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Colton's Graff-ic endeavor
Yellowjackets' senior looks to make wrestling a sport for girls
By MICHELLE GARDNER, Staff Writer 1/20/03
COLTON - Michelle Graff was searching for a school activity as a way of meeting people when she transferred from Chino to Colton High School her sophomore year. She did not exactly choose what most would consider a traditional activity. She chose wrestling.
Two years later, Graff has earned the respect of her teammates and other male competitors countywide. Her passion for wrestling has grown to where she is making it her mission to introduce other girls to the sport. She also is hoping to wrestle in college.
"The rush you get when you're out there competing is awesome,' she said, during an afternoon practice session. "You walk on the mat and it's just you and the other person. It's face-to-face combat. No bats or balls or any kind of equipment.'
Graff, a 17-year-old senior, said she decided on wrestling because older sister Christina dabbled in the sport several years earlier. Michelle also had a biology class with one of the Yellowjacket wrestlers who encouraged her.
Mother Aiyana had mixed emotions about her daughter participating in a male-dominated sport.
"I wish she would have picked a sport like volleyball, but just because that would have made me happy doesn't mean it would have made her happy. She was very determined and I really didn't want to stand in the way of something she really wanted to do,' Aiyana said. "But it isn't something I want to watch. I think it's a weird sport anyway.'
Graff, who competes in the 152-pound weight class, has been a quick study. As a junior, she qualified for the girls state tournament, but did not place after getting sick.
She made up for that showing during the AAU club season that begins about the same time the high school season ends. She placed second at the state championship, qualifying her for the junior nationals held in Fargo, N.D. A sixth-place finish there earned her All-American honors.
It hasn't always been easy. She broke her collarbone in a match against a boy soon after taking up the sport. That did not stop her ambition. She wanted to finish the match, but her coaches wouldn't let her. She even reported to practice the next day but finally let her sister take her to the doctor as soon as she got home.
"I was afraid the doctor would tell me I couldn't wrestle,' Graff said. "That hurt worse than the injury itself. I couldn't dress myself for two weeks. After two days at home I was going crazy. I couldn't wrestle for two months but after four weeks I started running and going through the motions.'
Graff is one of seven girls who work out daily with the Colton team. Junior 135-pounder Audrey Detreville and 119-pounder Cynthia Camarema, who played fullback on the freshman football team, are the most promising prospects.
Graff was instrumental in persuading them and others to try the sport. In the fall when all the clubs held their membership rush, she set up an information table alongside the others and talked to any girl would listen. Of the 25 that signed up, 20 actually tried. The seven now practicing are the ones who lasted.
"I was excited that so many were willing to try before turning it down,' Graff said. "My goal is to have a girls wrestling team.'
So far this season Graff is 8-3, including a 5-0 record against girls. When she wrestles against boys, it is usually at the junior varsity level. Those who watch her every day are impressed with her skills.
"She is very aggressive and has great technique,' said Joe Trevino, who shares coaching duties with Luis Blanco. "She know all the moves. She is a fast learner and she works very hard. Other girls have seen her success so that's one reason we have more out now.'
Graff, who works a part-time job at Hancock Fabrics in Redlands to pay for her wrestling travels, has not encountered much resistance. In fact, the school and the team have trumpeted her success. When she placed in the national tournament, her name and accomplishment were posted on the school's billboard.
"We just consider her one of the guys,' said Josh Ferrer, who also wrestles at 152 pounds. "I was a little skeptical at first wrestling against her. I figured my manly hormones would kick in, but it wasn't like that. She is just another opponent. I'm out there trying certain skills and she is out there trying different skills. We're both trying to get better.'
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By Vince D'Adamo
1/18/03
VALLEJO - Bethel High's Maribeth Grim and Vallejo's Jamie Sage rose to top of their class in the fifth annual Napa Valley Girls Classic Saturday at Vintage (Napa) High.
Vallejo schools were four of over 30 that are participating in Saturday's event. The tournament featured athletes who are some the best wrestlers in the country as past champions have included several national champions.
Grim, who is in the 100-pound weight class, ran the gauntlet at this event one year after taking second. She defeated Half Moon Bay's Katherine Fulp-Allen, 9-5, in the championship round. Grim broke a 2-2 tie in the second period with an escape and later added a takedown and three-point near fall.
"This year I just told myself I was going all out," Grim said. "This tournament is very important because I feel girls should get more credit for wrestling -- especially the ones that work harder than the guys. In the beginning, I'm usually juiced. I just told myself to go all out."
Sage (118) ran the table and dominated Marin Catholic's Kristen Mattern in the championship match. Sage took control right out of the gate and nearly secured a second round pin.
"It feels really good," Sage said of winning the title. "I thought I gained control when I had her on her back in the second round. I think it's real neat that a lot of girls wrestle now.
In third place matches, Hogan's Marissa Gonzalez won by pin over Roseville's Renee Moreland (105). Ereene Belamide (114) was a winner over Branson's Beth Noyes.
In fifth place competition, Hogan's April Ann-Bauzon (100) won by pin over Bethel's Ashley Bayongan. Hogan's Elizabeth Libranda lost by pin to Thousand Oaks' Audrey Cortes. In an all Vallejo battle, Sheila Castillo (110) of St. Pat's defeated Vallejo's Eunice Tjan 6-4. Anette Neves fell to Ripon's Katie Harris (152).
In seventh place action, Vallejo's Angelina Chong (105) was a winner by pin over Taylor Webster. St. Pat's Deslerey Dacuycuy (110) defeated Lowell's Hilary Yip by pin. Hogan's Remilla Arcega (122) was victorious over Half Moon Bay's Tori Stevens. St. Pat's Camille Marzan (134) upended Thousand Oaks' Kathryn Slama. Hogan's Andrea Santos (138) won by pin over Casa Grande's Tesla Blonski.
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Vintage crushes competition
Four grapplers earn trip to finals
Sunday, January 19, 2003
By BRIAN LIOU
Register Sports Writer
Collapsed on the mat, clutching her knee, Jessica Hsieh remembered the pain all too well on Saturday. The feeling of numbness, of an incredible aching shooting through her knee. She wanted to stop wrestling right then and there, but then realized she had come too far to stop.
Two years ago, the Vintage High wrestler tore her ACL and sat out her entire sophomore year. The possibility of wrestling looked bleak.
But after a speedy recovery and to her utmost surprise, the junior began wrestling with success this season.
"I thought I would have to start from ground zero," said Hsieh. "I'm really surprised how far I've come."
And in no way did she think she would be grappling in the 105-pound championships in the fifth annual Asics Napa Valley Girls Classic on Saturday. But holding her knee on the mat during her match gave Hsieh a jarring reality check.
"It was so painful during the match," said Hsieh. "But coach (Carl Murphree) told me it was ok, and I believed him."
Though Hsieh wound up losing 11-2 to Half Moon Bay's Sara Fulp-Allen, she's more than a bit pleased with herself.
"I'm so happy to be back," added Hsieh. "It's so amazing what you can do when you set your mind to it."
Along with Hsieh, three Vintage High wrestlers made it to the finals. In the 110-pound class, senior Maika Watanabe defeated Jessica Juack 18-2 to improve to a record of 11-0 this season. Kayla Chambers (126 pounds) lost to Sabrina Valdez 2-1 in double overtime. Nicole Mazzaferro (130 pounds) lost 1-0 to Michelle Ludwig.
Vintage's Carina Valle-Santana (134 pounds) and Diana Douglas (165 pounds) each finished third.
Overall, Vintage won the tournament with 142 team points, while an improving San Leandro squad came in second with 108 points. Castro Valley finished third with 77.5 points.