News Page
Not just grrl power, but grrr power
By: Tamara D’mello
February 3,2003
Women wrestlers at the All |
It was hard to imagine any of the slight, soft-spoken girls pinning anything, let alone another person, to the floor in a death-grip. But a quick chat with the “female wrestlers” confirmed that these girls were putting their money where their muscles were.
At the All India Wrestling Championships at the Andheri Sports Complex yesterday, they waited to test their mettle. All of them were aged 18 to 21, and had, for the past three years, devoted themselves to the sport.
When asked what inspired them to join such a vigorous sport, whether they were from Nagpur or Raigarh they almost unanimously said the same thing: “We want to make our towns famous. We want people to know about our hometowns because of what we have done.”
The girls, who devote, on an average, two hours to practice each day, enjoy wrestling for different reasons. “I enjoy the prizes when I win,” said Seema Jagtap.
Jyoti Sanap said she enjoys the freedom that comes from the sport. “We are not restricted at all. I enjoy the confidence I get from wrestling.”
For many of the girls, the need to prove that they can do the same things a man can is high on the list. “Men do so much for the country. They fight, they play cricket. Women should also make that effort to do something significant,” said Kausar Sayyed.
Do they face any kind of discrimination in a sport that is traditionally viewed as a man’s game?
No, they said. “The wrestlers take us seriously. The only problem comes when we finish college. Until then, we have the support of our institutions. But after that, we have to bear expenses ourselves, and our families are not always willing to sponsor a career in wrestling,” said Sapna Jadhav.
Marriage is not a priority for these women. They want to be lawyers, policewomen, army personnel. They want their careers to be first.
“Maybe after seven years, I’ll think of getting married,” said 20 year-old Kausar. “But not until my career has taken off.”
But in spite of all the free thinking, these are girls who still have their homes at heart.
“I just want to make my parents happy with my achievements,” one said.
One of the wrestling coaches, Vilas Kohok, who is the director of physical education at KMC College, Khopoli, said women’s wrestling is still a very young sport in India.
“We only started training women for wrestling three years ago. At this point we are still holding exhibition matches rather than tournaments.”
For the last four years, the Shiv Sena and the Mumbai Shahar Upnagar Talem have organised the All-India Wrestling Championships.
Coming to grips early in life
She may be only 11, but her grip when she shakes your hand is as firm as a man’s. And his four-year-old face is absolutely straight when he says “Wrestling mein bahut paise milte hai.” Hirkani and Prithivraj Wable, sister and brother, are the youngest participants in the championships.
“Of course, wrestling is for girls,” Hirkani tells you, when you ask whether she thinks it’s a boys’ sport. Her ambition? To win a gold at the Olympics. To get there, she practices two hours a day.
Little Prithviraj hasn’t got any ambition as yet, but his mind is firmly on the challenge he has posed to anyone willing to take him up on it.
----------------------------------------------------------
2/1/2003
Rusty Davidson/
Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) captured a silver medal at 51 kg/112.25 pounds, on the first day of medal competition at the Yarygin Memorial International in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Feb. 1.
After capturing her pool competition on Friday, Wong opened up today’s action with a 12-1 technical fall over Elena Andrieva of Russia in the semifinals. Wong was ahead in the gold-medal finals by a 5-0 margin, before she was caught and pinned by Elena Tolstenko of Russia at the 5:06 mark.
Wong, who is the No. 1 U.S. athlete at 112.25 pounds, won all of her preliminary bouts by pin or technical fall.
"Jenny really turned a corner here at this event,” said U.S. coach Rusty Davidson. “When you wrestle quality like Tolstenko, you just can't make a mistake."
Three U.S. wrestlers were undefeated on their first day of action and advanced from their pool competition: Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) at 48 kg/105.5 pounds, Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.75 pounds and Iris Smith (Fort Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) at 72 kg/158.5 pounds.
Miranda won her first two bouts, a 4-1 decision over Lilia Kaskarakova of Russia and a 7-1 decision over Irina Merleni of Greece. Miranda, a 2000 World silver medalist, was a member of the 2002 U.S. Women’s World Team.
McMann had three strong victories. She opened with an 11-3 win over Ludmila Golovchenko of Ukraine. Her next two wins were dominant, a 3:28 pin over Kristina Odrina of Latvia and a 10-0 technical fall over Olga Khilko of Bulgaria. McMann has competed in three straight World Championships for the United States.
Smith also scored three wins. She opened with a 3-0 victory over Karina Shedoyan of Russia, then stopped Svetlana Mikailina of Russia, 7-0. Her third match was a 7-6 battle over Anastasis Deshneva of Greece, which Smith won on a last-second reversal. Smith is a two-time U.S. World Team member.
The only U.S. athlete to suffer a loss in the pool competition today was 2002 World silver medalist Tina Wilson at 55 kg/121 pounds. Wilson won her first bout with a 5-2 decision over Naidan Otgonzhargal of Mongolia. In her second bout, Wilson was defeated in overtime by veteran Russian star Natalia Karamchakova, 3-1.
"It was a great day for U.S. women's wrestling,” said Davidson. “It's easy to see the impact our resident program has had in its first six months. Our future is very bright."
--------------------------------------------
2/2/2003
Rusty Davidson/
Iris Smith (Fort Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) won a bronze medal at 72 kg/158.5 pounds, competing in the final day of the women's competition at the Yarygin Memorial International in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Feb. 2.
Smith joins 51 kg/112.25 pound silver medalist Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who finished her competition on Saturday.
Smith lost a 4-0 decision to Russia's Anna Chamova in the semifinals. In the bronze-medal match, Smith claimed an injury default victory over Anastacia Deshneva of Greece. Smith had defeated Deshneva 7-6 earlier in the tournament.
Two other U.S. wrestlers entered the day undefeated and in medal contention, but settled for fourth after losing two bouts: Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) at 48 kg/105.5 pounds and Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.75 pounds. Both were members of the 2002 U.S. Women's World Team.
Miranda dropped an 8-1 decision to veteran Inga Karamchakova of Russia in the semifinals. She was also defeated in the bronze-medal match by Makiko Sakamoto of Japan, 8-5.
McMann lost her semifinal bout to Alena Kartachova of Russia, 8-4, then fell in the bronze-medal bout to Anna Gogorneva of Russia in overtime, 8-7.
"It's easy to feel disappointed today," said U.S. coach Rusty Davidson. "We had two fantastic days. This one was rough. We have to go home, heal, evaluate, and improve. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the shuttle crew."
IVAN YARYGIN MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL
At Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 31-Feb. 2
U.S. women's results
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC), 4th - dec. Lilia Kaskarakova (Russia), 4-1; dec. Irina Merleni (Greece), 7-1; lost dec. to Inga Karamchakova (Russia), 8-1; lost dec. to Makiko Sakamoto (Japan), 8-5.
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 2nd - tech fall over Kararina Pelevinia (Russia), 13-3; pin Natalia Ilbina (Russia), 5:58; pin Natalia Uvedova (Russia) 3:28; tech. fall over Elena Andrieva (Russia), 12-1; lost pin to Elena Tolstenko (Russia), 5:06
55 kg/121 lbs. - Tina Wilson, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp - dec. Naidan Otgonzhargal (Mongolia), 5-2; lost dec. to Natalia Karamchakova (Russia), 3-1.
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara McMann, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 4th - dec. Ludmila Golovchenko (Ukraine), 11-3; pin Kristina Odrina (Latvia), 3:28; tech. fall over Olga Khilko (Bulgaria), 10-0; lost dec. to Alena Kartachova (Russia), 8-4; lost dec. to Anna Gogorneva (Russia), 8-7, ot.
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Iris Smith, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army), 3rd - dec. Karina Shedoyan (Russia), 3-0; dec. Svetlana Mikailina (Russia), 7-0; dec. Anastasis Deshneva (Greece), 7-6; lost dec. to Anna Chamova (Russia), 4-0; won by inj. dft. over Anastasis Deshneva (Greece)
------------------------------------------
Three U.S. women wrestlers from Cumberland College win silver medals at Western Open in Canada
2/2/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Three U.S. women wrestlers from Cumberland College in Kentucky claimed silver medals at the Western Open, held at the Univ. of Western Ontario in Canada.
The three Cumberland silver medalists were Sara Hayes at 53 kg, Alaina Berube at 61 kg and Issa Alvarez at 65 kg.
The other Cumberland athlete in the field was Brenda McDaniels, who was fourth at 57 kg.
Many of Canada's top women's college wrestlers competed in this event, as well as some top Canadian open level women wrestlers.
Cumberland placed fourth in the teams standings in the Women's Open division.
Western Open
2/1/2003
London, Ontario, Canada
Entered by Kip Flanik
Team Scoring
Women's Open standings
1.London-Western, 33 points
2. Queen's-Kingston, 28 points
3. Lakehead, 27 points
4. Cumberland, 24 points
Women's University standings
1. Queen's, 28 points
2. Western, 23 points
3. Lakehead, 21 points
Results By Weight
Women's Open Division
48 kg
1. Hana Askren (McGill)
2. Patti Courtney (Brock)
3. Heather Drake (Guelph)
4. Jenny Andress (Lakehead)
5. Katie Wilson (Western)
53 kg
1. Terri McNutt (Western)
2. Sarah Hayes (Cumberland)
3. Alissa Overend (Queen's)
4. Jo-Dee Regier (Western)
5. Heather Gallager (UNB)
57 kg
1. Lesley McCallum (London-Western)
2. Janice Ngyuen (Queen's)
3. Leanne Loney (Lakehead)
4. Brenda McDaniels (Cumberland)
5. Tamara Kostya (Mac)
6. Leanne Rubberry (Lakehead)
61 kg
1. Katie Patroch (Lakehead)
2. Alaina Berube (Cumberland)
3. Brooke Hilditch (Guelph)
4. Jen Aitken (Brock)
5. Golda Parahoo (Brock)
6. Luanne Girodat (Western)
65 kg
1. Nicole Garceau (Timmons)
2. Issa Alvarez (Cumberland)
3. Celidh Boyd (NWO)
4. Sarah Gil (Western)
5. Carla Binning (London-Western)
6. Christine Gils (Western)
70 kg
1. Martine Dugrenier (Concordia)
2. Marcia Chiasson (UNB)
3. Samantha Johnson (Guelph)
4. Jen Kryszak (Western)
5. Tamara Sone (Queen's)
6. Rachel Shaw (Queen's)
77 kg
1. Christa Waters (Queen's)
2. Katherine Baker (McGill)
3. Jen Scheid (Western)
Individual University Placings
48 kg
1. Hana Askren (McGill)
2. Patti Courtney (Brock)
3. Heather Drake (Guelph)
53 kg
1. Terri McNutt (Western)
2. Sarah Hayes (Cumberland)
3. Alissa Overend (Queen's)
57 kg
1. Janice Ngyuen (Queen's)
2. Leanne Loney (Lakehead)
3. Brenda McDaniels (Cumberland)
61 kg
1. Katie Patroch (Lakehead)
2. Alaina Berube (Cumberland)
3. Brooke Hilditch (Guelph)
65 kg
1. Issa Alvarez (Cumberland)
2. Sarah Gil (Western)
3. Christine Gils (Western)
70 kg
1. Martine Dugrenier (Concordia)
2. Marcia Chiasson (UNB)
3. Samantha Johnson (Guelph)
77 kg
1. Christa Waters (Queen's)
2. Katherine Baker (McGill)
3. Jen Scheid (Western)
-------------------------------------------
Henson, Frayer, Koscheck, Sanderson win golds at FILA Manitoba Open in Canada
2/3/2003
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Four U.S. men's freestyle wrestlers claimed gold medals with victories at the FILA Manitoba Open in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Feb. 1.
Claiming individual titles were Sammie Henson (State College, Pa./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Jared Frayer (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Josh Koscheck (Edinboro, Pa./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Cael Sanderson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 84 kg/185 lbs.
Henson, a 1998 World Champion and 2000 Olympic silver medalist, defeated James Crowe of Canada in the finals.
Frayer, a college star at the Univ. of Oklahoma, defeated 2002 Canadian World Team member Neal Ewers in the finals.
Koscheck, who starred at Edinboro Univ., stopped Canada's Rob Lang in the finals.
Sanderson, who has been No. 1 in his weight in the USA for two years, had only three athletes in his division. He defeated them both, including runner-up Drikke Wolmaranz of Canada.
The competition also featured a very strong field of women wrestlers. No U.S. athletes claimed gold medals, but two U.S. athletes won silver medals: Kristie Marano (Albany, N.Y./ATWA) at 67 kg/147.5 pounds and Samantha Lang (Tualatin, Ore./unattached) at 72 kg/158.5 pounds.
Marano, a six-time World medalist, was defeated in the finals by former World Champion Lene Aanes of Norway.
Lang, a high school student in Oregon and U.S. Cadet and Junior champion, was defeated by six-time World Champion Christine Nordhagen-Vierling of Canada in the finals. To reach the finals, Lang upset 2001 World silver medalist Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/Sunkist Kids).
The other U.S medalist in men's freestyle was silver medalist Michael Lightner (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. Lightner fell to Canadian star Saeed Azarbajani in the gold-medal finals.
Montgomery was the only U.S. bronze medalists in women's freestyle, capturing her bronze-medal bout after the loss to Lang.
Other U.S. women placewinners were:
Marianne Vollmer (Grayling, Mich./Missouri Valley), fourth at 51 kg/112.25 pounds,
Patrice Crenshaw (East Point, Ga./UM-Morris), fifth at 51 kg/112.25 pounds,
Sharon Jacobsen (El Cajon, Calif./UM-Morris), fourth at 59 kg/130 lbs.,
Mollie Keith (Aurelia, Iowa/Missouri Valley), fourth at 67 kg/147.5 pounds,
Nickia Jenson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Minnesota Storm), fifth at 67 kg/147.5 pounds, and
Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo.), fourth at 72 kg/158.5 pounds.
FILA Manitoba Open
2/1/2003
Winnipeg, Canada
Entered by Nat Brigante
Team Scoring
Results By Weight
48 Kg
1. Lyndsay Belisle CAN
2. Lindsay Rushton CAN
3. Myriam Prost FRA
4. Audrey Carrasco CAN
5. Kyla Bremner AUS
6. Davina Marc FRA
51 Kg
1. Teresa Piotrowski CAN
2. Belinda Chou CAN
3. Juliette Willocq FRA
4. Marianne Vollmer USA
5. Patrice Crenshaw USA
6. Destiny Hodgins CAN
55 Kg
1. Ida Theres-Karlsson SWE
2. Jen Ryz CAN
3. Tonya Verbeek CAN
4. Heather Sweezey CAN
5. Erica Sharp CAN
6. Birgit Stern AUT
59 Kg
1. Emily Richardson CAN
2. Breanne Graham CAN
3. Helen Hennick CAN
4. Sharon Jacobson USA
5. Amy Dyck CAN
6. Laura Ostrander CAN
63 Kg
1. Nikola Hartman-Dunser AUT
2. Tara Hedican CAN
3. Sara Ericksson SWE
4. Lotta Andersson SWE
5. Viola Yanik CAN
6. Alanna Kohut CAN
67 Kg
1. Lene Aanes NOR
2. Kristie Marano USA
3. Megan Buydens CAN
4. Mollie Keith USA
5. Nickia Jensen USA
6. Cindy Rey FRA
72 Kg
1. Christine Norhagen-Vierling CAN
2. Samantha Lang USA
3. Toccara Montgomery USA
4. Kaci Lyle USA
5. Pamela Wilson CAN
6. Fanny Gai FRA
-------------------------------------------------
The view from the top remains with Noble
By PAUL BETIT Staff Writer
2/2/ 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
NORTH BERWICK — Noble, the four-time defending Class A champion, showed it was ready for a wrestling five-peat Saturday. The Knights dominated the light and middle weights to capture their fifth consecutive Western Class A championship in its own gym.
Noble will have wrestlers competing in 12 of the 14 weight classes at next week`s state meet.
The four top wrestlers in each weight class at each of Saturday`s regional meets qualified for a state meet next Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.
Western Class A team scores: Noble 204 1/2, Biddeford 130 1/2, Marshwood 117 1/2, Westbrook 117 1/2, Sanford 83, Deering 81, Bonny Eagle 80, Kennebunk 41, Massabesic 35, Portland 20 and Windham 9.
Noble wrestlers won individual titles in five of the first nine weight classes.
``At the end of the season we pick it up, especially in practice,`` said DeCota Cotten, who ran his record to 38-0 by rallying in the final minute for a 10-8 victory against Jimmy Smith of Biddeford in the 152-pound final.
``It really showed a lot today.``
The Knights` performance even exceeded Coach Kip DeVoll`s expectations.
``There were three wrestlers who I honestly didn`t think we were going to take with us next week,`` he said. ``But they decided they wanted to take the trip north.``
Noble set itself up to add to its string of regional titles by sending eight wrestlers into the regional`s championship finals. Four other Knights competed in the consolation finals.
Two Noble wrestlers pulled off mild upsets.
At 112, third-seeded Zack Doucette pinned No. 2 Jake Smith of Marshwood to advance to the final of the championship round.
At 135, third-seeded Travis Bentley scored a 9-7 decision against No. 2 Brent Emery of Westbrook in the championship round semifinals.
In the final, Brian Bourque of Sanford, the fourth seed who outpointed top-seeded Greg Griffin in overtime in the semifinals, ground out a 15-11 victory against Bentley.
Several other wrestlers upset higher-seeded opponents to move into the championship finals.
At 140, second-seeded Mike Dumas of Kennebunk pinned top-seeded Zack Braasch of Deering at 1:02 of the championships finals.
In the semifinals, Dan Cofone of Westbrook, seeded third in the 189-pound weight class, scored a 7-2 decision against Cameron Pike of Bonny Eagle, the second seed.
At 215, third-seeded Robert Weimer of Deering scored a 6-2 decision against second-seeded Brandon Pike of Bonny Eagle, and heavyweight Brent Armstrong, another third seed from Deering, had a 2-1 decision against No. 2 Matt Benson of Biddeford to advance to the finals of the championship round.
In the consolation final at 119, fourth-seeded Deanna Rix, a sophomore from Marshwood, scored a third-period pin against third-seeded Peter Wentworth of Sanford to become the first girl to finish third in the regional meet.