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Addison Trail’s Veronica Carlson has a very important decision to make: Continue high school wrestling or move on to train for the Olympics?

Carlson, a 135-pound junior and an All-American, traveled the world last summer and established herself as a potential Olympian. Since starting her high school career, she has improved at a phenomenal rate while wrestling against boys, parlaying her offseason success into a standing offer to train for the 2012 women’s Olympic team at the United States Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University.

USOEC coach Shannyn Gillespie and his staff want Carlson so badly that they have asked her to forgo her senior year of high school wrestling and begin training immediately. The coaches even asked her to come to Michigan during her sophomore and junior seasons, but she turned them down.

‘‘She never complains or says, ‘Why do I have to do that?’’’ Serio said. ‘‘She is the hardest worker I have ever been around, guy or girl. She is unbelievable.’’

Carlson, who also swims and runs track, got a late start in wrestling. Most Addison wrestlers started at age 6 and wrestled at Indian Trail Junior High.

Carlson had the coach convince Sherri that she should wrestle, but she suffered a broken nose after her first five matches in seventh grade.

By the time she entered high school, she was a solid 135-pounder with a United States Girls Wrestling Association national title.

After winning only five matches against boys, Carlson’s work ethic won over coaches and teammates.

‘‘There was more pressure to do better on varsity,’’ Carlson said. ‘‘I didn’t win a lot, but I worked very hard in the wrestling room, and I went the whole season without missing practice. I was awarded Most Improved.

‘‘I rarely gave up a pin in a match. My best match of the season was spent fighting off my back for a full minute 45 seconds in the first period, and then tearing a muscle in my shoulder trying not to get turned again in the next two periods. I didn’t win, but I felt I had accomplished something. I was not one to give up. I think I have adjusted well since then.’’

The summer after her freshman year, Carlson validated her presence on the women’s national scene.

Finishing second at the Asics national championships and earning All-American honors in her first season of international freestyle wrestling, she got her first offer for Olympic training.

After a stint at the United States Olympic Center in Colorado Springs for three weeks, Carlson was introduced to her future coaches.

‘‘I have talked to her Olympic training coaches, and they love her work ethic and can’t wait until she’s there,’’ Serio said.

This summer, Carlson captured a spot on the World Junior Team that traveled to Venezuela, and she was chosen to wrestle in the Canada Cup after a first-place showing at FILA Cadets. She also won the prestigious Asics Freestyle National Championship.

Having failed to qualify for state last season, she is optimistic she can be the first female since current USA World team member Mary Kelly of Mahomet-Seymour in 2002 to make it to the state finals.

‘‘I am aggressive, a brawler but not quicker or stronger than the boys,’’ Carlson said. ‘‘I am in good shape and I have a lot of stamina. Right now my first goal is to qualify for regionals.’’

‘‘I would never have thought she would go this far,’’ Sherri Carlson said. ‘‘She has built this ship, so we will see how far she can sail it. I think it is a neat opportunity and I trust that whatever decision Veronica makes, it will be the right one.’’

Liberty wrestling ready to rumble

Press Correspondent

Published 12/14/2007 - 10:57 a.m. PDT

The Liberty High School wrestling team got off to another great start this season, participating in four tournaments over the weekend of Dec. 1, enjoying successful performances in each. And the Lions, teaming with accomplished veterans, can only improve as the season continues.

Of 13 returning varsity starters, nine placed at the Bay Valley Athletic League Championship last season, including three champions and three second-place finishers. Two are returning North Coast Section champions, and one placed in the super-competitive State Championships. Nine of the 13 are also currently ranked in the top eight in the NCS.

The varsity Lions recently competed at the McNair Invitational in Stockton, where they took first place as a team by an overwhelming margin of 213 points. Covina finished with 122 points, while Granada eeked out 116.

Eight Lions won their weight brackets in Stockton. Anthony Thurgood (130 pounds) was named Most Outstanding Lightweight at the event. Paul Gomez (112), David Klingsheim (125), Nick Caponio (135), Jesse Baldazo (140), Ryan Smith (145), David Rios (160) and Shayn Brown (Heavyweight) each finished first in his respective class, and Ben Duran claimed third in the 103-pound division.

The JV team is off to a hot start of its own after a strong showing at the Oroville Invitational, where Daniel Trice, Corey Hummel and Anthony Boler took first in their respective classes. Anthony DeJesus, Mike Diaz and Justin Thomas earned second-place finishes, and Eric Saro and Justin Finley claimed third.

With a record-setting influx of 30 wrestlers, the freshmen team traveled to Vallejo High School, where Josh Fio, Devyn Parsons, Nick Fisher and Tyler Blank each enjoyed first-place finishes. Second-place winners included Michael Gray, Shawn Whalen and Ryan San Andres.

Female wrestling phenomenon Brittany David traveled to the Thousand Oaks Invitational, where she easily landed the first-place trophy. David is currently ranked first in the state.

Liberty High School will be hosting the highly touted Lou Bronzan Invitational Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 15. To date, 66 teams have registered, making it one of the top tournaments in the state. Wrestling will start at 11 a.m. on Friday and continue until around 8 p.m. The action resumes on Saturday at 10 a.m. and concludes with the finals round, which will begin at 5 p.m.

Colony wrestlers eye title

Area coaches say Knights should repeat

MATTHEW CARROLL
Peninsula Clarion 12/14/07

They might as well already engrave the trophy, fork it over and place it in the school's trophy case.

Following a dominant and equally impressive 501-point performance at the Northern Lights Conference wrestling tournament last weekend, Colony has virtually claimed back-to-back 4A state team titles before the tournament even begins today at Chugiak High School.

"Colony to me is definitely in the driver's seat. They would basically have to crash and burn to not repeat as a state tournament (title) team," said Skyview coach Neldon Gardner. "They have 25 kids going to state. It's not just that they have got the numbers ... Colony's kids are tough kids all the way around ... from top to bottom they've got good kids.

"It's one of the premier programs I've seen in the last 15 to 20 years."

Boasting five region champions and eight second-place finishers, the Knights traditionally divided their team throughout the season, sending a group to one tournament while the other traveled somewhere else.

Kenai coach David Boyle said when he finally saw Colony's full squad for the first time at regions, he was more than impressed.

"It was the first time we've seen the entire team together and it was something to see," he said. "Colony is going to run away with it. That is an impressive juggernaut of a team."

If any local team has a remote prayer of competing for a top five finish, it's the Panthers, who are sending 11 grapplers to the big dance one year after taking only five.

And out of those five, former state champion Michaela Hutchison was the lone point scorer, finishing fourth.

"On the really good sign of the coin, if you went from top to bottom and those 11 kids went and nine out of 11 of them had their best tournament and did their best they have all year ... if they have the best two days of the year, we could place as high as top five or even higher possibly," Gardner explained. "But it's going to take that kind of an effort for us to do that. Of course on the other hand, if we don't, we'll be in the bottom five, like we did last year."

Chances are, though, that's not going to happen.

Out of his 11 contenders, Gardner is hoping to have five or six standing on the podium Saturday, led by senior Eddie Buffington (189), the second-ranked wrestler on akmat.org who Gardner believes has a solid chance of reaching the top.

"Eddie should be in the finals. If he wrestles to his potential, I don't think there's a person in his weight class at the state tournament that can beat him," he said of his lone region champ. "He's our No. 1 kid, obviously."

Also possessing the talent to win a crown is Hutchison (119), ranked fifth after finishing third at the NLC tourney.

Having already captured a state title as a sophomore, the first female in the country to ever do so against male opponents, and a second-place finish as a freshman, Hutchison certainly has the experience necessary to win.

"She's not that far away from the top three or four other kids," he said. "She's going to come out as hard and as well as she can. She knows it's her last chance to make that final statement."

After her, Gardner believes the rest of his wrestlers can all compete for a medal.

Bryce Wilson (103), Monica Hutchison (103), Daniel Maciariello (119), Alex Janorschke (130), Jared Thomas (140), Freddie Pollard (152), Patrick Sheridan (171), Kenny Mahan (189) and Adam Byrne (215) will all be trying to earn points in hopes of leading the Panthers to a solid finish.

"If we're in the top 10, I'm going to walk away saying that's a major improvement from last year," Gardner said. "If I get five or six kids to medal, that will be a really good thing and if we get anything higher than that, that's awesome."

Soldotna, while probably not contending for the team title, has at least three wrestlers who will be competing for state crowns.

Second-ranked senior Wes Mills (135), who's been to state the previous three years, his highest finish being fourth, is a solid bet despite owning a 1-2 mark against the top-ranked grappler, Chugiak's Grant Sullivan, who lost to Mills in their most recent meeting at the West Invitational.

"They've been close matches that I think he's got it figured out especially since the most recent one he won," said SoHi coach Bill Carlson.

The heavyweight finals could be a matchup of two Stars, second-ranked sophomore Nathan Strieby and top-ranked senior Les Baker, whose only loss this season came against his teammate.

"Baker doesn't have too much competition as far as opponents of his caliber," Carlson said, adding Baker placed third at state last season. "I don't know anyone who can compete with him."

Except for maybe Strieby.

"He's a better wrestler than the way he performed. He's far better than how he performed," he said of Strieby's fifth-place showing at regions. "We've worked hard this week on resolving a couple things that happened in that match."

Also eyeing a championship is Strieby's older brother, Matthew (215), a senior who placed second at regions and is currently ranked fourth in the state.

"Matthew is probably the one that would have the closest matches in order to make state (finals)," Carlson said. "He's going to not have to make mistakes like he did at regions which allowed him to take second ... mistakes that cost him the match. If he can be mistake-free, I think he could take state."

Other Stars hoping to contend for the top prize include four-time state qualifier Steven Burlison (145), who Carlson said has a better chance this year than ever before, junior Ryan Hanley (145), whose first competition of the season came at regions, and junior Jesse Carlson (160).

"His goal is to become a state participant and he's reached that goal. Now I think he just wants to open up and feel comfortable wrestling the way he can wrestle in the room. He tends to do far better when not under pressure," Carlson said of his son. "If he can allow himself to wrestle the way he can wrestle instead of getting defensive, he's a superoffensive wrestler,"

Homer's also looking at a pair, or possibly even three, state champions.

Four-year qualifier and region champion Tris Brymer (152) can beat anybody in his class, according to Mariners coach Mike Illg.

"I told him all he has to do is win four matches and he's done. That's all it takes," he said. "It starts with a conversation."

Third-ranked junior Ben Daigle (125), who placed fifth last season, fourth-ranked Robby Brymer (140) and Tom Appelhanz (135) also have solid opportunities at attaining gold.

Also competing for Homer is Eric Weinfurter, who finished sixth at the NLC Tourney.

"Robby, he has a good chance, too," Illg said. "I'm not trying to take anything away from him or Eric, but if I were to gamble, I'd go with Ben, Tris or Tom. But Robby, he can really beat anybody he wrestles, too.

"Once they seed you and wherever you are, one match at a time. It doesn't matter who you're going to see in the semis or who you're going to see in the finals, it's just one match at a time," he added. "You've got to wrestle each match like it's the state finals, not to take anybody lightly."

Kenai is bringing seven grapplers to the tournament, more than they have the past two seasons.

"We'd have to have some upsets to get there but it is plausible," Boyle said of making the finals. "I'm certainly hoping a few will place if they wrestle well."

He said their best chance at placing could be junior Chris Osbekoff (119), who at regions broke the Kenai Central record for most pins in a season with 24.

"Every weekend he seems to get stronger and stronger," Boyle said, adding Halyn Lipps (HVY) and Cody Booth (145) could also place high. "(Booth's) right in there with the state's best. He hung with the best there. It's a possibility if he wrestles well, sure."

Also competing for the Kardinals is Quintun Pribbenow (112), John Hughes (125), Jaron Dambacher (171) and Kyle Rogers (171).

"Alaska wrestling is phenomenal," Illg said. "You never know. Anything can happen."

Matthew Carroll can be reached at matthew.carroll@peninsulaclarion.com.

Grappling with success: H-W's Einhorn, Karrlson-Willis succeed as female wrestlers

By Nick Turczak , Staff Writer
Salem News 12/14/07

Most high school students spend their time wrestling a variety of activities in a given day: going to school, juggling homework, athletic and work obligations, and spending time with friends and family.

Nora Einhorn and Charlotte Karrlson-Willis are no different than their peers in that they wrestle with all of those items - plus an additional one.

They actually wrestle.

The two Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School students spend a good part of their winter season wrestling on the Generals' varsity team. In a male-dominated sport, they are two of the team's five senior captains.

Einhorn, who is wrestling in the 119-pound class this winter, and Karrlson-Willis, who will wrestle in the 125 lb category, both competed on the junior varsity squad their freshman and sophomore years of high school, facing several obstacles that most student-athletes don't.

"Many times on the JV level, we would have either the wrestler themselves - or the opposing coach - decide they were uncomfortable wrestling us," said Karrlson-Willis of their male opponents.

"Occasionally, the opposing coach would tell us they didn't have anyone in our weight class, yet before the meet started their roster had someone listed (at that weight class). So we knew it was an excuse."

Experience became hard to gain as opponents continued to pull out of matches against them. But Einhorn and Karrlson-Willis have worked diligently in practice over the years to improve their skills.

"They practice against each other, but more so against the guys on the team. That includes anyone between the 112 and 145-pound weight classes," said Mark Bowden, who coached the H-W wrestlers a year ago. "They have commanded and earned respect of their teammates due to their attitude and focus."

Einhorn and Karrlson-Willis each played sports before entering high school, but didn't wrestle. The two girls met playing soccer after Karrlson-Willis moved into the area before seventh grade. In the winter months, Einhorn skied while Karrlson-Willis played basketball.

Karrlson-Willis was the first to get a hold of the wrestling bug.

"I was too short for basketball and played too aggressively, as I fouled out in a lot of games," she admitted with a chuckle. "I was looking for sports that would keep me in shape. We did a unit on wrestling in gym class, and I followed it up from there."
Karrlson-Willis then went to Einhorn, hoping to convince her to join the team. She did not want to be the lone female on the squad, she said.

"I wanted to stay in good shape athletically and I grew up with all boys, so I was already comfortable rough-housing with boys," said Einhorn. "The transition was actually pretty smooth."

Smooth enough that even after Einhorn broke her collarbone last year as a junior, it wouldn't deter her from wrestling again this winter as a senior.

Practicing against a variety of different-sized male opponents has forced the girls to greatly focus on technique and flexibility to overcome the deficit in muscle mass.

Unlike in competition, finding willing opponents during practice has never been a problem for the two girls, who give a lot of credit to their teammates.

"The guys on the team are very mature," said Einhorn. "I think they see me as one of them now because of all that we've gone through together.

"Without the support of our teammates, we wouldn't have the confidence to continue this process. They've become like brothers."

Karrlson-Willis agreed completely. "The guys have been very supportive," she said. "Sometimes we feel they don't get the attention they deserve because some of them have done some great things in their careers."

Some of the team atmosphere and camaraderie must be attributed to the Generals' coaching staff, who made it clear when the girls first began participating in the sport that everyone would be treated equally. Neither Einhorn or Karrlson-Willis would want it any other way.

"The team understands that everyone has to earn a spot - and it doesn't matter to us or them if they have to go through Nora, Charlotte or any other guy," said Hamilton-Wenham's first-year head coach, Todd Darling.

The other senior captains have enjoyed going through the daily rigors of wrestling with their teammates, which include Einhorn and Karrlson-Willis.

"They have earned their spots and been great teammates," said H-W captain Jeff Goodrich. "Wrestling is so mentally and physically taxing that we're mostly focused on what we have to do, not whether we're facing a guy or girl."

Fellow Generals' captain Ryan Hanna said when it comes to Einhorn and Karrlson-Willis, gender isn't even an issue.
"Those of us who have been with them over the years view the girls the same as we do everyone else on the team," "Often times, we don't even see gender."

Einhorn and Karrlson-Willis also coach Special Olympics soccer together in the fall. That endeavor, combined with wrestling, creates a five-month stretch where they see each other almost every day.

"We've both been through the same trials and tribulations - making weight and getting beat up - which are things my other girlfriends can't understand," said Einhorn. "So Charlotte and I are very close because we are the only ones who truly know."

Taylor's a ball of fire

BY NICK RUBEK 12/14/07
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Omaha North's Brittney Taylor says she's not satisfied with a Class A No. 4 ranking at 103 pounds. The 14-year-old freshman is shooting for a state medal or maybe even a championship. "I think that's a possibility," said her coach, Andy Juranek. "She's pretty amazing."

There's nothing average about Brittney Taylor.

Not her attitude, not her ability and certainly not her sport.

The Omaha North freshman is a wrestler, and a good one. Taylor is believed to be the first girl to make the Nebraska state high school ratings, appearing at No. 4 at 103 pounds.

Don't be fooled by the pleasant smile and youthful voice, North coach Andy Juranek said. The 14-year-old is a "bearcat on the mat."

"She's such a pleasant girl to be around," Juranek said. "But when she's on the mat, she's not so sweet."

Taylor finished first at 110 pounds in the schoolboy division at the 2007 USA Wrestling state freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments.

In her first season at North, she enters Saturday's Wahoo Invitational with a 3-3 record against some of the area's top competitors.

In North's season-opening Vern Ekfelt Invitational, she led at times before being pinned by Omaha's Skutt's Zach Cottle, the Class B runner-up at 103 pounds last year. Her performance in that match impressed Bellevue East coach Todd Porter, who rates Class A. So did her loss to third-ranked Zack Andre of Omaha Central.

"She just went out there like a ball of fire," he said.

Taylor wrestled last weekend at a tournament in Oakland, Iowa. After Juranek got back to Omaha, his wife got a call from a friend in Dunlap, Iowa.

"They were talking about her down at the coffee shop," he said. "Everywhere she wrestles, crowds stop and watch. It's kind of a neat thing to see."

It always has been wrestling for Taylor. Phillip Doolittle remembers her as a 4-year-old watching older brother Domonic practice. Doolittle, a longtime coach in the Bears youth program, recalls vividly that wiry little girl who studied big brother's every move.

Domonic Taylor later was shot and partially paralyzed. His disabilities became Brittney's drive.

"I remember the first move he taught me was a cradle," she said. "And most of my pins started coming from cradles."

Ron Coleman Jr., the North sophomore who won a state title at 215 last season, has become another big brother of sorts. Coleman, whose father was another of Brittney's club-team coaches, became the on-the-mat version of Domonic. He "picked up right where my brother left off," she said.

Brittney said she was initially happy about moving into the rankings. But the more she thought about it, the less it satisfied her.

"I started to realize that I think I can be ranked higher," she said. "That's what will make me work harder."

There have been female wrestlers before her, even ones who made state tournaments. But Brittney is shooting for more — like winning a medal or maybe even topping a podium.

"I think that's a possibility," Juranek said. "She's pretty amazing."

And here's the kicker. The girl who gives you a simple "No" when asked if she has ever been a girly-girl said she actually got into the sport for the frills.

"I liked the trophies," she said.

Wrestling -- Grizzlies join former champs in SunDome Mat Classic

YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC 12/14/07

Welcome to the party Sunnyside.

After years of traveling to other tournaments around the state, the Grizzlies are joining the 23-team field in the 17th annual SunDome Mat Classic for the first time this Saturday.

And that assures the day-long event will be a whole lot tougher and deeper.

With its trio of 3A state placers, Sunnyside joins rising
4A power Davis and nine other local teams in a tournament that returns five SunDome champions and six other former finalists.

First-round matches start at 10 a.m. with semifinals and placing finals at 3 p.m. and championship finals at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $9 for adults and $6.50 for students and seniors for the entire day and
$6.50 and $4.50 after 3 p.m.

Sunnyside has been busy lately, competing in two westside tournaments and edging Davis 31-30 in a non-league dual on Tuesday.

Those two, along with some deep CWAC teams, will likely be chasing last year's top two SunDome squads -- Olympic and Mariner.

Olympic, which placed second in its Dream Duals tourney a week ago, may be without Laurice Gerig, last year's
189 SunDome champ, because of a knee injury. The Trojans have one of the nation's top female wrestlers in Camie Yeik, who was third last year at 103.

Mariner has been the runner-up here three years in a row.

The CWAC trio of Ellensburg's Kenny Sanders, Prosser's Joseph Huizar and Toppenish's Yuder Pech captured SunDome titles last year at 103, 125 and 135 pounds, respectively. The other defending champion is Karl Neumann of Klahowya (140).

Toppenish was the top local team last year in third with CWAC rivals Ellensburg and Othello next in line.

Other local teams include Eisenhower, West Valley, Selah, East Valley, Zillah and Wapato.

Other visitors will be Central Kitsap, Fife, Sehome, Cheney, West Valley-Spokane, Bremerton and two Oregon teams, Seaside and Riverside.

Bulldogs head to wrestling tourney

Posted: Friday, Dec 14, 2007 - 10:10:46 am PST

Will Hughes (130 pounds), Sid Winter (135), Leonard Fister (145) and Sam Sisson (145) figure to lead Sandpoint and compete for a place at Tri-State, no easy accomplishment with the level of competition.Timmy Pepperdine, arguably the Bulldogs best wrestler, won't wrestle on account of a team violation. Jacob Knaggs will also miss the tournament due to a concussion.

Sophomore Anneliese DeAragon will be competing in her first varsity meet, an unbelievable accomplishment for one of the top girl wrestlers in the Northwest. It will mark the second time in Tri-State history that a girl takes the mat.

"She's excited for her first varsity opportunity," said Bulldogs coach Kirk Hartzell. "She's clearly the best we have at 140 and earned the opportunity to wrestle in a varsity spot. I expect her to open some eyes at the tournament."

Also hungry for some action is Paul Marienau (171), who is a lot more dangerous than his 0-3 record might indicate.

"All three kids he's lost to will be seeded in this tournament," said Hartzell of Marienau's high level of competition. "I'm sure he's looking forward to getting rid of some of his frustration.

The rest of the Bulldogs are very young, and Tri-State will provide some brutal competition and a great way to improve.

Saskatchewan Huskies hit mat at Olympic Trials

December 14, 2007

Megan Buydens - Huskies

Saskatoon - A spot in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China is staring University of Saskatchewan Huskies Jeff Adamson and Megan Buydens in the face.

Adamson, the men's wrestling team captain, and Buydens, a former Huskie and now assistant coach with the team, travel to Etobicoke, Ont., to compete in the Canadian Olympic Trials this weekend. This is the first phase of competition to see who represents the country at the Olympic Games.

Those who make it through the first-day single elimination will move on to Day 2 of ladder competition. The winner of each weight class from the pool of wrestlers on Day 1 will have to face the top three competitors from last year's results in their weight class. The winner challenges the third position on the ladder with the winner facing the second position and so on to the best-of-three final.

"Coming from the first day of competition is very difficult but it has been done before," said Huskies wrestling coach Todd Hinds, who will go to the competition as a coach.

Buydens will wrestle in the 63-kilogram class. With only four weight classes to chose from in the women's competition, Buydens had to decide to move up or down, she chose the latter. She has had success beating both the second and third ranked wrestlers at the trials, said Hinds.

She is a former national silver medalist for three years behind Martine Dugrenier, a world silver medalist. If Buydens wins on the first day of competition, she will have to face.

For Adamson, the 2006-07 CIS and Canada West gold medalist at 74 kilograms, the pool will be just as deep and difficult, said Hinds.

"Jeff can wrestle with the best at this competition and needs to make a move up the ladder," said Hinds. "I feel he is ready to do that. This weekend he could win his way to the Olympics."

The Olympic trial began Thursday with weigh-ins. Competition starts Friday and wraps Saturday.

Source:

Nicole Josin
University of Saskatchewan

Wrestlers ready to grapple

By Joel Luna
The FactsPublished December 14, 2007CLUTE —

Hundreds of wrestlers will congregate for the fourth annual Wood Shed Classic Invitational at the Brazoswood Performance Gym on Saturday.

Boys and girls varsity wrestlers from Brazoswood, Waller, Katy, Conroe, Oak Ridge and Houston Lamar each will field teams for the 9 a.m. start. Weigh-ins will begin at 7:30 a.m. for weight classes from 103 to 285 pounds.

There will be three mats with the boys dueling while the girls will wrestle in a round-robin format by weight class.

“The guys will wrestle team duels and the matches start at a random weight class,” Brazoswood coach Bill Baker said. “As soon as one dual is concluded we will use that mat and start wrestling girls and get every girl one match in between those rounds. Once every girl has had one match and the duels are concluded, than we will start the next round of duels until we’ve wrestled five duels and until every girl has wrestled every other girl in her weight class.”

Brazoswood will start its duel schedule with Conroe and proceed with Oak Ridge, Waller, Lamar and finish with Katy.

Buc wrestlers taking to the mat will be seniors Jamaal Bufford (171 pounds), Larry Collins (285), and Trevor West (135); juniors Addison Boudreaux (140), Nabeel Habib (215) and Zack Odenweller (125); sophomores Travis Hill (130), Anthony Bush (145), Scott Brock (189), Jakob Baumeister (160) and Dillon Parrish (180); and freshmen Joshua Reinheimer (152), Josh Raymond (103), Michael Martin (119) and Chris Etheridge (112).

Lady Bucs participating in the round-robin format will be seniors Ashley Wilkes (110) and Victoria Hill (128); juniors Tiffany Ramirez (119) and Kasondra Cortez (148); sophomore Kayse Slaughter (138); and freshmen Rayshel Newman (119) and Stephanie Gaona (215).

The top three teams will be awarded in the boys competition and the top three individual girl wrestlers in each weight class also will be recognized.

“Our girls, we are missing our 102 (Scarlett Gray) but we are pretty solid at 110, 119 and 128 with Victoria Hill who won her weight class at The Woodlands last weekend,” Baker said. “Our 138 Slaughter finished third at The Woodlands and is doing pretty well. Of course, Joanie Cortez is our returning state qualifier from a year ago and won her 148 class at The Woodlands last week as well. For our 215 girl, Stephanie, we are hoping to give her more mat time because there aren’t too many 215 girls out there.”

The Bucs are hoping to grapple to a great showing at the event.

“For our boys, Josh Raymond is coming along at 103, we are thin at 112 but do have a good freshman at 119 Michael Martin who has placed in a few tournaments,” Baker said. “Our 130 looks good with Travis, but are pretty young at 135, 140, 145 and 152. But our best weight classes are 160 with Jakob Baumeister and Jamaal Bufford at 171.

“So far they’ve placed at all of our tournaments. Jakob won the Klein Oak Gator Roll Tournament to start the season and Jamaal won the Cy-Ridge Tournament and was second at The Woodlands, so he is looking pretty good. We have young guys at 180, 189 and had an injury to our heavy weight but will work in Larry Collins and are looking for good things from him.”

Katy and Waller will come in with some good competition for the Lady Bucs who have one of the better girl teams in the area.

“Both Katy and Waller are the best girls teams by far,” Baker said. “Waller’s got two of the best wrestlers in the state but Katy has the best overall team and they are all solid. Conroe and Oak Ridge each have a few good girls and I don’t know what Lamar has.”

The Bucs lost several seniors to graduation and will encounter some stiff competition on Saturday.

“Katy is the team to beat along with Conroe, Oak Ridge and Waller has a good 103 and he’s beaten Josh already twice,” Baker said. “The others will be competitive and will bring full lineups.”

Joel Luna is the sports editor for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 237-0160

S.L. High Girls Give Wrestling a Makeover

By : Julie Barsamian : 12/15/07

At San Leandro High two girls grunt and put one another in head-locks while another pair twist each other’s legs behind their heads.

They aren’t fighting over boys or lipstick, and they’re rarely told to stop. It’s been going on for 10 years and no one has opened their mouths, except to cheer. Girls wrestling is still a new concept for some people, but for the girls at San Leandro High and their coach Joe Rose, it’s serious.

In the last five years the team has gone to the NCS Championships four times, winning the championship last year, and ranking No. 4 in the state.

Some girls on the team began at Bancroft Middle School or John Muir, both of which have wrestling programs for girls in sixth through eighth grade.

“It’s kind of a down year for us because so many girls graduated last year, but I have some great talent coiming up from Bancroft,” says Coach Rose. “It’s our feeder school, one of the biggest around.”

For Tiffany Villareal, middle school was her starting ground. It helped her to deal with anger issues. The coaches said she was good, so she took her experience to high school, where she is now the San Leandro girls wrestling co-captain.

Villareal says she and Captain Michelle Umezu are a good pair because they both see wrestling as a way to channel their feelings into positive energy. It is also a way for girls to be aware of their bodies and gain confidence.

“In spandex, you can’t have body issues, you get over it,” says Villareal.

Despite the positives the girls say they reap from the sport, misconceptions still make their rounds.

“People think there’s something sexual about it, or we’re not feminine,” says captain Michelle Umezu. “When I’m not wrestling, I love shopping and eating.”

And for the nay-sayers who think wrestling is just about brute force, co-captain Shawntia Beck says it is more than that.

“Its a mental game, it always has you thinking,” says Beck. “It is an instinctual sport.”

Beck must have her mental game down pat, because she took first place in Vallejo on the first of this month in the Dave Lidell Invitational.

Last week the girls placed 8th out of 32 teams at the Roger Briones Invitational and will travel to San Jose for the Lynbrook Ladies Challenge on Saturday.