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UIL State Championships / State hasn't heard last
of Katy area in wrestling
Houston Chronicle, Feb 28, 2002; TERRY CARTER
THREE years of hard work finally yielded the ultimate prize for Katy
wrestler Linse Meadows at the UIL Wrestling State Championships in
Austin last weekend.
Meadows was the lone Katy-area senior grappler to come home with a
state title (128-pound class) last Saturday as the Katy High school girls
finished seventh overall.
Despite the seventh-place finish, hopes were a little higher for three
three boys and six girls who traveled to Austin representing head coach Tim
Ripperger's squad. That's one reason Ripperger has already chosen
"Unfinished Business" as the team's motto for the 2002- 2003 season.
While Ripperger said Meadows will be hard to replace, he said he has
high hopes of recruiting a two-deep team at all weights on the girls side
next year in order to make good on their goal of making a bigger splash next
season.
Sophomore Melissa Terry took third at the state meet (95 pounds) and
nearly defeated the eventual state champion. Ripperger expects Terry to join
102-pound state qualifier Gabby Bruscianelli and 138- pound Teri Lopez
as team captains next season.
Among Katy's other top girls returning are Stephanie Haver (119), state
alternate Felicia Woodall (148), state qualifier Mary Reddick (165),
freshman Ashley Weber (185) and Michelle Secor (215).
On the boys side, the Tigers graduated a handful of quality grapplers,
but 171-pound freshman John Aston captured fifth at state to set an example
for Katy's returners.
"Aston had a real heartbreaker. He lost in double OT to the eventual
champ in one semi, lost in double OT to another and then won in double OT for
fifth place," Ripperger said. "He is our only returning wrestler with
state experience."
Katy also returns varsity wrestlers in John Toefler, Andrew Daughdrill,
Tyler Jordan and Matt Blake. The coach said his squad will be forced to
learn to win in the offseason if he wants the squad to be a power next
winter.
"Job 1 is to measure ourselves against Taylor, Cinco and reassert
ourselves," he said. "It's going to take a lot of hard work in the next
six months. We flat out have to get on the mat and learn how to win. If we
wait until October to learn the process, it will be another year before do
it."
The Katy wrestling district has never had a repeat champion on the boys
side, so Cinco Ranch - led by sophomore Matt Tiffin at 180 pounds, a
fifth-place finisher at state - will be pushed by Taylor, Katy and
Mayde Creek. After a run at the top 10 on the boys' side, Taylor wrestling
coach Todd Hart loses state runner-up Anthony Rubio at 189 pounds, state
qualifier Geoff Messer and John Rivas to graduation.
Still, junior Patrick Huff will return for his senior season to cap a
tremendous prep career. Huff captured second at state at 112 pounds
last weekend after rolling through competitors undefeated last season for
his first state championship.
Huff's competitors at 112, however, were also underclassmen. Unless
they go up a weight or two, Huff's climb to the top of the podium in Austin
could be difficult once more.
"The guys finished 11th, I think. Huff was second at 112, and the game
plan is for him to stay at 112. He beat Chucky Rogers by five points, but
the kid in the finals was even bigger," Hart said.
The Taylor girls will be back strong next winter with junior Diana
Mato, Laurie Ashby, Meggie White returning. Mato captured silver at state at
138 pounds, while Ashby placed fourth at 95 pounds.
Taylor loses only state runner-up Ashley Webb at 119 pounds to
graduation.
Overall, Hart coached three of his four state qualifiers to top- four
finishes, and three return.
"The girls didn't do too bad. We were in about fifth going into the
final round. All the girls did really well individually," Hart said.
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Rachel Groft works for the Pin against JP Norris from SW during the past Delone Tourney
Rachel Graft starts to turn her opponent in one of two win she had at Delone Tourney!
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Just one of the Guys
February 08, 2002
By Scott Barrett
North Adams Transcript
WILLIAMSTOWN -- Like any 13-year old girl, Mount Greylock's Nikki Darrow likes the pop group Destiny's Child and shopping at the mall, but it is her love of putting opponents into a three-quarter nelson that makes her a standout for the Mounties' wrestling team.
"Because I can watch them being pinned," said the eighth-grade grappler.
Darrow has gone from 'that girl wrestler' to 'just one of the boys' for Greylock this season, and has been nothing but sensational posting a 24-5 record in just her second season on the mat. It is her hard work ethic that makes the rest of the team stand up and take notice of her accomplishments.
"The guys can look past her being a girl," said older brother Shaun, who was also a standout Mountie wrestler from 1998-2001. "They know that she comes to every practice and works just as hard as they do. When she is on the mat, she is just like one of the guys."
It is when her opponents aren't looking at her as being one of the boys that they are usually looking at ceiling -- on their backs.
In December, Darrow became the first girl to ever win the Berkshire Holiday Tournament at the 98-pound weight class. She placed fifth in the ever-tough Essex Classic in Vermont, and took home the crown at the Mountie Invitational two weeks ago.
"It is a lose-lose situation for them," Darrow said of her boy counterparts. "If they win, they only beat a girl, but if they lose, they lost to a girl."
It was her brother's success on the team that first introduced Darrow to the mat. Wanting to spend more time with her older brother, she took the giant step by going out for the wrestling team -- a team coming off a Western Mass. title and dominated by boys.
Things didn't come easy for the then seventh-grader who was still trying to learn the ins and outs of the physically and emotionally draining sport. But after the season had ended, and Shaun graduated, she made up her mind that she was going to stick with it.
"I worked hard with her all summer long and she decided that she wanted to do it," said Shaun. "Nikki has always been a hard worker, and when she wants to do something, she'll do it. Everyday after school we'd wrestle together and go over things, and you can really see her improve."
Tae Bo, running and lots of lifting weights and working on moves was on her agenda every day over the summer -- this after waking up late because she says "a girl needs her beauty sleep." But it was this dedication that made her stronger, quicker and more of a tactical wrestler.
"Last year I was just a girl, and this year I am more of a wrestler," admits Darrow. "I was shorter, I didn't have as much muscle, I didn't know as many moves, but this year it has all changed."
With the Mounties reeling from losses to graduation, head coach Ray Miro was looking for some rookies to step up and jump in the fire -- Darrow was ready and waiting. From her first match of the year, it was evident that her hard work was paying off not only for herself, but for team Greylock as well.
It was the Holiday Tournament that she really started turning heads. Beating Drury's Jimmy Hayes, the No. 4 seed in WMass at 103, in overtime, things really started to click for the youngster.
"The Holiday tournament is where I really started to become part of the team," said Darrow. "It was weird, I was seeded third so I didn't know how I was going to do. I thought that it was great when I finally won."
With a very supportive team and her brother always coaching from the sideline, Nikki is never in need of a cheering section. With Shaun never having won a WMass title, she feels it is up to her to complete the task.
"I would like to be a WMass champ," Darrow said. "I don't think that a girl has ever been a WMass champ, and my brother didn't win there so he would like to see me win."
But that will have to be a task for the future as she lost an overtime wrestle-off with No. 1 seed and teammate Jon Girard at the 103 slot and will go to sectionals at 112.
"At first I was disappointed, but I know that I can still do okay at 112," said of her loss to Girard. "Besides, I have four more years to win WMass."
And when she does, brother Shaun, who will be wrestling for the University of Maine, like always, will be there.
"I don't care where I am, whether it be five hours away in Maine, I am going to be right there," he said.
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1/03/02
Dear Coaches and Wrestlers,
In an effort to increase involvement, and available opportunities, I will be holding practices for any girl seeking wrestling instruction (see attached club information). These will be “all-girl” practices, and will focus on skill building, wrestling strategy, and preparation for “all-girl” wrestling competitions.
Any girl interested should report directly to practice with the attached permission form/waiver (below) and the separate agreement to participate. No girl will be allowed to practice without both of these forms completed, but forms will be available and can be completed at the practice site.
Please encourage girls, and parents, to attend. The more athletes we have the better the practices will be. Any questions can be directed to me at Lafayette Elementary (717-291-6183) or at home (717-481-8615).
Sincerely,
Jonathan E. Mitchell
Head Wrestling Coach
J.P. McCaskey High School
Central PA All-Girls Wrestling Club:
Location: J.P. McCaskey High School
445 N. Reservoir St.
Lancaster, PA 17601
Director: Jonathan Mitchell
Coaches: Jonathan Mitchell, Head Wrestling Coach, J.P. McCaskey H.S.
USA Wrestling Bronze Level Certified
Coach of 5 High School Girls’ All-Americans
Will Betancourt, Asst. Wrestling Coach, J.P. McCaskey H.S.
Former Director of Lancaster Youth Wrestling Club (LYWC)
Former Advanced Level Coach, LYWC
Ages: All ages and experience levels are welcome! Athletes will be
separated by age and/or experience.
Cost: There is no cost for this club. However, tournament entry fees
must be paid by the athlete.
Practices: Sun. , 1/13/02, 2-4 pm Sun. , 2/24/02, 2-4 pm
Sun. , 1/20/02, 2-4 pm Wed., 2/27/02, 6-8 pm
Sun. , 1/27/02, 2-4 pm Wed., 3/06/02, 6-8 pm
Sun. , 2/03/02, 2-4 pm Wed., 3/13/02, 6-8 pm
Sun. , 2/10/02, 2-4 pm Sat. , 3/16/02, 9-11 am
Wed., 2/13/02, 6-8 pm Tue., 3/19/02, 6-8 pm
Competitions: Saturday, 2/16/01 (H.S. Tournament in Philly, tentative)
Sunday, 2/17/01 (SCPYWO at McCaskey…tentative)
Sunday, 3/03/01 (PA H.S. Champs. @ McCaskey)
Sunday, 3/10/01 (All Ages @ McCaskey)
Sunday, 3/17/01 (All Ages near Pittsburgh)
Sat./Sunday, 3/23 & 3/24 (Nationals, all ages, in MI)
For More Info.: Jonathan Mitchell
W- (717)291-6183
H- (717)481-8615
Central PA All-Girls Wrestling Club:
Parental Permission:
I, ______________________, give my daughter, _____________________, permission to practice the sport of girls’ wrestling, as part of an all female club at J.P. McCaskey High School.
Parent Signature: _________________________________________
Date: _______________
Parental/Participant Waiver:
I fully understand that wrestling is a contact sport, and even though I/my daughter will be wrestling other girls near my/her own size and age, there is still a risk of injury. I further release and waive Jonathan E. Mitchell, The School District of Lancaster, J.P. McCaskey High School and The Lancaster Mat Club from any and all liability for injuries, illness, or loss incurred while training in the sport of girls’ wrestling.
Parent Signature: _________________________________________
Date: _______________
Participant Signature: _________________________________________
Date: _______________
Central PA All-Girls Wrestling Club:
Enrollment Form:
Name:____________________________ Birthdate:__________
Age:_____________ Grade:_______________
School Attending:_______________________________________
Name of Parent(s):______________________________________
Address:_____________________________ Zip:_________
Phone Number:___________ Approximate Weight:_______
Experience: __________ yrs.
Emergency Information:
Emergency Phone Number: ______________________
Alternate Contact Person: ________________________
Alternate Contact’s Phone: _________________________
Insurance Company: _________________________
Policy # : ___________________________
Name of carrier on policy: ___________________________
Permission To Treat:
In the event of a medical emergency, and I can not be contacted, I give Jonathan E. Mitchell permission to seek needed treatment for my daughter, ___________________________. I give further permission for medical professionals to provide treatment deemed necessary.
Parent Signature: ________________________ Date: ______________
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Girl wrestlers at North Junior High say they're treated unfairly
January 11, 2002 10:00 PM
Collinsville, Ill. (KMOV) -- Some local 8th graders say they love being on their school's wrestling team, but claim they're not being treated fairly. The coach is supporting his wrestlers, but not everyone is.
At North Junior High in Collinsville, Ill., members of the boys wrestling team are tough and three of them are girls.
"It's hard because you have to deal with the fact that you're wrestling boys and with the fact that they think girls should not be on the wrestling team," says Alicia Will, a member of the wrestling team.
After school at practice, girls wrestle girls and boys wrestle girls, too, just like they do in some conference meets.
"Well, sometimes it's hard because they're a lot stronger, but I can beat some of them because just last night I pinned a guy in the first period so it wasn't really too hard," says Kayla Horton, another girl on the team.
But now, the head of Madison County Conferences, who is the principal of Roxana Junior High, has ruled girls can no longer wrestle in matches that count for points, only put on exhibitions for show.
"I don't think it's fair because they let us practice with the boys. They should let us wrestle the boys," Horton says.
Collinsville's wrestling coach, Mark Bullington, doesn't think it's fair either. Girls are still allowed on his team, only now they're not allowed to score points to help the team.
"If they offered a girls wrestling team, I think that we could probably get as many girls out as boys if they knew they were going to be wrestling against other girls," he says.
But parents who support the girl admit some families have reservations about such close contact between opposite sexes.
"Does that seem appropriate?" John Mills asks.
"Well, maybe in some people's views, it wouldn't be, but she asked me last year and I said no. This year, I gave in and I didn't think she would keep on going with it, but she did and she enjoys it. So, my opinion is if it is keeping her off the street, she's enjoying it and her grades are good," says Patty Stillman, mother to one of the girls on the wrestling team.
The state of Illinois is giving out somewhat of a mixed message Friday night, saying that schools are allowed to let girls take part in contact sports with boys, but they are not required to do so. The head of Madison County Conferences did not return News 4's phone calls. We're told he might need to sit down at the bargaining table with Collinsville to work this out.
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California Girls State Championships
At Crawford High
Final results: 100–Coffey (Montgomery) pinned Wana (Lynbrook) 1:55; 105–Fulp-Allen (El Granada-Half Moon Bay) pinned Li (Mission Bay) 1:36; 110– Felix (Calabasas) dec. Solis (Castro Valley) 12-0; 114–Ripley (Deer Valley) dec. Gammon (El Granada-Half Moon Bay) 21-3; 118–Rantanasurakarn (Santa Fe-S.F. Springs) pinned Lamar (Sacramento) 3:30; 122–Dal Ben (Elk Grove-Laguna Creek) pinned Pabiliona (Tennyson) 5:33; 126–Cervantes (Casa Grande) pinned Alexander (Berkeley) 1:51; 130– Briones (San Leandro) pinned Duarte (Sierra Vista) 3:27; 134–Ravera (Berkeley) dec. Jacobson (Valhalla) 12-6; 138–Rinehart (Orland) pinned Tavera (Watsonville) 5:32; 144–Martinez (University City) pinned Hernandez (Pomona-Garey) :56; 152–Proulx (University City) dec. Castro (Rancho) 11-2; 165– Foster (Lincoln) pinned Jones (Modesto-Grace Davis) 4:13; 165+–Stalley (San Mateo-Aragon) pinned Washington (Lincoln) :27.
Third-place matches: 100-Trinidad (Edison) pinned Cruz (West Covina) 1:44; 105–Gallardo (Edison) dec. Prise (Diamond Bar) 6-4; 110–Barrios (University City) pinned Jauck (Ramona) 5:44; 114–De La Mora (Granite Hills) dec. Martinez (Whittier) 7-4; 118–Gonzalez (San Leandro) pinned Quarterman (Westlake) 4:30; 122–Banh (Crawford) pinned Espedal (El Capitan) 4:03; 126– Inturralde (Sacramento-JFK) pinned Pino (San Leandro) :20; 130–Lucas (Crawford) dec. Zavrid (Valhalla) 5-0; 134–Butanda (Covina-Northview) pinned De Treville (Colton) :34; 138– Barba (Helix) pinned Gadbury (Thousand Oaks) 1:17; 152–Mattos (Casa Grande) pinned Plourde (Thousand Oaks) :56; 165–Summers (Berkeley) dec. Richardson (Santana) 11-3; 165+– Stanley (Cupertino-Homestead) pinned Orosco (Mount Miguel) 2:53).
MVP–Madeleine Briones (San Leandro).
