new

News page

Gators pair ready to battle for title

By JAMAL THALJI

LAND O'LAKES -- She has spent the past two seasons wrestling some of the most skilled and seasoned wrestlers in Pasco County.

The upside to being put on her backside by bigger, stronger, more experienced boys, according to Dana Kearney, is that when she wrestles within her gender, when she takes on another girl, well, it's just not nearly the same thing.

Which is bad news for her opponent.

"I feel a lot stronger," she said. "Wrestling with the boys, they have a lot more endurance, they're real strong and a lot more experienced than the rest of the girls.

"When I go out and wrestle girls, I manhandle them all."

Which is why Kearney and fellow Gator Jessica Worthington are in the unique -- but no longer unusual -- position of competing in Saturday's second annual Ladies Wrestling State Tournament at Ovideo.

Like youth football, seeing girls in wrestling singlets is no longer an unusual sight at the collegiate, amateur or high school level.

Florida is one of the leaders in this emerging sport, and though Saturday's tournament is not sanctioned by the Florida High School Activities Association, it is the de facto championship.

Were girls wrestling sanctioned by the state, Land O'Lakes coach Ed Goodpaster believes "We could have as many girl wrestlers as boy wrestlers in Pasco County this year."

But he already has two skilled girls who will be competing Saturday. It will be Kearney's second trip to state and Worthington's first.

In fact, Kearney is a virtual state contender in her 119-pound weight class. As a freshman in her first season in the sport, she finished third at the tourney. But this season, at a Christmas girls wrestling tournament at Lyman, she pinned the state champion who defeated her a year ago.

So, Goodpaster said Kearney has a shot at a state title. He said the overall level of skill, competition and dedication may be surprising to those who would discount the new sport.

"Oh, I think she has an excellent chance," he said. "It's not at all what some people might think it is. The girls learn the sport very easily. If you went and saw it you would be very impressed. There's a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of very good moves, a lot of aggressiveness, much more than you would think.

"It's funny because they come into the gym with their bunny slippers and their teddy bears, carrying their pillows, and then they put on their war paint and their wrestling gear and go at it.

"They go at it just like the boys do."

Worthington and Kearney are certainly learning in the right gym. Land O'Lakes is the two-time Sunshine Athletic Conference champion, had two state title winners last season and Goodpaster hopes more are on the way.

This is Worthington's first season as the sophomore has wrestled in the 125-pound class. Kearney, as befits a veteran, is enjoying much more success.

She was moved to the varsity lineup to fill what would be an empty spot at 119. She was a regional qualifier last season and is 17-11 this season, defeating 15 boys and collecting two forfeits. She has defeated six girls this season and pinned two.

"I'm pretty excited about the tournament," Kearney said. "Because now they say I'm favored.

State tournament
WHO: Girls of high-school age affiliated with prep wrestling programs across the state.

WHERE: Oviedo High School, 601 King St.

WHEN: Saturday -- weigh-ins 8 to 9:30 a.m.; Session 1: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Consolations: 6; Finals: 7:30

ADMISSION: $5

AT STAKE: First- through third-place medals in 10 weight classes (95, 102, 110, 119, 128, 138, 148, 165, 185 and 215 pounds) and ribbons for fourth through sixth place. Team trophies for top three finishers and an outstanding wrestler trophy will be awarded as well. For directions and more information, call the school at (407) 320-4221.

----------------------------------------

LOCAL WOMAN IN 'PUBLIC'

The Columbus Dispatch 1/31/2001

Lindsay Hollister, a 1995 graduate of Pickerington High School, continues in
her guest role on the Fox TV series Boston Public on Monday.

Hollister plays a girl who joins the wrestling team of the public high
school. She already appeared in the Jan. 15 episode of the show, which has
been picked up for a second season. It airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on WTTE-TV
(Channel 28).

"David Kelley really likes the role and the character, and wants to keep
bringing her back. It was only supposed to be a one-episode deal,''
Hollister said.

Hollister also has done a small part in The Sure Thing Effect, an
independent film shot in Columbus, New York and Los Angeles.

Hollister is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio. Her mother, Janice
Plank, lives in Pickerington. Her father, Kenneth Hollister, lives in
Columbus.

------------------------------------