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Liberty wrestling finding its form in second season

BY ANDREW MAY, Staff Writer
(Created: Thursday, December 06, 2007)

Liberty wrestling coach Tim Brennan didn’t get discouraged when just three females came out for the team last season. Instead, he became a human ground pounder, hitting the halls as a recruiter in search of would-be grapplers to fill out his squad.

The tactic paid off. Brennan and Liberty opened up the 2007-08 season with a team of 16, or exactly one shy of fielding a complete unit. He has his current wrestlers “beating the bushes” for a 185 pounder. Not that the Lady Redhawks are struggling in their current state.

Over the weekend at the Coppell Cowgirl Classic, Liberty placed second to bring home the first trophy in program history.

Liking what they saw, the boys team followed suit Saturday by finishing third in the Flower Mound Tournament to claim the only hardware that now resides in their trophy case.

“It is unbelievably encouraging,” said Brennan, a former coach at perennial power St. Mark’s who took time off to enter the business world before getting back into coaching and teaching last season after the two-decade hiatus. “This is the first step. They are still learning how to win.”HB 1804

The process has hit overdrive through the first few meets. The boys have almost doubled their win total from last season, while their female counterparts had three placements in the opening meet of the season just a year after winning only one match. Brennan describes the plight of last season’s Redhawks as “pretty brutal,” but is teeming with confidence these days. He envisions the girls finishing behind powerhouse Centennial at district and the boys also placing in the top three.

“I believe we can compete and place,” Brennan said. “I’m hoping to have three or four regional qualifiers this year. That would be outstanding for us.”

The Lady Redhawks will compete in the Texas Ladies Classic today and Saturday at Frisco High School and the boys will host the Redhawk Duals, which will include eight teams battling in four duals each beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

“I think this week we will know where we are,” Brennan said. “This will let us know exactly how far we have to go.”

Coppell Cowgirl Classic
HB 1804
102 - Kelsey Gunia, 1st place

110 - Kristine Torres, 1st place

128 - Allie Nunez, 3rd place

138 - Stacy Martin, 3rd place

165 - Melissa Pacetti, 3rd place

215 - Xoliswa Lewis, 2nd place
Indiana finishes second in Babbit Tourney



    By Spencer Sadler   FOR THE BLAIRSVILLE DISPATCH  Friday, December 7, 2007
   
       
       
    BLAIRSVILLE--After the Albert "Babbit" Liccioli dual meet wrestling tournament Saturday, six coaches got a clear understanding of their lineups' strengths and weaknesses.

Commodore Perry went 5-0 for the day's tournament championship, with a young, but experienced, team possessing solid fundamentals. With only two seniors on the entire roster, the team's maturity is evident in its business-like approach and demeanor.

"I knew that they are always a contender," said Indiana coach Craig Miller, whose squad's only loss was at the hands of the District 10 Panthers. "But I was surprised at how solid they were through their entire lineup.

"As for our team, we had two guys go 5-0. And four of our wrestlers, including our female wrestler Alex(andra) Rhodes, were 4-1. We also saw that we are pretty deep with talented backups."
    
As for the team's weaknesses, "I saw some areas that we will continue to work on," Miller said. "One thing that will probably take care of its self with time is our endurance. It is early in the season, and this type of tournament really takes its toll; but we need to build endurance.

"We also need to comb the halls and find a 112, but a lot of teams have problems with forfeits early on."

Forfeits could have made a difference for fourth-place finalist United, as well. Coach Tom Whitcomb explained, "We wrestled the champions last in the final round, and we gave up four forfeits. Yet, we scored 28 points against them."

"I was very pleased with our performance for the day. We'll be filling some holes in our lineup from injuries and weight adjustments and be more solid as the season progresses," Whitcomb said. "We had four undefeated wrestlers for the day, and wrestled what was in my estimation our best match last, after two losses and a grueling day. Our strength is in our attitude and spirit, and this I like to see opening the season."

Blairsville rookie coach Jaison Blystone echoed the same sentiment about his host team, which finished 3-2 for the day. "We had a few coaches and wrestlers who have been battling the stomach virus that has been going around, but I think we wrestled very well against some really tough teams in this tournament. I think we did a good job facing adversity."

"We had some individual standouts, and our heavyweight (Kyle Marlett) seemed to catch everyone's attention," Blystone added. "We have been working really hard with him, and he showed that he has come a long way.

"We are also a young team, give up three forfeits, and have a kid who weighs 171 and wrestles 189. Taking all that into consideration, I think we are doing all right for ourselves."

Marion Center (1-4) and Yough (0-5) struggled in the tournament but showed glimmers in the light to middleweights. Yet those weights were thick with talent on Saturday.

"This was my first tournament as a coach and the first tournament that I have ever hosted," said Blystone, "but I am proud that everything ran like clockwork, which the boosters should get all the credit for.

"Most liked the dual meet format. In fact, more and more (tournaments) are going to this because every wrestler gets a lot of wrestling in, and you know that your champions truly earn it."

Blairsville and United get back to the mat Tuesday. Blairsville travels to Northern Cambria for an 8 p.m. meet while United hosts Ligonier Valley at 7 p.m.

Indiana wrestles at Penn Trafford Wednesday at 7 p.m. after losing against Plum 45-36 Wednesday. In that meet, Brandon Maharaj posted a 27-second fall at 130 pounds.
 

Three golds in wrestling

12/7/07


Pham Thi Hue (red) won the first gold medal.
(Photo: Thanh Nien Online).

Nhan Dan Online – Three wrestlers Pham Thi Hue, Man Ba Xuan and Dang Thi Van added three gold medals at the 24th SEA Games, on December 7.

Pham Thi Hue was the first wrestler who won a gold medal. She finished leader in the women’s freestyle 51 kilogrammes.

She earned a total of 11 classification points and 21 technical points, to beat Thailand’s Thongkam Wilaiwan, who earned six classification points and 16 technical points, and the Philippines’ Vergara Cristina, who earned six classification points and eight technical points.

After Pham Thi Hue’s triumph, Ba Xuan added the second gold medal in the men’s freestyle 84 kilogrammes.

Ba Xuan scored 12 classification points and 27 technical points to finish top. He was followed by Filippino Valda Marcus, who earned six classification points and 14 technical points, and Indonesian Lothus Malino, who earned four classification points and six technical points.

Dang Thi Van ended a successful day for Vietnamese wrestling, winning the third gold medal in the women’s freestyle 48 kilogrammes.

Van, who achieved 15 classification points and 29 technical points, beat Thailand’s Klahan Sunisa, who scored 14 classification points and 24 technical points, and the Philippines’ Jambora Maribel, who earned nine classification points and five technical points.





Wrestling league overviews

12/7/07

DAVIS posted a 4-2 conference record last year -- it's best since 1995 -- and the Pirates should continue that momentum with the return of state-placing junior twins Courtney and Zach Nalley and four other district placers in Hector Lopez, Kido Espinoza, Tony Yocom and Tito Gonzalez. Zach Nalley became Davis' first regional champ in 12 years last season (112) and he finished 33-7 with a sixth-place finish at state. Further bolstering coach Eric Rotondo's lineup will be Alexio Garcia and Cody Wolff, who won Davis Invitational titles last week and 103 and 145, respectively.


NACHES VALLEY has its strength centered in the upper weights with seniors Rowdy Gangle (171), Bryan Jones (215) and Jake Stiles (285). Jones, the SCAC West's defensive player of the year in football, was a state qualifier last season. The Rangers also return one of the state's top girls in junior Armani Emmal, who placed third against the boys at last Saturday's Davis Invite.



List of Filipino medalists at SEA Games

Inquirer
Last updated 07:39am (Mla time) 12/09/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Following is the list of Filipinos who have won in their respective events at the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand as of Dec. 8.

GOLD

1. Joey Barba, Mountain Bike (Men’s Downhill)
2. Ryan Arabejo, Swimming (Men’s 200m Backstroke)
3. Miguel Molina, Swimming (Men’s 400m Individual Medley)
4. Rene Herrera, Athletics (Men’s 3000m Steeplechase)
5. Arniel Ferrera, Athletics (Men’s Hammer Throw)
6. Benjamin Tolentino Jr. and Jose Rodriguez, Rowing (Men’s Double Sculls)
7. Ryan Mendoza, Triathlon (Men’s Duathlon)
8. Marestella Torres, Athletics (Women’s Long Jump)
9. Emmanuel Reyes and Maira Rosete, Dance Sport (Standard Quickstep)
10. Emmanuel Reyes and Maira Rosete, Dance Sport, (Standard Tango)
11. Michelle Bruzola, Fencing (Women’s Individual Epee)
12. Emerson Segui, Fencing (Men’s Individual Foil)
13. Antonio Gabica and Marlon Manalo, Billiards and Snooker (Men’s 9-Ball Doubles)
14. Miguel Molina, Swimming (Men’s 200m Individual Medley)

SILVER

1. Eric Ang, Carag Carlos and Jethro Dionisio, Shooting (Men’s Trap Team)
2. Jaqueline De Guzman, Shooting (Women’s Skeet)
3. Paul Brian Rosario, Patricio Bernardo and Gabriel Tong, Shooting (Men’s Skeet Team)
4. Mary Grace Milgar, Athletics (Women’s 400m Hurdles)
5. Julius Sermona, Athletics (Men’s 500m)
6. Rosie Villarito, Athletics (Women’s Javelin Throw)
7. Eusebio Quinones, Mountain Bike (Men’s Cross Country)
8. Alvin Amposta and Nestor Cordova, Rowing (Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls)
9. Marcus Valda, Wrestling (Men’s Freestyle 84kg)
10. Midel Dique, Athletics (Men’s 800m)
11. Harlene Orendain, Fencing (Women’s Individual Epee)
12. Gemma Silverio, Wrestling (Women’s Freestyle 59kg)
13. Alven Aragon, Wrestling (Men’s Freestyle 74kg)

BRONZE

1. Emerito Concepcion, Shooting (Men’s 10m Air Rifle)
2. Men’s Hoop, Sepak Takraw
3. Women’s Hoop, Sepak Takraw
4. Eliezer Sunang, Athletics (Men’s Shot Put)
5. Jobert Delicano, Athletics (Men’s Triple Jump)
6. Nino Surban, Mountain Bike (Men’s Cross Country)
7. Maritess Bitbit, Mountain Bike (Women’s Cross Country)
8. Maribel Jambora, Wrestling (Women’s Freestyle 48kg)
9. Ma. Cristina Vergara, Wrestling (Women’s Freestyle 51kg)
10. Clotheide Nillas and Johnalyn Pedrita, Rowing (Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls)
11. Frederick Taino and Cecil Mamiit, Tennis (Men’s Team)
12. Denise Dy and Diane Matias, Tennis (Women’s Team)
13. August Benedicto, Triathlon (Men’s Duathlon)
14. Analiza Dysangco, Triathlon (Women’s Duathlon)
15. Emmanuel Reyes and Maira Rosete, Dance Sport (Standard Waltz)
16. Reynato Rener Mercado and Judith Anne Melencio, Dance Sport (Latin American Cha Cha Cha)
17. Rolando Canlas Jr., Fencing (Men’s Individual Foil)
18. Joanna Franquelli, Fencing (Women’s Individual Sabre)
19. Arnold Villarube, Athletics (Men’s Decathlon)
20. Junrey Bano, Julius Felicisimo Nierras Jr., Rodrigo Tanuan Jr. and Ernie Candelario, Athletics (Men’s 4x400 Relay)
21. Kendrick Uy, Swimming (Men’s 100m Freestyle)
22. Jaclyn Pangilinan, Swimming (Women’s 100m Breaststroke)
23. Nicole Santiago, Jaclyn Pangilinan, Georgina Gandionco and Erica Totten, Swimming (Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay)
Vietnam's Truong breaks 2nd SEA Games record

Associated Press
Saturday, December 8, 2007 (Nakhon Ratchasima)


In freestyle wrestling, Vietnam won two women's golds through Thi Giang Ngiem in the 55-kilogram class and Thi Qyuen Luong in the 59-kilo class, while Fahrain Syah of Indonesia won the men's 74-kilogram event.
SkyHi makes their grades
Hitting the books gives Panthers a chance at conference wrestling

MATTHEW CARROLL
Peninsula Clarion 12/7/07


Others looking to make a run at a region title and advance to state include fourth-ranked Michaela Hutchison (119), her sister Monica Hutchison (103), Bryce Wilson (103), Alex Janorschke (130), Jared Thomas (140), Fred Pollard (145), Pat Sheridan (171), Kenny Mahan (189), Adam Byrne (215) and Claude Mraz (HVY).