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Roaring return

Huskies' pursuit cut off by former Naperville native Chase, Panthers

By Alan Ferguson
STAFF WRITER 12/14/03

There were more girls than boys in Caitlyn Chase's fourth-grade class. Whether by fate or pure accident, a flier advertising a local kids wrestling club appeared in her cubby instead of the one above hers.

A kid who was "into every sport" and who had already burned through flag football, softball and swimming among others, she begged her mother to let her wrestle, telling her, "I'm not good at anything. Can I do this? It doesn't say boys."

Her mother eventually relented, and Chase took to the sport quickly, holding the nation's No. 1 girls ranking while an eighth-grader at Kennedy Junior High School in Naperville.

After her mother changed jobs and the family moved to Carol Stream midway through that eighth-grade year, Chase wrestled mostly junior varsity matches for Glenbard North and again earned the United States Girls Wrestling Association's No. 1 preseason ranking at 110 pounds coming into this year.

In her sophomore debut for the Panthers varsity on Friday night, she also earned a crucial pin at 103 pounds to put away DuPage Valley Conference rival Naperville North 37-23.

Finally recovered from shoulder surgery for torn ligaments, Chase dusted off three quick takedowns then took North's Ryan Lesner to his back, pinning him in 1 minute, 1 second.

"I had to get the rust out," Chase said. "I've been out of the focus so long that I forgot what it was to be in a match."

Chase's premiere came at the right time for the Panthers. After watching its lead dwindle from 16-4 to 20-17, her pin capped a run of back-to-back falls for Glenbard North. Panthers heavyweight Rob Aurelius trailed Huskies freshman Jordan Johnson in the first period but got the pin in 3:14.

"Rob, that was big for him. (Caitlyn) did great for her first match of the year. She did a nice job. I was very impressed," Glenbard North coach Mark Hahn said. "I was real pleased with them. I was real proud of them."

After his teammates forced decisions in tough matches at 112 and 119, the Panthers' Jon Ranck sealed a sweep of Naperville teams in consecutive nights with a technical fall. Glenbard North edged out visiting Neuqua Valley 33-32 on Thursday.

"I thought we wrestled better tonight than we did last night," Hahn said. "The kids came out with a little fire. I thought some guys came through for us."

Glenbard North got a pin from Jon Isacson at 130, a major decision from Joe Gomez at 135 and a 10-9 win from Jon Malizzio at 140 to start the dual meet with a 13-0 lead. With major decisions from Sean Hankin at 145 and Chris Hoeft at 160 then a win from Tyler Hill at 189, the Huskies eventually closed the deficit to three when Andy Greenawalt took a pin at 215.

"A couple of swing matches change that dual, but all in all, they win fair and square. That's part of the game," Naperville North coach Tom Champion said. "Our kids wrestled aggressively. They took lots of shots. They're not scared to take a hit and score lots of points. What more do you want? By the end of the year, these sophomores and freshmen are going to be tough."

Before her match, Chase spent most of the time staring quietly at the mat and focusing. She was also attempting to put a tough year behind her that included the shoulder injury, which wiped out all wrestling — even the simplest drills — as well as school and weight problems.

After her match, the mood changed for Chase. Even with cotton in her nose, she loudly urged on teammate and workout partner Chris Weissgerber.

The change in behavior fit her goal. She hopes this Friday night begins a better season.

"She's been working out in the room. We've seen her do it. You can do it in the room, but you have to do it out here," Hahn said. "She just came out here and did it. I was impressed. The guy got a little physical with her, and she got physical right back. She's a tough wrestler."

Contact staff writer Alan Ferguson at aferguson@scn1.com or (630) 416-5291. boxhead:Glenbard North 37, Naperville North 23

130 — Jon Isacson (GN) p. Matt Gorgol 5:03 [6-0 GN]; 135 — Joe Gomez (GN) md. Alex Kryzwda 18-7 [10-0 GN]; 140 -- Jon Malizzio (GN) d. Trey Troncin 10-9 [GN 13-0]; 145 — Sean Hankin (NN) md. Dan Caruso 12-2 [13-4 GN]; 152 -- Tony Dieppa (GN) d. Mike Curley 9-2 [16-4 GN]; 160 -- Chris Hoeft (NN) md. Joe Binkley 12-4 [16-8 GN] 171 -- Matt Smith (GN) md. Phil Sachs 13-3 [20-8 GN] 189 — Tyler Hill (NN) d. Nick Kerwin 11-4 [20-11 GN]; 215 -- Andy Greenawalt (NN) p. Tyrone Smith 3:54 [20-17 GN]; 275 -- Rob Aurelius (GN) p. Jordan Johnson 3:14 [26-17 GN]; 103 — Caitlyn Chase (GN) p. Ryan Lesner 1:01 [32-17 GN]; 112 -- Nick Fanthorpe (NN) d. Chris Weissgerber 15-9 [32-20 GN]; 119 — Pat Parillo (NN) d. Bryan O'Connor 8-3 [32-23 GN] 125 — Jon Ranck (GN) tf. Chris Nutt 19-4 4:50.

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Pair of pins the key to Panthers' win vs. Naperville

By Gary Larsen Daily Herald Correspondent 12/14/03

The final analysis will show that Glenbard North's
37-23 DuPage ValleyConference win over Naperville North on Friday came
thanks to an 8-6 edge in matches won, three Panthers' pins to the
Huskies' one, and a tech fall to boot.

But the night's momentum swung on consecutive pins by
the Panthers' Rob Aurelius and Caitlyn Chase.

With a 20-17 Glenbard North lead on the board after
nine matches, heavyweight Aurelius threw a cradle on the Huskies'
Jordan Johnson and stuck him in the second period. Chase followed
with a pin, just over a minute into the bout at 103 pounds.

That gave the Panthers a 32-17 lead with three matches
left and all the lift they needed to come away with the win.

"I knew I had to go out there and get it done,"
Aurelius said. "I needed a pin for the team. We didn't wrestle well
yesterday (in a 32-29 win over Neuqua Valley), and as a team we
wrestled a lot bettertonight."

The Panthers got a pin from Jon Isacson (130), a tech
fall from Jon Ranck (125), major decisions from Joe Gomez (135)
and Matt Smith (152), and a pair of decision wins by Jon Malizzio
(140) and Tony Dieppa (152).

They also got a nice effort from Nick Kerwin, who held
off the Huskies' Tyler Hill from earning a major decision at 189.

"The kids came out with a little fire, and I thought
they wrestled well," said Panthers coach Mark Hahn. "I was real
pleased with their performance."

Huskies wins came from Nick Fanthorpe, Pat Parillo,
Sean Hankin, Chris Hoeft and Andy Greenawalt, who got their only
pin on the night at 215.

After Aurelius won by pin, Chase took the mat for the
first time this year and shook off the cobwebs in a hurry against
the Huskies' Ryan Lesner.

"I was just rusty, and I was trying to feel my way
back around," Chase said. "Then, once he tried to headlock me, it
just came back.I was like 'Oh, I know how to do this.'æ"

"I can't say enough good things about (Glenbard
North), but ourkids were aggressive," said Huskies coach Tom
Champion.

"By the end of the year, our sophomores and freshmen
are going to be tough. I loved how our kids wrestled tonight."

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1 parent provided comments about this school (5 stars is the highest rating possible)

N/A (September 2003)
"I think it's a shame for the boys' wrestling coach to be so against the girls having a wrestling team. Did you know that last year on the girls wrestling girls won 1st, 2d and 3d state? I would really like to see more support and have a good girls wrestling team. The school didn't even sponsor the girls wrestling team to the Nationals, and one of the girls was 6th in the Nation. Now isn't that a shame that the school system does not support these talented young girls. "
- Pat

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Athens Games closer than ever for Calgarian

Collin Gallant 12/14/03
For CanWest News Service

Christine Nordhagen-Vierling had never cried at a wrestling tournament before, but that changed Saturday.

The Olympic wrestling trials were an emotional process that ended with tears of joy for Calgary's Nordhagen-Vierling, who took a huge step closer to next year's Athens Games in the sport she helped build from the ground up.

"I woke up today crying and there were two times after that," said a dew-eyed but elated Nordhagen-Vierling, 32, who overcame strong newcomer Ohenewa Akuffo, 24, of Brampton, Ont., in the decisive match of a best-of-three 72-kilogram series.

Nordhagen-Vierling, a 10-year veteran, won her first of six world championships in 1994 during the sport's infancy, and ever since has been a beacon for women's wrestling, which gains medal status at next year's Games.

"I've felt so much anxiety before in my life," said Nordhagen-Vierling, who will lead Canada's traditionally strong women's team.

She most recently won the world title in 2001, before knee surgery and a string of minor injuries hampered her in the year leading up to Saturday's qualifications. "I've been in world championship finals and haven't broken down," said Nordhagen-Vierling, who entered the final round winning by superiority (10-0) over Hamilton's Pam Wilson earlier on Saturday.

In the opening match of the final, Akuffo effectively countered Nordhagen-Vierling, and won a 6-0 decision.

"A part of me said that I was done," said Nordhagen-Vierling, "but my coach and husband, Leigh Vierling, just calmed me down and kept me positive."

Nordhagen-Vierling recouped and decisively won the second bout 12-3, and continued to dominate the promising Akuffo in the deciding match, winning 6-1 on points in the meet's last match.

"I was trying to take the pressure off by saying that my career has been wonderful, and even without an Olympics I had so many great experiences," said Nordhagen-Vierling. "But now this is going to be the best ending to a wrestling career I could have.

"This is my final year and last chance at the Olympics," said Nordhagen-Vierling, who still needs a medal finish -- considered extremely likely -- at one of two international meets in March to qualify for Athens.

Nordhagen-Vierling's sentimental victory almost overshadowed the naming of Canada's first-ever female wrestling Olympian. Saskatoon's Viola Yanik defeated Tara Hedican to win the 63-kg event and a ticket to Athens.

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TEEN SPOTLIGHT Annville-Cleona High School

BY JUDITH PATTON
Of The Patriot-News 12/10/03

Kaitlyn Sanders is the only girl on the wrestling team at Annville-Cleona High School.

Wrestling at 103 pounds, she posted a 7-14 record in 10th grade and finished 9-11 last year as a junior.

"Kait has the best reversal ratio on the team," said her coach, Mike Miller.

Last year, she was the Pennsylvania High School Girls Champion at 100 pounds. She also was named for two years to the Lancaster-Lebanon League First Team Academic All-star wrestling team.

"Wrestling is the hardest sport there is," said Kaitlyn, a daughter of Tina and James Sanders. "It's the toughest six minutes in sports because of all the conditioning that is involved.

"My father wrestled in high school, college and the Army," she said.

Her father and older brother, Beau, are her coaches.

As a girl in a traditional boys' sport, Kaitlyn, who's also known as "Shorty" or "Mighty," endured a rough time the first year of competition in interscholastic events.

"But last year teams were prepared and had facilities ready for me," she said. "Once they recognized that I knew how to wrestle, I had more respect."

While she qualified for sectional competition last year, Kaitlyn had to scratch to compete in an oratory contest.

Since the age of 10, Kaitlyn has played second base in fast-pitch softball.

"It's one of the most difficult positions to play because there is so much going on," she said. "I like to be mentally involved in the game."

She is a three-year letter winner and co-captain as a junior in high school softball. Her team is a regular in district competition. She also plays with AC Heat, a Lebanon all-county travel team that plays in tournaments throughout the state and qualified for Eastern Nationals three times.

For the last five years, she was named to the all-star softball team of the Lebanon County League, a summer program, as well as the Lebanon County All-star team for schools and Lancaster-Lebanon School League.

In the fall, Kaitlyn performs with the marching band as a flag twirler and on the rifle line in a program that participated in this year's Atlantic Coast Championships. She is captain of the color guard.

An A student, Kaitlyn is ranked sixth out of 113 seniors and is a member of the National Honor Society.

For the last three years, Kaitlyn received the Annville-Cleona Academic All-Star Award.

At school, Kaitlyn is a member of SADD, Teen Contact, Health Careers Club and Spanish Club. She is secretary of the peer counseling group.

A member of St. Benedict the Abbot Roman Catholic Church, she is an altar server and a CCD teacher for second-graders.

She's a member of the Polka Pals of Lebanon and enjoys polka dancing with her grandfather, Alex Hawryluk.

Kaitlyn plans to pursue a career in pharmacy.

She also has two sisters, Alix and Jamie, as well as a dog, Moxie, and a cat, Ozzie.

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Consol's Wann captures first at wrestling tourney

Eagle staff report 12/15/03

KLEIN — A&M Consolidated sphomore Megan Wann captured the gold medal by taking first place in varsity girls wrestling Saturday, at the 19-team Klein Oak High School wrestling tournament.

Wann won all of her matches with pins in the first period. The Tigers’ Channing Murphy placed third in her weight class, while Courtney Roberts finished fourth.

For the varsity boys, Adam Robideau, 112, and Jacob White, 215, finished fourth, Kyle Tilton, 160, Sean Dougherty, 171, Garrett Stagner, 180, and Matt Coates, heavywight, all finished fifth.

In the junior varsity Trey Dott, 215, placed second, Mason Cashion, 189, placed third, and Donald Rupley, 135, finished fourth.

Consol will compete in the Doc Hess Tournament on Saturday.

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Yanik fulfills quest; headed to Olympics

Darren Zary 12/15/03
The StarPhoenix

"Greece" is the word for Viola Yanik -- finally.

She has no trouble saying it, singing it and looking forward to it.

The Saskatoon wrestler earned a trip to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, after capturing the women's 63-kilogram division Saturday afternoon at the Canadian freestyle wrestling Olympic Trials in Sherwood Park, Alta.

Yanik beat out long-time rival Tara Hedican, of Guelph, Ont., 2-1 in the best-of-three final.

Her dream of going to Greece nearly went the way of grease in the final as an Olympic berth nearly slipped through Yanik's hands. After dominating Hedican in the first match 10-0, Yanik lost the second match, televised live Saturday afternoon on CBC, by a 9-3 count.

However, Yanik battled back with a 10-3 victory in the third-and-final match.

"It's a dream come true," Yanik, 21, said Sunday from Edmonton, where she relaxed with husband, Tolga, after a pressure-cooker of a wrestling weekend. "It's more of a relief than anything.

"Oh, man, the second match just went to hell. I don't know what happened. I think, after I lost the first three points, I just couldn't keep my head in it. She kept getting me on the double-leg (takedown) in the second match. So, for the third match, I had to change my approach a little.

"I had to basically just keep a lower stance and be ready to head-butt when she does it."

It was a restless weekend for Yanik, who lay awake at 3:30 a.m. the night before final. She was up early once again Sunday, at 5 a.m.

"We're exhausted," Yanik said of she and her husband. "We got up at 5 a.m. today. I was so excited. I was up at 3:30 a.m. the night before (the match), just lying there, trying to sleep. I had my heart rate way up there. I'm just glad I had my husband there to help me through this.

"First there was a big relief and then excitement (of going to Greece). I was ranked No. 1. I was expecting nothing else but to win."

Earlier this fall, Yanik won a bronze medal at the world wrestling championships to qualify a spot for Canada in the 63-kg weight class.

Yanik was the top seed at the Canadian Olympic trials. Hedican was the winner of a challenger series, earning the right to meet Yanik in the final.

For now, Yanik will enjoy a little rest and relaxation before returning to the wrestling grind with coach Todd Hinds, the head coach of the University of Saskatchewan team, come January.

"We have a (training) plan," said Yanik. "But, first things first, I'm going to take a little break until January."

Hinds was happy to see Yanik fulfill her dream of qualifying for the Olympics.

"It's fanastic," Hinds said Sunday night. "It's been a long, long lead-up to this event. All the waiting and waiting. Finally, when it came through, what a great relief.

"I'm very pleased for Viola."

Yanik and Evan MacDonald of Ottawa are Canada's first Olympic qualifiers. MacDonald, 22, won the men's 66-kg freestyle final in two straight matches over Neal Ewers of Burnaby, B.C., and will be in Athens next summer.

Yanik was third in her division at the world wrestling championships in New York earlier this year to give Canada the position in her weight class in Athens.

"I've been dreaming about this (going to the Olympics) for a long time," Yanik said. "I knew in Grade 9 it would be in wrestling."

MacDonald was eighth in his division at the world championships, which also gave Canada a qualifying position in his class.

SCHMEICHEL AMONG WINNERS

Lindsay Belisle of Burnaby, Jennifer Ryz of Coquitlam, B.C., and Christine Nordhagen of Valhalla Centre, Alta., were the other women's winners. Belisle, Ryz and Nordhagen won the 48-, 55- and 72-kilogram classes, respectively.

Mikheil Japaridze and Gia Sissaouri of Montreal, Zoltan Hunyady of Guelph, Nick Ugoalah of Vancouver, Dean Schmeichel of Calgary and Toronto's Wayne Weathers were the remaining men's winners.

Schmeichel, formerly of Tisdale, won he 96-kilogram title. Schmeichel is a former member of the University of Regina Cougars wrestling squad.

Japaridze, Sissaouri, Hunyady, Ugoalah and Weathers prevailed at 55-, 60-, 74-, 84- and 120-kilogram classes, respectively.

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