News Page
Regina wrestlers named tops in group
The Leader-Post
Published: Monday, April 16, 2007
Michelle Anderson and Jackie Boudreau, both of Regina's Cattown Wrestling Club, were named the outstanding grapplers in their respective categories when the Canadian cadet-juvenile championships concluded Sunday in Whitby, Ont.
Boudreau was named the top wrestler in the cadet female division. Anderson was recognized in the juvenile female division. Both wrestlers won gold medals at 65 kilograms.
The Cattown club's other individual gold medallists were Thomas Ostapowich (50kg, cadet male), Kirk Ackerman (50kg, juvenile male) and Connor Malloy (76kg, juvenile male).
Cattown silver medallists were Daphne Anne Hodgson (43kg, juvenile female) and Golden Musonza (46kg, juvenile male). Bronze medals were won by Camille Leonard (43kg, cadet female), Tony Melgar (46kg, cadet male), Jasmine Slinn (46kg, juvenile female) and Steven Schneider (46kg, juvenile male).
Five teammates finished fourth -- Adrianna Morrison (70kg, cadet female), Will Schatz (42kg, cadet male), Christy McConnell (49kg, juvenile female), Gilbert Musonza (50kg, juvenile male) and Calvin Daum (69kg, juvenile male).
The Cattown club also won team gold medals in the juvenile male and female divisions. The wrestlers are coached by Ron Gonzales, Ryan Bellamy, Mike Dyck, Mark Fitzpatrick, Sean Barry and Kevin Hodgson.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Girl, 11, wins national wrestling title
April 16, 2007
Kiera Gabaldon, an 11-year-old who attends Miller Elementary School in Salem, won a national championship in her weight class at the USGWA Girls Wrestling National Championships, held March 31-April 1 in Livonia, Mich.
Gabaldon, who wrestles for the Capitol City Cougars kids mat club, won the 90-pound class, elementary division. She wrestled girls from New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida and Pennsylvania. She also won the outstanding wrestler award for recording the most pins in the fastest time, including a pin in 18 seconds.
Next up for Gabaldon is the Freestyle and Greco State tournament on April 21-22 in Hermiston.
Mount Angel seeks slow-pitch teams
Mount Angel City League seeks men's slow pitch teams for Thursday and Friday leagues. Doubleheader options are available. Games begin May 21.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Gannett Indiana online network 4/16/07
The Wapahani Wrestling Club participated in the Women's Freestyle Open and the Freestyle Open in Decatur, Ind., and the Rocky Mountain National Terminator Folkstyle Open Tournament in Sandusky, Ohio, on Saturday. At Decatur, Ashley Herron led the team by winning first place at novice 105 in both the women's and open tournaments. In the Women's Open, Brittney Tremble placed first at cadet 143 and the following team members were place winners in the Open Tournament: Skyler McDaniel placed first (bantam 75), Hunter Randolph placed second (schoolboy 75), Stefan Harry placed first (schoolboy 90), Dre Cooley placed fourth (schoolboy 120) and Robbie Flynn placed third (cadet 98). Team members Acedon Franklin (midget 65), Skyler Herron (midget 70) and Trevor Heath (cadet 189) also participated. Isaiah Bradley placed second (novice 80) at Sandusky. Coaches are Ralph Smith, Jason Smith, Christie Smith, Justin Ice, Tony Randolph and Curtis Bynum.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Area wrestler wins national girls title
By Steve Rundio 4/16/07
.
Jennifer Donais, daughter of Ken Donais and Leah Treu, both of Tomah, won a national title at the United State Girls Wrestling Association Tournament in Livonia, Mich.
The 9-year-old third-grader at LaGrange Elementary school was victorious via pin in one match; she won the others by decision.
Jennifer’s record since she began her wrestling career is 106-12.
“Special thanks to wrestling coach coach Jack McGinnis and coach Craig Pollack, and all the other people who helped with this organization,” Jennifer said. She also appreciates being able to train at the Warrens Elementary school gymnasium.
Jennifer took fourth in the Wisconsin regionals before winning a USGWA tournament at Escanaba, Mich.
She enjoys wrestling and encourages other girls to embrace the sport.
“Wrestling is a fun sport, so have fun doing it,” she said.
Jennifer is the second area female to win a major wrestling title in the last 12 months. Last year, Tomah High School senior Samantha Patterson won the USGWA state championship at Kenosha.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Springstowne launchpad for Vallejo's top girl grapplers
By DAN NIED/Times-Herald sports writer
Article Launched: 04/16/2007 08:20:23 AM PDT
|
Editor's note: Second in a two-part series on how girls' wrestling has put Vallejo on the national map.
When wrestling coach Jason Guiducci came to Springs-towne Middle School in 1999, just two girls were on the team.
Today, the number has swol-len to more than 30 - girls now outnumber guys at Springs-towne - and the school has developed the largest girls' wrestling program in the nation - not just among middle schools, but elementary and high schools as well.
For the past few years, girls' wrestling at Springstowne not only has become cool, it also has become the starting point for state and national championship contenders.
One of Guiducci's two originals, Maribeth Grim, went on to win an unofficial state high school title with Bethel High. And five Springstowne alumni competed recently in the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association Championships in Michigan.
The upswing began, coincidentally or not, in 2004, the same year womens' wrestling debuted in the Olympics. That year, 14 Springstowne girls came out for wrestling team, compared to eight in 2003. In 2006, the number swelled to 35. Last season, there were 34 girls and 28 boys on the team roster.
|
With Guiducci actively re-cruiting girls and dedicating physical education classes to the sport, the school's program has tipped toward girls.
Springstowne has been the starting point for some of Vallejo's best high school wrestlers. At the USGWA national championships earlier this month, five girls from either Vallejo High or Hogan High boasted Springstowne roots. Vallejo High sisters Jennifer and Mary Jane Fernandez, along with teammate Angie Miller, began wrestling at Springs-towne under Guiducci and assistants Pete Trave and Mo McNally. Hogan sisters Sami and Alice Hoover also are Springs-towne products.
At the USGWA nationals, Jennifer Fernandez took fourth at 100 pounds and Miller was second at 138 pounds.
* * * *
Determined coaches
When the number of girls grew, so did the coaches' dedication. Guiducci, Trave and McNally began taking girls to tournaments, trying to make them the best girls team in California.
"Once we started going to tournaments and our girls were given the opportunity to compete, it became something we have been very proud of," Guiducci said. "The girls have a lot more to prove. It is a challenge to them to say 'Hey, I belong. I can do this.' "
Springstowne serves as the feeder school for Hogan, Bethel and in some cases, Vallejo High. As the numbers at Springstowne have climbed, Hogan's program has followed.
"Coach Guiducci is a special character," said Hogan wrestling coach Ric Manibusan. "He is a driver, he has a vision. He wants it to be the best possible wrestling program in Vallejo."
Middle school programs like Springs-towne's create the base of girls wrestling not only in Vallejo, but in the rest of the Bay Area.
"You have that East Bay area basically that the middle school programs are so developed," said Robert Redman, the head of the California Women's Wrestling Association and San Jose State University's head women's coach.
* * * *
Early work pays off
The early training gives kids a jump on high school beginners.
"Most kids who come in as freshman who haven't competed. They are a step behind," said Guidicci, a former high school wrestler. "We give them the basics. Just having had success makes the kids hungry to stay with it."
Vallejo coach Mike Minahen, whose school is outside of the Springs-towne district, views Springstowne's program with a twinge of jealousy.
"They've got two gym classes that just wrestle," Minahen said. "The mat room's open every day at lunch and they work out, so it is phenomenal. I wish we had something anywhere close to that at Vallejo Middle School."
-----------------------------------------------------------------