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Marano balances motherhood and medals
By BARRY WILNER
Associated Press Sports
Updated: 3:36 p.m. CT July 11, 2007
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -Motherhood and medals. Not exactly a common combination in sports.
Kristie Marano doesn't care.
Marano has won medals at the past eight world wrestling championships, including gold in 2000 and 2003. Nearly all of them have come since she gave birth to Kayla, now 9.
As she heads to her first Pan American Games next week and, she hopes, her first Olympics next summer in Beijing, Marano is certain that being a mom has helped her wrestling. And being a wrestler has helped her as a mother.
"It is a juggling act, really, but it's cool,'' the 28-year-old Marano said. "If anything, I want to be a positive role model to my daughter and to show her nothing is too much of an obstacle in life. If you really want to do something, you can.''
Marano was on the verge of doing what she wanted most in her sport in 2004, but then she failed to make weight at the Olympic trials as the favorite in the 138.75 class. Instead of competing in Athens, where women's wrestling was on the schedule for the first time, she served as a training partner and cheerleader for the other Americans, including Sara McMann, who won a silver medal in Marano's weight class.
She also learned something very valuable from that disappointment.
"I think even though it was heartbreaking, I would not want to do anything else,'' Marano said. "So I went as a training partner to Greece and it made me want to push harder and be on the team the next time. It gave me more determination and motivation.
"And it was really cool to be at an Olympic event, even if I was not wrestling, to be able to cheer the girls on who were making history. Just watching it really helped me focus the next (three) years so far.''
Focus is one of Marano's strengths, says U.S. women's coach Terry Steiner, who has worked with Marano since 2002. Steiner has seen Marano meet injuries, weight woes, relationship problems - she's now a single mom - and the challenge of combining family and wrestling with a sense of purpose that every elite athlete must possess.
Indeed, Steiner believes the bonds between Marano and her daughter have been strengthened by their involvement in the sport.
"I think she definitely wants an Olympic medal, but I don't think she'd be doing it if she and Kayla did not like the lifestyle. She enjoys the environment and the environment her daughter is around. She has, like, 20 big sisters.
"I have a daughter of my own and it is the same for her in that atmosphere. If a situation is not good for Kayla, I don't think Kristie would be doing it. She has to look at everything; she can't be selfish and just do what she wants.''
What Marano most wants is a balanced life for herself and Kayla. So they enjoy watching movies and ballgames together - Kayla spends part of the summer in Kristie's hometown of Albany, N.Y., where her uncles take her to New York Giants' training camp. Kayla also has played soccer and now is a wrestler, too.
She's participated in three tournaments, winning in Missouri and placing second in New Mexico with mom as her coach. That was an eye-opener for Marano.
"It was fun, and definitely one of the things you think about is, 'Wow, this is what my parents did?' My dad was always in my corner, whether I was in judo or wrestling. And there were times when he told me to do something and I did the opposite.''
Marano laughs at the long-ago memories - and the more recent ones when she was helping her daughter.
"You see things she's not doing and it almost made me want to call my dad and say, 'I'm sorry for all those times I didn't (listen),' " she said.
Steiner describes Marano as one of the most coachable athletes he's had. Now that she has settled as a heavyweight and doesn't have to worry about poundage, he believes she will be even more of a factor on international mats.
Including in Rio.
"The cards have been stacked against Kristie so many times, and you can count on her to find a way to come out of it shining,'' Steiner said. "I think she definitely adapts to who she is wrestling, what level she is wrestling. Some people get caught in the game plan and style of wrestling and that can hinder them. She is very resilient.
"I think as far as a pure competitor, she is the best I have ever been around, male or female, and her record says that. She competes so well, goes with the flow, is easy to be around and to coach. Kristie just finds a way.''
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Cheerleader Sues School for Being Cut From Team
7/11/07
For quite some time, I have wanted to discuss how liberalism is destroying the competitive spirit of our Nation’s children. This is the same competitive drive that made our Country great and so admired throughout the world. I briefly touched on this insanity recently regarding Seattle Schools banning Legos. But, after watching Glenn Beck last night, I knew it was time to unleash my rage.
Glenn Beck last night spoke with an attorney for Wycoda Fischer. Evidently, Fischer had a dire crisis that required legal counsel. You see, poor Wycoda Fischer did not make her cheerleading team.
No, you are not dreaming; this is not a joke. Wycoda Fischer did not make her junior varsity cheerleading team and so she is suing her school. Forget the fact that Michael Jordan attributes his competitive drive, and ultimate success, because he was cut from his high school team. Today, instead of children learning from their failures, and striving to succeed, they are rewarded for their lack of effort. Somehow, we are surprised when these children become abject failures as adults, and then argue they have a right to a college education and a comfortable living.
As a result of this ridiculous lawsuit, the School District will have to waste tax dollars to pay a lawyer to defend this nonsense. Worst of all, this will have a terrible effect on competitive sports throughout the Country. The damage from this single case may have a more devastating impact than the media cares to mention.
After this lawsuit, coaches of high school teams throughout the Country are going to hesitate when holding tryouts. What will happen if they cut anyone? They may worry that sitting a player on the bench may result in a lawsuit. They are going to worry that any criticism directed at a player will lead to legalized extortion by lawyers. Sports around this Country may never be the same, and this is only going to get worse.
Allow me to share a quick story with you. About five years ago I went back to my high school wrestling team to say hello to my coaches. Moreover, it is a tradition around the Country that when wrestlers go back to their high schools, they bring their wrestling shoes and actually practice with the team. It is very nostalgic, and the teammates learn a great deal from returning wrestlers.
But, when I went back, I was no longer allowed to wrestle with the team. Why, might you ask? Well, because a girl wrestler from another school district was injured when wrestling with a former wrestler. Consequently, she sued the School District. Let me say that again in case you missed it. A girl wrestler was injured on a male wrestling team, forever preventing all wrestlers throughout the School District from practicing with alumni.
So not only are girls forcing themselves onto male wrestling teams with the threat of lawsuits, now they are suing if they get injured. Tomorrow they may sue if a coach disciplines them for losing a match. A year from now they may sue if the lose at all.
This craziness all started when liberals took over the legal and education systems in this country. Years ago, if a lawyer brought a lawsuit such as the ones I mentioned above, the lawyer would be sanctioned and the party sued would be awarded attorney fees for a frivolous claim. Those days are long gone.
Today, teachers cannot use red ink if a student fails an exam. Today, there is no dodge ball. Today, there are no trophies for first place; everyone gets awarded for participating. Today, nobody fails. Today, we are all equal no matter how much effort each child exerts. Instead, children who sacrifice their summers to train and excel in school and sports are told they should be ashamed for their achievement.
I cannot imagine being a student in the education system today. It can only be described as a prison of mediocrity. This stranglehold that liberals have exerted over education has led to the absence of pursuing excellence. Maybe it is because liberals believe everyone is entitled to an education regardless of merit.
Let me mention as a side note that I am completely disgusted when I hear the argument that people have a right to an education. Education takes work, tenacity, diligence, sacrifice, and actual intelligence. When someone says they have a right to something that requires these attributes, the next question is, “At whose expense?” Who must sacrifice for everyone else who fails to succeed? I guess the liberal answer is that the gifted children must sacrifice for everyone else. The “self-esteem” of the losers is more important.
There really needs to be a total overhaul of our education system in this country if this nonsense is ever going to stop. After looking today at the recent lawsuits and liberal insanity, I do not even want to imagine what is coming next. Let us hope that the case involving Wycoda Fischer is thrown out of court, her lawyer sanctioned, and attorneys fees awarded back to the district. Sadly, I think it would be more likely to see a 100 pound female student assert a right to play linebacker for the football team, and of course sue when she gets injured.
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Women win clutch of medals at Asian Junior Champs
11:46' 11/07/2007 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge –
Wrestler Nguyen Thi Loc took home a gold medal from the women's 44kg division of the Asian Junior Wrestling Championships in the Philippines on Monday.
Loc, who has been recruited by the national team in preparation for the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December, showed her good form in the freestyle category against strong rivals from Japan, South Korea and China to win the first gold.
Overall Vietnam's 12-member squad bagged a total two gold and two silver medals including Le Thi Trang who grabbed another gold medal in the women's 51kg division.
The two silver medals went to Pham Thi Hue in the 55kg and Dang Thi Van in the 48kg classes. However the Vietnamese men were unsuccessful in the freestyle and Greco-Roman events.
According to the wrestling section chief of the Committee for Sports and Physical Culture, Le Ngoc Minh, the women's national wrestling team is preparing for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Trang, a 2004 Asian Wresting Championships silver medalist, is Vietnam's best chances for Olympic triumph, according to Minh, who is also vice chairman and general secretary of the Southeast Asian Wrestling Federation.
"Our target of winning several medals at the SEA Games is doable because women's wrestling is only just taking off in some countries. So, Vietnam should cruise through the competition," said Minh.
Currently, Vietnam has one of the strongest women's teams in Asia, after China, Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
In 2005, Nghiem Thi Giang pocketed a bronze at the Asia Junior Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling Tournament in Wuhan City, China, while Nguyen Thi Hang won a silver medal at the World Junior Wrestling Championships in Lithuania.
Women's wrestling has become more popular since the sport was reestablished at the 19th SEA Games in Indonesia 10 years ago.
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Nigeria: How Country Will Dig for Gold
10 July 2007
Posted to the web 11 July 2007
Lagos
Nigeria will be under pressure to repeat its 2003 feat in Abuja as the games as the All Africa Games begin today at the July 5th Stadium in Algiers.
Nigerian athletes were denied the opportunity of good preparations when they failed to go on a training tour due to lack of funds, but there is so much enthusiasm being expressed by officials that the country will retain the number one position.
The country will maintain its tradition of winning in stronghold sports like athletics, boxing, wrestling and weightlifting.
During the 2003 Games Nigeria relied on special sports to swing victory at the medals table to its favour. But the hosts have cancelled most of the events in special sports leaving Nigeria walking on a tightrope.
In athletics where over 45 medals are available for grabs, Nigeria has the men and women with potentials to sweep the sprints stakes.
Apart from the men's 400m where the country has been lagging, there is no contesting the fact that the short distance barring any circumstances and upsets, Nigeria will make in a 1,2,3 in men and women event. Based on current form book the relays are exclusive preservers of the country's athletes.
In the field events South Africa and Nigeria will slug it out, even though South Africa has the edge.
In wrestling Nigeria will be the country to count the gold mostly especially in the men and women freestyle in this event where there are 21 medals at stake.
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