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Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Even
though women wrestling may seem like a recent phenomenon, girls and
women have actually been wrestling since ancient times. Early
inscriptions suggest that Spartan girls wrestled during Roman and
Byzantine rule. In African tribes, girls often wrestled as part of
their ritual initiation into womanhood. Among the Yala of Nigeria and
the Njabi of Congo, men and women wrestled one another. In the Diola
tribe of Gambia, adolescent boys and girls wrestled, but not against
one another. The male champion often married the female champion.
In the thirteenth century, Tahitian priests introduced the huna
religion in Hawaii, which involved various ritual martial art
practices. Working class men and women participated in hand-to-hand
combat such as boxing and wrestling in games known as mokomoko.
In the middle and late nineteenth century, Parisian artists sketched
local women wrestlers and photographed them in their costumes. In the
early twentieth century, American women wrestled against one another in
public demonstrations and bouts for entertainment.
Today, there are currently about 5,000 American girls who compete
nationally on the high school level, compared to about 250,000 boys.
Texas leads the nation with approximately 1,500 girl wrestlers,
although Texas and Hawaii are the only states that do not allow girls
to wrestle boys at the high school level. In 1996, the Texas Wrestling
Officials Association voted to disband rather than officiate at matches
where girls would wrestle boys. In reaction, the Texas University
Interscholastic League has ruled that girls can only wrestle other
girls at this level, potentially further limiting the possibilities for
girl wrestlers to compete.
In 1987, the first Women’s World Wrestling Championships were
held in Norway. (The United States sent its first team to the 1989
tournament.) Women’s wrestling finally made its Olympic debut
at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece, where women from 21 nations
competed in four freestyle weight classes. Medals were awarded to
wrestlers from around the world, including athletes from Ukraine,
Japan, China, France, Russia, Canada and the United States.
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING NOTES
By
TERRY CARTER
Copyright 1/9/2008 Houston Chronicle
Cinco Ranch
The Cougars traveled to the Grapevine Duals this past weekend,
finishing 4-2 and missing the main event due to a three-way tie for
second place in their bracket. The tiebreaker didn't go Cinco Ranch's
way.
Defending state bronze medalist Will Morris (23-0) improved
his record at 180 pounds by defeating Westside standout Travis Winzeler
8-2 in their teams' dual match. It was Winzeler's only loss at
Grapevine.
The other highlight bout between the area's two ranked squads
was at 285 pounds. Cougar John Gioffre (23-0), who placed fifth in the
state last season, earned a decision over the Wolves' J.T. Woodard in
their first encounter this year.
Cypress Ridge
Strake Jesuit's Colin Day and Cy Ridge's Jessica Nguyen were
named Most Outstanding Wrestlers at the conclusion of the Cy-Fair ISD
Invitational on Saturday night.
At 102 pounds, Nguyen dominated her competition with three
pins. However, Mayde Creek's Rachel Guajardo just began competing at
102 pounds after building a winning reputation at 110. Guajardo entered
the final with a pin and a 17-2 tech fall.
The pair battled early until Nguyen twice lifted and threw
Guajardo to the mat.
That bit of aggression turned the match Nguyen's way, and she
eventually pinned Guajardo.
Klein Oak
The Panthers will host a qualifying tournament on Saturday for
next week's State Dual Championships. The six-mat qualifier will allow
Houston's best dual teams to determine themselves by results. This
event typically runs quickly compared to most events, starting at 9
a.m. and finishing between noon and 3 p.m.
The top six boys' teams from Greater Houston will advance to
the Jan. 19 State Dual Championships, a 16-team event at the Merrell
Center in Katy.
Houston will advance two girls' teams to state duals in an
eight-team competition.
Sam Houston
The Houston Challenge 8th Annual Girls' Open will be held
Saturday at Sam Houston and hosted by veteran coach John Vogt.
The event, one of the largest girls-only tournaments in
Houston, will begin at 9 a.m. and include only round-robin competition.
Awards will be given to the tournament's most outstanding
wrestler and fastest pin.
Westside
The Wolves beat Cinco Ranch in pool action at the Grapevine
Duals 37-31 and advanced to the main showdown.
After losses to Carl Albert of Oklahoma 47-29 and Grapevine
finalist Allen 48-14, the Wolves edged Lake Highlands 47-36, and then
fell to Arlington Bowie 60-14.
The Wolves were led by 160-pound Trent Murrell, who was 9-0
during the tournament, and 171-pounder James Hazzard, who was 4-1 in
the tournament.
The Woodlands
Junior state champion Erik Spjut returned to the mat from a
high-ankle sprain in early December. He competed at the Grapevine Duals
"and walked through the competition," according to Highlander coach
Joaquin Bautista.
Woodlands teammates Bart Kovacs, Vasil Boasherliev and Cameron
Knight also made good showings in the dual competition. Kovacs is 20-1
while Boasherliev is undefeated against Texas opponents this season.
High school notebook
Date published: 1/10/2008
BY
ROB MOORE
Leah Coates wasn't quite sure how to take what Washington
& Lee wrestling coach Dave Wilkerson was telling her.
Coates was preparing to wrestle her final match at last
Saturday's Perkins Duals at Stafford High School. Moments before the
match was to begin, Wilkerson approached her and said, "Well, you got
one win today."
Coates' opponent from Chantilly had forfeited the match,
reportedly because the boy's parents objected to their son wrestling a
girl.
"In one way, it was six points for the team," said Coates, a
sophomore who has moved into the starter's role at the 112-pound weight
class. "But it lets you know a lot of parents don't approve of girls
wrestling."
Coates, who was an honorable mention All-Area runner for the
Eagles cross country team last fall, explained that she decided to go
out for wrestling rather than play basketball because she has a lot of
friends on the team.
She said her parents really liked her playing basketball, but
they've been supportive.
"They allowed me to [wrestle], but they weren't happy with
it," she admitted. "Especially my dad."
Wilkerson was also concerned when Coates and three other girls
came out for the team. So concerned that he prepared a flier telling
the girls just what they were getting into.
But he said that not only have there been no issues within the
team with Coates, and fellow sophomores Katrin Sydnor and Jasmine
Ashton, the three have worked even harder than he expected.
"They go at it like angry banshees," Wilkerson said. "The boys
are afraid to take them lightly."
And Coates has earned their respect, he said.
"There's not a boy on the team that doesn't respect her for
her intelligence and fortitude," he said.
Coates credits junior Lucas Tyler, the Eagles' starter at 119,
with giving her a lot of support.
"I knew she could do this," Tyler said. "Leah is extremely
athletic."
Tyler, who recalls wrestling three or four girls last year at
112, said he views a female opponent as "just another wrestler."
As for his teammate, he explained that he helps Coates with
moves and counters.
But his support has also been emotional. "When she'd wrestle
other guys, they'd laugh because she wasn't as strong," he said. "But I
told her, 'You're only a sophomore, you will get better and you will
win matches.'"
One advantage Coates does have over many boys is flexibility.
"One referee came over to me at Stafford and asked 'is that
girl a gymnast?'" Wilkerson said. "She was wrapped up in this
hideous-looking move."
Coates is realistic in her expectations for the remainder of
the season.
"I'm just hoping to do my part for the team," she said.
"Wrestling the single A and independent schools, I hope to win some
matches.
"And if I can place at districts and move on to regionals,
that'd be awesome."
Coates will also compete at the Virginia Women's state open at
Rustburg High School March 16.
Rob Moore: 540/374-5440
Email: sports@freelancestar.com
By Jai Cunningham 1/9/08
A long-time gender equity supporter
gives Herman Frazier a failing grade for furthering the cause of Title
IX during his five and a half year tenure.
We see what happens on the courts and playing fields for University of
Hawaii athletics.
We often do not hear or see what goes on off them.
"Complaints that he received from students athletes, that ranged
anywhere from racial discrimination, discrimination based on sexual
orientation, and even sexual harrassment. Herman unfortunately turned a
deaf ear to everything," said Jill Nunokawa, a civil rights attorney.
Nunokawa has fought to get female athletes on a level playing field for
years.
U.H. is not compliant with Title IX, the federal law guarunteeing
gender equity. In fact Nunokawa says we have lost ground under the
previous athletic leadership.
"We acknowledge that we're not in compliance, but these are the steps
and this is the time table set forth by our administration to get us
into compliance. Mr. Frazier absolutely missed every single deadline,"
she says.
The interim athletic director defends the school's track record when it
comes to gender equity. "I've worked at some other places, and the
university of hawaii does a wonderful job with gender equity. Can we
still get better? Yes we can, and it will continue to be something we
focus on moving forward," said Carl Clapp, who is guiding the program
after the firing of Frazier.
Nunokawa disagrees.
She says Frazier had a chance to get a women's wrestling program
started with outside help.
"We had boosters willing to help write the ticket, similar to June
Jones's salary, outside funding for this. Where it would have minimized
any type of financial burden. There was an absolute, utter no," she
said.
Nunokawa is a former U.H. athlete. She says the most frustrating aspect
of Frazier's leadership..."It saddened me to have not even the desire
to be part of our community, and at times it was even contemptuous
towards people in our community."
Nunokawa echoes many of the comments we've heard from supporters of
U.H. Athletics. The next athletic director should have an understanding
of the uniqueness of Hawaii, and a willingness to work inside that
framework.
By Brandon Moore
Posted:
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 11:45 PM EST
LINDEN — North Montgomery’s wrestling team added a
few new faces this season, as it usually does. Unlike usual, though,
two of the new wrestlers were girls.
Freshmen Tasha Borta and Kaitlyn Todd have been wrestling since seventh
grade. According to both girls, “it rocks.”
Borta has a 2-1 varsity record this season at 112 pounds, with one win
coming by forfeit, and Todd has one win by forfeit at 103.
Borta’s father
introduced her to the sport, she said.
“My little brother wrestles, and I was always the
cheerleading type,” Borta said. “I still am girly
girl, but my dad was like, ‘Wrestle, you’re
tough,’ and ... my seventh grade year he finally got me into
it.”
Todd happened onto a meet in middle school and found the sport both
girls now call addicting.
“We were
talking to one of the coaches ... and I told him I was interested in
(wrestling),” Todd said, “and he was like,
‘You should try it,’ so I’ve been doing
it ever since.”
Both girls said their parents have been supportive, although Borta
noted her mother had concerns.
“At first she was kind of like, ‘No,
she’ll get hurt,’ and all that,” Borta
said, “but now ... they would be really disappointed if I
didn’t wrestle.”
For North Montgomery
coach J.D. Minch, having girls on the team is nothing new. Borta and
Todd are the fourth and fifth females he’s coached, and
he’s been impressed by both, he said.
“They’ve done everything I’ve asked them
to do, so I can’t complain,” Minch said.
Borta and Todd both felt their fellow wrestlers, though, were reluctant
to accept them in the beginning.
“We went to
camp over summer and we wouldn’t even be looked
at,” Borta said, “but now they joke around with us
like normal. Just like you’re a wrestler. Treat you like a
wrestler.”
Todd agreed.
“At first we went to camp with our team,” Todd
said, “and we were lucky if they even looked at us, but now
it seems like they’re pretty cool with it.”
Jacob Walsh,
North’s senior 160-pounder, said some of the team’s
doubts arose from previous girls wrestlers who didn’t put
everything they had into the sport.
“The girls that wrestled before weren’t too
great,” Walsh said. “They weren’t as good
as they should have been, I guess.
“We didn’t know if (Borta and Todd) were going to
take it as serious as the guys do because the girls in the past
didn’t take it as serious, but these girls are.”
Walsh said there was a
girl on the team his freshman year, and it was weird for him. Now
he’s used to it.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if more girls
didn’t try out next year,” Walsh said.
Borta and Todd know it wasn’t always like that for female
wrestlers, though.
“They used to
throw things at her and everything else,” Borta said of a
female wrestling forerunner whose name she couldn’t recall,
“and they’d do anything possible for her to
quit.”
Minch credited himself with the Chargers’ acceptance of the
girls.
“I think it starts with me,” he said. “I
think these guys accept anything if I told them to, that it would be a
good idea to have this, I mean unless it was something really
outrageous.”
The Chargers’
coach said he treats the girls like wrestlers, same as his boys.
“I believe in giving everybody an opportunity,” he
said. “Wrestling teaches more than just wrestling, it teaches
life lessons.”
Walsh said getting girls into wrestling was good for the sport, while
Minch noted female wrestling has come a long way.
“Girls
wrestling is probably about 10 years old, maybe 12, where they just
made it available,” Minch said. “There’s
been some pretty good wrestling as far as women’s wresling
going on. It’s an Olympic sport now ... and it’s
pretty good.”
CASSIE VIRGIL
Yelm wrestling
Age: 17
Year: Senior
Lives in: Yelm
Other sports at Yelm: None. Transferred from Rainier, where she did track and
field and cross country.
Family: Parents, Robin and Marshall; siblings, brothers Brandon and
Cameron.
About last week: Won the 135-pound division at the Kelso Invitational,
helping the Tornados to a fourth-place team finish. Virgil won three matches and
defeated Marissa Aube of Hoquiam 9-7 in the final.
Comment about last week: "I wrestled up (in weight) that weekend. (The win)
was exciting."
What's your season record? "11-5. I was 19-3 last year."
How long have you been wrestling? "For three years."
What's your favorite movie? "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."
Do you have a favorite class at Yelm? "I'm looking forward to my sculpture
class."
What about a pre-competition routine? "Not so much, but (teammate) Danielle
(Curliss) and I usually work on moves."
What's an interesting fact about yourself? "I love to run."
If you could meet any professional athlete, who would it be? "David Beckham.
I used to play soccer a lot, but at Rainier, they didn't have soccer. I've
always wanted to be a professional soccer player."
Finish this sentence. When I was 10 years old …: "I was a big tom boy. I
really looked up to my older brother, Brandon."
Does he give you pointers (on wrestling)? "He did when we wrestled together
(at Yelm), when I first started."
What's something a lot of people might not know about girls and wrestling?
"It's definitely a personal experience. It's not like any other sport. It's a
personal success. When you win, it's a lot different than a team winning. It's a
personal accomplishment."
Are some people afraid of you at school? "I get teased a lot that I can beat
up my boyfriend."
Does your boyfriend support you wrestling? "Yeah, he goes to all my
matches."
By MARTY JAMES
Executive Sports Editor
Thursday, January 10,
2008
A year ago, Tiffany Hui was a
spectator at the ASICS Napa Valley Girls Classic in the Vintage High School
gym.
She was there to see some of the top teams and many of the best that
girls wrestling has to offer on the west coast for the two-day tournament.
“It really inspired me because I
saw all the other girls wrestling and it looked really fun,” said Hui. “It made
me want to be like them because they were really good and it looked like they
were dominating on the mat. Some of the schools were really good. That’s when I
wanted to join wrestling.”
A few weeks later, Hui joined the girls
wrestling team at Vintage. On Friday and Saturday Hui, a sophomore who wrestles
at 126 pounds, will be a participant at the 10th annual ASICS-sponsored
tournament, which is expected to have 230 to 250 wrestlers from 40 high schools
from throughout the state. It’s a double-elimination format, but offers at least
a three-match guarantee.
Hui is one of seven Vintage wrestlers who will
take to the mat in what is the oldest girls tournament and considered one of the
top tournaments in the country. Napa High has four wrestlers entered and
Justin-Siena will have two. It runs from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and from 9:30
a.m. to about 7 p.m. Saturday. Friday’s weigh-ins begin at 10 a.m. Day-of
registration is also accepted starting at 9 a.m.
The top seven places in
each of the 14 weight classes — 98, 103, 108, 112, 118, 122, 126, 132, 138, 146,
154, 165, 189 and 235 pounds — earn medals. Outstanding lower- and upper-weight
class awards will be presented. There is also a team trophy, as it’s a scoring
tournament. Three mats will be used in the Vintage gym and an auxiliary mat will
be set up in the school cafeteria.
“It’s exciting because you get to
represent your school,” said Hui. “It makes your school look good if you win.
I’ll try not to get pinned — that’s one of my goals. And to not play it safe.
I’m going to try be aggressive and get some takedowns and be in
control.”
Hui will be joined by Taedae Martinez (103), Alexis Soto (112),
Stephanie Garza (138), Myka Murphy (146), Jean Rabaino (154) and Geovanni
Robledo (165). The Crushers’ Chelsi Aguayo and Rebecca Medeiros are injured and
not able to compete.
Rabaino (No. 4), Aguayo (No. 5), Garza (No. 7) and
Medeiros (No. 7) were all listed by the California Women’s Wrestling Association
in the 2007-08 preseason state rankings.
“I’m ready for Friday. I want to
get first or second, but it’s going to be hard,” said Rabaino.
For Hui,
the last year has been all about learning the sport.
“It’s really fun to
get out there and just wrestle and learn moves,” she said at Tuesday’s practice.
“It’s a sport where you get to see yourself progress. It’s
exciting.”
“Tiffany does have a lot of potential,” said assistant coach
Maika Watanabe. “She’s in the practice room all time, trying to get better.
She’s gaining more experience, wrestling in these different tournaments. We’re
throwing her in the mix with a lot of the JV matches in the duals.”
The
fact that this is year No. 10 of the Vintage tournament — which is sanctioned by
the CIF, the governing body of high school athletics in California — is a
milestone. Hogan, Pittsburg and Vallejo are the top teams that are
entered.
“We’re real excited about the tournament, obviously, to have it
go 10 years and have it develop the way it has is just a tremendous effort by a
number of people,” said Rob Lanterman, the girls coach for Vintage who assists
his father, Jim Lanterman, the tournament director and boys coach for the
Crushers. Last year, Jim Lanterman was named National Coach of the Year as
California won the team title at the USGWA nationals.
“The national
recognition for this tournament now is such that, other than the national
championships, this is considered the best tournament in the country,” Rob
Lanterman said. “The level of competition, the organization, the structure, from
top to bottom, next to the national championships, this is the one. Winning here
or placing high here really has an impact on where you fall at the national
championships when it comes to seeding time and when they make the brackets up
at nationals.”
The Vintage wrestlers are working with Watanabe, who was
an All-American at Missouri Valley College. Watanabe was also a state champion
and a three-time placer at the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association nationals for
the Crushers.
“I’m trying to teach all the younger kids,” said Watanabe.
“They’re looking strong. A lot of them are young, so they need a little more
experience. The team really works hard for this tournament.”
The
tournament, founded by Jim Lanterman and former VHS coach Carl Murphree, now the
head coach at Missouri Valley, will have up to 32 wrestlers in each bracket,
leading up to the finals starting about 5 p.m. There are also matches for
third-fourth, fifth-sixth and seventh-eighth place.
“We’ve found that
some of our third and fourth-place matches are as good or better to watch and
enjoy as the championship matches,” said Rob Lanterman.
The Vintage team
is young, said Rob Lanterman, who is looking to see some of his wrestlers
place.
“We’re looking to get them experience in a pressure tournament
situation so we can continue on with the rest of the season,” he
said.
The major tournaments coming up are the CIF Northern Regional at
Inderkum High-West Sacramento (Jan. 18-19), California Girls Wrestling
Invitational at Hanford West High School (Feb. 1-2), the USGWA Northern
California State Tournament at Springstowne Middle School-Vallejo (March 2), and
the USGWA Nationals at Livonia Churchill High School in Livonia, Mich. (March
29-30).
Two of the top wrestlers entered are Marina High’s Victoria
Anthony (108), last year’s outstanding tournament lightweight, and Scotts
Valley’s Haylee Childs (118), who won a state title last year.
As opposed
to boys wrestling, which involves a lot of power and strength, girls wrestling
is more about techniques being applied, said Rob Lanterman.
“Both the
move and the counter move are being applied constantly, so in a trouble
situation the girls can’t rely just on strength,” he said. “They have to really
know their technique. You’ll be amazed at some of the girls that are out there,
at how well versed they are in the actual sport of wrestling. They’re deep into
the stylebook of wrestling and really using everything they have.”
Napa
High will be represented by Alyx McChesney (122), Samantha Gardner (138),
Christian Resbick (122) and Olivia Hansell (122). McChesney has placed second
and fourth in tournaments so far.
“I’m really excited for these girls —
they’re going to do well,” said Napa assistant coach Jaret Newton. “They’ve been
wrestling tough all season.”
Wrestling in their hometown is a big deal,
said Newton.
“They obviously want to do well,” he said.
Deborah
Jojola (108) and Luisa Jojola (114) will wrestle for
Justin-Siena.
“They’re looking forward to it,” said Braves’ coach Roger
Bubel.
YHS wrestlers on the road today
1/10/08
Summer Runyon, the only female who wrestles for the
Yucaipa High School wrestling team, won the Beaumont Girls Varsity Tournament
last week, winning all five of her matches.
The Yucaipa High School
varsity wrestling team resumes league play today on the road against
Redlands.
The Thunderbirds are currently 1-2 in CBL play. The next home
match for the T-birds is next Thursday evening against Fontana.
The JV matches begin at 6 p.m., followed by the varsity
matches.
John Grap 1/10/08
The Enquirer
|
A small young woman meets with a group of friends during Lakeview High
School's second lunch period. Between small talk and bites of food, the half
hour goes by too quickly for the sophomore and her group of friends.
Two hours later, she's running laps on the walkway around the school's gym.
She's getting warmed up and ready to take a boy to the mat.
|
Jamie Reeser, 16, is a wrestler and the only girl on Lakeview's junior varsity
team.
When her family lived in Maine, she started to wrestle during gym class in
middle school.
She's been at it ever since.
She says her mom isn't crazy about her being on the team.
"You know how all moms are," she said.
Her mom told her, "You shouldn't be wrestling with a guy in Spandex on the
mat!" However, Jamie was able to persuade her mother to let her compete.
She's proud to be the only girl on the team. She said she thinks more girls
should join. She sighs, "But they don't, so I'm stuck being the girl on the
wrestling team."
She doesn't understand why they call it the boys' wrestling team.
Once, in eighth grade, she wrestled against a girl, she said. At a recent
meet she noticed four other female wrestlers.
Her goals this year are to make the varsity squad and to win her first match.
Jason O'Connor, junior varsity wrestling coach, says Reeser is the first girl
wrestler he's coached at Lakeview. "Most of the kids treat her like they would
treat anyone else on the team," he said.
He also says she's been close to winning a couple times.
Reeser considers herself to be an average wrestler and doesn't see any
advantages to being a girl among boys. "I feel like I'm just one of the guys."
Colin McEwen
5 hours ago 1/10/08
By Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writer
Next week, Tadaaki Hatta will be traveling to Beijing, the city where he was
born 65 years ago.
He is going there with USA Wrestling's national women's team competing in the
World Cup Championships Jan. 19 and 20.
Hatta is no stranger to wrestling.
The longtime art teacher at Ravenna High School came to the U.S. from Japan,
where he was raised, more than 45 years ago on wrestling scholarship from
Oklahoma State University.
Hatta's father introduced him to the sport after he came to this country in
1929 to promote the ancient sport of judo to Americans.
"The wrestlers beat him up," he said, adding it was then his father became a
lifelong student of grappling.
A few years later, Hatta eventually took up wrestling himself and
extracurricular activity became a recreation, a job and a passion.
He won the Japanese national championship in high school. In college in 1965,
he was a NCAA champion, and placed third in 1966.
"I've looked back on wrestling -- it's fun and it's good physical fitness,"
the Elyria resident said. "Then I started teaching and thought I should stick
around."
He has stuck around, and watched as the sport has continued to grow into a
major international sport.
The world map on Hatta's classroom wall is dotted with many multi-colored
tacks, marking the international cities where he has traveled for the sport.
His wrestling résumé is stocked with credentials that include being a member
of coaching staff with the U.S. women's team in Athens in 2004; U.S. Olympic
men's freestyle wrestling team in 1988, 1992 and 1996; the Japanese Olympic team
in 1968 and 1984; and the 1972 Mexican Olympic team.
Hatta said his coaching specialty is scouting the other teams' methods and
finding ways to counter them. He also has coached with many Northeast Ohio high
schools, including Ravenna.
"I'm glad that I am here in Ravenna," said Hatta, adding that he is grateful
that the district allowed him to take time off to travel with the team to China.
Superintendent Tim Calfee said he is pleased that Hatta was selected to coach
the women's team.
"He's an outstanding coach with a great deal of national and international
experience," he said. "We're proud of him. I'd like to see him bring back a gold
medal."
He said among the fiercest challenges the American team will face is Japan --
a country where the sport of wrestling was revolutionized by his father.
The U.S. women's wrestling team is talented, and Hatta expects the team to
perform well.
"The coaching part is not as hard because they are already at their highest
level," he said. "If we win a medal, I'll be glad to bring it home."
