By Joe
Lyons 2/4/08
POST-DISPATCH
GRANITE CITY — The Oak Park Northmen ran away with the 47th annual
William "Red'' Schmitt Holiday Wrestling Tournament this weekend at Granite City
High.
Again.
The Northmen, of Kansas City, had 10 wrestlers in the
finals and came away with seven individual champions, winning the event for the
sixth consecutive year. Oak Park wrapped up the two-day, 20-team event Saturday
with 345 points, leaving others to battle for second place, as Fort Zumwalt West
(207½) edged Edwardsville (206½). Oak Park River Forest of Chicago (158½) and
host Granite City (148½) rounded out the top five.
"No, it never gets old
because at least some of the kids we bring each year are new to the
experience,'' said Oak Park coach Gary Mayabb, who has led the Northmen to the
past four large-school state titles in Missouri. "This is always one of my
favorite tournaments because of the tradition and the intense competition.''
But this figures to be Mayabb's last appearance at Granite City, at least for a
while. Next fall, he'll shift from Oak Park to Staley High, the newest school in
the North Kansas City District.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge,''
Mayabb said.
The Northmen gave their coach a memorable Granite City
send-off, getting championship efforts from Cody Brewer (103 pounds), Mac Bailey
(135), Dylan Joiner (145), Ray Hall (160), Marcus Armato (171), Brent Haynes
(189) and Elijah Madison (285).
It was the fourth Granite City title for
Joiner, a three-time state medalist who captured Missouri state titles to close
out his sophomore and junior seasons.
"In this tournament, that's quite
an accomplishment,'' Mayabb said.
Making Oak Park's efforts all the more
impressive was the fact that Bailey, Hall and Armato were seeing their first
action of the season after being sidelined by injuries.
Zumwalt West has
finished as runner-up to Oak Park in each of the last three state tournaments.
The Jaguars, making their first Granite City appearance, had six wrestlers in
the finals and got championships from Taylor Bolin (119), Trevor Wiest (140) and
R.J. McCravy (152).
"We don't even have to mention their name, do we?''
West coach Dan Hayes kidded when asked about Oak Park. "We have to focus on what
we do and on what we need to do to get better. And that's why we're here, to see
some great competition that will hopefully make us better down the
line.''
Senior Daryl Thomas (125) was Edwardsville's lone
champion.
O'Fallon sophomore Keith Surber (112) captured his second
Granite City title, winning a 6-4 overtime thriller over Oak Park's Cody Tyler.
Both wrestlers showed their superior ability to scramble in the most
entertaining match of the night.
Saturday's other champions were
Oakville's Charles Toney (215) and Oak Park River Forest's Ellis Coleman (130).
Ellis also had the weekend's most pins (6).
At 119, Carbondale's Alli
Ragan became the first girl in tournament history to reach a title match.
Arizona
Jr. Broncs' Shatto wins state junior high wrestling
title
Tuesday,
January 29, 2008 8:45 PM MST
Submitted by Scott Gallan; Special to the Pioneer
During
the season, Ryan Shatto of the Junior Broncs' wrestling club came up short of
first place in several tournaments. Each time he was told what he needed to
improve, and that, "it is all practice until State." He made the needed
improvements, and Shatto won the 104 pound weight class at the Junior High State
Wrestling Championships held on Jan. 25 and 26 in Marana. He became the first
Junior High State Champion from Parker.
Coming in as the third seed,
Shatto pinned his first three opponents from Coolidge, Coronado, and St. Johns.
In the semifinals, he defeated the second seed, Morenci's Derrick Rios, 6-2. In
the final, Shatto left no doubt as to who was the Champion by building a 12-5
lead before pinning Jose Munoz from Buckeye.
In probably the deepest
weight class of the tournament, unseeded Junior Bronc Billy Escoto took 4th at
93 pounds. After winning his first match, Escoto then lost to the eventual
champion from Safford. He came back and won three hard fought bouts, and a last
second comeback victory in the consolation semifinals, before losing a tight
bout in the consolation finals.
Wrestling in the 73 pound weight class,
an undersized Reni Gallan took fourth. Giving up about ten pounds in weight to
her opposition, Gallan nonetheless dominated until the semifinals, where she
lost to Morenci's Joe Guerra, and sustained a shoulder injury. After being
checked out by a trainer, Gallan continued to battle on before falling to Mainez
of Mountain Sky. Gallan is the first girl to place in this State
Tournament.
Also competing for the Junior Broncs, with all but one
wrestler winning one or more matches were Jesse Lucas, Cameron Booth, Raymond
Gomez, Josh Saxon, Javier Gomez, Mario Deleon, and Dallas Wells.
Coach
Scott Gallan said, "These wrestlers, along with our Champion, and placers,
contributed to our placing 14th out of over 40 school and districts teams. We
were only about ten points out of a top seven finish. We did this even though
the team only had 10 out of the 16 weight classes filled. This season was a
remarkable team, family, and community effort. For a team that came together
rapidly, had to scramble for travel expenses, entry fees, gear, and pretty much
everything, competing against mostly fully funded teams and schools from across
the state. I actually had the easy job. LeAnn Escoto and Alba Shatto did all the
hard work."
This concludes the Middle School folkstyle season. However,
the wrestling will continue, shifting to freestyle wrestling, which is the style
wrestled internationally and in the Olympics. Parker Unified School District
students grades K-8, in good standing at their school, are welcome to
participate. Practices will start at 6 p.m. on Jan. 29 at the wrestling room.
Arizona
Monday,
December 10, 2007 4:13 PM MST
The Parker Junior Broncs wrestling team proved themselves to be a
new power in Arizona Junior High wrestling by placing second at the Buckeye Dual
Classic Tournament on Saturday.
In the 68 pound weight class, Reni Gallan
took first by beating teammate Andrew Cecchini in the finals. Cecchini made the
finals in only his second tournament wrestling as a JV wrestler. In the 73 pound
weight class, Brandon Shatto took a tough third. In only his third wrestling
tournament, Jesse Lucas made the finals, losing a tough 11-10 match to a
wrestler from the Phoenix Sunkids with several years of experience.
In
the middle of the Junior Bronc line-up, Billy Escoto, wrestling at 93 pounds,
took first with a hard fought win over Buckeye. Earlier in the tournament, he
avenged a loss from last week over Prescott Bradshaw in dominating fashion. Ryan
Shatto at 111 pounds won a tough overtime final against Yuma Chain Gang. Raymond
Gomez followed up with a third at 124 pounds. Javier Gomez took third at 133
pounds, and Mario DeLeon, at 142 pounds, beat Prescott Brashaw by a fall to take
first.
Also wrestling and contibuting to a team effort were Justin
Trimble, Alan Cecchini, Lanee Scott, Derek Yarborough, Mason Cribbs, Cameron
Booth, and Josh Saxon.
Sentinel Staff Report 12/16/07
GIRLS WRESTLING
Haylee Childs, a sophomore from Scotts Valley High, defeated Cianah Hee of
Hawaii in the 122-pound finals of the Castro Valley Girls Wrestling Classic.
Childs, previously ranked No. 4 by the United States Girls Wrestling
Association in the 122-pound division, beat the No. 2-ranked Hee with a 5-1
decision. Childs advanced to the finals with three wins, two by pins. She was
also awarded the Outstanding Wrestler award for the middle-weight division of
the tournament.
Childs in the defending state champion in the girls 122-pound division.
Article Launched: 02/04/2008 12:05:59 AM MST
By Paul MacKinnon
Special to the Times
The Eastwood girls' wrestling team completed the school's sweep of the
District 3 wrestling tournament Saturday at Parkland High School, as individual
gold medalists Terry Navar (128 pounds), Alishia Carter (185) and Ashley Melero
(unopposed at 102) led the Troopers to their second team title in three years.
The Troopers held on to edge Del Valle by just two points, 86 to 84.
Del Valle 119-pounder Liza Gutierrez, Jo Anne Quinones (138) and Bettina
Castillo (148) all claimed district gold to lead the Conquistadores girls.
Ysleta's Delialah Perez took step one toward living up to her brother Lou's
two state titles with her victory at 110 pounds.
And Hanks' Nicole Silva, by pinning Bel Air's Denise Salazar, kept her vision
quest of a state title alive by claiming first place in the 95-pound division.
"Actually, I'm really looking forward to being state champion," said Silva, a
2006 sixth-place finisher at state before suffering a concussion just prior to
the 2007 meet while wrestling with brother and 112-pound boys' champ Alec. "I
don't see anyone who can get in my way."
No one, except maybe the doctor, which both Silva and Eastwood coach Roman
Villa understand all too well.
"Fortunately, we got healthy here," Villa said. "Everyone made weight. We got
everything going in the right direction and that's what it took to win it."
Top two finishers in each weight division from each district meet advance to
the regional tournament Feb. 8-9 at the West Texas A&M University Field House in Canyon,
Texas.
Top four finishers there move on to state, set for Feb. 15-16 in Austin.
7. El Paso's young girls wrestling team won a second consecutive District 2 championship. The Tigers scored 75 points to
squeak by Burges, who had 66.
California
By Nick Giannandrea / The Fresno Bee
02/02/08 23:20:40
HANFORD -- Gaby Corona-Zamarripa and Tatiana Padilla each captured
unofficial state high school wrestling championships Saturday.
But they couldn't have gone about it -- or reacted to it -- much differently.
Corona-Zamarripa, the state's second-ranked standout from Hanford West, had
tears of joy after defeating Liberty-Brentwood's Brittney David 6-4 in overtime
for the 146-pound title.
Padilla, the nationally No. 1-ranked potential Olympian from
Northview-Covina, smiled while signing autographs and posing for pictures like a
celebrity following her 17-2 technical fall over Rialto's Jenette Muhar for the
126-pound crown.
Corona-Zamarripa and Padilla's victories were the highlights of the third
California Girls Invitational, which attracted 346 wrestlers to Hanford West's
Event Center.
"Everything paid off for me," Corona-Zamarripa said. "This is what I've been
waiting for."
After a scoreless first period, Corona-Zamarripa scored a three-point near
fall with 56 seconds left in the second period. But her lead evaporated when
David scored a two-point takedown and a two-point near fall 25 seconds into the
third period. Corona-Zamarripa was awarded a point for a technical violation
before the end of regulation to tie the score at 4-4 and send it to overtime.
Corona-Zamarripa scored the match-winning takedown with 23 seconds left in
overtime.
"It just came down to whoever wanted it more," said Corona-Zamarripa, who
improved on her sixth-place finish at 138 pounds at this tournament last season.
"I knew I had to do it if I wanted to win."
Padilla's title-winning victory wasn't close, but that was no surprise for
the United States Girls Wrestling Association's No. 1-ranked 128 pounder, who
will wrestle in June for a spot on the Olympic team.
Padilla had a takedown 11 seconds into the match, and scored a pair of
three-point near falls before opening a 15-point margin for the technical fall.
Padilla, who holds down a spot on Northview's boys team, was wrestling in only
her second all-girls high school tournament.
"I'm at a high level for my age, but I don't like to think I'm better than
everybody," Padilla said. "I want girls wrestling to blow up, and me being here
encourages young girls to keep wrestling."
Corona-Zamarippa was one of five Central Section wrestlers to medal.
McLane's Debbie Syvong captured her second California Girls Invitational
medal when she won a 15-1 major decision over Los Banos' Kim Garza for third
place.
Syvong had a takedown and a 2-point near fall just before the end of the
first period and never looked back. She scored three more near falls in the
second period as her lead swelled to 14-1.
"I thought she was going to be hard," Syvong said.
Syvong had an opportunity to reach a final for the first time in her
four-year career, but she lost to state No. 1 ranked Kelly Kusumoto of Prospect
7-2 in the semifinals.
"It was horrible, I was hoping for first," said Syvong, who placed fourth
here in 2006. "I guess I didn't want it as much as her. I mean, I did, but she
was stronger."
The other placers from the Central Section were Hanford's Justine Neves, who
was fifth at 122 pounds, Porterville's Wednesday Marquez, who was seventh at 126
pounds, and Selma's Biri Mendoza, who was seventh at 132 pounds.
The reporter can be reached at ngiannandrea@fresnobee.com or (559)
622-2407.
Canada
Posted By MICHAEL McCLYMONT
Updated 2 hours ago
For his 18th birthday, Matt Wakulich gave himself a gold
medal.
In front of his proud father and Brock Wrestling Club coach Perry Wakulich,
he put the icing on the birthday cake by becoming the best wrestler in his
72-kilogram juvenile boys' weight class.
In just his third year in the sport, Wakulich defeated a substantially bigger
opponent to win his gold-medal match Sunday afternoon at the Ontario cadet and
juvenile championships held at Brock University.
"This is very nice, for two years I watched guys I had been training with do
it so it's nice to be able to do it myself," Wakulich, a well-spoken E.L.
Crossley Secondary School student, said after his match.
His father has been coaching wrestling for 18 years, but before trying his
hand at his father's sport, Matt took a shot at hockey.
"He was a triple-A hockey player for a number of years and it shocked me when
he decided he didn't want to play hockey anymore and he wanted to try
wrestling," Perry said.
"After hockey, my dad asked me, 'Well, what are you going to do now.' He
mentioned wrestling and I thought I'd give it a shot," Matt explained.
"Instantly, I really liked it. I've always enjoyed watching it because I've been
around it since I was really little."
Matt trains six times a week, and said he is now "personally in love with the
sport."
The Wakulichs' now turn their attention to the OFSAA championships where
Perry says Matt hopes to finish in the top six in his weight class. As for how
he'll spend the rest of his birthday, like most 18-year-olds, Matt planned to
"have a party."
Sarah Benes has a number of things in common with Matt Wakulich. She attends
E.L. Crossley, Perry Wakulich is her wrestling coach and she is also a wrestling
gold-medallist.
Benes works extremely hard at her craft.
CANADA
LCVI student earns gold at Ontario Wrestling Championships
The Lindsay Post
Monday, Februry 4, 2008
PHOTO: Andrea Wakelin - Kawartha Wrestling Club,
Ontario
56kg Champion
ST. CATHERINES, Ontario , CANADA - Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute's Andrea Wakelin
wrestled her way to a gold medal at the Ontario Wrestling
Championships in St. Catherines on the weekend.
The Championships, which drew more than 700 Cadet (14,15 year old) and
Juvenile(16,17) wrestlers was held at Brock University.
Wakelin wrestles for Lindsay Collegiate and the Kawartha wrestling club in the
56 kg weight class. She now heads to the Ontario Winter Games in Collingwood
during the March break as the top ranked wrestler. Wakeline will also be a
member of Team Ontario that will travel to Saskatoon in April
for the Canadian Championships.
New York
Volume
104 | Issue 18 | LionsDen
When Eleanor Lewis (10) stepped onto the mat for the first time
last year, she did not see herself as making history. “When I did it, I didn’t
think, ‘this is activism! Yay!’” she said. “I thought, ‘This is a good sport to
do.’”
She, however, became the first girl to ever wrestle for Horace Mann’s varsity
squad. In 1975, when 130 new girls were admitted at HM, they indicated interest
in sports, and girls’ volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, track and softball
teams were organized. Wrestling was not among them. Today, no other Ivy League
team has female wrestlers. In her entire wrestling career, Lewis has wrestled
only two other girls, both of whom she soundly beat at tournaments this season.
Wrestling, more than any other sport demands close physical contact, and “to
have boys and girls wrestling can be awkward at first,” Josh Parker (11) said.
Lewis, in her second varsity wrestling season, and Akeyla Todd (9), in her first
JV wrestling season, however, have balanced the gender divide quite simply by
not allowing it to factor in, they said.
“Obviously, I was used to wrestling guys, and it was like being thrown a
psychological curve ball the first time we wrestled,” said Danny Marcusa (10),
who wrestles both Lewis and Todd in practice. “It’s just different. There are
certain places that you have to avoid if you are trying to get a hold on
somebody- the obvious areas.”
After time, however, practicing with girls became run of the mill. “The first
couple of times we wrestled there was a noticeable difference, but you don’t
really notice gender after the first couple of times,” he said. “You just focus
on what moves you can do from each position, not the person you are wrestling.”
Practices center around drilling and “going live,” in which the team divides
into pairs and wrestles on the mats in the multi-purpose room. Although
wrestlers change partners as often as seven times a practice, wrestlers “go
live” most often with others in a similar weight class. As the lightest member
of the team, a member of the 103 lb weight class, Lewis wrestles 119 lb Mark
Dalessandro (11), 112 lb Captain Josh Aschheim (12), 112 lb Marcusa (10), and
112 lb Todd most frequently.
“She has a lot of qualities that make her a good wrestler,” Lewis’ mom, Anne
Field, said. “She’s smart and quick and able to think on her feet, which you
need to be able to do to be a good wrestler, no pun intended. She’s also
stubborn, and you really have to have a gut.” Lewis’ athletic drive did not come
from Field, who termed herself “one of the most unathletic people you have ever
met.”
Because, as Lewis said, “I’m definitely outmatched strength-wise,” she
compensates by mastering the technical side of wrestling. “Her main strength is
riding legs,” Dalessandro said. “Riding legs,” the team’s signature move, does
not require as much strength as many other wrestling techniques. As Parker
described, “you wrap your legs around the opponents’ and use them to turn his
hips in order to expose his back to the mat.” Lewis, however, still works to
increase her strength by lifting weights every day before practice, she said,
because female competition is very rare.
“She never gives up,” Head Coach Gregg Cuilty said of Lewis. “She can get
thrown on her back and almost get pinned two or three times, and she’ll find a
way to get off her back. It inspires everybody else to do a little more than
what is expected of them.”
Todd said she admires Lewis. “One thing I got from Eleanor from watching her
wrestle other people is in matches I don’t give up. I keep fighting. I may not
do everything right, but I try.”
Lewis fully appreciates her team’s support, Field said. “The coach is
extraordinary, and her teammates have always been very helpful. It would have
been much more difficult for her without their support. I think they respect how
hard she tries and what a good wrestler she is. There has been no pushback
whatsoever.”
The “pioneers” Todd and Lewis will continue to make history in their new,
women’s maroon singlets this season. As Marcusa said, “They function as guys on
the team - or rather, the team functions as a genderless entity.”
New York
High School Wrestlers Take
To The Mats In 5th Annual Mayor's Cup
February 04, 2008
The Mayor's Cup wrestling championships is one of the largest meets in the
city. NY1’s Shazia Khan was there Sunday, and filed the following report on
this year’s tournament.
High school wrestlers from across the city took to the mats Sunday for the
second and final day of the 5th annual Mayor's Cup wrestling championships.
“This is my first year wrestling and I’m really excited to be here and it's a
little intimidating, but it’s really exciting,” said Horace Mann High School
student Kevin O’Connell.
“You have to do whatever it takes for you to win,” said Francis Lewis High
School student Shahad Malik. “It takes practice, lots of drills, a lot of
dedication.”
“Just go out there and wrestle your heart out!” said Lehman High School student
Toniann Scarborough.
More than 750 wrestlers, boys and girls alike, competed at the Armory in Harlem
for a chance to win team and individual weight class honors in the city.
“You can be 95 pounds or 295 pounds and you can compete,” said coach
George Hero. ”That's the wonderful part. The little guys don't have to worry
about not being tall enough, not being big enough.”
The Metropolitan Wrestling Association along with the Mayor's office
coordinated with other groups on what has become one of the ultimate matches in
the city.
“Each one of these big tournaments is a place to mark themselves and this is
particularly important, because as this tournament grows, people will say, ‘Oh
you went to that tournament,’” said John Welch of the Metropolitan Wrestling
Association.
The object of the sport is to pin your opponent shoulders to the mat, but
coaches and parents say it's not just about winning.
“For my son Matthew, it’s good for his self-esteem,” said parent Paul Suchow.
“I think it gives him something to struggle with and you know when you wrestle
it’s all about determination, it’s all about follow-though, it's all about really being in each moment and focusing
and all those things are good.”
Wrestling is one of the most demanding sports around. Some even liken it to a
game of chess, saying it requires not just brawn, but also brain.
“We try to create expected responses in people, so they believe in you and
believe you are going to do something and then we cheat you and do something
else,” said Welch.
For the most part, boys compete against boys and girls against girls, but sometime
it's a co-ed match.
“It’s definitely hard, because they are stronger, but you know wrestling is
sport where a lot of will and a lot of conditioning and technique can sometimes
win over superior strength or speed, so there is always a fighting chance,”
said Horace Mann High School student Eleanor Lewis.
–Shazia Khan
New York
high school girl wrestler amy whitbeck defeats boy Video
USA
Conder wins second gold medal for weekend with win at
Calgary Open
Shannyn Gillespie USA
Wrestling
02/04/2008
CALGARY, Alberta,
Canada Feb. 3, 2008 –– Whitney Conder (Puyallup, Wash.) won her second title in
as many days by capturing the Calgary Open championship, held in the Kinesiology
Complex of the University of Calgary campus Sunday February 3, 2008.
On
Saturday, Conder claimed a gold medal at the Nordhagen International Junior
Classic, also held in Calgary.
Two other U.S. Olympic Education Center
(USOEC) resident athletes also won medals, Beth Johnson (Garden City, Kan) at 55
kg/121 lbs. and Schuyler Brown at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
The finals at
55’kg/121 lbs.weight class was a rematch of the Nordhagen International Classic,
held only a day earlier, with nearly the same result. 2007 Junior World Champion
Conder, a Northern Michigan University (NMU) freshman held off teammate Beth
Johnson in a three-period battle.
Brown bounced back after a
disappointing semifinal loss and won her bronze medal by a pin over M. Smith of
the Univ. of Calgary WC.
USOEC freestyle wrestler Amber Miracle placed
fourth at 59 kg/130 lbs. Earning sixth place were Elizabeth DeAngelo at 59
kg/130 lbs., and Katie Crouch at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Johnson, DeAngelo,
Brown, and Crouch are all Marquette Senior High School seniors and participate
in the USOEC program, as resident athletes on the campus of NMU.
The
USOEC freestyle resident athlete team, a USA Wrestling resident program, had
more than 40 bouts over the weekend during the Nordhagen International Classic
and the Calgary Open competitions gaining much needed experience heading into
the upcoming Japan tour and the championship season.
CALGARY
OPEN
At Calgary, Canada, Feb. 3
Final Standings
48 kg/105.5
lbs.
Gold – Ashley McKilligan (Burnaby)
Silver – Coralie Dixon
(Salisbury.)
Bronze – Melanie Howitt (Brock WC)
Bronze - Tessa Galinger
(UCWC)
5th – Seveh Palini (Burnaby)
51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Gold –
Vanessa Brown (Rebels)
Silver – Gen Haley (UCWC)
Bronze – Rita Pare
(Burnaby)
55 kg/ 121 lbs.
Gold - Whitney Condor
(USOEC)
Silver - Beth Johnson (USOEC)
Bronze – Miranda Dick
(Burnaby)
Bronze – Heather Yamashita (UCWC)
5th – Teanna Chase
(Salisbury)
6th – Andrea Ross (UCWC)
59 kg/120 lbs.
Gold -
Heidi Erdle (UCWC)
Silver – Jazzie Barker (UCWC)
Bronze - Avalon Doyle
(Nova Scotia)
Bronze - Amber Miracle (USOEC)
5th - Raissa Dickensen
(Burnaby)
6th – Elizabeth DeAngelo (USOEC)
63 kg/138.75
lbs.
Gold – Justine Buchard (UCWC)
Silver - Dannett Torgeson
(Burnaby)
Bronze - Schuyler Brown (USOEC)
Bronze – Monique Smith
(UCWC)
5th - Marielle Terhart (Bears)
67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Gold
- Stephanie Buchan (UCWC)
Silver - Stephanie Maierhofer (Austria)
Bronze -
Katarina Spotzl (Burnaby)
Bronze - Taylor Dick (Burnaby)
72
kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold – Erin Church (Burnaby)
Silver – Vanessa Wilson
(UCWC)
Bronze - Eva-Maria Maierhofer (Austria)
Bronze - Mia Connelly (N.
Island)
5th - Deborah Jehu (Brock W.C.)
6th - Katie Crouch
(USOEC)
82 kg/180.75 lbs.
Gold – Megan Goldsmith
(UCWC)
Sivler – Meaghan Young (Bears)
USOEC Women's
Results
55 kg/121 lbs. - Whitney Conder, Payallup, Wash. (USOEC),
Champion
WIN M. Dick (Burnaby)
WIN B. Johnson (USOEC)
55 kg/121
lbs. - Beth Johnson, Garden City, Kan. (USOEC), 2nd place
WIN T. Chase
(Sailisbury)
WIN A. Ross (UCWC)
LOSS W. Conder (USOEC)
59 kg/130
lbs. - Elizabeth DeAngelo, Mebane, N.C. (USOEC), 6th place
LOSS
A.Doyle(NS)
WIN A. Torafson (Winnipeg) forfeit
LOSS A. Miracle
(USOEC)
LOSS R. Dickonson (Burnaby)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Amber Miracle,
Berlin, Wis. (USOEC), 4th place
WIN R. Dickonson (Burnaby)
LOSS H. Erdle
(UCWC)
WIN E. DeAngelo
LOSS A.Doyle(NS)
63 kg - Schuyler Brown,
Montpelier, Va. (USOEC), 3rd place
LOSS D. Torgeson (Burnaby)
WIN
L.Steffler (Brock), forfeit
WIN M. Smith (UCWC)
72 kg - Katie Crouch,
Merced, Calif. (USOEC), 6th place
LOSS M. Connelly (N. Island)
WIN E.
Wiebi (UCWC), forfeit
LOSS E. Maierhofer(Austria)
LOSS D. Jehu
(Brock)
Gary Abbott USA
Wrestling
02/04/2008
The Dave Schultz
Memorial International Championships enters its 10th year in 2008. Each day this
week, there will be new postings about the tournament, its history and this
year's event
DAVE SCHULTZ MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL
CHAMPIONS
2000
Men’s Freestyle champions
54 kg/119 lbs - Stephen Abas
(Sunkist Kids)
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Miron Dzadzaev (Russia)
63 kg/138.75
lbs. - Jeff McGinness (Hawkeye WC)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Yosmany Sanchez (Cuba)
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Chamile Aliev (Russia)
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Yoel Romero
(Cuba)
97 kg/213.75 lbs. Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov (Russia)
130 kg/286
lbs. - Oleg Khorpiakov (Russia)
Outstanding Wrestler – Stephen Abas (United
States)
Greco-Roman champions
54 kg/119 lbs - Jeff Cervone (U.S.
Air Force)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Glenn Nieradka (U.S. Army)
69 kg/152 lbs.
- Heath Sims (Dave Schultz WC)
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Badry Khasaia
(Georgia)
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Chael Sonnen (Dave Schultz WC)
97 kg/213.75
lbs. Jason Gleasman (New York AC)
130 kg/286 lbs. - Rulon Gardner (Sunkist
Kids)
Outstanding Wrestler – Heath Sims (United States)
Women’s
champions
46 kg/101.25 lbs.- Clarissa Chun (Viking WC)
51 kg/112.25
lbs. - Stephanie Murata (Sunkist Kids)
56 kg/123.25 lbs. - Malissa Sherwood
(Dave Schultz WC)
62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Sara McMann (Sunkist Kids)
68
kg/149.75 lbs - Melanie Macari (Viking WC)
75 kg/165.25 lbs. - Iris Smith
(Cookies & Cream)
Outstanding Wrestler – Malissa Sherwood (United
States)
2001
Men’s freestyle champions
54 kg/119 lbs
- Alexandre Kontoev (Russia)
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Arif Kama (Turkey)
63
kg/138.75 lbs. - Eric Larkin (Sunkist Kids)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Ramico Blackmon
(Team Excel)
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Inal Dzagourov (Russia)
85 kg/187.25
lbs. - Khadjimourat Magomedov (Russia)
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Daniel Cormier
(Sunkist Kids)
130 kg/286 lbs. - Nikolay Telegin (Russia)
Outstanding
Wrestler - Ramico Blackmon (United States)
Greco-Roman champions
54
kg/119 lbs. - Shawn Sheldon (New York AC)
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Dilshod Aripov
(Uzbekistan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Bakhatir Kurbanov (Uzbekistan)
69
kg/152 lbs. - Ruslan Bektayov (Uzbekistan)
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Yuri Vitt
(Uzbekistan)
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Keith Sieracki (U.S. Army)
97 kg/213.75
lbs. - Chael Sonnen (Dave Schultz WC)
130 kg/286 lbs. - Corey Farkas (U.S.
Air Force)
Outstanding Wrestler - Keith Sieracki (United
States)
Women’s freestyle champions
46 kg/101.25 lbs.- Julie
Gonzales (Dave Schultz)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Ida Hellstrom (Sweden)
56
kg/123.25 lbs. - Ida-Therese Karlsson (Sweden)
62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Sara McMann
(Sunkist Kids)
68 kg/149.75 lbs.- Sandra Bacher (Dave Schultz WC)
75
kg/165.25 lbs. - Iris Smith (Sunkist Kids)
Outstanding Wrestler - Sara McMann
(United States)
2002
Men’s Freestyle champions
55
kg/121 lbs. - Herman Kontoev (Belarus)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Jason Kutz (U.S.
Army)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.- Chris Bono (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Donny
Pritzlaff (Dave Schultz WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Sazhid Sazhidov (Russia)
96
kg/211.5 lbs. - Chad Lamer (Hawkeye WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tolly Thompson
(Sunkist Kids)
Outstanding Wrestler - Donny Pritzlaff (USA)
Greco-Roman
champions
55 kg/121 lbs. - Lindsey Durlacher (New York AC)
60 kg/132
lbs. - Jim Gruenwald (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.- Faruk Sahin
(Turkey)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Keith Sieracki (U.S. Army)
84 kg/185 lbs. -
Ethan Bosch (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Ross Thatcher (Penn State
WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army)
Outstanding Wrestler -
Keith Sieracki (USA)
Women’s freestyle champions
48 kg/105.5 lbs. -
Sera Momoko (Japan)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Stephanie Murata (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Malissa Sherwood (USA)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Tonya Evinger
(USA)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Tara Hedican (Canada)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. -
Toccara Montgomery (Cumberland College)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ohenewa Akuffo
(Canada)
Outstanding Wrestler - Toccara Montgomery (USA)
2003
Men’s freestyle champions
55 kg/121 lbs. - Sammie Henson (Sunkist
Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Saeed Azarbayjani (Canada)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.- Jared
Frayer (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Casey Cunningham (Sunkist Kids)
84
kg/185 lbs. - Yoel Romero (Cuba)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Tim Hartung (Minnesota
Storm)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Alexis Rodriguez (Cuba)
Men’s Greco-Roman
champions
55 kg/121 lbs. - Lazaro Rivas (Cuba)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Makoto
Sasamoto (Japan)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.- Kevin Bracken (New York AC)
74 kg/163
lbs. - Filiberto Azcuy (Cuba)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Shingo Matsumoto (Japan)
96
kg/211.5 lbs. - Karam Mohamed Gaber (Egypt)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Mijain Lopez
(Cuba)
Women’ freestyle champions
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia
Miranda (Dave Schultz WC)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong (Sunkist Kids)
55
kg/121 lbs. - Jen Ryz (Canada)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Sally Roberts (CO)
63
kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara McMann (Sunkist Kids)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Shannon Samler
(Canada)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Toccara Montgomery (Cumberland
College)
2004
Men’s Freestyle champions
55 kg/121
lbs. - Stephen Abas (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Danny Felix (Sunkist
Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.- Eric Larkin (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe
Heskett (Gator WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Lee Fullhart (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5
lbs. - Tim Hartung (Minnesota Storm)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Steve Mocco (New
York AC)
Outstanding Wrestler – Joe Heskett (United States)
Greco-Roman
champions
55 kg/121 lbs. - Mukesh Khatri (India)
60 kg/132 lbs. -
Glenn Nieradka (U.S. Army)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.- Faruk Sahin (U.S. Army)
74
kg/163 lbs. - Darryl Christian (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering
(New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Genadiy Chhaidze (Kyrgyzstan)
120
kg/264.5 lbs. – Rulon Gardner (Sunkist Kids)
Outstanding Wrestler – Mukesh
Katri (India)
Women’s Freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda
(Dave Schultz WC)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Carol Huyhn (Canada)
55 kg/121
lbs. - Tina George (U.S. Army)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Erin Tomeo (Sunkist
Kids)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kristie Marano (New York AC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. -
Shannon Samler (Canada)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Anita Schaetzle
(Germany)
Outstanding Wrestler – Patricia Miranda (United
States)
2005
Men’s freestyle champions
55 kg/121 lbs.
- Matt Azevedo (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Sahit Prizreni (Albania)
66
kg/145.5 lbs.- Jared Lawrence (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Donny
Pritzlaff (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Joe Williams (Sunkist Kids)
96
kg/211.5 lbs. - Dawid Rechul (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tolly Thompson
(Sunkist Kids)
Outstanding Wrestler – Jared Lawrence (United
States)
Greco-Roman champions
55 kg/121 lbs. - Joseph Betterman
(New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Warren (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. -
Harry Lester (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Darryl Christian (New York AC)
84
kg/185 lbs. - Tano Prochenski (Bulgaria)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Mohamad Abd El
Fatah (Egypt)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army)
Outstanding
Wrestler – Darryl Christian (United States)
Women’s freestyle
champions
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Carol Huynh (Canada)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. -
Lyndsay Belisle (Canada)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Tina George (New York AC)
59
kg/130 lbs. - Sally Roberts (Gator WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Alaina Berube (New
York AC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Katie Downing (Sunkist Kids)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
- Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada)
Outstanding Wrestler – Ohenewa Akuffo
(Canada)
2006
Men’s freestyle champions
55 kg/121
lbs. – Matt Azevedo (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Mike Zadick (Hawkeye
WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.- Chris Bono (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Joe
Williams (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Mo Lawal (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5
lbs. – Nick Preston (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tolly Thompson
(Sunkist Kids)
Outstanding Wrestler - Joe Williams (United
States)
Greco-Roman champions
55 kg/121 lbs. – Lindsey Durlacher
(New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Dilshod Aripov (Uzbekistan)
66 kg/145.5
lbs. – Harry Lester (Gator WC/USOEC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – T.C. Dantzler (Gator
WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Denis Zdorikov (Uzbekistan)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jimmy
Lidberg (Sweden)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – David Vala (Czech
Republic)
Outstanding Wrestler – Lindsey Durlacher (United
States)
Women’s freestyle champions
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Stephanie
Murata (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Patricia Miranda (Sunkist
Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Tonya Verbeek (Canada)
59 kg/130 lbs. – Breanne
Graham (Canada)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Alaina Berube (New York AC)
67
kg/147.5 lbs. – Kristie Marano (New York AC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Stanka
Zlateva (Bulgaria)
Outstanding Wrestler – Patricia Miranda (United
States)
2007
Men’s freestyle champions
55 kg/121 lbs.
– Hyo-Sub Kim (Korea)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Travis Lee (NYAC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.-
Jared Lawrence (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Mihail Petrov Ganev
(Bulgaria)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Clint Wattenberg (NYAC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. –
Georgy Keteov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Daniel Cormier (Gator Wrestling
Club)
Outstanding Wrestler – Jared Lawrence (United States)
Greco-Roman
champions
55 kg/121 lbs. – Lindsey Durlacher (NYAC)
60 kg/132 lbs. –
Nurbakyt Tengibayev (Kazakhstan)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Nikolay Borislavov Gergov
(Bulgaria)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Roman Melyoshin (Kazakhstan)
84 kg/185 lbs. –
Brad Vering (NYAC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Justin Ruiz (NYAC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
– Dremiel Byers (Army)
Outstanding Wrestler – Dremiel Byers (United
States)
Women’s freestyle champions
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Stephanie
Murata (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Patricia Miranda (Sunkist
Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Marci Van Dusen (Sunkist Kids)
59 kg/130 lbs. –
Tonya Verbeek (Canada)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Randi Miller (Gator Wrestling
Club)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Katie Downing (Sunkist Kids)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. –
Daria Nazarova (Russia)
Outstanding Wrestler – Randi Miller (United
States)
Freestyle Multiple Champions
Three-time
Champions
Tolly Thompson, Sunkist Kids ‘02, ‘05, ‘06
Two-time
Champions
Stephen Abas, Sunkist Kids, ‘00, ‘04
Matt Azevedo, Sunkist
Kids, ‘05, ‘06
Daniel Cormier, Gator WC, ’01, ‘07
Chris Bono, Sunkist
Kids, ‘02, ‘06
Tim Hartung, Minnesota Storm, ‘03, ‘04
Chad Lamer, Hawkeye
WC, ‘99, ‘02
Eric Larkin, Sunkist Kids, ‘01, ‘04
Jared Lawrence, Minnesota
Storm, ’05, ‘07
Donny Pritzlaff, New York AC, ‘02, ‘05
Joe Williams,
Sunkist Kids, ‘05, ‘06
Greco-Roman Multiple
Champions
Three-time Champions
Dremiel Byers, U.S. Army, ‘02,
’05, ‘07
Lindsey Durlacher, New York AC, ‘02, ’06, ‘07
Rulon Gardner,
Sunkist Kids, ‘99, ‘00, ‘04
Two-time Champions
Dilshod Aripov,
Uzbekistan, ‘01, ‘06
Darryl Christian, New York AC, ‘04, ‘05
Jim
Gruenwald, Sunkist Kids, ‘99, ‘02
Harry Lester, Gator WC, ‘05, ‘06
Glenn
Nieradka, U.S. Army, ‘00, ‘04
Faruk Sahin, Turkey/U.S. Army, ‘02,
‘04
Shawn Sheldon, New York AC, ‘99, ‘01
Keith Sieracki, U.S. Army, ‘01,
‘02
Chael Sonnen, Dave Schultz WC, ‘00, ‘01
Brad Vering, New York AC, ’04,
‘07
Women Multiple Champions
Four-time
Champions
Patricia Miranda, DSWC/Sunkist, ‘03, ‘04, ’06, ‘07
Stephanie
Murata, Sunkist Kids, ’00, ‘02, ’06, ‘07
Three-time Champions
Sara
McMann, Sunkist Kids, ‘00, ‘01, ‘03
Two-time Champions
Ohenewa
Akuffo, Canada, ‘02, ‘05
Alaina Berube, New York AC, ‘05, ‘06
Katie
Downing, Sunkist Kids, ’05, ‘07
Tina George, U.S. Army/NYAC, ‘04,
‘05
Carol Huyhn, Canada, ‘04, ‘05
Kristie Marano, New York AC, ‘04,
‘06
Toccara Montgomery, Cumberland, ‘02, ‘03
Sally Roberts, Gator WC, ‘03,
‘05
Shannon Samler, Canada, ‘03, ‘04
Malissa Sherwood, DSWC/USA, ‘00,
‘02
Iris Smith, Sunkist Kids/US Army, ‘00, ‘01
Tanya Verbeek, Canada, ’05,
‘07
California
11:26 PM PST on Friday, February
1, 2008
By JERRY SOIFER
The
Press-Enterprise
Jerry Soifer / The Press-Enterprise
Once a teenage runaway, Alyssa Moreno has
found a home at Eastvale Roosevelt and an unlikely pastime in wrestling,
becoming one of the area's top female competitors.
|
EASTVALE - Once so unhappy that she left home
on a Greyhound bus at the age of 13, Alyssa Moreno has found it easier to
wrestle with life's challenges since she learned a little technique.
Now 15, Moreno is a standout wrestler at Eastvale Roosevelt High, a 5-foot-2
dynamo taking on girls and boys alike.
"I've completely turned my life around," said Moreno, whose report cards are
now dotted with mostly A's. She's also a cheerleader.
Moreno took second in the Southern California regional girls tournament Jan.
20 at Oxnard Channel Islands High. She lost, 6-2, to Stephanie Pernillo, of
Covina Northview, in the finals of the 98-pound division.
"It was a really good match. She was really tough," Northview coach David
Ochoa said of Moreno.
Moreno is forgoing the girls state meet in order to challenge the boys in the
103-pound class in today's Mountain View League championships at Corona
Centennial. Moreno, who has a 15-9 record against boys and girls, will try to
qualify for the CIF individual championships at La Quinta High on Feb. 15 and
16.
Rebelling and Running Away
For Moreno, home was with her father while growing up in Inland Southern
California. Her parents had gone their separate ways early in her life, and by
the time she was 13, Moreno had not seen her mother in nearly 10 years.
"Not having my mom in my life during the beginning of my teenage years was
extremely hard," she said. "My friends had their moms. When they had boyfriend
problems, they had a girl to talk to."
Her grades deteriorated. She ditched school and ran away from home twice,
spending a few days at a friend's home.
"I started not caring, rebelling a lot against my family," she said. "I
switched schools twice. I wanted to know who (my mother) was, to see what she
was about, if she was a bad person or a good person."
Driven by that impulse, she disappeared from her father's home in April 2006.
Wearing sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt to make her look like a boy, she paid
$20 to take a bus to Bakersfield where her mother lived.
She didn't tell friends where she was going and she didn't have a cell phone.
"Deep down I was scared," she said.
Finding What She Was Missing
At first Moreno was glad to be reunited with her mother, who cried upon
seeing her daughter. Moreno told her mother that if she called police, she would
leave and go where nobody could find her.
However, after a week, Moreno's mother called her father to let him know
where his daughter was, and eventually brought her back home for the final two
months of Moreno's freshman year at Norco High.
Moreno's father punished her by pulling her out of Norco's softball program.
She was not allowed to watch television and had no telephone privileges. She
said she finished her freshman year with terrible grades and returned to
Bakersfield for the summer.
But Moreno saw that her mother wasn't the person she thought she was. She
realized there was no future for her in Bakersfield and came back to Eastvale to
start her sophomore year at Roosevelt, which had just opened.
"It was traumatic," Adrian Moreno said of his daughter's disappearance. "We
had to figure out what the problem was. It was something inside of her. It took
a couple of years to get through it ...
"She realized it wasn't a better life on the other side like she thought it
would be. It changed her whole attitude."
Father and daughter agree that the traumatic episode was a big part of her
maturation, and the same is true of wrestling.
Moreno's older brother, who wrestled for four years at Chino High, influenced
her to go out for the sport. Adrian Moreno said it was initially tough to accept
his daughter competing against boys. Now he loves it.
After videotaping a recent match, he said a rival coach came up to compliment
him on his daughter's strength.
And Alyssa has found the female role model she needed in Roosevelt assistant
coach Stephanie Cataline, whose husband, Mike, is the head coach.
"I do take all of our athletes as my very own children," Stephanie Cataline
said. "It's our responsibility to guide them."
Reach Jerry Soifer at 951-893-2112 or jsoifer@PE.com
With February upon us, it's officially show time for wrestlers both in
Portage County and across Ohio.
The quest for a spot in the state tournament will begin at about 5 p.m. Feb.
17 as teams begin their respective sectional tournaments. But before the
postseason fun begins, local squads will gather one last time in the regular
season as the Portage Trail Conference Tournament returns to Rootstown Feb. 8
and 9.
What follows is my handicapping of the field at the PTC Tournament.
In terms of the team title race, all signs point to a showdown between
Ravenna and Woodridge. The two teams have dominated the Metro and County
Divisions, respectively, and I have a hard time seeing anyone knocking either of
them out of the top two spots.
Ravenna will be the favorite to win its third straight PTC Tournament title,
though the gap might not be as big as some would think. That said, Woodridge
will probably need big performances from its middleweight stars, extra points
from its lightweights -- and a Ravenna slip-up or two -- to take the crown.
As for the individual weight classes, here's what to look for. Keep in mind,
there is always a possibility of last-minute weight-class switching:
* 103 -- If Ravenna's Dakota Hayes is truly out of the picture, the field at
103 opens wide. Streetsboro's Mike Formick could have a say, but don't be
surprised if Crestwood's Paige Nemec adds another chapter to her story by
winning it all.
* 112 -- This is another wide-open weight class, which could yield some
surprise results. Mogadore's Joe Bailes has had a strong season after just
missing states last year. Keep your eyes on Ravenna's Brandon Oberholtzer as
well.
* 119 -- In a rebuilding year for Southeast, senior Brent Ford has been a
steady leader. Based on this year's results, Ford could be considered the
favorite, but there's a huge X-factor in Garfield's Travis Harbert. Since taking
fourth at 112 pounds last year at states, little has gone right for Harbert --
from an offseason injury to an off-the-podium finish at the Bill Dies Tournament
(he was eliminated in a 3-0 loss to Ford). If Harbert returns to his form of
last February, he could be unstoppable.
* 125 -- If Scott Meyer is healthy and focused, no one should touch Ravenna's
returning state-placer. Coventry's Ian Burley may be the only one with a
shot.
* 130 -- Another weight class devoid of big names, Ravenna's Nate Dozanti
could pick up gold here, as could Crestwood's Cody Ryba.
* 135 -- The move by Streetsboro's John Fraley down to 135 should benefit him
both at PTCs and in the postseason. He will likely be involved in a tough fight
for the title with Coventry's Colton May, Ravenna's Randy Carpenter and possibly
a few others.
* 140 -- Ravenna's Isaac Dukes has been in state-title form recently. If he's
on, he's unbeatable. If not, Coventry's Ryan Hanline could give him a scare.
* 145 -- Norton's Drew Leonard may have been a one-man show this season, but
what a show it was. Leonard (no relation to the author of this article) won the
Dies and is looking to better a sixth-place finish at states last year.
Coventry's Cody May, Woodridge's Pat Rado and Ravenna's Mitch Ayers all are
solid, but Leonard is the prohibitive favorite.
* 152 -- This might be the best weight class of the bunch. Springfield's
Jerry Boso and Ravenna's Tony Karaffa look to be the favorites, but watch out
for Streetsboro's Mike Oktavec, who's been on a tear since winning at Wadsworth.
Throw in a wild card like Woodridge's Lou Keller and things should be very
interesting.
* 160 -- Speaking of interesting, expect another wide-open competition at
160. Crestwood's Nick Prochnow and Woodridge's Jeremy Hathaway could have a
say.
* 171 -- Woodridge's Andy Jenkins has been lights-out all season and he's
picking up steam as he heads into sectionals. Ravenna's Brandon Boggs could pose
a threat, but it's hard to bet against the Bulldogs' captain.
* 189 -- A crowded field at 189 could be led by Kent Roosevelt's best hope
for gold: Phil Smith. Smith is coming off a title at the Josh Hephner Memorial
Tournament, where he won a thrilling 8-7 decision over Springfield's Mike
Talbert in the final. Those two could meet again in the final, but watch out for
Woodridge's Andy Fay and Rootstown's Troy Spiker.
* 215 -- A freshman in a grown man's weight class, Ravenna's Greydon Pavlik
has "next big thing" written all over him. Field's Jason Bovino could also make
noise.
* Heavyweight -- Ravenna's Brad Hager is an entertaining heavyweight with an
arsenal of throws at his disposal. If he uses those big moves properly, he
should win the big man's title. Coventry's Glen Harbin likely will be his
biggest challenger.
Canada
LondonTopic.ca 2/4/08
London-Western wrestlers hauled in ten medals and won the overall team title in
the Juvenile women's division, and placed third overall in the men's Cadet
division during the Ontario Cadet-Juvenile Wrestling Championships in St.
Catherines, Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 2 and 3).
The individual medal
count totaled five gold, two silver and three bronze, for London-Western, and
the team will select from those medalist those to compete at the national
championships to be held in Saskatoon this coming April.
In the Juvenile
women's division (born in 1991, '90) gold medal winners were, Brianne Barry (52
kg), Olivia Gunnell (56 kg) and Anne-Miet Van Den Nieuwelaar (65
kg).
Eric Jacobson won the men's Juvenile gold in the 76 kg division
while Steven Takahashi took gold in the Cadet (born in 1992, '93) 48 kg weight
class.
Silver medals were won by Jake Devlin (Cadet 72 kg) and Kareem El
Naggar in the Cadet 76 kg division. Teammates, Scott Wheatley (Juvenile men's 80
kg), and Ramona Balfour (Juvenile women's 46 kg) and brother, Richard Balfour
(Cadet men's 61 kg) all won bronze medals.
It was a strong showing by
London-Western's Age-Group Program coached by former mustang Dave Spinney, and
assistants, Bo Perkins, Dave Legierski and Matt Cameron.
Six other team
members placed in the top six of their respective divisions.
Some of the
London-Western cadet-aged team have already qualified to compete at the Ontario
Winter Games in Collingwood next month (March 6-8), including Sunny Popovic,
Kareem El Naggar, Richard Balfour, Cody Bianco, Steven Takahashi and Nolan
Deinum.
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports
on February 4, 2008 02:23 PM
Olivia Neal is no longer a "first-place loser."
She made sure it wouldn't happen again during a
historical effort Saturday in the Class 1-A Carolina/Albemarle Conference
wrestling championships.
A runner-up each of the past two seasons, Neal emerged
the 103-pound champion with a 79-second fall over Manteo's T.J. Papenfuss in the
finals. With the victory, Neal became the first-ever female wrestler in Wayne
County history to surpass the 100-win total for her career.
"Olivia had a stellar day," said Rosewood coach Bill
Edmundson. "She didn't give up a single point (in three matches), and
accomplished two of her major goals."
Neal's medal-winning performance jump-started the Eagles,
who collected 238.5 points en route to their 12th conference tournament title in
the program's 14-year history. North Johnston ended up a distant second at 183,
followed by Princeton (131) and Spring Creek (120).
"After having a really bad week last week, I think we
rebounded extremely well," said Edmundson.
Indeed.
Following Neal's lead, Andy Seaman won the 112-pound
division. J.D. Baker dominated the 125-pound weight class and Josh Holmes posted
a 4-0 ledger at 145 pounds. Heavyweight Trevor Morris concluded the day 3-0,
giving him 97 career wins heading into the N.C. High School Athletic Association
dual-team playoffs.
"Josh Holmes is such a tough kid and he is so humble that
his accomplishments seem to go unnoticed," said Edmundson. "Having 13 of our 14
starters place in this tournament was more than I could have expected. Tyler
(Dean), Sammy (Ennis) and Johnathan (Rudolph) all wrestled their best matches of
the year."
Spring Creek's Matt Richter picked up the 130-pound
championship in impressive fashion. He pinned all four opponents, including a
28-second result against Manteo's Zach Zottoli in the finals.
Princeton's Zack Stevens and Josh Williford seized the
160- and 215-pound titles. Stevens had three falls and defeated Rosewood's
Andrew Sass 8-4 in the finals. Williford logged a 5-0 worksheet that included
three falls and a 4-1 conquest of Rosewood's J.P. Person in their championship
tilt.
Rosewood wrestles at Topsail on Tuesday in the NCHSAA
dual-team playoffs. The winner opposes either Heide Trask or Holly Ridge Dixon
in the second round. First-round matches begin at 5 p.m.
