Pat C's First Round Playoff Sked:
Sunday March 2nd Regina @ P.A. 1:30pm
Monday March 3rd P.A. @ Regina
7:30pm
Wed March 5th Regina @ P.A. 7:30pm
Friday March 7th P.A. @ Regina
8:00pm
Sunday March 9th Regina @ P.A. 1:30pm
Canada
News Page
Katrina Russell loves to rassle.
That was especially true Wednesday night at Campbell Collegiate, where the Balfour Collegiate grappler won a gold medal at the Regina High Schools Athletic Association wrestling championships.
How does that winning feeling rank among Russell's life experiences?
"This is probably right there at the top,'' said a beaming Russell, who won in the 60-kilogram girls division. "I've been wanting to win a gold medal in wrestling forever.''
Russell was not close to a medal in either of her previous two trips to the city championships. In Grade 9, she did "not so great'' before posting a sixth-place finish last year.
Now she is a champion.
Next stop: Saskatoon, where the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association wrestling championships are to be held on March 7 and 8.
"I'm thrilled,'' said Russell, a Grade 11 student. "I've been wrestling for three years and I've never made it to provincials. To come here this year and win a gold is amazing.
"I've been training really hard. I decided that this year I really, really wanted to make it to provincials. That was my goal the whole time and I have been working really hard toward that.''
Russell was rewarded for her effort when she defeated Jattanna Lecelle of O'Neill in the final.
"The first thing I thought was, 'Oh my God! I can't believe it!' '' Russell said. "I wrestled her in the very first dual meet of the season and she beat me. I hadn't wrestled her since so I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out.''
Russell won a city title despite not being affiliated with a wrestling club outside of high school.
"Out of all the people in the finals, I'm probably one of the very few who doesn't do club wrestling,'' Russell noted.
"My coaches have been on me all year, actually. My coach this year (Ryan Bellamy) and two former coaches have been telling me I need to get out to Cattown (Wrestling Club).
"I might have to start going.''
The coaching she has received to date paid off last night, as did her dedication to self-improvement.
"I don't know if I was necessarily training harder,'' Russell said. "I've always worked hard. It was more a matter of finding what works for me. My style of wrestling has changed pretty drastically from what it was in Grade 9.
"I just wanted to get better. I tried a lot of new things this year. I've been wrestling since Grade 9 and if I was going to do it, I wanted to excel at it.''
The Huskie women are sending five wrestlers and Hinds says he thinks they can nab a top-five finish.
Amy Dyck is ranked third in the nation heading into Calgary. Lindsay Wickstrom, Jillian Gallays, Beth Thompson and Jane Packota are also going.
Action goes Friday and Saturday.
Shannyn
Gillespie USOEC
02/28/2008
The U.S. Olympic Education
Center (USOEC) has received verbal commitments from Amy
Whitbeck of
Duanesburg, New York (Duanesburg High School) and Adeline Gray of
Denver,
Colorado (Bear Creek High School).
Whitbeck and Gray are members
of
the 2007 ASICS Girls High School All-American Team and Whitbeck, a
graduating
senior, will enter the USOEC resident athlete program as an incoming
freshman
at Northern Michigan University (NMU).
Gray will enter the USOEC as a high school senior and will attend
Marquette
Senior High School.
The USOEC
has a star
studded 2008-2009 recruiting class that includes Amy
Whitbeck, Adeline
Gray, Emily Martin, Patricia Hill,
Veronica Carlson, Melissa Apodaca, and Erin Golston.
In February, 1989, the U.S. Olympic Committee named Northern Michigan
University as the nation's only United States Olympic Education Center.
The
USOEC's main focus is the resident athlete training program, where
athletes
actively train for the Olympic Games while also continuing their
education.
Generally, athletes in this program must be nationally ranked and also
approved
by their national governing body (NGB), the USOEC, and NMU. The USOEC
has
resident athlete training programs in freestyle wrestling, short track
speedskating, Greco-Roman wrestling, and weightlifting.
USOEC
freestyle wrestlers profile:
 Murray High wrestler Bailey Roberts, left, practices her... (Paul Fraughton/The Salt Lake Tribune ) |
Hello
to everyone in the women’s wrestling
world~
2/29/08
Now
that the high school season is winding down, we are going to make an
effort to
send out biweekly letters and up-dates. Thank you to all who have sent
us
information on your HS results and up coming events. Keep up the great
work.
First
of all, a reminder of the very close up coming events.
March
14~15. Oklahoma City, OK.
USA
Women’s College Nationals
USA High
School Folkstyle Nationals
Contact:
Archie Randall 405-208-5379 arandall@okcu.edu
April
11~13. Akron,
OH
University
& FILA Cadet Nationals
Contact: Chris Kallai 330-603-4574
wrestlec_kallai@yahoo.com
April
25~27. Las
Vegas, NV
ASICS
U.S. National Championships
Contact:
Larry Barnson 702-361-5017
May
16~18. Colorado
Springs, CO
Body Bar
Women's National Championships
Contact: Pete Isais 719-598-8181
pisais@usawrestling.org
Also, we
would not want you to miss out on the Olympic
Developmental camps.
April
16~20, May 11~15. Colorado
Springs, CO
Olympic
Development Camps
Contact:
Coach Izzy 719-598-8181
ext:647 izzy@usawrestling.org
As
anyone could guess, the Olympic development camps are guaranteed to be
top
quality and the most conducive in order to direct and train athletes
toward an
Olympic future. Held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs,
there is no match for the intense wrestling atmosphere, and complete
focus on
perfection. These camps will be held the week prior to the US Nationals in Las Vegas, and the Body Bar
Nationals in Colorado Springs. What better way to
prepare? Spaces are very limited
during an Olympic year, and so only the best and brightest will be in
attendance. Anyone who is interested should not sell yourself short.
Strive to
be one of the few to attend. Hope to see you there.
Hello
to everyone in the women’s wrestling
world~
2/29/08
Now
that the high school season is winding down, we are going to make an
effort to
send out biweekly letters and up-dates. Thank you to all who have sent
us
information on your HS results and up coming events. Keep up the great
work.
First
of all, a reminder of the very close up coming events.
March
14~15. Oklahoma City, OK.
USA
Women’s College Nationals
USA High
School Folkstyle Nationals
Contact:
Archie Randall 405-208-5379 arandall@okcu.edu
April
11~13. Akron,
OH
University
& FILA Cadet Nationals
Contact: Chris Kallai 330-603-4574
wrestlec_kallai@yahoo.com
April
25~27. Las
Vegas, NV
ASICS
U.S. National Championships
Contact:
Larry Barnson 702-361-5017
May
16~18. Colorado
Springs, CO
Body Bar
Women's National Championships
Contact: Pete Isais 719-598-8181
pisais@usawrestling.org
Also, we
would not want you to miss out on the Olympic
Developmental camps.
April
16~20, May 11~15. Colorado
Springs, CO
Olympic
Development Camps
Contact:
Coach Izzy 719-598-8181
ext:647 izzy@usawrestling.org
As
anyone could guess, the Olympic development camps are guaranteed to be
top
quality and the most conducive in order to direct and train athletes
toward an
Olympic future. Held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs,
there is no match for the intense wrestling atmosphere, and complete
focus on
perfection. These camps will be held the week prior to the US Nationals in Las Vegas, and the Body Bar
Nationals in Colorado Springs. What better way to
prepare? Spaces are very limited
during an Olympic year, and so only the best and brightest will be in
attendance. Anyone who is interested should not sell yourself short.
Strive to
be one of the few to attend. Hope to see you there.
Well,
I don’t want to overwhelm you with too
much of a good thing. But just suffice
to say that I will be in touch soon with the summer events schedule.
Also, see attached for;
1-
Funded Access Criteria
2-
Age Group – Qualification, Privileges
and Rights
3-
The 2007-2008 Event Schedule
Thanks
Again,
Aloha.
Billy
Wood
USA Wrestling
Hello
to everyone in the women’s wrestling
world~
2/29/08
Now
that the high school season is winding down, we are going to make an
effort to
send out biweekly letters and up-dates. Thank you to all who have sent
us
information on your HS results and up coming events. Keep up the great
work.
First
of all, a reminder of the very close up coming events.
March
14~15. Oklahoma City, OK.
USA
Women’s College Nationals
USA High
School Folkstyle Nationals
Contact:
Archie Randall 405-208-5379 arandall@okcu.edu
April
11~13. Akron,
OH
University
& FILA Cadet Nationals
Contact: Chris Kallai 330-603-4574
wrestlec_kallai@yahoo.com
April
25~27. Las
Vegas, NV
ASICS
U.S. National Championships
Contact:
Larry Barnson 702-361-5017
May
16~18. Colorado
Springs, CO
Body Bar
Women's National Championships
Contact: Pete Isais 719-598-8181
pisais@usawrestling.org
Also, we
would not want you to miss out on the Olympic
Developmental camps.
April
16~20, May 11~15. Colorado
Springs, CO
Olympic
Development Camps
Contact:
Coach Izzy 719-598-8181
ext:647 izzy@usawrestling.org
As
anyone could guess, the Olympic development camps are guaranteed to be
top
quality and the most conducive in order to direct and train athletes
toward an
Olympic future. Held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs,
there is no match for the intense wrestling atmosphere, and complete
focus on
perfection. These camps will be held the week prior to the US Nationals in Las Vegas, and the Body Bar
Nationals in Colorado Springs. What better way to
prepare? Spaces are very limited
during an Olympic year, and so only the best and brightest will be in
attendance. Anyone who is interested should not sell yourself short.
Strive to
be one of the few to attend. Hope to see you there.
Well,
I don’t want to overwhelm you with too
much of a good thing. But just suffice
to say that I will be in touch soon with the summer events schedule.
Also, see attached for;
1-
Funded Access Criteria
2-
Age Group – Qualification, Privileges
and Rights
3-
The 2007-2008 Event Schedule
Thanks
Again,
Aloha.
Billy
Wood
USA
Wrestling
National
Women’s Director
National
Women’s Director
Well,
I don’t want to overwhelm you with too
much of a good thing. But just suffice
to say that I will be in touch soon with the summer events schedule.
Also, see attached for;
1-
Funded Access Criteria
2-
Age Group – Qualification, Privileges
and Rights
3-
The 2007-2008 Event Schedule
Thanks
Again,
Aloha.
Billy
Wood
USA
Wrestling
National
Women’s Director
Magruder took second place on the strength of runner-up finishes from Jordan Tolbert (103), Helen Maroulis (112) and Alex Tolbert (135).
Individual finals Results
103: Rashiem Smith (Blake) pinned Jordan Tolbert (Magruder), 0:53
112: Dan Lethbridge (Paint Branch) pinned Helen Maroulis (Magruder), 1:03
119: Ryan Garey (Watkins Mill), dec. Michael Henning (Northwest), 8-4
125: Joe Galeano (Springbrook) dec. Anthony Vito (Churchill), 3-2
130: Sean McCarty (Northwest) dec. Arthur Holland (Quince Orchard), 6-1
135: Josh Lowy (Sherwood) dec. Alex Tolbert (Magruder), 10-8; OT
140: Steve Miller (Paint Branch) pinned Eric Beverly (Whitman), 1:34
145: Carlo Galeano (Springbrook) dec. Zeke Gammill (Damascus), 5-1
152: Steven Gamble (Sherwood) pinned Bereket Kebede (Blair), 3:24
160: Tim Stewart (Paint Branch) dec. Aaron Norris (Whitman), 2-1
171: Brian Wittenberger (Damascus) dec. Nadjitade Badje (Springbrook), 7-4; OT
189: Paul Okeyo (Walter Johnson) dec. Steve Richards (Damascus), 6-3
215: Josh Frederick (Damascus) dec. Dake Williams (Quince Orchard), 9-5
285: Terrance Stephens (Quince Orchard) dec. Jeff Hernandez (Kennedy), 6-4
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer 2/28/08
   |
Danica Auna knows not to take anything for granted. The Kahuku senior had her run of O'ahu Interscholastic
Association wrestling titles stopped at three after she was upset by
Kalani sophomore Megan Yamaguchi at Saturday's OIA Individual
Championships. "It was a heartbreak," said Auna, who competes at 120 pounds.
"But I'm using it as motivation for states." Auna will get her shot at redemption starting tomorrow at the
Chevron Wrestling State Championships at Blaisdell Arena. Tomorrow's competition begins at 11 a.m. and will include
qualifying, preliminary and quarterfinals rounds as well as two
consolation rounds. Saturday's semifinals begin at 10:30 a.m. Two more
consolation rounds will follow before the girls' finals at 4 p.m. and
the boys' finals at 6 p.m. Auna is in an unfamiliar position of underdog this time
around. She won league titles in her freshman and sophomore years, but
finished second in the state tournament each time. She did anything but
hang her head. "She's one of the hardest workers I've got," said Kahuku coach
Reggie Torres. "It's never been a question of focus; she just has to
prepare herself better mentally before a match." After winning the OIA title at 125 pounds last season, Auna
broke through with her first state title. But Auna acknowledges she's had to work even harder this
season. "It's really hard to defend your title," she said. "Everybody
knows you're the state champ and everyone wants to beat you." Auna, who defeated Yamaguchi at the OIA Eastern Division
Championships three weeks ago, is unseeded and on the same side of the
bracket as No. 2 seed Reiko Campos, the Interscholastic League of
Honolulu champion from Kamehameha, and No. 3 seed Kayla Giannotto, the
Maui Interscholastic League champion from Baldwin. Another contender,
'Aiea's Joy Yamashita, won the OIA title at 114 pounds as a freshman
last season. Yamaguchi is the top seed while Hilo's Judy Heger, the Big
Island Interscholastic Federation champion, is No. 4. "That's definitely a tough weight class," said Torres. "I
think 114 and 125 is also tough." CHAMPIONS RETURN Konawaena's Renee Michell, who competed for Kealekehe last
season, is back to defend her 98-pound title. She is the top seed while
Farrington's Taylor Ibera, the OIA champion, is the No. 2 seed. 'Iolani's Keiko Akamine is the defending state champion and
No. 1 seed at 103 pounds. Akamine's teammate, Megan Morisada, who won at 114 pounds last
season and 108 in 2006, is unseeded after losing to Punahou freshman
Chrissy Chow in the ILH final. Morisada, along with OIA champion
Chaelynn Tan of Kapolei and BIIF champion Courtney Tsuchiyama of
Waiakea are in the same side of the bracket. Farrington senior Tani Ader is looking for her third state
title in as many years. She won at 114 pounds as a sophomore and 120
last year. Ader is the No. 1 seed at 125 pounds while Kamehameha's
Kelia Parilla is the second seed. Baldwin's Pi'ikea Kalalau, who won at 130 pounds last season,
moved up to 140, where she is the top seed. Punahou's Ilima-Lei
MacFarlane, who finished second last season at 155, is also in
Kalalau's bracket. OIA champion Ku'uipo Badayos of Mililani is the
second seed. BATTLE FOR THE TITLE Farrington won its second state title last season, riding a
trio of state titlists to the team championship. But, two of the three — Samantha Batoon and Ashlee
Lilo — have graduated, leaving Ader as the Govs' lone
returning state champion. However, Farrington has entries in eight of the 11 weight
classes. Kahuku, Kapolei, Campbell, 'Iolani and Kamehameha also figure
to be in the running.
"At first, it seemed like 'Iolani — from preseasonDanica Auna knows not to take anything for granted. The Kahuku senior had her run of O'ahu Interscholastic Association wrestling titles stopped at three after she was upset by Kalani sophomore Megan Yamaguchi at Saturday's OIA Individual Championships. "It was a heartbreak," said Auna, who competes at 120 pounds. "But I'm using it as motivation for states." Auna will get her shot at redemption starting tomorrow at the Chevron Wrestling State Championships at Blaisdell Arena. Tomorrow's competition begins at 11 a.m. and will include qualifying, preliminary and quarterfinals rounds as well as two consolation rounds. Saturday's semifinals begin at 10:30 a.m. Two more consolation rounds will follow before the girls' finals at 4 p.m. and the boys' finals at 6 p.m. Auna is in an unfamiliar position of underdog this time around. She won league titles in her freshman and sophomore years, but finished second in the state tournament each time. She did anything but hang her head. "She's one of the hardest workers I've got," said Kahuku coach Reggie Torres. "It's never been a question of focus; she just has to prepare herself better mentally before a match." After winning the OIA title at 125 pounds last season, Auna broke through with her first state title. But Auna acknowledges she's had to work even harder this season. "It's really hard to defend your title," she said. "Everybody knows you're the state champ and everyone wants to beat you." Auna, who defeated Yamaguchi at the OIA Eastern Division Championships three weeks ago, is unseeded and on the same side of the bracket as No. 2 seed Reiko Campos, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion from Kamehameha, and No. 3 seed Kayla Giannotto, the Maui Interscholastic League champion from Baldwin. Another contender, 'Aiea's Joy Yamashita, won the OIA title at 114 pounds as a freshman last season. Yamaguchi is the top seed while Hilo's Judy Heger, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, is No. 4. "That's definitely a tough weight class," said Torres. "I think 114 and 125 is also tough." CHAMPIONS RETURN Konawaena's Renee Michell, who competed for Kealekehe last season, is back to defend her 98-pound title. She is the top seed while Farrington's Taylor Ibera, the OIA champion, is the No. 2 seed. 'Iolani's Keiko Akamine is the defending state champion and No. 1 seed at 103 pounds. Akamine's teammate, Megan Morisada, who won at 114 pounds last season and 108 in 2006, is unseeded after losing to Punahou freshman Chrissy Chow in the ILH final. Morisada, along with OIA champion Chaelynn Tan of Kapolei and BIIF champion Courtney Tsuchiyama of Waiakea are in the same side of the bracket. Farrington senior Tani Ader is looking for her third state title in as many years. She won at 114 pounds as a sophomore and 120 last year. Ader is the No. 1 seed at 125 pounds while Kamehameha's Kelia Parilla is the second seed. Baldwin's Pi'ikea Kalalau, who won at 130 pounds last season, moved up to 140, where she is the top seed. Punahou's Ilima-Lei MacFarlane, who finished second last season at 155, is also in Kalalau's bracket. OIA champion Ku'uipo Badayos of Mililani is the second seed. BATTLE FOR THE TITLE Farrington won its second state title last season, riding a trio of state titlists to the team championship. But, two of the three — Samantha Batoon and Ashlee Lilo — have graduated, leaving Ader as the Govs' lone returning state champion. However, Farrington has entries in eight of the 11 weight classes. Kahuku, Kapolei, Campbell, 'Iolani and Kamehameha also figure to be in the running. "At first, it seemed like 'Iolani — from preseason — they were the top team, but Kamehameha won the ILH," said Torres. "They'll be a team to look out for. Campbell came out of the wood works, too." The Sabers finished second to Kahuku in the OIA. "At states, it's about who can avoid the upsets and get some upsets," said Torres. Kahuku and 'Iolani have eight entries while Kapolei, Campbell and Kamehameha have nine. Said Torres: "We expect a battle." — they were the top team, but Kamehameha won the ILH," said Torres. "They'll be a team to look out for. Campbell came out of the wood works, too."
Question: What's the toughest thing about wrestling?
Kristian: Just the competition. Training and pushing yourself. The training and practices get way tough but it prepares you for the matches.
Mahriah: The training is the hardest part. The competition is not as hard as training. It's hard keeping my weight down.
Q: You've competed against boys and girls. What's the biggest difference for you when you wrestle them?
Kristian: The strength differences. Basically, boys have more strength overall but I do come across girls that are as strong.
Mahriah: A lot of the guys get angry with the fact we are wrestling. They are scared of losing and intimated and they don't want to be embarrassed. … When I beat a guy, I try to just leave it on the mat. It's just a match. I try to be friends. A lot of them don't want to be friends.
Q: Favorite teacher and why?
Both: My American Sign Language teacher (Suzanne Cacanindin).
Kristin: "She also has a son who also wrestles. She also knows what I go through. She's always there for me.
Mahriah: She's very open to everything and she's very understanding. She just listens.
Q: Do you feel like a pioneer?
Kristian: Sometimes. I guess there are not many girls in this area who wrestle. It opens up some eyes. When I tell girls that I wrestle, they are pretty surprised and some of them say they are not good enough to make a lineup.
Mahriah: They're shocked. A lot of them don't know that we're allowed to wrestle. They think it is a guy's sport. It's just a really tough sport.
Q: Who's the better athlete?
Kristian: We both have our different strengths. I have been wrestling longer than she has, probably another year.
Mahriah: My sister has a lot of technique and she's really fast. I'm a lot stronger and more aggressive.
Q: What music do you listen to?
Kristian: I listen to arranged music. I like System of a Down and Hollywood Undead.
Mahriah: I like all kinds of music.
Q: What's your favorite wrestling move?
Kristian: The ankle takedown.
Mahriah: Probably the head-and-arm.
Prep spotlight is an occasional feature that runs throughout the high school season on USA TODAY.com. Athletes can be nominated by coaches or school officials at highschoolsports@usatoday.com. Please include name, school, location, sport and relevant statistics with your nomination.
| Video |
Colorado
Springs wrestler eyes path to Beijing Games
Colorado
Canada
Pat C's First Round Playoff Sked:
Sunday March 2nd Regina @ P.A. 1:30pm
Monday March 3rd P.A. @ Regina
7:30pm
Wed March 5th Regina @ P.A. 7:30pm
Friday March 7th P.A. @ Regina
8:00pm
Sunday March 9th Regina @ P.A. 1:30pm
Wrestling - The U of R's men's and women's wrestling teams are in the final preparations for the 2008 CIS Championships, which will be hosted by the University of Calgary this weekend. On the men's side, the Cougars join Brock, Calgary, Lakehead, and Simon Fraser as the only five teams to send at least seven wrestlers to the meet. Cory Horsburgh (61 kg), Regina's lone gold medalist and last year's CIS champion at 57 kg, might be the Cougars' best chance at a medal this weekend. Chad Bates, Jarret Coels, Peter De La Cruz, Justin Eckert, Jeff Jones, and Alex McStay also qualified for Regina. Ali Bernard, the three-time CIS champion and four-time Canada West champion, will lead the U of R's women's team at 82 kg. Kelli Rasmussen and Inga Van Vliet also qualified for the Cougars on the women's side.