womens wrestling news

Salinas sophomore JoSara Pipitone finished seventh overall at the United States Girls High School Wrestling National Championships in Detroit.

Wrestling at 140 pounds, Pipitone defeated two opponents — one by pin. Her one loss was to the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

Pipitone was third in the California State Wrestling girls finals and won the Tri-County Athletic League finals. She finished second in the boys TCAL junior varsity finals at 140 pounds.

Jackson All-Stars

Tryouts for the Jackson All-Star boys and girls basketball teams will be held Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. at Hartnell College.

Traveling teams are for ages 12 through 17. The season goes from April until July. Registration fee is $25. A parent or guardian must attend tryout with prospective player and bring player's birth certificate. Call Darren Jackson at 754-5631 or 206-4139.

Three other UNB wrestlers won bronze, including Krista Betts in the junior women's 44 kilo wright class; Sandi Ware, who won her first national medal with a 3-1 record overall, and Darcy McKinney, a bronze in men's Greco Roman in the 74 kilo weight class.

Former UNB wrestler Heidi Erdle, now at the University of Calgary, finished fourth in the senior women's 59 kilo weight class and won gold in the junior women's competition. in the same division.

By Ken Waltz
VillageSoup/Knox County Times Sports Director

Logan Rich, left, a Camden Hills sophomore, battles Kelly Cosgrove of North Carolina in the United States Girls' Wrestling Association National Championship Tournament over the weekend in Lavonia, Mich. Rich pinned Cosgrove en route to finishing fourth at 103 pounds. (Image courtesy of Penny Rich)

LAVONIA, MICH. (April 1): Camden Hills Regional High School sophomore Logan Rich secured the fourth spot and All-American status in the 112-pound weight division during last weekend's 11th annual United States Girls' Wrestling Association National Championship Tournament at Churchill High School.

By virtue of her fourth-place finish at the nationals, Rich is deemed an All-American. Rich won four of six national matches in the event completed Saturday.

Each weight class at the nationals used 32-wrestler brackets.

Rich lost to Jackie Citriglia, Ohio; won by major decision over Amber Green, Michigan, 10-2; pinned Jackie Citriglia at 4:27; pinned Kelly Cosgrove, North Carolina, at 4:54; beat Brazel Marquez, California, 6-2; and lost to Angie Mayes, New Jersey, at 2:16.

Emily Harper, Wisconsin, beat Sherri Berube, Michigan, 14-10 in the national championship of the 112-pound weight class. Kelly Golek of Maine also finished 10th in the same weight division.

Rich had won the New England 106-pound title March 15 in Dorchester, Mass.

Information on Cheyenne Augustine, a Medomak Valley High School freshman who also was scheduled to compete in the national tournament, was unavailable. Those results will be provided if they become available. Augustine won the New England 120-pound title a few weeks ago.

Third place makes up for last year

Gonzalez, who was ranked 10th heading into the tournament, surprised even herself, she said, by going 4-1 during the two-day tournament and taking third place. After losing in the semifinals, Gonzalez bounced back to win two in a row, including a consolation title match victory 6-1 over Kelsey Suchocki of New York.

"In that match I was really nervous," Gonzalez said. "My mindset just went away for some reason. I was just freaking out."

After a scoreless first round, there was little need for Gonzalez to panic when she threw Suchocki and put her on the her back for five points in the second round.

Gonzalez, who had 37 victories by pin fall heading into the tournament, didn't have any this time, a testament to just how top-notch the competition was.

"It was really tough," Gonzalez said. "I had a lot of competition. It was really good for me to just have the competition in my weight class. It was really good for me to see how I really am and proving it to myself and everyone."

The real challenge for Gonzalez was rebounding mentally from last year's performance. And then, when she lost in the semis, how she would respond to the reality of not winning a national title.

"She easily could have thrown the towel in," said her father, Bobby Gonzalez Sr. "Sometimes that third-place finish is harder to do. You have to get motivated every time you go out there and wrestle."

Once Gonzalez lost 3-0 to Jessica Smith of Ohio in the semifinals, there was no looking back.

"I wrestled her strong. I made a few mistakes, but it happens,' Gonzalez said. "Nothing you could really do about it. Just move on. I just had to think about my next match and not let it get to me."

And Gonzalez - who is still considering wrestling at Cumberland College, Missouri Valley or Menlo - didn't. Because third place was enough to redeem herself.

"I'm completely satisfied," Gonzalez said, "and I'm just ready to finish school and get to the next level."

Athletes of the Year

Chris Pope

FARMINGTON - When someone suggested that Allison Pelletier would be better off giving up wrestling and competing in a different sport, she scoffed at the idea.

Pelletier's dedication and persistence paid off. The Poland athlete went on to win the individual championship in the 122-pound class at the first-ever Maine High School Girls' Wrestling Invitational at Mt. Blue High School. Over 50 girls representing 30 schools competed in the event.

"I'm ecstatic," Arvid Cullenberg said. "When I organized this, I felt 25 would be a good number, but it grew to over 50 competitors from Caribou to York. The level of competition is very good."

Mt. Ararat rallied to win the team crown with 47 points and was led by champions Kelly Golex and Kat McDonald at 110 and 125, respectively. York finished second at 45.5 followed by Oxford Hills at 38.5, Caribou 36 and Hyde 31.5.

Pelletier, who has asthma, went directly on the offensive and cruised to a 10-1 major decision against Danielle McDonald of Caribou in the finals. The senior Knight executed a fireman's carry into a near fall in the second period to take control.

"This is the sport I like," Pelletier said. "Some people told me that I should try field hockey, but that was 10 years ago. Winning today was a nice way to end my career."

Caitlynn Sampson (145) of Oxford Hills earned a title by pinning Danielle Landry of Caribou with a power-half nelson in the first period. But Viking teammate Megan Wormwood lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Cheyenne Augustine of Medomak Valley.

Wormwood had attempted a head and arm, but Augustine kept her hips elevated and rolled through it.

"I would like to win today, but second isn't bad," said Wormwood, who had decisioned Melanie McInnis of Monmouth 4-2 in a quarterfinal match. "It just felt good to win (two) matches because it has been awhile. I wrestled (varsity) this season and hadn't faced any other girls."

Other champions included Reaha Goyetche (97) of York, with two pins in less than one minute; Kayleigh Longley (105) of Noble and Deering sophomore Tierra Williams (132).

"I really didn't know what to expect today," Williams said. "I wasn't taking anything for granted, so I my strategy was to go out there and put (three opponents) on their backs."

Stephanie Hayslyp of Lisbon stuck Ariel Hunter of Mt. Blue for third place at 105.

"I hope this turns in to some thing," Noble coach Kip DeVoll said. "The MPA needs to take notice because the girls work just as hard as the boys all year, but then have nothing to show for it. By holding this, they are able to wrestle with their peers and be competitive."

Wrestler reaches nationals

Third place makes up for last year

Athletes of the Year

Chris Pope