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FOREST GROVE (August 14, 2002)

After one season of success operating at the club level, Pacific University has announced that women's wrestling will compete as an intercollegiate varsity sport beginning with the 2002-03 season.

Women's wrestling becomes the 17th varsity sport at Pacific, and the first team added since men's and women's track & field were resurrected to varsity status in 1997.

"Wrestling has always been very successful at Pacific on the men's side, and it only seemed logical to throw our commitment and resources behind the women as well," said athletic director Judy Sherman. "The success that our women have shown over the last four years proves that the new program will be no different."

Women's wrestling programs, while still unique at the collegiate level, are beginning to grow in interest. According to themat.com, the Pacific program is only the fifth recognized varsity program in the United States and the first at an NCAA Division III institution.

Additionally, the varsity spots that the women's program provides affirms Pacific's commitment to providing opportunities for females in collegiate athletics.

"We remain committed to providing the best possible opportunities for both male and female athletes," Sherman said. "The addition of this program allow us to give our female athletes another avenue in which to have a successful and enjoyable Pacific experience."

Women's wrestling at Pacific began with the arrival of former high school national champion Jill Remiticado in 1999. She was Pacific's lone female grappler until the creation of the club program in 2001. The new team drew seven more wrestlers for a total of eight.

Since that time the Boxers have not disappointed wrestling fans, wrestling to a No. 2 national ranking in their first season and taking a team second place trophy at both the NAIA North American Championships and the U.S. Girl's Wrestling Association Collegiate Freestyle Nationals. Seven Boxers were ranked individually and earned All-American status.

Furthering the Boxers' early success, four Boxers have been selected to participate in the first ever Women's Wrestling Resident Training Camp at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Katie Kunimoto, Kaci Lyle, Sally Roberts and Tela O'Donnell begin their residency in late August.

"Pacific's tradition of excellence is only advanced further with our women's team," said first year Boxer coach Scott Miller. "We have seen great things in just one season, and I expect only greater success as our program grows. Just like our men's program, womenÕs wrestlers can expect nothing less than the best."

The Boxer women will open their first varsity season at the Sunkist Open, Oct. 18-19 in Phoenix, Ariz. Their first home match takes place Fri., Nov. 29 vs. Simon Fraser.

A member of NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference, Pacific University is entering its 153rd year of academic and athletic excellence.

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Four Boxers tabbed for Olympic training program

FOREST GROVE (August 14, 2002)

Four members of the Pacific University women's wrestling team are one step closer to making their Olympic dreams a reality.

Katie Kunimoto, Tela O'Donnell, Sally Roberts and Kaci Lyle begin resident training Monday at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The four Boxers are part of a select 18-member group chosen to participate in USA Wrestling's first-ever women's wrestling resident training camp. The camp will help prepare wrestlers for womenÕs wrestling competition at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

All four women were chosen, the most of any American college, based on their success as part of a two-month training camp at the USOTC. Five Boxer wrestlers attended the camp, and only 18 wrestlers were selected for the resident program.

"The selection of these four is a testament to what the Pacific program accomplished last season," said USA Wrestling spokesman Gary Abbott. "Clearly, the Pacific program has emerged as one of the best in the country."

The commitment to the program will last one year and may be renewed based on performance and opportunities.

"I am sorry that we will lose those four from our program this season," said head wrestling coach Scott Miller, "but this is a tremendous opportunity for them. It is great to see the sport of wrestling expanding in the U.S. and to have four Boxers be a key part of that is great."

Kunimoto (Jr., Kaneohe, Hawaii), who finished the season ranked fourth nationally at 112 pounds, led the four Boxers to the camp after winning her weight class at June's World Team Trials. She will train with Jenny Wong, who beat Kunimoto in the final challenge match at the trials.

O'Donnell (Fr., Homer, Alaska) and Roberts (Jr., Federal Way, Wash.) each won their weight classes at the USGWA Collegiate Freestyle Nationals. O'Donnell finished the season ranked No. 1 at 121 pounds, while Roberts was ranked No. 3 at 138 pounds. Lyle (So., Eureka, Calif.) placed second at the USGA nationals, but still garnered the No. 1 ranking at 158 pounds.

"We looked for the work ethic, attitude and the tremendous talent all four of those wrestlers have," said national team coach Terry Steiner. "If they can keep that attitude, all four have the potential to be great Olympians."

The Pacific women's wrestling program will wrestle as a varsity team in 2002-03 after a phenomenal club year in 2001-02. As a team the Boxers finished as the No. 2 ranked team in the country, and ranked seven of eight individuals among the top-five nationally in their weight classes. The Boxers finished second at both the NAIA North American Women's Wrestling Championships and at the USGWA Nationals.

The Boxer women begin the 2002-03 season Oct. 18-19 at the Sunkist Open in Phoenix, Ariz.

The past year has seen many milestones for women's wrestling. The women's resident program is just one of many examples of the progression of women in the sport. Since the International Olympic Committee announced in September 2001 that women's freestyle will be added to the official program at the 2004 Olympic Games, the opportunities and the promotion of women's wrestling have greatly increased.

Additional information on the USA Wrestling Women's Wrestling Resident Athlete Program can be found online at www.themat.com

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We're not helping girls' health

Saturday, September 7, 2002

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD

In a society that likes to pride itself on doing a great job of offering opportunities to girls, even exercise patterns can provide disturbing reminders that our reality still doesn't live up to our self-image.

A new study shows that many adolescent and teenage girls drop all forms of exercise, except for whatever they get in school. If Washington state is like the rest of the nation, there isn't even much of that by high school. Students need only two years of PE to graduate.

Disturbingly, the decline was worse for black girls. Indeed, by age 16 or 17, more than half of African American girls had no exercise habit at all. Among white girls, almost one-third had fallen into the same worrisome pattern. For the 2,300-plus girls from ages 9 to 19, total activity levels dropped by an amazing 83 percent.

The study, led by Dr. Sue Y.S. Kimm at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, dealt only with girls. Kimm said there has never been a comparable look at boys, although they are generally more active than girls.

Still, plenty of parents also worry -- with good reason -- about sedentary lives among their sons.

For the girls' families and their communities, none of what Kimm found is good news. Obesity is already at epidemic levels in America. The girls' habits don't promise good health for the future.

Coincidentally, President Bush remains under pressure, particularly from male college wrestling coaches, to make good on loose campaign talk about a "reasonable" interpretation of Title IX, the federal requirement for equal school sports opportunities for women. Obviously, it's farfetched to believe girls receive excellent sports and exercise chances. The coaches do have a very good point, though: Ideally, more activity for everyone would be the better way to equality than cutting men's sports, as sometimes occurs.

The adults in the lives of girls -- and boys -- must encourage them to take care of themselves with regular exercise, even if it's just a half-hour walk. If the encouragement includes setting an example, or finding a shared activity, that's even better. But until we find ways to help girls live more healthy lives, our talk about preparing them well for the future will ring hollow.

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