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Montgomery named Outstanding Wrestler at UM-Morris Women’s Freestyle Open
12/8/2002
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
2001 World silver medalist Toccara Montgomery of Cumberland College captured the 158.5-pound title and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2002 Univ. of Minnesota-Morris Women’s Freestyle Open. She was one of four Cumberland individual champions in the tournament.
In a battle of No. 1 Senior-level stars, Montgomery scored an impressive 10-0 technical fall over Katie Downing of the Sunkist Kids in the gold-medal finals. Montgomery is ranked No. 1 in the nation at 158.5 pounds, while Downing is currently top-ranked on Team USA at 147.5 pounds. Montgomery and Downing have been regular opponents in recent seasons. Downing returned to UM-Morris, where she graduated last year as the program’s greatest women’s wrestler ever.
Joining Montgomery as champions from Cumberland College were Sarah Hayes at 112.25 pounds, Brooke Bogren at 130 pounds and Alaina Berube at 138.75 pounds.
Hayes upset Patrice Crenshaw of UM-Morris, 14-10 in the finals. Bogren won a three-athlete roundrobin, including a 5-0 win over second-place Jaimie Alvesteffer of Cumberland. Berube also won a roundrobin, with a 35-second pin of runner-up Ranae Faaborg of UM-Morris.
Three of America’s varsity women’s wrestling programs competed in the tournament. Cumberland won the team title, and host UM-Morris was second. Neosho County CC, the third U.S. varsity in the field, placed third in the standings. Rounding out the standings were the Univ. of Manitoba (Canada), the Sunkist Kids and the Minneapolis WC.
Claiming individual titles for Neosho County CC were Mary Kelly at 105.5 pounds and Elena Mena at 147.5 pounds. The other individual champion was UM-Morris star Marcie Van Dusen at 121 pounds
UM-Morris Women's Open
12/7/2002
Morris, Minn.
Entered by Doug Reese
Team Scoring
1. Cumberland College
2. UM-Morris
3. Neosho County College
4. U of Manitoba
5. Sunkist Kids
6. Minneapolis Wrestling Club
MOST OUTSTANDING WRESTLER - Toccara Montgomery (Cumberland College)
Results By Weight
48 kilos (105.5 pounds)
1st - Mary Kelly (Neosho CC)
2nd - Liz Short (UM-Morris)
3rd - Audrey Carrasco (U of Manitoba)
Roundrobin - Short pin Carrasco, 5:31; Kelly pin Carrasco, 0:45; Kelly pin Short, 2:09
51 kilos (112.25 pounds)
1st - Sarah Hayes (Cumberland College - KY) dec. Patrice Crenshaw (UM-Morris), 14-10
3rd - Collen McKenney (Cumberland College-KY) dec. Tabithia Ramsey (UM-Morris), 5-3
5th - Yvette Madrid (Neosho CC)
Quarterfinals - McKenny pin Madrid, 4:32
Semifinals - Crenshaw pin McKenny, 4:03; Hayes pin Ramsey, 2:04
Consi semifinals - Ramsey pin Madrid, 5:11
55 kilos (121 pounds)
1st - Marcie Van Dusen (UM-Morris) pin Jessi Shirley (Cumberland College-KY), 5:22
3rd - Linse Meadows (Neosho CC) dec. Sarah Tolin (Neosho CC), 14-9
5th - Katie Ross (UM-Morris)
6th - Keli Hinton (UM-Morris)
Quarterfinals - Van Dusen pin Meadows, 1:34; Tolin won by tech. fall over Hinton, 11-0
Semifinals - Van Dusen won by tech. fall over Tolin, 13-3, 1:30; Shirley pin Ross, 1:40
Consi quarterfinals - Meadows pin Hinton, 1:35
Consi semifinals - Meadows won by tech. fall over Ross, 11-1, 4:09
59 kilos (130 pounds)
1st - Brooke Brogen (Cumberland College-KY)
2nd - Jamie Alvesteffer (Cumberland College-KY)
3rd - Sharon Jacobson (UM-Morris)
Roundrobin - Alvesteffer pin Jacobson, 0:57; Bogren dec. Alvesteffer, 5-0; Bogren pin Jacobsen, 1:33
63 kilos (138.75 pounds)
1st - Alaina Berube (Cumberland College - KY)
2nd - Ranae Faaborg (UM-Morris)
3rd - Chelynne Pringle (Minneapolis Wrestling Club)
Roundrobin - Berube dec. Pringle, 4-0; Faaborg won by forfeit over Pringle; Berube pin Faaborg, 0:35
67 kilos (147.5 pounds)
1st - Elena Mena (Neosho CC) dec. Aja Smith (Cumberland College - KY), 9-0
72 kilos (158.4 pounds)
1st - Toccara Montgomery (Cumberland College-KY) won by tech. fall over Katie Downing (Sunkist Kids), 10-0
3rd - Randi Miller (Neosho CC) dec. Megan Goldsmith (UM-Morris), 3-1, ot
5th - Alanna Kohut (U of Manitoba)
Quarterfinals - Goldsmith dec. Kohut, 7-6
Semifinals - Montgomery pin Miller, 1:00; Downing won by tech. fall over Goldsmith, 11-0, 3:00
Consi semifinals - Miller dec. Kohut, 4-1
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George places third in voting for USOC Women’s Athlete of the Month for November
12/11/2002
Julie Eversgerd/USOC
Tina George (Fort Carson, Colo., U.S. Army), a 2002 World silver medalist in women’s freestyle wrestling, placed third in the voting for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Women’s Athlete of the Month for November 2002.
George was tied in third with wheelchair fencer Carol Hickey. Winning the monthly honors was swimmer Natalie Coughlin and placed second was speedskater Jennifer Rodriguez. George received nine first place votes, bested only by Coughlin, but Rodriguez defeated her in overall points.
Coughlin had an amazing month, becoming the second American to break three world records in two days when she broke the 100m fly (short course meters) world mark on Nov. 22 in East Meadow, N.Y., at the 2002 FINA World Cup American stop. On Nov. 23, Coughlin lowered her 100m back world record and then broke the 100m IM World Record. On the first day of the meet, Coughlin also lowered the American record in the 50m back, bringing her two-day total to three world and four American records.
For George, it was the best performance of her career. George won a silver medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. at the Women's World Wrestling Championships in Halkida, Greece, Nov. 2-3. This was the best performance by a U.S. athlete at the championships, and her first World-level medal. A member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, George had a strong 5-1 record in the event. She won two matches in the first session, with a solid 8-2 victory over Vanessa Boubryemm of France and an impressive 15-4 technical fall over Nadine Tokar of Switzerland. She closed the first day with another strong technical fall win, 10-0, over Josiane-Patricia Soloniaina of Madigascar in 3:00. On day two, George won her quarterfinals match, defeating Monika Michalik of Poland, 3-0, in overtime. In the semifinals, George faced a hometown favorite, Konstantina Tsibanakou of Greece. Leading 5-0, George stepped over a gutwrench attempt and put Tsibanakou on her back, pressing for the fall at 2:31. George was defeated in the gold-medal final by Saori Yoshida of Japan, 10-4. George made a strong comeback after trailing 7-0, but was unable to close the gap in time.
On the men’s side, judo athlete Chuck Jefferson was the Athlete of the Month, followed by runner-up speedskater Derek Parra and third-place softball player Todd Garcia. The wrestling nominee for the award, Greco-Roman star Brandon Paulson received first-place votes but did not make the top three. Paulson defeated 2002 World Champion Geider Mamadaliev of Russia during the Kurt Angle Classic in New Orleans, La. in November.
The U.S. Men’s Softball Team garnered the Team of the Month honors, followed by the luge doubles team of Mark Grimmette/Brian Martin and the U.S. Women’s Select Hockey Team.
RESULTS: (First place points)
Women
1. Natalie Coughlin, swimming, 51 pts. (45)
2. Jennifer Rodriguez, speedskating, 22 pts. (6)
3. Tina George, freestyle wrestling, 19 pts. (9)
4. Carol Hickey, wheelchair archery, 19 pts. (3)
Also receiving first place votes: Tristan Gale, Barb Lindquist, Cammi Granato.
Men
1. Chuck Jefferson, judo, 33 pts. (24)
2. Derek Parra, speedskating, 30 pts. (9)
3. Todd Garcia, softball, 20 pts. (12)
Also receiving first place votes: Scott Rogers, Ben Favret, Brandon Paulson, Jorge Torres
Team
1. U.S. Men’s Softball, 53 pts. (45)
2. Mark Grimmette/Brian Martin, Doubles Luge, 46 pts. (21)
3. U.S. Women’s Select Hockey, 27 pts. (3)
Also receiving first place votes: Men’s Skeleton Team
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Wrestling pioneer: 'Did the best I can'
Wade Merry
Argus Leader 12/11/02
Lincoln ninth-grade girl splits two matches in first meet
The much ballyhooed debut of Lincoln ninth-grader Erin McKeown was met by flashbulbs, camcorders and television lights Tuesday night.
The 14-year-old McKeown, who a night earlier had been granted permission by the Sioux Falls School Board to compete on the Lincoln wrestling team, split a pair of matches against younger opponents during a meet involving 7th, 8th- and 9th-grade wrestlers at the Patriots' gym.
McKeown pinned seventh-grader Josh Dorn in 17 seconds in her historic first match but lost by pin in 1:06 to eighth-grader Dana Waagmeester in her second. A scheduled third match did not take place because her opponent was ill and not at the meet.
"It was like any other wrestling meet, I won one, I lost one. I did the best I can," said McKeown, who graciously accommodated the media horde that followed her every move.
"I kind of blacked that out. I am used to it by now."
McKeown's chance to wrestle came following a ruling last month by the South Dakota High School Activities Association to ignore a bylaw that prohibits a gender mix on teams.
The SDHSAA will take up the issue again in April at its annual meeting at which time the bylaws could be amended.
When asked if she hoped the attention given her would stop, McKeown replied, "Now that I have had my first match, everyone can start going to something more important. I have a feeling there is still going to be some drifting around.
"I am just glad I got to wrestle, although I don't know what's the difference."
McKeown's parents, Pat and Cheri, stood alongside the mats as their daughter wrestled.
"I hope its good for other people," Cheri McKeown said. "It is good for Erin. And it is good that South Dakota is moving there."
The McKeowns moved to Sioux Falls from Colorado, where Erin had wrestled on mixed gender teams.
"All I have gotten is positives," Cheri McKeown said. "I think the people will come around."
After each match, Erin McKeown received advice from Lincoln High school coach Steve Bambaas.
"He told me to keep my head up," she said. "That's the game of wrestling. I have to keep working on things."
Jamie Smith, the eighth-grade coach and varsity assistant for the Patriots said McKeown has talent.
"She has good instincts, raw talent," he said. "If she is going to have problems, I envision it will be with upper body strength."
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Girl first to wrestle in South Dakota
Associated Press 12/11/02
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A 14-year-old female wrestler has broken a gender barrier of sorts.
Sioux Falls Lincoln High School freshman Erin McKeown wrestled Tuesday night for the first time in the state.
She won the first match and lost the second.
McKeown earned the right to compete after the South Dakota High School Activities Association allowed the school district to ignore a bylaw that bans a gender mix on teams.
"I think I've started something that you didn't have before and I think that's going to help someone in the future do what they want to do," McKeown said.
McKeown, a freshman, had moved to Sioux Falls from Colorado during the school year and asked Lolly Forseth, Lincoln's athletic director, about wrestling for girls. That prompted a series of administrative actions that ended with the school approving the association's decision.
People at Tuesday night's meet had mixed feelings about seeing a girl wrestle against the boys.
"I've had different coaches tell me they don't think it's the best thing," Lincoln coach Jamie Smith said. "Other coaches tell me it may keep the sport of wrestling alive."
Brandon Liesinger, a wrestler for Sioux Falls Washington High School said he disagreed with the move.
"I don't think it's right," Liesinger said. "It's the law but I don't think it's right."
Liesinger's grandmother, Gloria Ludewig, also expressed reservations to inter-gender wrestling matches.
"I don't like it," Ludewig said. "I just think if she wants to wrestle that's fine, but she ought to stay in a girls league, especially at this age because it's too much of a contact sport."
Federal rules let districts bar girls from high-contact sports such as wrestling with boys. Instead of following that guideline, the SDHSAA decided to ignore its own broad rule that doesn't allow any gender mix on teams.
The association does say boys would not be allowed to join two girls-only sports, volleyball and gymnastics.
The SDHSAA plans to review its bylaws in April.
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By Anthony Andro 12/5/02
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
ARLINGTON - All it took was a spark to get the Lamar girls wrestling program off the ground.
The spark came in the form of Brandi Brown, a state runner-up last season who transferred from Arlington to Lamar. She thought her wrestling career was over because the Vikings had no girls program.
What she didn't know was that new boys wrestling coach C.T. Campbell and assistant coach Lance Brownlee were hoping to start a girls team, too. The team already has 23 competitors, gathered through announcements, word of mouth and friends recruiting friends.
"We're really excited," said Brownlee, who coaches the girls team this season and was an assistant coach last season for the boys team. "I know this is the first year, but I expect these girls to do well. They're competing hard. They're training hard."
So far, the results have been positive. Lamar finished seventh at one of its two tournaments, and every wrestler who has competed has won at least one match.
The undeniable leader of the team is Brown, who is 7-0 in her senior year and one of the state's top returning wrestlers at 110 pounds. Brown is the only girl on the team with prior wrestling experience, meaning she's spending her senior season serving as a wrestler and an assistant coach.
It's a job she enjoys.
"It's exciting," said Brown, who was selected the outstanding wrestler after winning the Southern Assault at Sam Houston. "I remember when I started to wrestle how exciting it was. It's a lot of responsibility. It makes me want to work better and harder. I want to win that much more because I want to set an example for them to try to do better."
The program's development also has Brown revising her goals. Instead of focusing on winning state, she's now focusing on planting the seeds for the program.
"My goal has kind of changed because now I don't think about me," Brown said. "This year I have to help these girls. It's not me winning. This is the first year. If it's bad the first year they'll keep that in their mind and I really don't want that."
The team, which next faces another first-year program, Seguin, on Friday, is learning as it goes. Brownlee said the early practices focused only on basics. Now the girls are learning the finer techniques and are learning more when they wrestle against girls with experience at other meets.
"It's been fun, hard and challenging, but I like it more and more," said senior Raquel Quinones, who is 4-4. "You want it to get harder and harder. We keep learning more and getting better."
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Female athletes chase Mink’s dream
Many take advantage of gender equity rules
championed by the late congresswoman
By Yili Ma 12/9/02
Kaimuki High School
Female athletes at Kaimuki High believe they can do anything boys can do, and they have the late Congresswoman Patsy Mink to thank for it.
The respected political figure played a pivotal role in the enactment of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. This law prohibits gender discrimination in activities and programs that receive federal financial assistance. It was a bold move on Mink's part that many athletes were not aware of.
In light of her death, the House Education and Workforce Committee passed a resolution on Oct. 2 that would change the name of the law from Title IX to the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.
"I didn't know that Patsy Mink solved the gender equality issue," said junior Shiho Matsutaka. "I think it is good that girls are able to play the same sports as the guys. Thanks to Patsy Mink, we girls have the equal opportunity to play sports."
Senior Melissa Naula echoed the sentiment. "As a female athlete, I am grateful she passed this law to allow for gender equality in all sports. I think girls are just as equal as boys in sports. We have the same ability, drive and competitive spirit."
To comply with the regulations of Title IX, more sports were made available to female athletes. In the past five years, Kaimuki has seen the addition of varsity water polo and junior varsity tennis, wrestling, softball and soccer.
"I think that it's great what Patsy Mink did, because playing sports is a big part of my life, and it keeps me from doing drugs and other negative stuff," said freshman Marche Reyes.
Freshman Shari Matsudo is appreciative of the opportunity to prove herself in athletics. "I feel grateful to Patsy Mink because I am able to play sports today. Also, it's an opportunity to prove to guys that girls are just as good in certain sports. I feel lucky because, thanks to her, we have equal rights and are judged equally when it comes to sports. If she were still here today, I'd like to personally thank her."
Kaimuki's fall season sports rosters include four females in cross-country, 16 in air riflery, seven in bowling, 31 in volleyball and 12 in soft tennis.
Sports is such a big part of daily life that it's difficult to imagine what athletes would fill their time with if Mink hadn't pushed so hard to have Title IX established.
"I am a member of the basketball and softball teams," junior Kara Hayashida said. "I would feel very angry if I were not allowed to play and display my abilities. I believe that boys and girls should have the same opportunities to participate in sports."
Cross-country coach Weston Willard is vehement in his support of female athletes.
"It is vital for the success of our society that women have equal access in all arenas," Willard said. "It is particularly important that they compete in athletics, as it prepares them for the real world and sets a foundation of physical fitness they can take with them.
"The discipline and dedication the girls have shown in cross-country at Kaimuki demonstrates the benefits to our immediate school community. I believe these girls will endeavor to positively impact their community as Patsy Mink has."
Junior Kelsi Campos said: "I think that Title IX is the best thing that could have happened to women athletes. It gives us the chance to shine in sports along with the guys. Patsy Mink is a great role model."
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