News Page

World Champion Marano takes an untypical Las Vegas family vacation

4/11/01
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling

What does a Women’s World Champion do for her final preparations prior to the U.S. National Wrestling Championships?

For Kristie Marano, the day before weigh-ins this year was spent helping coach her younger brothers at the USA Wrestling Western Junior Greco-Roman Championships.

They say that wrestling is a family sport, and the Stenglein family of Albany, N.Y. is a perfect example. Kristie, whose maiden name is Stenglein, is part of the family effort here in Las Vegas.

Her brothers Matt Stenglein, a high school senior, and Josh Stenglein, a sophomore, were entered in the Junior Regionals. Kristie and her father Conrad were busy working the corner as coaches, and giving support and advice to the boys. It’s a safe bet that the Stenglein brothers were the only athletes in the Junior tournament with a reigning World Champion helping as a coach.

“We made this a family vacation,” said Kristie. “There’s no sightseeing. And there is no laying out by the pool.”

The Stenglein family is a talented group of wrestlers. Matt was fourth in the New York High School Championships this year, and will wrestle next season for Div. III powerhouse Brockport State. Josh was second in the tough Section II tournament, and is expected to continue to improve.

The Stenglein brothers are also very good at international style wrestling, just like their sister. Josh is competing at 132 pounds here, and Matt is at 143 pounds. A week ago, they were in the same weight class at the Northeast Regionals. Both boys lost a match early in the Western Regionals in Greco-Roman, but remain in contention for a medal here.

Kristie Marano is not sure how prepared she is going into the U.S. Nationals this year. After claiming the No. 1 position in the nation in a Special Wrestle-off against 1999 World Champion Sandra Bacher in Phoenix in November, Kristie has not competed due to an injury. She has been working out hard in recent weeks.

Although she is the reigning World Champion, Marano has something to prove this week in Las Vegas.

“I want to come back and win it this year, because I lost here last year,” she said.

Marano won four World silver medals at 165.25 pounds, but dropped to 149.75 pounds last year. She was defeated in the 2000 U.S. Nationals finals by Bacher.

When Bacher chose not to try out for the World Team in order to compete at the Sydney Olympics in judo, Marano went to the Worlds for the United States and came back as the World Champion. In November, Marano pinned Bacher twice to claim the No. 1 position in the nation, in a wrestle-off that was delayed until after the World Championships and Olympics.

Marano was named the 2000 USA Wrestling Women’s Wrestler of the Year yesterday. She was pleased with her season last year, becoming only the third U.S. Women’s World Champion.

“It could have been the weight change that made the difference,” said Marano. “It was the most prepared I have ever been for a World Championships. I feel comfortable at this weight class. I only weigh about 152 pounds now, and by working out every day, I stay at this weight.”

Kristie prefers staying at her new weight class, even though it is one of the best in the nation, with Bacher and young talent Toccara Montgomery among the top challengers.

Besides coaching her brothers, Kristie had a workout scheduled for between sessions of the Junior Regionals. Her brothers and a few of the other high school wrestlers from the club are available to drill with her here. She only had a kilo to get off before weigh ins, and wanted to get in a little more work before the tournament.

Josh works out with Kristie back at home, and appreciates having her support at this tournament. It is the first time that both brothers will be competing in a Junior Regional on the same weekend that their sister is wrestling at the U.S. Nationals. Josh says that he is good on the bottom, which helps Kristie, and that his sister helps him with the top position. Josh wouldn’t say how well he does when he spars with Kristie.

While many families in Las Vegas this weekend will be spending time out in the sun, visiting the many sites of Fun City, the Stenglein will be inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena, working out and wrestling. A perfect family vacation for everybody.

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Gold Medal Training Camp

4/11/2001

Ken,
When we picked Cheyenne up at the airport after camp last summer, the first
thing she said was "Can I go back next year?!!" She learned so much and
had a great time! Cheyenne will be returning to your camp this Summer

Last month was a very busy one for us with trips from our home in Oklahoma to Tennessee for
the La Femme and to Michigan for the USGWA Nationals

Cheyenne has had a really good season. At the La Femme she got 1st in
freestyle, 1st in folkstyle and 2nd in Greco. She got 1st at the USGWA
Texas state tournament and placed 1st at USGWA Nationals. She was also
the Outstanding Wrestler for the middle school division at both of those
tournaments. Not too bad for being a 6th grader wrestling against mostly
8th graders! She also placed 3rd at Oklahoma Kid's State this year. She beats most the boys.
It's softball season now and she plays on a competitive team, but she will
still try to squeeze in a little freestyle when she can. She keeps us
hopping!

Cheyenne has all A's and B's and seems to like school, which I am very
thankful for. She's set some pretty high goals for herself and knows
that without an education most of them won't be reachable.

OK, I've bragged enough for one day! I'll send Cheyenne's camp registration soon.

Thanks!
Beth Stokes

--
Gold Medal Training Camp
"Intensity - that's what it takes to be a Champion!"
www.kenchertow.com
Check it out today!

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What Wrestling has done for me.

Posted by Jessica Lawson on April 11, 2001

Sometimes I think about how people when argue over the topic of wether female wrestling is "morally correct" or not tend to forget the real meaning of wrestling. I want to remind people what wrestling can do for a girl. First off.....I grew up with a hard life that I will not get into but when I came to college it was quite an adjustment. Although my grades were good the first semester here at Mount Union College here in Ohio, I was seriously considering not coming back next year. Then we started a unofficial wrestling club team here. Since then I find myself gaining self confidence that needed boosted, I have better self-esteem, and I am staying in college because everyday in practice I might work hard but I can not wait to learn something new. I have been wrestling for a very short time, but I find that wrestling is addicting to me. I have a drive to kick butt....to feel that adreniline and rush you get from the time the whistle is blown and the referee says WRESTLE. I always wanted to wrestle in high school but was never allowed. Currently I am Miss Carrolloton and I will be competing in the Miss Junior Ohio America Pagent..........never would I before have had the courage to try if it was not for wrestling which has changed not only my mind..with a sense of determination and pride, but a whole new attitude. I am in the best shape I have ever been in in my life and wrestling has brought happiness to the many unfullfiled holes in my life. Many kids turn to drugs, alcohol, and other deadly things when they are angree, upset, or depressed. I turn to wrestling. So in conclusion.....this is not suppossed to be focused on me but meant to show those people that might just be "browsing" or having second thoughts about letting their little girls wrestle........and considering putting them in tap and jazz........think again this is what wrestling has done for me and the same sense of accomplishment and self-esteen can be instilled in your daughters......so why deny them? Jessica Ann Lawson....MOunt Union College Ohio .