VIOLA YANIK: Athlete of year
News Page
High honours for Yanik
Doug McConachie
The StarPhoenix
Saturday, February 07, 2004
|
VIOLA YANIK: Athlete of year |
Viola Yanik, a freestyle wrestler, was selected Saskatoon Kinsmen Athlete of the Year for 2003 from a field of eight finalists, while both the junior men's and junior women's world champion curling teams, skipped by Marliese Miller and Steve Laycock, shared the Bill Hunter Team of the Year Award.
Yanik, a member of the Saskatoon Wrestling Club and coached by Todd Hinds, will represent Canada this summer at the Olympics in Athens, competing in the 63-kilogram class. Last year, she won the Canadian senior championship as well as silver medals at the Pan-Am Games in the Dominican Republic and at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships.
Yanik, who didn't have a point scored on her during her Grade 11 and 12 seasons at Holy Cross High School, is a constable in the detentions unit with the Saskatoon Police Department.
Yanik was selected over Huskies pole vaulter Kelsie Hendry, sprinter Jenni Hucul, Huskies and national team volleyball player Stephanie Wheler, Saskatoon Taiso Club and national team gymnast Rhett Stinson, national development team sprint kayaker Jennifer Adamson, national team softball pitcher Trevor Ethier and Hilltops defensive lineman Brian Guebert.
The athlete and team of the year are selected by a panel of Saskatoon sports media.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Steve Trivett, Special To The News
February 7, 2004
COLORADO SPRINGS - Don't call Tela O'Donnell a pioneer.
One of the pioneers of women's Olympic wrestling - it's the only new sport in the 2004 Athens Games - doesn't believe it.
"I don't know if we're pioneers," O'Donnell, 21, said Tuesday after a spirited practice session at the Olympic Training Center. "We're just a bunch of girls doing what we love doing.
"But I do know all the girls here want to be part of what is going on."
O'Donnell will be part of the action when the Dave Schultz Memorial International Wrestling Tournament begins today at the OTC. Preliminaries and quarterfinals in men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman and women's freestyle will be staged today. The semifinals and finals in all three disciplines are scheduled for Sunday.
The Schultz is one of the most respected international tournaments on the amateur wrestling scene. Wrestlers from Albania, Georgia, Germany, India, Japan, Mongolia, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Russia, Tajikistan, Egypt, Kazakstan, Canada and the United States will participate.
For O'Donnell and her American teammates it's another card that needs to be punched before the U.S. National Championships at Las Vegas in April, the U.S Olympic team trials at Indianapolis in May and the Athens Olympics.
"Everything just seems to flow for me," O'Donnell said. "It's not like a light switch flipped on in my brain one day. There has never been a light bulb in my sports life. All of it has flowed."
The flow started for O'Donnell as a youngster growing up in Homer, Alaska, an "artsy, almost-hippy, tourist-attraction fishing village" between the state's southern mountains and the water.
"It was a great place to be a kid," she said. "We lived about 10 miles out of town and we would go horseback riding and camping. It was small enough to be safe and big enough to still offer a lot. It's a beautiful place."
It also was the place that gave wings to a young girl's dream of becoming a wrestler.
"I wasn't very good at any other sport," she said with a laugh. "But then again, I wasn't very good at wrestling, either, but it was something I wanted to do."
Like most girls who want to participate in a traditional boys sport, O'Donnell had hurdles to clear.
"I had to meet with the school board, the school principal and the coaches," she said. "I know there were some people who didn't want me to wrestle, but the people who mattered the most were the most supportive."
That included her mother.
"I'm still not sure she was completely OK with it at the start, but we're both pretty independent, and she told me if I thought it was right for me that I should go ahead and do it."
She did it, competing with boys every match through her high school career.
"I got beat up a lot," she said, the laughter again coming easily.
But that flowed into a scholarship to Pacific University in Oregon, one of the few U.S. colleges that has a women's wrestling program.
"They were just starting their women's program and it was the first time I had been on an all- women's team," she said. "I was in the right place at the right time again."
It's a plan that still is playing out.
After a visit to the OTC with her college team, she applied for the resident-athlete program and was accepted.
"It's the perfect place to train," she said. "I've learned so much since I've been here."
Enough to have captured the gold medal at the 2003 U.S. National Championships and push herself into the Athens limelight.
"That's a definite goal," she said. "I really want to be good enough to be there. I think I can."
---------------------------------------------------
Jock Talk with Terri McNutt ( wrestling)
SPORTS - January 16, 2004 - The Gazette
Volume 97, Issue 59
After a long hiatus, the Purple Pipe is finally back, recognizing the accomplishments of the best of Western sports.
The first winner in the new year is Terri McNutt, star of the Western women’s wrestling team. Terri is no stranger to the Pipe, as she is a second- time winner. She won the Pipe for her accomplishments last year.
The third-year nursing student is coming off a gold medal performance at the Toronto Open Wrestling Tournament, leading the team to a second place finish. She pinned former Mustang Rachel Dean, who is now competing for Lakehead University in the 53 kg category.
The gold medal kept her undefeated streak alive. She has not lost a match throughout the entire season and is ranked third in Canada.
She also won a gold medal earlier in the year at the Brock University Dual Tournament.
During the holiday break, Terri competed at Olympic trials in Edmonton, adding to her impressive qualifications as a Pipe winner.
Terri is the defending Ontario University Athletics champion in the 53 kg category and is poised to become a back-to-back champion. If she does, she will have the opportunity to do so in familiar surroundings.
Western will host this year’s OUA wrestling championships, which would make a championship even more special.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21 in the Thames Hall gym. Western will be looking to win the OUA championship for the first time since 1994.
—Ian Denomme
David Lee/Gazette |
How long have you been wrestling? What was your initial attraction to the sport?
This is my eighth year of wrestling. [I’ve done] jiu-jitsu and karate since I was six. I liked the individual aspects of those sports, and it was the same thing for wrestling. Even though sometimes I might say that I don’t like going on my own, I like the fact that there’s nobody else to blame when things go wrong.
What’s it like to be a well-known female wrestler?
It brings more of a social aspect to the sport — I’ve become friends with people that I met through wrestling alone. And it makes the tournaments easier to go to. I guess there are also opportunities that come with being well-known, like invitations to the World University trials and Olympic trials.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while wrestling?
For me, it’s the mental aspect. Sometimes, I have a hard time preparing for a match, so that’s why I spend most of my preparation time trying to get in the right frame of mind.
What are your thoughts about No Holds Barred?
I’ve never heard of it.
It was a cult classic with Hulk Hogan — he beats Zeus and the evil TV producer. Any similarities to your wrestling career?
To be honest, not really. There aren’t a lot of evil people wrestling at the university level.
What’s your take on professional wrestling?
I’ve never watched it. People enjoy it, because it’s entertaining for them. I guess it gives “real” wrestlers bad news, though there are some amateur wrestlers that have turned pro.
Who’d win in a fight between you and Ray Takahashi (Western’s wrestling head coach)?
(laughs) I guess Ray. We wrestle a lot, because it’s beneficial to train with someone that’s the same size. He’s an Olympian, so he’d probably win.
So he’s unbeatable?
(laughs) Nobody’s unbeatable.
What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you during a wrestling match?
My boobs have almost fallen out (laughs). They never actually came out, though. So I guess that’s it.
—David Lee
-----------------------------------------------------
Wrestler has grip on future
Teen hopes to lead way to Olympics
Lauren MacGillivray
Calgary Herald
Thursday, February 05, 2004
|
|
Stephanie Buchan is not accustomed to losing.
The 17-year-old Calgarian seems virtually unbeatable in her age group in the sport of wrestling, locally and nationally.
Last July, she captured the 70-kilogram event at the Pan American cadet (ages 15 and 16) championships in Venezuela. Earlier this season, she won a high school meet at Western Canada High School and an age class tournament in Kamloops, B.C. She'll be competing at the Canadian junior national championships in March in Calgary.
But despite her success, the William Aberhart High School student still can't forget losing the high school city championship title last year. The defending champion was beaten by Vanessa Wilson of Sir Winston Churchill High School.
"I'm not sure what happened -- everyone thought I was going to win," Buchan reflects. "With my pride, I'd like to say I was head-butted and lost my balance, but I'm not sure. I was traumatized."
Buchan went on to beat Wilson at the provincial championships, where Buchan finished first and Wilson was third.
As this year's high school city championships approach, Buchan doesn't plan to let the title slip from her hold again. But she may not face her intended opponent. Wilson says she's considering dropping down to the 65-kilogram class.
Wilson says it's not out of fear. Rather, she talked it over with her coach they thought it may be better to spread out their talent into two different divisions.
"It may be the best thing to do, so Stephanie and I aren't in the same category," says Wilson. "I'm just going to see how my week goes."
Their competitiveness can be a positive, pushing them harder on the mat. But it has also been uncomfortable at times.
The pair both train with the University of Calgary Dinos wrestling program. Last year, after Wilson beat Buchan at the high school city final, they had to wrestle together with the Dinos the following day.
"It was very tense," says Buchan. "Usually we're partners, but people wouldn't let us wrestle together."
For those who think it's a mere high school grapple that will end with graduation, think again. Buchan and Wilson want to continue wrestling and both want to make the Olympics some day. They'll surely meet along the way.
Buchan says that she doesn't mean to be cocky. Just confident.
"I've learned that if you're scared and have negative thoughts, it's harder to succeed," she explains. "I can't worry about making mistakes, I just have to be smart."
Buchan's teammates at Aberhart find her competitive streak inspiring.
Along with Buchan, there are three other female wrestlers at the school in Grade 12, including Jenna Yamashita, Kara Stelfox and Lisa Honeychurch -- all of whom are considered medal contenders at the city championships.
"She (Buchan) always tries to motivate us to push harder," says Honeychurch, 17. "I've only ever seen her lose once, at last year's city championships.
"We're about the same size, so her and I usually wrestle against each other in practice," she adds. "She shows me all these crazy new moves."
Aberhart coach Phil Bruno anticipates continuing success for Buchan.
"I look forward to watching her compete at the international level," he says. "She's been leading our team on and off the mat. She's definitely one of the most experienced wrestlers to come out of our school."
Buchan is considering attending the U of C next year, but isn't sure yet.
"The Dinos are like my family, I've grown up with them," she says. "But I may want a change, I don't know. It's such a hard decision."
She's glad to have had an impact at Aberhart.
"I'd like to continue helping the school and maybe come back and coach."
For now, her focus is on the city title. The high school wrestling city championships are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, at Bishop Carroll High School.
Fun Fact:
There are five days remaining before the city wrestling championships, to be held Feb. 10 and 11 at Bishop Carroll High School.
--------------------------------------------------
By J.P. HOORNSTRA, Times-Herald sports writer 2/7/04
Vallejo 116-pound wrestler Elizabeth Bustomonte (in red) pinned her opponent, Stephanie Lopez of San Leandro High, in short order Friday at Bottari Gym during the California Girls Wrestling Championships. Photo: David Pacheco/Times-Herald |
The backs of their sweaters read like the phone book rack at a public library: Mt. Shasta. Casa Grande. Santa Monica. Bear Creek.
Some jogged in place along the wall, listening for their name over the loudspeakers, as others slept in the Bottari Gym bleachers. Others poked, tossed and twisted each other around in the middle of the gym floor, distracting the capacity crowd from the surrounding stream of commotion.
The 2004 state girls wrestling tournament finalists were the strongest crop ever, so far as anyone in Vallejo High School could tell on Friday. They treated fans and coaches from across the state to several tightly contested matches, and gave the city of Vallejo nothing to be ashamed of - 14 of the 15 competitors from Bethel, Vallejo and Hogan are still alive heading into today's semifinal round.
"Before, I could get seventh in the state without winning any matches," said Reenie Belamide, who began the tournament ranked first in the 114-pound weight class. "Now, (four) regions have to qualify for state, so it's way harder."
Hogan's Belamide (116-pound division) and Erin Russell (146) didn't lose a match in the double-elimination tournament, as did Bethel's Maribeth Grim (100) and Vallejo's Eunice Tjon (110). All four can earn a state title with two wins today, when matches begin at 10 a.m.
Ten other local competitors lost once Thursday, falling to one of the 200-plus wrestlers from 132 schools - the best turnout in the four-year history of the event, according to Vallejo head coach Mike Minahen.
Unfortunately for the Apaches, one of them was Jaime Sage (122), who found herself in the consolation bracket after losing a 5-4 decision to Kristy Bishop. Sage began the day ranked first among 120-pound girls in the state; Bishop was second among 126-pounders.
"She gave away two free points and could not pin," Minahen said of Sage. "Very uncharacteristic of Jaime. She lost her hands; it cost her two points."
Bishop, who was shorter but more muscular than Sage, fought back from deficits of 2-0 and 4-2 to win. Riddled with the flu, Sage still walked away from the match briskly - Bishop stumbled out of the circle before slumping on the sideline - but struggled to describe the taste of defeat.
"I didn't pace myself well," Sage said. "She's really good."
Tjon kept the home team in the running for a first-place finish, pinning Melissa Herrera (San Leandro) and recording a technical fall against Veronica Muñoz (Fillmore) following a first-round bye.
Belamide expected to face Haley Leta-Pombo (Pittsburgh), from whom she inherited the state No. 1 ranking two weeks ago, in the third round Friday. But Leta-Pombo fell to Elaine Bartolome (South San Francisco), then traded notes with Belamide before the third round.
"I was surprised that me and Haley were exchanging information about the girls that we beat," Belamide said. "It's like a rivalry, but we became friends today."
Stranger things happened. Russell became a semifinalist without wrestling a single match, thanks to three straight forfeits.
Grim beat Deanie Paganoran (San Leandro) and Vallejo's Raemy Chong - the only head-to-head matchup between two locals Friday - after a first-round forfeit.
Hogan's Nikki Arenal (128-pound weight class) became the only local eliminated after losing to Krista Kearns (Santa Fe Springs) and Nina Martinez (Sacred Heart).
----------------------------------------------
Vallejo's Tjon crowned champion
By J.P. HOORNSTRA, Times-Herald sports writer 2/8/04
Vallejo High School's Eunice Tjon wrestles in the 110-pound championship match against Jessica Medina of Diamond Ranch on Saturday night at Bottari Gym. Tjon was crowned the state champion after posting a 5-2 victory. Photo: J.L. Sousa/Times-Herald |
Eunice Tjon couldn't muster a smile when the referee raised her arm in victory before a packed Bottari Gym. She was too tired. And too hungry.
In fact, the Vallejo High School senior could only appreciate her new role as a state champion, when, minutes later, she clutched the devoured remains of a Philly cheesesteak and was asked if the food tasted good.
"Yeah it does," Tjon said. "I made it myself, of course."
She could easily have been describing her title in the 110-pound weight class at the California girls wrestling final. Tjon became the third state girls wrestling champion in Apache history Saturday by defeating Jessica Medina of Diamond Ranch 5-2.
Tjon's title hopes grew bright when Medina upset Jessica Hsieh (Vintage) - the top-ranked 110-pound girl in the nation - in their semifinal matchup. That gave Tjon a shot at a wrestler whose style played into her strengths, head coach Mike Minahen said.
"She was incredible," he said of Tjon. "We just watched (Medina) defeat Jessica Hsieh, and then for (Tjon) to defeat (Medina) 5-2, in a match that could have been worse than that, she was outstanding."
"I was really looking forward to wrestling with Jessica Hsieh," Tjon confessed. "When I found out she was beaten by (Medina), I was like, 'what happened?' "
What happened Saturday may have been fate. Or perhaps destiny.
That was the logic Hogan's Reenie Belamide was using after losing the 116-pound final to Hannah Paarlberg of Balboa by technical fall.
"It's supposed to be like this. I'll accept it," Belamide said. "I didn't wrestle. I was just trying to outthink her too much. I just wasn't myself."
Belamide, who recorded consecutive pins against Elaine Bartolome (South San Francisco) and Lauren Neves (Amador Valley), didn't record a single point against Paarlberg.
In contrast to the stoic, methodical Tjon - who wowed the crowd with several near-takedowns - Belamide got fans roaring when her profile was announced over the loudspeakers.
"Reenie wants us to know that she was abducted by aliens who taught her how to scare boys away," it read.
"Coach told me to put something bizarre," she said, laughing.
Bethel's Maribeth Grim, a state champion last year as a junior, finished fourth in the 100-pound weight class. She defeated Deanie Paganoran (San Leandro) and Raemy Chong (Vallejo) Friday before falling to Norine Cruz (West Covina) and Jazzy Green (Santa Monica) on Saturday.
Failing to capitalize on an 8-6 advantage against Green with 30 seconds left, she allowed Green to record a late takedown that cost her the match. An emotional Grim cited the immense pressure of defending her title as a reason for slipping to fourth place her senior year.
"I thought we were tied," Grim said of the match. "I thought it was down to me taking her down."
But Grim's fourth-place finish was among the region's best; 11 local wrestlers went home with medals by finishing eighth or better.
Vallejo's Lauren Knight (134 pounds) placed fifth, as did Hogan's Marissa Gonzalez (110). Vallejo's Anita Xiong (100) and Hogan's An Libranda (105) and Erin Russell (146) placed sixth.
Apache teammates Jaime Sage (122) and Elizabeth Bustomonte (116) finished seventh, and Chong placed eighth in the 100-pound weight class.
Mercedes Creason of Tulare Union, who beat Cruz in the 100-pound final, was named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler.
The other titlists were: Katherine Fulp-Allen (Half Moon Bay, 105-pound weight class), Kayla Chambers (Vintage, 122), Shantee Solis (Castro Valley, 128), Summer Scott (Castro Valley, 134), Shelby Brown (Monterey, 140), Stella Brown (San Leandro, 146), Amy Havens (Paradise, 154), Jere Summers (Berkeley, 162), Megan Richardson (Santa Paula, 173), Vanessa Gutierrez (Gilroy, 197) and Anne Campbell (Tamalpais, 237).
The Vallejo and Hogan boys' squads competed at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II team duals Saturday. The Spartans fell to Bella Vista 50-24, while the Apaches, absent two starters, lost to Natomas.
