in North America at 55 kg. found herself stymied by Peasley in a grinding match as a pair of 1-0 rounds gave Peasley the title.
Kelsey Campbell of Arizona State earned the championship at 63 kg., needing three rounds to beat Emily Rinehart of Missouri Valley. Elizabeth Hernandez claimed the championship at 82 kg., accepting the victory after Stephany Lee defaulted due to injury.
Flanik said that he was impressed by the field that competed in this year's national championship and continues to see an increase in quality in women's wrestlers at the collegiate level. "I think the colleges are just getting better and better," Flanik said. "In the finals, every school had a girl that placed. Every college had somebody in there that was tough. I am very pleased with the level of competition."
Cumberlands had 10 wrestlers finish in the top four in their weight classes, earning All-American honors. Missouri Valley finished with seven All-Americans and Menlo finished with four.
Host Pacific finished with a total of five All-Americans. Senior Kapua Torres led the way, finishing out her collegiate career with a third place finish at 51 kg. Freshman Erin Zimmerman, meanwhile, captured third place at 67 kg. in her first collegiate nationals.
2007 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships
Final Team Scores
Cumberlands (Ky.) 106, Missouri Valley 72, Pacific (Ore.) 56, Menlo (Calif.) 46, Arizona State 16, Cabrillo JC (Calif.) 16, Cal State Bakersfield 9, Fresno State 7, San Francisco Culinary Institute 5,
Final Places By Weight
48 Kilograms (105.5 pounds)
1. Jackie Stiles (Cumberlands)
2. Aquilla Hills (Cumberlands)
3. Amantha Hordagoda (Cal State Bakersfield)
4. Tabitha Ramsey (Missouri Valley)
5. Valerie Prise (Pacific)
6. Melissa Girard (Cumberlands)
1st – Stiles dec. Hills, 5-2, 5-2
3rd – Hordagoda dec. Ramsey, 3-1, 3-1
5th – Prise dec. Girard, 2-1, 2-1
51 Kilograms (112.25 pounds)
1. Sara Fulp-Allen (Menlo)
2. Jessica Medina (Cumberlands)
3. Kapua Torres (Pacific)
4. Katherine Fulp-Allen (Menlo)
5. Maika Watanabe (Missouri Valley)
1st –S. Fulp-Allen dec. Medina, 0-1, 1-1, 2-0
3rd – Torres dec. K. Fulp-Allen, 2-0, 6-0
55 Kilograms (121 pounds)
1. Sarah Peasley (Cabrillo JC)
2. LeAnn Barney (Cumberlands)
3. Erika Chew (Missouri Valley)
4. Sandy Do (Cumberlands)
5. Summer Scott (Pacific)
6. J’aime Sage (Menlo)
1st – Peasley dec. Barney, 1-0, 3-0
3rd – Chew dec. Do, 4-0, 3-1
5th – Scott dec. Sage, pin 1:04 of 2nd period
59 Kilograms (130 pounds)
1. Othella Lucas (Cumberlands)
2. Rachel Hubbard (Cumberlands)
3. Samantha Fee (Missouri Valley)
4. Michelle Ludwig (Pacific)
5. Lisa Szczepaniak (SF Culinary)
1st – Lucas dec. Hubbard, 5-0, 5-0
3rd – Fee dec. Ludwig, 8-2, 4-1
63 Kilograms (138.5 pounds)
1. Kelsey Campbell (Arizona State)
2. Emily Rinehart (Missouri Valley)
3. Sherolynn Eppinger (Cumberlands)
4. Ashley Evans-Smith (Menlo)
5. Titilope Lawani (Pacific)
6. Lauren Knight (Cumberlands)
1st – Campbell dec. Rinehart, 1-1, 2-0, 3-1
3rd – Eppinger dec. Evans-Smith, 9-0, 6-0
5th – Lawani dec. Knight, 1-0, 3-1
67 Kilograms (147.5 pounds)
1. Alaine Berube (Cumberlands)
2. Amberlee Ebert (Missouri Valley)
3. Erin Zimmerman (Pacific)
4. Natasha Phinney (Fresno State)
5. Tamara Gravesande (Menlo)
1st – Berube dec. Ebert, 1-0, 6-0
3rd – Zimmerman dec. Phinney, 1-0, 7-0
72 Kilograms (158.5 pounds)
1. Bethany Harris (Cumberlands)
2. Jaime Trentadue (Menlo)
3. Kisha Milfort (Pacific)
1st – Harris dec. Trentadue, pin 1:52 of 2nd period
82 Kilograms (181 pounds)
1. Elizabeth Hernandez (Missouri Valley)
2. Stephany Lee (Missouri Valley)
3. Teresa Fennell (Cumberlands)
4. Megan Richardson (Pacific)
1st – Hernandez inj. dft. over Lee
3rd – Fennell dec. Richardson, 6-0, 2-1
NOTE: Top four placers in each weight class designated as All-Americans
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Cumberlands Wins National Women's Wrestling Title
Summary: 3/11/07
The North American power claims four individual weight class titles to win their second straight team title in the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships, hosted by Pacific
FOREST GROVE - For the second year in a row, the University of the Cumberlands proved to be a runaway winner on the national stage, collecting four individual title to win their second straight National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship Saturday at the Pacific Athletic Center.
Cumberlands scored a total 106 points, 34 better than second place Missouri Valley, thanks to championships by Jackie Stiles at 48 kg., Othella Lucas at 59 kg., Alaine Berube at 67 kg., and Bethany Harris at 72 kg.
"I love my girls, and they work hard," said Cumberlands head coach Kip Flanik following the meet. "Every one of them deserved to be in the finals."
The nation's four varsity programs claimed the top four spots in the tournament. Missouri Valley was second with 72 points and host Pacific was third with 56. Menlo finished fourth with 46 points.
Berube, a senior wrestling in her final national tournament, claimed her second straight national championship by taking the 67 kg. title after winning the 63 kg. class the year before. Berube encountered little resistance from Amberlee Ebert from Missouri Valley, collecting a 1-0, 6-0 victory and finishes having never lost a collegiate match.
Lucas also collected her second straight national title at 59 kg., defeating teammate Rachel Hubbard by a 5-0, 5-0 tally. In all, a total of seven Cumberlands' wrestlers competed in the championship matches.
Menlo's Sara Fulp-Allen prevented the Patriots' Jessica Medina from collecting her second straight title at 51 kg. After losing the first round 1-0, Fulp-Allen rebounded to fight to a 1-1 tie in the second, claiming the round thanks to scoring the final point. A two-point throw would be all that the No. 1 ranked wrestler in North America would need to take the round and the title.
Sarah Peasley of Cabrillo JC also managed to surprise a Cumberlands title hopeful in LeAnn Barney. The No. 3 ranked wrestler in North America at 55 kg. found herself stymied by Peasley in a grinding match as a pair of 1-0 rounds gave Peasley the title.
Kelsey Campbell of Arizona State earned the championship at 63 kg., needing three rounds to beat Emily Rinehart of Missouri Valley. Elizabeth Hernandez claimed the championship at 82 kg., accepting the victory after Stephany Lee defaulted due to injury.
Flanik said that he was impressed by the field that competed in this year's national championship and continues to see an increase in quality in women's wrestlers at the collegiate level. "I think the colleges are just getting better and better," Flanik said. "In the finals, every school had a girl that placed. Every college had somebody in there that was tough. I am very pleased with the level of competition."
Cumberlands had 10 wrestlers finish in the top four in their weight classes, earning All-American honors. Missouri Valley finished with seven All-Americans and Menlo finished with four.
Host Pacific finished with a total of five All-Americans. Senior Kapua Torres led the way, finishing out her collegiate career with a third place finish at 51 kg. Freshman Erin Zimmerman, meanwhile, captured third place at 67 kg. in her first collegiate nationals.
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