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GIRLS WRESTLER OF THE YEAR JESSICA SCOTT, ARLINGTON MARTIN
Senior Jessica Scott won the UIL state 185-pound title and became Martin's first girls state wrestling champion, in only her second season of wrestling. She began wrestling last season after school coaches suggested it to her, and didn't compete in last year's postseason. This year, however, she went 28-2 and won district and regional titles. She won the regional final with a 16-0 technical fall, and pinned her opponent in the state final. She plans to wrestle at Cumberland College in Kentucky.
Getting to know Jessica
What did winning the state title mean to you? It really meant that all my hard work had paid off.
What was going through your head when you walked out onto the mat for the state final? I was scared to death. That is the first time I've ever had stage fright. I was warming up, and I stepped up on the mat, and my knees were shaking.
What allowed you to get over that and focus on wrestling? I could actually hear girls from my team cheering for me, and my mom, and then it hit me that I didn't want to lose.
Has your big win helped publicize girls wrestling at Martin? Yes it has. It was a big deal around my school; our principal made a big deal out of it, and there are a lot of people asking me about it. People see it differently now, not just as a guy's sport.
What would you say to girls who are thinking about trying the sport? I'd say to at least give it a try. It will really make you stronger physically and a stronger individual mentally.
2008 GIRLS WRESTLING SUPER TEAM
95: Meagan Coleman, Arlington, Sr. (31-8) Placed third at the UIL Region I meet.
102: Britney Fernandez, Arlington Bowie, Sr. (23-4) Won the Region I title and qualified for state.
110: TJ Cannon, Arlington Bowie, Sr. (19-4) Took second at region and state meets.
119: Mia Provence, Arlington Lamar, Sr. (34-1) Won region title and earned bronze at state.
128: Suzanne Baker, Arlington Lamar, Sr. (34-4) Wrestled way to region final and state berth.
138: Beka Mahlow, Arlington Martin, Soph. (34-11) Youngster edged area rival for third at state.
148: Olivia Holmes, Arlington, Jr. (27-7) Won District 13 title and was third in region.
165: Cheryce Moss, Arlington Seguin, Jr. (23-5) Was one win short of placing in Austin.
185: Jessica Scott, Arlington Martin, Sr. (28-2) Dominated in region meet and won state title.
215: Amanda Athon, Arlington, Sr. (33-4) Took gold at state.
Canada
 Sydney Duggan shows off her gold medal at the Ontario Cade/Juvenile Championships in February, with coach Bob Parsons from the Mariposa Wrestling Club. |
From a little room tucked behind the gymnasium at Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute, the Mariposa Wrestling Club has grown into one of the best outfits in the country.
With the help of a group of dedicated coaches, Orillia has become a hotbed for wrestling in Ontario.
The club has enjoyed success on the national stage before, but, this year, it boasted four national champions: Cassie Leigh, Jade Parsons, Jamie Herrington and Conor Doll.
Mariposa has also seen success at all age levels. The club's kids/novice girls team recently won a provincial title.
"A very good year," said head coach Bob Parsons. "If most of the kids return next year, we'll be happy. We'll have a lot of kids with experience, which will help. We're losing a few of our big guns this year, so some of the kids this year will be able to help the new kids coming up."
The club has been rated as one of the top development clubs for women's wrestling in Canada.
When Parsons started the club 12 years ago, it was just a club for kids in elementary school. As the kids got older and got better, the club expanded.
"Because of the kids' abilities, we were forced to go on to high school levels and even junior and senior levels."
The club now has about 50 members with three head coaches and a number of assistant coaches.
Juris Ligers, Mike Plue and Parsons are the head coaches, while the list of assistants includes ex-wrestlers Peter Montroy, Keith Bell, John Waite and Mike Kitchen.
Parsons said it's been the growing wrestling community that has allowed the program to flourish.
"The kids worked hard. But it's not just them," he said. "Right from the sports doctors to all the training partners (and) coaches, it's a community of wrestling that helps. You don't do it on your own.
"Also, we're lucky, we get a lot of drop-in coaches who come in and help out."
Ligers, who's also the head coach of the Warminster Elementary School wrestling team, said programs in elementary schools have provided a good foundation for wrestling in the area.
"By the time they get up to the higher levels, they've already learned a lot," said Ligers.
He said the success the small club has had on a national level is something to be proud of, though it's not altogether a surprise.
"We've always had a lot of talent here. But winning these titles is not easy. To win a national or provincial title, you need to have four or five or six of your best matches in a row," he explained.
The club will lose its star wrestler after this season, as Jade Parsons graduates and moves on to college. The coach's daughter could be on the path to becoming the club's first Olympian somewhere down the line.
She gives a lot of credit to her father for her three national titles.
"He has his own way of coaching - he's more of an inspirational kind of coach. He's really positive, but he knows when to be negative to push you. That really helps.
"He is my dad, and he's been coaching me ever since Grade 3 (but) he doesn't treat me any different than the whole club."
Sydney Duggan, who finished third at nationals this year, agreed Bob Parsons helped her to succeed.
"He's the only coach I've had since I started wrestling," said Duggan. "On the mat, he's tough. He drives you to do well. Without him, I wouldn't go anywhere. But it's not just him. It's also because of the whole coaching staff."
California
Four young women will be competing for a $1,000 scholarship and the title of
Miss Ione in the Miss Ione Scholarship Pageant, to be held Saturday, May 3 at 7
p.m. in the Ione Elementary Multi-Purpose Room. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3
children 12 and under. Children 5 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased
at the door. For more information, call the Ione Picnic Association at 304-4077
or visit www.ionepicnic.com.
Marissa Foreman
"My name is Marissa Foreman and I attend Argonaut
High School. After graduating, I will be attending Missouri Valley College. I
enjoy playing sports, wrestling, soccer, cheerleading and swimming. I'm very
active in my community and school. I'm the Future Farmers of America president,
and I attend meetings at the local American Legion. I like to eat a lot of
Chinese and Mexican food. In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with my family
and friends. I hope to become a doctor some day."
