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Rim girl wins league wrestling title

The Press-Enterprise Published 2/5/2000
TEMECULA

Marcie VanDusen defeated both her male opponents Saturday to earn the Skyline League wrestling title in the 119-pound class.

VanDusen, of Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World, was one of five league champions from her school at the Skyline League individual wrestling championships at Temecula Chaparral. Her season record was 19-10.

By winning the tournament, VanDusen makes history as the first female to win a league title in Riverside or San Bernardino county. Last year she went to CIF as the second-place finisher.

"She's a very experienced wrestler," Chaparral coach Ric Campo said. "People are amazed that she is a girl. . . . She's a great girl wrestler, but she's also a great wrestler, regardless of her sex."

VanDusen, who was seeded first, defeated Chaparral's Frank Nguyen in a 7-5 decision to win the championship.

She has much higher aspirations as well. VanDusen plans to compete for a spot in the 2004 Summer Olympics, when women's wrestling is expected to be contested for the first time.

Confident and upbeat, VanDusen encourages other girls to get involved in wrestling. She is one of several girls in the Inland Empire who are participating in wrestling this season. None has had as much success, and most compete on the junior varsity level, but interest is growing.

Her success Saturday was 10 years in the making. At 8 she started wrestling to alleviate the boredom at her older brother T.J.'s high school wrestling meets.

"You wait an hour to see him wrestle, and then another three go by before he wrestles again," VanDusen said. "I thought I could pass the time by wrestling."

VanDusen hooked up with Dave Chapman, a coach with 25 years of wrestling experience, when she started and has been with him ever since. Chapman has trained, conditioned and coached her through each level.

Early on, some coaches didn't like the idea of a girl invading their sport. The her hard work began paying off and she started earning the respect accorded a serious athlete. Once VanDusen entered high school, most wrestlers already knew who she was and what she could do. But because she didn't develop muscles as boys do, she had an obvious strength disadvantage.

VanDusen evened her chances by learning holds and techniques very early, earlier than most of those against whom she competed. Chapman trained VanDusen so much, she could react to her opponents without thinking. She always had an answer for their moves. She lifted weights, watched video and had an extra practice every week with Chapman.

"At this level, she can get away with a certain amount of technique to get over obstacles," Chapman said. "It's been a weakness (lack of strength), but it's also helped her because wrestlers look at her and say they know they're stronger than her."

As a senior, VanDusen rarely goes to an area meet where most wrestlers don't already know who she is. She warms up with her team and then takes time to be on her own before her matches. Other teams don't confront her with doubts or criticisms, but VanDusen's teammates hear the trash talk. They don't get involved, they let VanDusen's wrestling speak for itself.

Once VanDusen steps on the mat, it's all business. She stuffs her hair into a swim cap and wears long tights. They only voice she can hear while she's wrestling is Chapman's. Quickly she gets to work, tying up her opponent. Usually, her hand is raised in victory at the end of the match.

"When the whistle blows, she's not a girl, she's an opponent," said Craft, Rim's wrestling coach. "And she's out there to beat you."

She will go away to Cal State Monterey Bay next year to major in global studies. She passed up athletic scholarships to attend Monterey, but she will continue training with a high school team there. Two universities and one junior college in the country offer athletic scholarships for women's wrestling, but none had the major VanDusen wanted to pursue.

After two years in college, VanDusen plans to move to Colorado Springs to train for the 2004 Summer Olympics. In 2004, women's wrestling is expected to be a sport, but whether it will be exhibition or a medal sport hasn't been decided. If she doesn't make the team, she said she will continue to train for the following Olympics.

VanDusen already has wrestled in two international women's matches, taking third place both times. After wrestling boys so often, she has had to adjust to the small differences in wrestling women. Wrestling boys has gotten her to this level, but wrestling women is what will help her reach her higher goals.

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Raising the bar

Rim of the World's Marcie VanDusen can become the first Inland area girl to win a league title in boys' wrestling, and she doesn't plan to stop there.

By Tiffany Guthrie
The Press-Enterprise

Scott Craft demands a serious work ethic from his wrestlers, so when one of them showed up for a meet in a skirt, he had to give the wrestler a hard time.

But Craft made an exception, because it was one of his most successful wrestlers.

And the wrestler is a girl.

Marcie VanDusen is a 119-pound varsity wrestler for Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World -- and a good one. VanDusen went undefeated during the Skyline League schedule and is seeded first at today's individual league championships.

If she wins the tournament, VanDusen will make history by becoming the first female to win a league title in Riverside or San Bernardino county. Last year she went to CIF as the second-place finisher.

She has much higher aspirations as well. VanDusen plans to compete for a spot in the 2004 Summer Olympics, when women's wrestling is expected to be contested for the first time.

Confident and upbeat, VanDusen encourages other girls to get involved in wrestling. She is one of several girls in the Inland Empire who are participating in wrestling this season. None has had as much success, and most compete on the junior varsity level, but interest is growing.

The Skyline League championships will begin today at noon at Temecula Chaparral High.

The glory and respect that go with VanDusen's outstanding season have been 10 years in the making. At 8 she started wrestling to alleviate the boredom at her older brother T.J.'s high school wrestling meets.

"You wait an hour to see him wrestle, and then another three go by before he wrestles again," VanDusen said. "I thought I could pass the time by wrestling."

VanDusen hooked up with Dave Chapman, a coach with 25 years of wrestling experience, when she started and has been with him ever since. Chapman has trained, conditioned and coached her through each level.

When she started, some coaches didn't like the idea of a girl invading their sport. They never said anything directly to VanDusen but told their wrestlers to be extra hard on her, she said. She got through that first difficult year and started earning the respect she would need to be considered a serious athlete.

Once VanDusen entered high school, most wrestlers already knew who she was and what she was capable of. The obstacle of earning respect from her wrestling counterparts wasn't a problem, but puberty hadn't brought VanDusen the muscle mass boys her age developed. At an obvious strength disadvantage, VanDusen had to rely on technique.

VanDusen evened her chances by learning holds and techniques very early. Most underclassmen she wrestles only have a couple years of training under their belts. Chapman trained VanDusen so much, she could react to her opponents without thinking. She always had an answer for their moves. She lifted weights, watched video and had an extra practice every week with Chapman.

"At this level, she can get away with a certain amount of technique to get over obstacles," Chapman said. "It's been a weakness (lack of strength), but it's also helped her because wrestlers look at her and say they know they're stronger than her."

Although wrestling requires her to be as much like the guys as possible, VanDusen enjoys being feminine. She wears her brown hair past her shoulders, even though coaches have encouraged her to cut it short. She paints her nails and wears makeup, proving that a girl can be both a fierce competitor and a soft touch.

"People think I'm some big manly girl," VanDusen said. "I have to expect it. I'm not doing cheerleading or something. It's what I chose to do, so I have to expect everything that comes with it."

The stereotypes and surprised looks don't seem to bother VanDusen. She accepts them in stride, usually with a knowing smile.

"(My parents) brought me up to realize that whatever I do, I'm going to have to accept the consequences that go with it, good or bad," VanDusen said. "I've gotten a lot of good things out of it. All the guys I wrestle with . . . are like big brothers to me. They look out for me at school."

Rim's wrestling team is like a family, only this wrestling family has a sister. They tease VanDusen incessantly, but with caring in their voices. The boys cheer her on and watch her wrestle with pride.

"Don't run like a girl, Marcie." "What are you, a girl?" They yell while the team warms up in practice. VanDusen smiles and keeps running, with her ponytail wagging behind her.

Greg Smith, a captain of the team, calls VanDusen "Queen of the Mountain." He hugs her in the hallway between classes and yanks her ponytail for good measure during practice. But Smith knows VanDusen has earned her nickname, going 19-10 on the season.

"She's a real good wrestler," Smith said. "She works harder than anybody else in there. Guys will say they don't think girls should be on varsity, and then she goes and pins the kid. Then they respect her."

As a senior, VanDusen rarely goes to an area meet where most wrestlers don't already know who she is. She warms up with her team and then takes time to be on her own before her matches. Other teams don't confront her with doubts or criticisms, but VanDusen's teammates hear the trash talk. They don't get involved, they let VanDusen's wrestling speak for itself.

"A lot of people know who she is and know she's tough," Smith said. "She's been wrestling for a long time and has earned every bit of respect."

VanDusen is also intent on laying people's fears to rest about harassment issues. She insists no inappropriate contact occurs when she wrestles.

"It's not even like that," VanDusen said. "I think guys are more concerned about losing to a girl . . . It isn't even an issue. It's just a sport."

Once VanDusen steps on the mat, it's all business. She stuffs her hair into a swim cap and wears long tights. They only voice she can hear while she's wrestling is Chapman's. Quickly she gets to work, tying up her opponent. Usually, her hand is raised in victory at the end of the match.

"When the whistle blows, she's not a girl, she's an opponent," said Craft, Rim's wrestling coach. "And she's out there to beat you."

Beyond today, VanDusen has lofty goals that include the Olympics. She will go away to Cal State Monterey Bay next year to major in global studies. She passed up athletic scholarships to attend Monterey, but she will continue training with a high school team there. Two universities and one junior college in the country offer athletic scholarships for women's wrestling, but none had the major VanDusen wanted to pursue.

Nationally, girls' wrestling has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Three states, but not California, offer separate high school championships for girls. USA Wrestling supports a women's team, which won its first world championship last year.

After two years in college, VanDusen plans on moving to Colorado Springs to train for the 2004 Summer Olympics. In 2004, women's wrestling is expected to be a sport, but whether it will be exhibition or a medal sport hasn't been decided. If she doesn't make the team, she said she will continue to train for the following Olympics.

VanDusen already has wrestled in two international women's matches, taking third place both times. After wrestling boys so often, she has had to adjust to the small differences in wrestling women. Wrestling boys has gotten her to this level, but wrestling women is what will help her reach her higher goals.

"It is an attainable goal (the Olympics)," Chapman said. "As always there are a lot of distractions. She has a lot of things to learn. She has to dedicate herself to going to national tournaments. She can't just put her time in with the guys anymore."

For a couple more weeks she will put her time in with the guys. If she continues to win, that time will be well spent. VanDusen's journey through the mostly-male world of wrestling has been a life lesson.

"I feel sorry for the guy who tries to mess with her outside of wrestling," Craft said.