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By DIANE RODGERS
Managing Editor 10/22/2000

When Paul Dobson asked the 125-plus students in his physical education class how many would be interested in wrestling, at first no one responded.

Then, a girl slowly raised her hand.

''Can girls wrestle too?'' Kaitlynn Taylor asked.

Dobson said, ''Sure,'' and 28 other hands went up -- all girls.

So, the Sebastian Middle School wrestling team was born.

Middle school wrestling programs may be rare, but Dobson, new to the Sebastian staff, noticed a wrestling room, complete with a mat, next to the gym.

''I have the only combo band director and girls wrestling coach,'' Principal Mark Lewis said. ''We run a lot on teacher initiative ... It was impromptu on Paul's part.''

Dobson had wrestled in high school, college and while stationed at Fort Bragg in Georgia. He proposed the idea to Lewis, who was also a collegiate wrestler.

In fact, five Sebastian teachers wrestled in college, so the support staff was in place.

Dobson saw wrestling as a good alternative to a typical physical education class not only because of the skills involved, but because it is a top cardiovascular workout.

Brandy Solana, 14, joined because it was something different.

''It's better than PE,'' she said. ''I'm having more fun doing this.''

Liz Coleman, 12, joined the class because a friend told her it was fun.

Angela Allison, 13, had played with wrestling her father and sister at home, so decided to try it at school.

Since the wrestling class began seven weeks ago, some guys have been ''pressured'' into taking the class.

''Now the boys are feeling a little pressure and ... the kids are just flocking to it,'' Dobson said, adding that 25 boys now take the class.

But the girls, with more experience, take the lead. They help coach the boys, giving them pointers on takedowns and pins.

''The people who are helping are the girls because they have already been through it,'' Dobson said.

Although the class is co-ed, girls and boys don't wrestle each other. But not by the kids' choice.

''The girls want to wrestle the boys,'' Dobson said.

A typical class begins with warming up and stretching. Then, they team up in pairs for some strengthening such as isometric bridge exercises to strengthen and increase neck flexibility. Then they practice skills training such as switches,

single-leg takedowns and sit outs.

A sit out is an escape maneuver from the bottom position.

The physical contact during the skills practice provokes a lot of giggling. But, the tone turns more serious when it's time for the match.

The first pair to take the mat was Beckey Miller and Felicia Pena, both 13.

Miller had won a tournament of 26 Sebastian girls the weekend before. And the final match came down to her and Pena. So Pena was a little less than enthusiastic to wrestle Miller.

But, she held her own, losing 4-3. Miller won the match with a reversal, takedown and an escape.

After the one-minute match, the two were sucking wind, evidence of the cardiovascular benefits.

Miller said she was winded because of the effort she put into the match. Wrestlers use everything they have, especially leg and arm muscles. Leg muscles help to pin the opponent; and arm muscles help to hold them down so they won't escape, she said.

''You try to get all your energy out,'' she said.

But, the challenge wasn't over.

Miller and Pena engaged in another one-minute match, of which Miller pinned Pena. A pin makes all points irrelevant.

After, Pena said she was going to persevere to try to beat Miller.

''She's my challenge,'' Pena said.

Miller said she joined the wrestling class after some friends asked her to.

''It's something new to do,'' she said.

After trying it, Miller decided to continue training because she likes the variety, the different combinations it takes to get away from her opponent.

Miller explained that wrestlers can win points several ways. For example, a takedown, or when someone is in control, garners two points; a reversal, or when someone gains control back, garners two points. A pin, when both shoulders of the opponent are down for at least three seconds, means the match is over.

Miller has noticed another benefit from wrestling: stress management. By using her energy in wrestling, she finds she has more control with everyday situations that might test her patience.

''It helps with the anger,'' she said.

Lewis refereed the tournament and was surprised at the girls' perseverance.

Halfway through one match, one of the girls got a bloody nose. But, she got right back into the match.

''You would think girls would be timid about it,'' Lewis said.

Dobson was also impressed with the girls' sportsmanship. After the matches, the girls would hug. But, during the match, the competition was fierce.

''I have never seen such a ferocious bunch of kids in my life.''