The Yerington High wrestling team swept four dual matches Tuesday to win the ROP Winter Games, with four wrestlers going unbeaten and two earning all-tournament honors, following up on a ninth place with four medal winners at the Cody Louk tournament in Winnemucca.

A busy schedule continues for the team as it was competing on Wednesday and Thursday at the large Reno Tournament of Champions event (nine wrestlers expected to attend) in Reno, billed as the "toughest tournament in the U.S.A."

A total of 76 are scheduled to compete in the tournament from around the country, including a number of the top high school teams in the United States.

However, the team won't compete on Saturday (originally Dayton tourney, but canceled, and not going to Lovelock event). Next week, though, the team will have another tough tournament as it competes on Thursday and Friday (Dec. 27-28) at the Sierra Nevada Classic, a similarly top tournament that has over 90 entries, also scheduled in Reno (TOC at Reno Downtown Convention Center, SNC at Livestock Events Center).

At the Winter Games, YHS downed Silver Stage 48-30, Incline (third-place finisher) and Sparks 48-15 before downing ROP Silver State Academy, which won the other pool, 48-26 for the tourney title. Rachel Skroch (125 and 130), who went 4-0 with 4 pins, became the first female wrestler to earn all-tournament honors while Jacob Monahan (152), who also went 4-0 with 4 pins, also earned all-tournament (they received rings from Balfour).

At the Friday-Saturday Cody Louk Invitational tournament hosted by Lowry, Stephen Skroch (heavyweight) and Sean Watson (189) both finished second while Daniel Bauer (215) finished third and Blaine Tibbals (119) finished fifth. Over 30 teams were entered in that tourney.

At the ROP event, also going unbeaten were freshman Derek Happy (3 pins, 1 forfeit at 130 and 135), Watson (3 pins, 1 forfeit at 189) and Bauer (2 pins, 2 forfeits, 275 and 215). Three wrestlers went 3-1, all losing close decisions.

Blaine Tibbals at 119 had 2 pins and a forfeit and lost a 2-0 match at 125 while David Holloway at 171 had 2 pins and 1 forfeit and lost 13-12 on a last-second score. Stephen Skroch, who won 3 pins at 215, moved up to 275 to face defending 3A state champion Jordan Cronin of Incline and lost 3-2 in double overtime, as Cronin got a late takedown for the winning score in a confused ending (as some unsure of overtime rules). Lemos said this match was like a state championship match in its atmosphere.

YHS was minus senior regulars Matt Bevington and Derek Gutierrez to injuries for both tournaments (Bevington hurt knee while winning first match at Lowry).

Coach Rod Lemos was pleased with his team's wrestling during the week, although he noted a couple didn't make weight on Tuesday and either couldn't wrestle for YHS mostly or moved up a weight. YHS forfeited three weight classes that day.

At the Lowry event, he said Jacob Monahan didn't have any record to be seeded and had to face a top wrestler, Trent deBraga of Fallon, in his first match. He went on to win several matches in the consolation bracket

S. Skroch was seeded first at 275 and breezed through his matches to the finals but Lemos said he wasn't wrestling like a heavyweight (where there are few if any leg shots) and he shot the legs and got trapped under the much larger wrestler, Kovis of Battle Mountain, and lost by pin at 4:59.

Watson was seeded third but Lemos was impressed with his 7-5 win over Tony Ferris of Douglas High, a wrestler who defeated him last season. He lost to a top wrestler (Gebhart) of Reed in the finals. He said Watson started the Ferris match slowly and patiently and built up.

Bauer was seeded third and lost to an Ontario, Oregon wrestler before coming back to win by pin over a Spanish Springs wrestler for third place.

The coach said Tibbals wrestled well to place as a freshman, including one comeback win, but he has some more to learn technique-wise to add to his strength.

The coach noted Happy won a couple matches and showed a lot of heart while Holloway and Cummings also had wins.

The coach also noted first-year wrestler Rael Ayotte was placed in a special bracket for excess middleweight wrestlers (teams could add wresters up until filling 32-man bracket) and had some impressive wins.

In the ROP tourney, in the 48-30 win over SSHS, YHS got pins from R. Skroch, Happy, Monahan, Watson and S. Skroch; against Incline, a 42-32 win, Tibbals, R. Skroch, Happy, Monahan and Holloway won by pin; against Sparks (48-15), R. Skroch, Monahan, Holloway, Watson, Bauer and S. Skroch won by pin. In the final 48-26 win over ROP, winning by pin were Tibbals, R. Skroch, Happy, Monahan, Watson, S. Skroch and Bauer.

Andres Garcia of ROP was named to the all-tournament team while ROP wrestlers winning matches were R. Anthony (145) and Kelly (171).

Sakamoto still rules women's 51-kg class

At peace at last with the fact that she won't be going to the Olympics, Hitomi Sakamoto has found that being the best in the world in a non-Olympic weight class isn't so bad after all.

Sakamoto dominated Yuri Kai in the final of the women's 51-kilogram class at the All-Japan wrestling championships Friday for her fifth career title and first in two years.

"This year I won the world title and even though I won't be going to the Olympics, it's still significant," Sakamoto said.

"I became No. 1 in the world in front of my parents and teammates in Azerbaijan. For the first time I'm taking pride in my weight class."

Sakamoto had attempted to make last September's world championships in the 55-kg class, but failed to oust incumbent superstar Saori Yoshida for the place on Japan's team.

Yoshida went on to win the world title, clinching a spot on Japan's team to next year's Beijing Olympics, while Sakamoto had to "settle" for winning a third straight world title at 51 kgs.

In Friday's final at Tokyo's Yoyogi No. 2 Gym, Sakamoto had no trouble in scoring a 2-0 (4-0, 2-0) victory over Kai.

"I was disappointed by not making it to the Olympics, but with the support of my teammates at the Self-Defense Forces Academy and family, I could keep going in the sport I love," Sakamoto said.

The three-day tournament is serving as a selection meet for upcoming Olympic qualifiers in weight classes in which Japan has not already clinched a berth.

In other action on the first day, Kohei Hasegawa pulled a surprise in the men's Greco-Roman 55-kg final, scoring with a late roll to defeat four-time champion Masatoshi Toyota 2-1.

Hasegawa, a double collegiate title winner last year at Aoyama Gakuin University, had lost by fall to Toyota in their only previous meeting, two years ago at an overseas tournament.

"After graduating from college, once I decided to continue wrestling I set the Olympics as my goal," said Hasegawa.

In the other Greco-Roman final, Masaki Iimuro defeated Tsutomu Fujimura 2-1 to become the sixth wrestler in history to win eight straight All-Japan titles.

The two other women's titles went to Chukyo Women's University's Mizuho Kajita (59 kgs) and Mio Nishimaki, last year's 59-kg champ who went up two weight classes to win at 67 kgs.

In men's freestyle, Kazuhiko Ikematsu topped defending 66-kg champion Takafumi Kojima 2-1 for his third title and first in three years.

Also, Kiyotaka Kodaira won his fifth straight title at 96 kgs and Akihito Tanaka made it seven in a row at 120 kgs.

The meet featured a special guest in Japan national soccer coach Takeshi Okada, who presented the medals for the Greco-Roman 55-kg class.

"When you see it live, you feel the power more than on TV," said Okada, who, because of his busy schedule, only saw the 55-kg final.

Cheers and Jeers

Star-Telegram 12/22/07

Cheers: To Sam Houston High School's boys' and girls' wrestling teams for your hard work and determination. Cheers also to the coaches and the wrestling

The Moose Jaw Times Herald

Because the young stars of the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Wrestling Club have been developing for a few years, it may only be a matter of time before high school-aged athletes get into the act.
    According wrestling club spokesman Jeff Bryant, it’s been since the days of local product and ex-Olympian Justin Abdou that the local wrestling program extended beyond into the secondary school age.
    “The interest has not been there, but there’s kids now since the club has been running smoothly moving up into the high school level,” Bryant said. “They are certainly now working on developing that program to a greater extent.”
    The kids have grown up. Once the wrestling club gets that set up, there will be an extra day of practice for the more experienced grapplers, who currently train a couple of days a week.
    At the recent Weyburn Cobras club meet for elementary-aged competitors, several wrestlers took away medals. Devin Kiryk won gold in the Novice male 1 group, Keagan Francis won gold in the Bantam male 3 group, Wyatt Reid was the gold winner in the Pee Wee male 2, and Michael Stefanovic took silver in the Bantam male 4 group.
    In the groups with two competitors, Ryan Stefanovic won the gold in Freshie male 2, Jenna Helland was gold winner in the Freshie female 3. Abby Busch was the silver winner in the Freshie female 2 group.
    Kayla Busch and Vicki Busch won their respective Bantam and Pee Wee female divisions uncontested.
    The success of the Moose Jaw wrestlers is due in part to the tutelage and coaching they’ve gotten over the past few years.
    “We’re getting our coaching more organized and more established. I think it’s going to blossom and take off,” Bryant said. “We’ve got Tom and Kelly Busch . . . and they’re going to be able to commit more to the program. That’s going to be aces in our pocket for getting these kids up and going.”
    A meet earlier in the season in Saskatoon was also successful for the club.
    “It was fantastic. We have had some kids that are nine and ten years old that have had the training like the Busches, and it’s really shining through. The training is paying off and they’re starting to even dominate the province,” Bryant said.
    The next meet for the club is in Swift Current in early January.

Wrestling might be the least likely place you would find a couple of girls participating in high school sports, but Brooke Munson and Kaylyn Dazey are attempting to buck that trend.

As freshmen, the two 14-year-olds face the obvious challenges that go with starting high school. But objectification, and respect on the mats, are two other hurdles they will encounter as young, female wrestlers.

"People underestimate you," the 5-foot-3, 119-pound Munson said. "First, they think you're a joke, and then they see the real side of you."

"You have to train your mind for (wrestling guys) before you train your body," Dazey said. "If you say, 'You can't do this,' then you've basically failed."

Because the state doesn't offer girls wrestling as a separate sport, girls in Nevada compete with boys. North Valleys coach Chuck Tremain has extensive experience coaching girls, and knows the potential pitfalls Munson and Dazey face.

"You'll find guys that want to try and beat up the girls," Tremain said. "Because they don't want them out there to begin with."

"I talked with the coaches when she started, to find out how clean it was," Dazey said. "They all assured me that it was pretty controlled, so I was all for her wrestling."

The obstacles a girl wrestler faces are things Brooke's mom, Kelly Munson, understands.

"A lot of people said the boys would just harass her or not take her seriously," Kelly said. "But then they see how good she is."

The girls had to prove that they could be an integral part of the team, like any other member, male or female. The Panthers are 2-1 in league play.

"It's not always comfortable, but I just try to really think about doing my best," Brooke said. "I do the best I can and see what comes along."

Thinking about how her wrestling might look to other people, she is introspective about it.

"I like to be my own person," Brooke said. "I like to try new things and experience new things."

Kelly supports her daughter wrestling but, understandably, she's still got some reservations.

"I think having to wrestle boys is hard," Kelly said. "They should have their own league. But they don't, so we are excited and encouraged by Brooke wanting to wrestle."

Brooke's transition to wrestling is even made more interesting when one learns she is also a cheerleader for North Valleys.

"People think it's strange because I am also a cheerleader," Brooke said. "Because they're complete opposites, some people think I'm crazy."

Kaylyn has more of a traditional athletic background, running cross country and looking to try track in the spring. Her parents were split initially, regarding her taking up wrestling.

"My mom didn't really like that I was going to wrestle, but I just did it anyway," Kaylyn said. "My dad wanted me to do what made me happy. Plus, he saw how passionate I was about the sport, and he's kind of a jock, too."

Kaylyn, like Brooke, began wrestling in the eighth grade, and once she started wrestling, it stuck.

"The best thing about wrestling is just wrestling in general," Kaylyn said. "I really, really like it, and now all I want to talk about is wrestling."

"They go the mile that some wrestlers won't," Tremain said. "Most wrestlers you put on a mat respect effort. They respect you paying the price, and these girls do."

Teammate Tyler Swedin agrees ... with everyone. One of the senior captains, he understands the differences and he knows the challenges the girls face. But he makes one thing abundantly clear.

"It might be a distraction for some guys, but these girls are out here wrestling," Swedin said. "They're giving 110 percent. They're at practice every day, doing everything that everybody else does."

Icho rides luck to title

Ken Marantz / Daily Yomiuri Sportswriter 12/23/07

With the luck that always seems to go her way, world champion Chiharu Icho maintained her dominance of rival Makiko Sakamoto.

Icho, taking advantage of two fortunate coin tosses after scoreless periods, edged Sakamoto 2-0 in the final of the women's 47-kilogram class at the All-Japan wrestling championships at Tokyo's Yoyogi No. 2 Gym.

Moments earlier Saturday, Kaori Icho, Chiharu's younger sister and a world and Olympic champion, easily won her sixth straight title at 63 kgs with a fall in 1:14 over Erika Matsukawa.

Both Icho sisters, along with Saori Yoshida at 55 kgs, clinched berths on Japan's team to next year's Beijing Olympics by winning world titles last September in Azerbaijan and therefore have nothing at stake but pride in this year's All-Japan meet.

"Today Makiko was especially tough," Chiharu Icho said. "She really put everything into it. Even if I lost, I would still be going to Beijing, so maybe that's why I couldn't score a point."

Icho, employing her usual wall of defense with no attacking moves, saw her color come up after each coin toss, putting her in the advantageous single-leg tackle position. It's a scene that seems to occur with an eerie frequency in Icho's bouts.

With 80 percent of the work done for her, Icho had little trouble gaining a takedown both times off Sakamoto, whose older sister Hitomi won the 51-kg title on Friday.

The victory gave Icho, the 2004 Athens Olympic silver medalist, her third straight national title and fourth overall.

"I consider this the start to Beijing," Icho said. "I feel I still have a lot to work on."

The tournament is serving as a selection meet for upcoming Olympic qualifying tournaments in weight classes in which Japan has not already clinched a berth--all divisions except for the three women's classes and men's Greco-Roman 60 kg and 96 kg.

The top two finishers will be considered for a place on the team for the Asian Championships in South Korea in March, the first chance to gain an Olympic berth. After that, there will be general Olympic qualifying tournaments in April and May.

In men's action on the second day of the three-day tournament, Kazuhiko Nagashima kept high schooler Sosuke Takatani from pulling off the surprise of the tournament, scoring in overtime of the third period to win 2-1 in the 74-kg freestyle final and capture his third career title and first in three years.

Takatani, a third-year student at Kyoto's Amino High School, was aiming to become the first prep wrestler to win a national senior title in 18 years.

"He may be just a high schooler, but he showed a great desire to win," Nagashima said. "He came up with counters for all of my usual moves."

Nagashima not only prevented an upset, he also gained revenge for twin brother Masahiko, who lost to Takatani 2-1 in the semifinals.

"As a high school student to go against Olympic-level wrestlers, it was a good test of how strong I am," Takatani said. "From now I can set high goals, up to the Olypmics."

Tomohiro Matsunaga won his fourth straight title and fifth overall at 55 kgs, grinding out a 2-0 victory over 2006 Asian Games silver medalist Hidenori Taoka.

In the 84-kg class, Yutaka Suzuki topped Shinya Matsumoto 2-0 in a repeat of last year's final.

In Greco-Roman, Yuki Iwasaki regained the 74-kg title, defeating Tsukasa Tsurumaki 2-0 in the final, while the luck of the coin toss went Hirokazu Shinjo's way twice in a plodding 2-0 win over Atsushi Nakamura at 120 kgs.

Both Iwasaki and Shinjo dispatched the defending champions in their respective semifinals, the former ousting Taichi Suga and the latter Naoki Sawada.

(Dec. 23, 2007)

TOKYO — Kaori Icho won her sixth straight title in the women's 63-kilogram free style, while Chiharu Icho dominated to take her third consecutive crown at 48 kg at the wrestling national championships on Saturday

The Icho sisters, world champions in their respective weight classes, once again left their opponents feeling their collective sting with a pair of victories at Yoyogi national gymnasium annex. Kaori, the younger of the siblings, made mincemeat of Erika Matsukawa with a fall in the final, but Chiharu struggled against rival Makiko Sakamoto before winning a pair of coin tosses for attack advantage in a 2-0 win.

Villanti goes 3-0, but Sayre starts 0-3 at Jarvis Duals

BY THE REVIEW

12/22/2007

The Sayre Redskins dropped a trio of matches Friday in the opening rounds of the Jarvis Duals held at Athens.
The Redskins dropped a 69-9 decision to Waverly before falling to Pine Grove 54-18 and then dropping a 50-22 decision to Elk Lake.

Richie Villanti went 3-0 on the day, picking up a 1:30 fall over Waverly’s Keith Merrill, an 18-11 decision over Pine Grove’s Alan Daebelt and a 9-0 major decision over Elk Lake’s Derek Green.

Against Pine Grove, Joe Licata, Mark Hedgeland and Nate Alderfer joined Villanti as winners. Licata was a 10-8 overtime winner over Pine Grove’s Josh Heblering while Alderfer and Hedgeland each picked up forfeit wins for the Redskins.

Against Elk Lake, in addition to Villanti, Eric Secor, Kaitlyn Hedgeland and Travis Ruvulo all picked up wins.

Secor and Hedgeland each picked up forfeit wins while Ruvulo pinned Elk Lake’s Devon Fioltinou in 3:34.

Hedgeland’s win was the first ever for a female in the history of Sayre wrestling.

Wrestling resumes this morning at 9 a.m. when Sayre will take on Corning. Athens will face Saucon Valley and Waverly will meet up with Pine Grove, both at 10 a.m.

Wrestling will continue through the day and placement rounds will begin at approximately 3 p.m.

Kazimir wins OT duel against Nemec

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Pat Galbincea

Plain Dealer Reporter

Kenston freshman Ben Kazimir found himself in a tougher than normal position - even for a wrestler - Friday night in the 46th Hudson Holiday Tournament.

Maple Heights, with 11 wrestlers in the semifinals, is leading the team race with 119 points. Kenston, winner of the Avon Lake Tournament two weeks ago, is second with 93.

After getting a first-round bye, the 103-pound Kazimir found himself pitted against Crestwood freshman Paige Nemec - who has established herself as the best girl wrestler ever on an Ohio wrestling squad

Nemec looked phenomenal in her first-round bout when she pinned Michael McClelland of Hudson in a wrestler's bundle at 1:38. She switched from a single to double-leg for a takedown, then threw in a cross-body ride and hooked McClelland's arm - a Jacobs pinning combination - to get an 8-0 lead before the fall.

"Paige is the first tough girl I've ever seen, considering this is a male-dominated sport," said Crestwood assistant coach Marco Berquist of the wrestler whose cousin, Sean Nemec, was a three-time state champ at St. Edward.

Kazimir managed the situation well when he broke a scoreless tie in overtime, blocking Nemec's attempted barrel roll takedown with 27 seconds left and spinning behind her for 2-0 decision.

"I had to treat her like any other wrestler," Kazimir said. "It was a tough position for me to be in. I'm expected to win against a girl. I have to give her credit . . . she's tough. She has a strong upper body and good hip movement.

"My key to winning was quickness. I had to use all of my strength and endurance to beat her. What if I had lost? I would have felt bad, but then I'd have to look at myself and see what I did wrong."

Nemec, a three-time national girls champion and picked as MVP of the Aurora Tournament, suffered an injured left shoulder when she fought off Kazimir's effort to put her on her back with a deep waist and arm bar in the second period.http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/119831609853430.xml&coll=2

"My whole arm is numb, so I'd better get it looked at," she said. "I don't like losing, but losing actually motivates me to become a better wrestler."

Northampton, Nandua particpate in Parkside tournament

The Daily Times 12/23/07

SALISBURY, Md. -- The defending Eastern Shore District wrestling champions from Northampton and the runner-up team from Nandua participated in last weekend's annual Parkside Holiday Wrestling Tournament. The two-day tourney took place at Parkside High School.

Northampton managed a sixth place finish in the tourney, while Nandua came home with a 10th place finish in the 11-team event.

Northampton's Larry Thomas (189) and Tom Ward (215), along with Nandua's Nathan Iseman (160), earned second place finishes to lead the way for the Shore wrestlers.

Northampton's John Hickman (135) and Ryan Rock earned third place finishes in the competition, while Mandi Barnes (112) earned fourth place.

Barnes. a district champion last season and the first female wrestler from the district to qualify for the state tournament, had a solid tournament for the Yellow Jackets.

Barnes was paired against Seaford's Tyler Elliott in the first round. Elliott won the 112-pound weight class and pinned Barnes in the first round in 2:44.

Barnes came back in the consolation rounds. She advanced with a win over Robert Grasso of South Dorchester by default.

Then, Barnes pinned Ben Cohee of Col. Richardson in 1:20, and continued her solid performance with a pin of Wicomico's Doug Ruark in 2:04.

Barnes met Delmar's Josh Vincent in the third place match of the 112-pound weight class. Vincent was able to outmaneuver Barnes in the second period and came away with a 9-1 major decision to clinch third place.

Nandua's Ben Hearn had a fifth place finish in the 125-pound weight class. He met Northampton's Kyle Van Tassle twice during the tournament and recorded two pins over Van Tassle.

Nandua's Iseman recorded a pair of pins to advance to the title round of the 160-pound weight class. Larry Friend of North Dorchester won the class with a 14-5 major decision over Iseman.

Northampon's Thomas also had a pair of pins to advance to the title round of the 189-pound weight class. Thomas had an injury default in the title match, losing to Delmar's Justin Thomas.

Northampton's Ward recorded a pair of pins to advance to the title round of the 215-pound weight class. Nick Slagle of Wicomico won the class with a pin of Ward in 4:41.

Northampton's Hickman and Rock battled back after upsetting losses to capture third place in their weight classes with strong performances in the consolation round.

Delmar won the team championship in a close battle with Seaford.

Despite not finishing in the top five of the team standings, the Parkside tournament offered the Shore wrestlers some top wrestlers to the north. It will serve the local wrestlers well when the district wrestling gets started again in January.

Northampton is coached by Brian Harman, while Nandua is coached by Kevin Haxter.

Team standings - 1 - Delmar (215), 2 - Seaford (206.5), 3 - Wicomico (181.5), 4 - North Dorchester (164), 5 - Polytech (163.5), 6 - Northampton (128.5), 7 - South Dorchester (99), 8 - Parkside (74.5), 9 - Snow Hill (59), 10 - Nandua (44), 11 - Col. Richardson (40).