Web hosting Custom Email SiteBuilder

News Page

Sissy Lyle, Quigley -- Chris Rebholz, Seneca Valley

Thursday, February 24, 2000

Sissy Lyle

SCHOOL: Quigley.

WHO IS SHE? A senior who attends Ambridge but wrestles for Quigley under a cooperative sponsorship program. Ambridge does not have wrestling and Quigley is a private Catholic school in Baden.

STATE CHAMPION: There are no girls' wrestling teams in the WPIAL, but there have been state girls' wrestling championships at McCaskey High School in Lancaster the past two years. Lyle has won a state title both years. On Feb. 5, Lyle won the 130-pound class when she pinned Sarah Dohle of George School in 46 seconds.

SEASON: Lyle has 10 victories for Quigley.

CAREER: Lyle has been wrestling for Quigley since her freshman year and has won more than 30 matches against boys.

DOMINATING PERFORMANCE: At the state championship meet, Lyle won three matches by pins. "Last year, the competition wasn't very good just because it was the first time they had it," Lyle said. "This year, you could tell there was improvement in the competition."

STARTING EARLY: Lyle has been wrestling since she was 4. She got into the sport because her two older brothers, Tom and Shaun, also wrestled.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE: Lyle has been wrestling competitively against boys since she was 7. "When she was just a youth wrestler or even in junior high, there wasn't much difference between her and the guys," said Quigley Coach Ed Driscoll. "But once you get into high school, that's when you can really see the difference in muscle between girls and guys. That's when things got tough for her."

Lyle will compete in the Class AAA Section 3 tournament this weekend. "I think she has a chance of maybe winning a match," Driscoll said. "But it will be difficult for her to win the section because strength-wise, she just can't stay with most of the guys in high school."

Lyle said wrestling against the boys was a big deal to some people when she was younger, but not now.

"I used to hear things from the coaches, more than anyone else," she said. "When I was in youth wrestling, I think some coaches thought I would quit if they made fun of me or harassed me a lot."

THE FUTURE: Lyle wants to wrestle in college -- for a women's team. "There are only five Division I schools in the NCAA that have women's wrestling and she's actually getting some interest from a few of them," Driscoll said. "Missouri Valley (Mo.) is one of those five and they'd like to have her."

Lyle, who has a 3.3 grade-point average, said Missouri Valley has offered a partial scholarship, but she is hoping for a full scholarship.

---------------------------------

Castle’s Migita and Fujioka wrestle with success

The juniors have earned berths in a national girls' competition next week
By Tim CrouseWednesday, February 23, 2000
Special to the Star-Bulletin

It's cold and snowy in Michigan this time of year, but for a pair of local wrestlers, it will be a great place to be next week.

Cathy Migita and Kristin Fujioka, both juniors at Castle High School, are heading East to compete in the girls' national wrestling tournament at Lake Orion, Mich.

"It's an honor for them to be able to go," said Castle coach Ben Guerrero. "We take the girls who have worked the hardest and those who have a chance to win."

Migita and Fujioka also will take part in the state championships this weekend at the Blaisdell Arena.

It will be the third state tournament in girls' wrestling, and Castle has had a state champ in at least one weight class the past two years.

Migita, who is 5-foot-5 and wrestles in the 121-pound weight division, and Fujioka, 4-11 and 98 pounds, picked up the sport less than two years ago.

But their dedication and work habits have made up for lost time.

"They're the hardest workers on the team," said Guerrero. "When practice starts at 4:30, they're here at 3:45. They come early and stay late.

"(Their success) is because of their dedication and how much time they devote to wrestling," he added.

"I think wrestling is one of the hardest sports because you have to be quick and strong," Migita said.

She said that as each wrestler learns and gets better, they have to find moves that work for them.

The coaches teach certain moves in practice, but Migita said those moves aren't necessarily the best moves for a certain individual.

"If you want to learn moves that you're going to do, you have to put in the extra time," she said.
Guerrero said the extra time they spend before and after practice is used to perfect their technique. He said they do technique drills over and over.

Almost every day they practice against boys.

"It helps them better themselves," Guerrero said.

He said that since the boys weigh more and are usually stronger, the girls have to be better with their technique.

"It helps you get better when you wrestle someone better and stronger than you," Guerrero said.

But for this weekend's state tournament, and next week's national competition, they'll only have to wrestle against other girls.

"If you want to get somewhere, you have to do it yourself. No one else is going to cover up for you," Migita said. "When you're out there on the mat, everything you worked for (is on the line) and no one else is going to be able to help you."

Migita said she saw wrestling as a new challenge, and liked the sport because it gave her entire body a workout and she was able to get stronger.

She said she's been able to do so well in the sport in such a short time because she asks a lot of questions and just tries to learn as much as she can each day.

Fujioka participated in karate before starting wrestling, and she also competes in judo.

Guerrero said Fujioka's involvement in those martial arts has helped her in wrestling, especially in the area of balance.

Both girls said their parents and friends were surprised when they told them they wanted to start wrestling.

"They were shocked," Fujioka said of her parents' reaction.

But after a year and a half on the mat, she has picked up an identity.

"Everyone knows me as Kristin the wrestler," Fujioka said.

"A lot of people say, 'Oh, you're wrestling?'

"And my friends thought it was weird, but I think most people are amazed because it's girls' wrestling," Migita said.

Migita, Fujioka and the 10 other local wrestlers going to the nationals have a lot to live up to.

Sixteen wrestlers from Hawaii went to the tournament last year, which featured more than 400 competitors from around the country, and the team finished second only to Michigan.

"We're not going to take someone who is going to go over there and (not do well)," Guerrero said. "We go there to win."

-----------------------------------------

Thu, 24 Feb 2000 21:41:33 GMT

HESPERIA — Mason County Central captured its first Division IV team regional
wrestling championship
in impressive fashion on Thursday.

The Spartans upended state-ranked Hesperia 41-26 in the semifinal round
and then crushed LeRoy-Pine
River 42-19 in the championship dual. Pine River qualified for the final by
edging St. Louis, 32-31.

“A nice day’s work,” said Central coach Jack Stibitz. “I couldn’t have
asked the kids to wrestle any better
against Hesperia. They were fired up and ready to wrestle.”

Last year’s Division IV state runnerup, Hesperia entered the tournament
with a record of 23-3. Central was
24-6. Hesperia was trying for its fifth straight team regional title.

The Spartans won eight of the 14 bouts. Central wrestlers posting pin wins
were Tim Fisk at 119 pounds,
Andy Sanford at 135, Chris Luttrell at 152, Jason Fairfield at 160 and Jose
Torres at 171. Jeremy Larsen at
112 and Nate Oliver at 215 won by major decisions and Evan Lundberg won by a
regular decision at 140.

“Everybody who went on the mat, it was an important match,” said Stibitz.
“Even the kids who lost did their
job. Sandra (Padron) didn’t get pinned. That’s like gaining three extra
points. We gained two more when
Jamie (Alvesteffer) didn’t get pinned.”

In the finals against Pine River, a team with a 28-5 record, the Spartans
were even more impressive, winning
10 of the 14 bouts. Fisk at 112 and Jason Huggard at 275 were the lone
Central wrestlers to post pins.

Larsen at 112 and Ed Cheladyn at 189 won on technical falls. Padron at 103
and Sanford at 135 logged
major decision wins and George at 130, Luttrell at 152, Fairfield at 160 and
Oliver at 215 were winners by decision.

“The kids just wrestled super. They peaked at the right time and everybody
is making weight without much
problem,” said Stibitz, who is in his 13th year as Central’s wrestling
coach. “We’ve had some really good
teams here at Scottville that I’ve had the pleasure of coaching.”

But none made it out of the team regional.

“It seemed like we’d get beat in the district, maybe sometimes when we
shouldn’t have, but these kids really
elevated their level yesterday. Now hopefully that will carry over into
Saturday and we can get a bunch of kids
qualified for the state tournament,” said Stibitz, whose team will be
represented by 12 wrestlers in the Division
IV individual regional tournament, also at Hesperia.

In the team competition, Central will wrestle defending Division IV state
champion Whittemore-Prescott in
the quarterfinals, to be held 1 p.m. Friday, March 3 at the Kellogg Arena in
Battle Creek.

Whittemore-Prescott is 24-4 and crushed New Lothrop 62-15 and St. Charles
78-3 in its team regional on
Wednesday.

Central’s summaries:

M.C. CENTRAL 41, HESPERIA 26

103: Kelly Sibley, H, decisioned Sandra Padron, MCC, 6-1.

112: Jeremy Larsen, MCC, major decisioned Brandon Haines, H, 10-0.

119: Tim Fisk, MCC, pinned Mike Lotz, H, 5:47.

125: Allen Bowers, H, major decisioned Jamie Alvesteffer, MCC, 11-3.

130: Mark Arbogast, H, decisioned Mike George, MCC, 10-6.

135: Andy Sanford, MCC, pinned Thome, H, 1:57.

140: Evan Lundberg, MCC, decisioned Roger Thompson, H, 7-5.

145: Chad Burrell, H, pinned Brett Goda, MCC, 0:39.

152: Chris Luttrell, MCC, pinned Joe Lorenz, H, 7:04.

160: Jason Fairfield, MCC, pinned Conkle, H, 5:37.

171: Jose Torres, MCC, pinned Clint Muckey, H, 2:23.

189: Keith Muckey, H, major decisioned Ed Cheladyn, MCC, 9-0.

215: Nate Oliver, MCC, major decisioned Justin Maynard, H, 10-2.

275: Wes Brimmer, H, won by forfeit.

M.C. CENTRAL 42, PINE RIVER 19

103: Sandra Padron, MCC, major decisioned Justin Wort, PR, 10-0.

112; Jeremy Larsen, MCC, technical fall over Matt Morris, PR, 15-0.

119: Tim Fisk, MCC, pinned Jason Peffer, PR, 1:06.

125: Matt Crawford, PR, major decisioned Jamie Alvesteffer, MCC, 11-1.

130: Mike George, MCC, decisioned O’Ryan Wilkins, PR, 3-2.

135: Andy Sanford, MCC, major decisioned Matt Wort, PR, 12-2.

140: Keith Stewart, PR, decisioned Evan Lundberg, MCC, 6-1.

145: Andy Neilsen, PR, pinned Brett Goda, MCC, 1:36.

152: Chris Luttrell, MCC, decisioned Nick Peffer, PR, 4-2.

160: Jason Fairfield, MCC, decisioned Terry Martin, PR, 11-4.

171: Nate Wanstead, PR, pinned Jose Torres, MCC, 5:45.

189: Ed Cheladyn, MCC, technical fall over Ben Valley, PR, 15-0.

215: Nate Oliver, MCC, decisioned Eric Wanstead, PR, 12-5.

275: Jason Huggard, MCC, pinned Jason Barnett, PR, 1:57.

Division II regional

(at Lowell)
---------------------
HESPERIA — Mason County Central qualified 12 wrestlers into this week’s
Division IV individual wrestling tournament. The Spartans had four
weight-class champions in Saturday’s individual district tourney and also
took five seconds, one third and two fourths.

“The boys and girls wrestled pretty well Saturday,” said Central coach Jack
Stibitz. “We put nine guys in the finals and had four champions. We had some
kids that were seeded fourth that made it to the finals.”

Central’s champions were Jacob Huggard at 275 pounds. Jeremy Larson at 112,
Tim Fisk at 119 and Ed Cheladyn at 189.

Huggard defeated teammate Tim Sommerfeldt in the finals on a pin at 2
minutes, 56 seconds.

“It would be nice if the same thing happened this weekend, if we could get
both of those guys in the state tournament,” Stibitz said.

Coaches are allowed to enter two wrestlers in the same division providing
they do not enter more than 14 wrestlers total in the tournament.

At 112, Larson decisioned J. Karsten of Rogers City, 5-0. At 119, Fisk
scored a 14-2 decision over Z. Centala of Rogers City. At 189, Cheladyn
pinned Jason Maynard of Hesperia at the five-minute mark.

Larson’s trip to the finals was especially gratifying.

“Jeremy beat a kid he’s lost to three times, maybe four times,” Stibitz said
of Larson’s 11-4 win over Pat Brooks of Benzie Central in the semifinal
round. “Jeremy just elevated his level and thumped him good.”

Stibitz also cited the performance of Cheladyn, who is rounding into a shape
after a bout with illness.

“Ed picked it up a little bit. He lost to Maynard twice and beat him twice.
This time he pinned him,” said Stibitz.

Other second-place finishers were Sandra Padron at 103 pounds, Mike George
at 130, Jason Fairfield at 160 and Nate Oliver at 215.

Padron was pinned by Kelly Sibley of Hesperia at 1:30, George was decisioned
by Mark Arbogast of Hesperia 6-1, Fairfield lost on an injury default to C.
Sierzputowski of Benzie and Oliver dropped a 5-2 decision to Joe Galer of
Onaway.

“Two-fifteen was tough. It was last year, too. Last year, the first-,
second-, fourth- and seven-place finishers at state came out of our region.
Saturday, the top three seeds were 125 and five,” said Stibitz. “The kid
from Onaway came in at 44-0 and he beat Nate 5-2, but he’s beatable.”

On Wednesday, Central will compete in the Division IV team regional
tournament at Hesperia. The Spartans, 24-6 in dual competition, will wrestle
meet host Hesperia, 23-3, at 6 p.m. in the semifinal round. LeRoy-Pine
River, 27-5, will take on St. Louis, 19-9, in the other semifinal match. The
two winners will meet for the regional title at approximately 7:15.

“We lost to them in the first match of the year,” Stibitz said of Hesperia.
“We beat them in mid-year at their house in their tournament. Both matches
were by four points. It will be an exciting match, needless to say.”

On Saturday, Central’s individual qualifiers will compete in the individual
regional tournament, also at Hesperia.

Individual Spartan records, through the districts are: Nate Oliver, 42-4; Ed
Cheladyn, 40-9; Jason Fairfield, 39-8; Jacob Huggard, 38-5; Mike George,
38-9; Evan Lundberg, 37-13; Andy Sanford, 35-12; Jeremy Larson, 34-13; Chris
Luttrell, 28-19; Tim Fisk, 26-2; Sandra Padron, 22-7; Tim Sommerfeldt, 20-2;
Jamie Alvesteffer, 20-27; and Brett Goda, 18-21.