News Page

Westside at top of Greater Houston boys' rankings this week

By TERRY CARTER
Copyright 11/4/2007 Houston Chronicle

Cy Ridge

Rams state fifth-place finisher Jessica Nguyen remains unbeaten after capturing her second tournament title at the Cy Ridge Classic on Saturday.

She also must be a pretty solid training partner as three other Cy Ridge girls at 95 and 102 pounds placed high. Ram Adrienne Do captured the 95-pound title. Nguyen won at 102, but in a rarity Cy Ridge teammate Ivette Olivares finished third and Ram Gwen Haley earned fifth place.

Katy

The Katy girls captured their second tournament championship of the year at the Cy Ridge Classic, and Saturday's title arrived with an exclamation point.

Tigers state qualifier Julie Stayton made a dent in the state rankings at 138 pounds by pinning returning state runner-up Whitney Disotelle of Waller in the championship match. Stayton also earned Most Outstanding Wrestler honors for her efforts.

Stayton (7-0) fought for a reversal and eventually outmaneuvered the Waller senior for the pin.

TERRY CARTER

Boys Girls
1. Westside 1. Katy
2. Klein 2. Waller
3. Katy Taylor 3. Cy Ridge
4. Woodlands 4. Katy Taylor
5. Cinco Ranch 5. Brazoswood





Hazewinkel, Smith Win Gold

By Gary Abbott // USA Wrestling // December 5, 2007 
Visit USA Wrestling


Two U.S. wrestlers won gold medals at the Haparanda Cup, Dec. 1-2. Capturing titles were Greco-Roman wrestler Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Gator WC) and women’s freestyle wrestler Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army).

Hazewinkel won three matches on the way to the title, defeating fellow American Jermaine Hodge (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) in the finals. Among his other wins was a semifinal victory over Maksim Mordovin of Russia.

Smith, a 2005 World champion, won a three-athlete round-robin to capture her weight class. She defeated Josefin Nilsson of Sweden and Diana Mudrag of Romania to win her division.

Three U.S. wrestlers won silver medals, Hodge, plus Greco-Roman wrestlers Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs..

Ruiz, a 2005 World bronze medalist, won two matches to qualify for the finals, where he was defeated by Aslanbek Khushtov of Russia. His semifinal win was over David Kaladze of Russia.

Byers, a 2002 World champion and 2007 World bronze medalist, also won two matches to reach the finals, where he was defeated by 2004 Olympic champion Khasan Baroev of Russia. Byers defeated Army teammate Tim Taylor in the semifinals.

Both Ruiz and Byers had won gold medals one week ago at the Vantaa Cup in Finland.

Hodge won three matches to earn his spot in the finals against Hazewinkel. Among his victories was a semifinal win over Ievgen Miagkyi of Ukraine.

Four U.S. wrestlers captured bronze medals. Three were Greco-Roman wrestlers: Faruk Sahin (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Aaron Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Brad Ahearn (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 84 kg/185 lbs. Leigh Jaynes (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) also captured a bronze medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. in women’s freestyle.

Sahin had a 3-1 record in the tournament, including an injury default win in the bronze-medal match over Ivan Bolotov of Russia.

Sieracki had a 2-1 record in the tournament, winning two matches in the wrestlebacks after an opening loss. He defeated Mats Rolfsen of Norway in his bronze-medal bout.

Ahearn posted a 3-1 record in the tournament, including a victory over Mykhaylo Ganaga of Ukraine in the bronze-medal round.


Jaynes had a 2-1 record in her division, beating Tiina Vainionpaa of Finland in the bronze-medal round. Jaynes was a member of the 2007 U.S. World Team, competing at 59 kg/130 lbs.

Six U.S. wrestlers placed fifth after losing bronze medal matches:
• Glenn Garrison (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 60 kg/132 lbs.
• Brandon McNab (Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
• Phil Johnston (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
• Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
• Tim Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
• Rachel Bernardes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle

HAPARANDA CUP
At Haparanda, Sweden, Dec. 1-2


Women’s medalists

48 kg/105.5 lbs
Gold – Sofia Mattson (Sweden)
Silver – Cristina Critoru (Romania)
Bronze – Tiina Ylinen (Finland)
Bronze – Yana Stadnik (Great Britain)

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Johanna Mattson (Sweden)
Silver – Nanna Pedersson Hyllegaard (Sweden)
Bronze – Leigh Jaynes (USA)

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Nicola Hartmann (Austria)
Silver – Gudrun Anette Hoie (Norway)
Bronze – Olga Butkevych (Great Britain)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold – Iris Smith (USA)
Silver – Diana Mudrag (Romania)
Bronze – Josefin Nilsson (Sweden)

U.S. women’s performances

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Rachel Bernardes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force), 5th
LOSS Cristina Critoru (Romania)
LOSS Yana Stadnik (Great Britain)

55 kg/121 lbs. – Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 3rd
WIN Viktoriia Kalndrova (Kyrgyzstan)
LOSS Nanna Pedersen Hyllegaard (Sweden)
WIN Tiina Vainionpaa (Finland)

72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 1st
WIN Josefin Nilsson (Sweden)
WIN Diana Mudrag (Romania)




USOEC women's team to face Oklahoma City in dual Friday with live internet available

USOEC
12/04/2007

B2 Networks to Broadcast Pre-Olympic Women's Wrestling Meet Meet Marks the Second Women's Wrestling Event Broadcast Live on B2 Networks

MARQUETTE, MI - B2 Networks announced today it will broadcast the second women's wrestling event in the history of the company, a pre-Olympic match featuring the United States Olympic Education Center
(USOEC) and Oklahoma City University.

The meet, will take place in the Vandament Arena on the campus Northern Michigan University and can be seen live via the world's premier broadband broadcaster on Friday, December 7 at 5:00 p.m. (EST).

"This dual will serve as a final preparation contest for the championship season which starts in January 2008 heading into the Olympic Trials in mid-June 2008," stated Shannyn J. Gillespie, USOEC Head Coach.

"We are looking forward for the opportunity to compete against the Olympic Education Center," stated Archie Randall, Oklahoma City Head Coach. "It gives us a measuring stick as to where our squad is at this time of year, especially on our technique level."

The USOEC vs. Oklahoma City University dual will be available for viewing by a worldwide audience. The live meet will be aired through the USOEC's website (http://webb.nmu.edu/SportsUSOEC/), Oklahoma City University's website (http://www.ocusports.com)as well as B2 Networks website at(http://www.b2tv.com)

Click here to view USOEC vs. Oklahoma City Univ. women's dual meet

Fans wanting to watch women's wrestling via B2 Networks will need a high-speed Internet connection and a current version of Microsoft Windows Media Player. Access to all bouts of the dual meet will be made available for $6 (US).

"It is always special when B2 Networks has the opportunity to broadcast Olympic-style competition to the world," stated Richard Brosal, B2 Networks Executive Vice President for Business Operations and Marketing.

"It is exciting to be able to increase exposure of this great sport by providing live action of two outstanding women's wrestling teams to the sport's many fans."

B2 Networks is a premier provider of reliable and secure international television and pay-per-view broadcasting systems. Our worldwide network of arenas, stadiums, local venues and data centers are currently in use to distribute live sports and events to personal computers, television screens, mobile devices and commercial venues around the world.

Working with organizations such as the AHL, ECHL, NLL, IHL, USHL, NAHL, Arena Football Leagues, Fitness Universe and selected NCAA and NAIA conferences and member institutions, B2 Networks has established itself as a leader in innovative global direct to home, mobile and television broadcasting.

Oklahoma City University is hoping to send 25 athletes to compete in the event. USOEC women’s freestyle coach Shannyn Gillespie would like to have his athletes compete in two or three different matches.

“Everyone who is healthy will get a chance,” Gillespie said. “Competing is a lot different than just practicing because you get to see the area’s in which the athletes are lacking.”

“This is a great opportunity for the community to see how hard we really work,” said Gillespie.