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Kelsey Hanson (top) works her way toward one of the five pins she registered at the seventh-annual U.S. Girls Wrestling Association National Tournament in Lake Orion, Mich. Hanson needed a total of 2:10 to get all five pins.

By Matthew Fritsch 4/10/03

Kelsey Hanson is gearing up for the Summer Olympics — so what if she probably won’t be there until 2008, she is working hard toward her goal.
Hanson, a fifth-grader at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School, won her second national wrestling title at the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association National Tournament in Lake Orin, Mich. — sweeping past five other wrestlers in the 79-pound weight class.
Hanson did it in record style, spending a little over two minutes on the mat in pinning all her opponents.
She was awarded the elementary class Outstanding Wrestler Award for the second consecutive year – a first in the seven-year tournament history — winning the award from among the 300 elementary school competitors.
“We barely had time to get the camera on,” Hanson’s mom, Brenda, said.
Hanson got off to a fast start, taking on Tamara Lupu of Michigan. When the whistle blew, Hanson shot in quick and put Lupu onto her back. A quick rotation to a reverse half nelson and the official’s whistle was blowing again — a pin in 16 seconds.
“You have to have a plan on what you are going to do,” Hanson said. “If you don’t have a plan, it puts you on the defensive.”

Read the rest of the story in the April 8 issue of the Post-Record

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Milan wrestler sparkles at national tourney

By Brian Cox, Staff Writer 4/10/03

Milan wrestler Nikki Caballero placed ninth at the sixth annual United States Girls’ Wrestling Association National Tournament held last month in Lake Orion.

Wrestling in the 138-pound class, Caballero in her first round defeated an opponent from Connecticut in a tight 8-4 decision.

In the second round, Caballero lost a 5-1 decision to a wrestler from Texas before going on in the third round to win a 9-5 decision over a Hawaiian wrestler.

Caballero lost a 5-1 decision in the fourth round to a Massachusetts wrestler that would go on to place third overall.

In her final two matches, Caballero came on with a vengeance, pinning a Virginia opponent in 1:38 and achieving a 14-1 major decision in a rematch against her first-round opponent from Connecticut to secure the ninth spot overall.

Caballero placed second at the USGWA state meet in Montrose.

"She’s a hard worker," said Milan wrestling coach Mike Betts. "She’s pretty tough. She has done nothing but excel at wrestling."

Having wrestled on the varsity team for three years, Caballero was a mere two votes away from being voted team captain this year. She received the Most-Dedicated award at the team banquet held at the end of the season.

"The boys really respect her," said Betts. "And that says a lot. She’s never let me down."