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The Daily Oklahoman
Thursday Jan.,13,2000
When the high school governing body in Texas, the University Interscholastic League,sanctioned wrestling last year,it went all the Way. Not only did it sanction the sport for boys,
which has seen a rise from club teams to more than 15o school teams, it also sanctioned wrestling as a girls sport.
Barry Boustead, tournament director of the Lone Star Duals,said there were 21 girls teams the first Year and 60 this season.
"It's really grown around the big population centers," he said of high school wrestling."It,s been strong here in the Metroplex (the Dallas/Fort Worth area), Houston's got quite a few good programs and El Paso's had a traditional history because they're so close to New Mexico.
"The state is so large you,ve had Pockets over the Years, but now everybody's starting to grow together."
Bollstead, Who was able to draw 11 top college programs to the tournament in Grand Prairie (Stanford Pulled out due to the death Of an assistant coach), said club programs remain strong at the universities in Texas, but West Texas A&M (Division 11) is the Only college where there are muttering of starting a program.
The U.S. freestyle Olympics trials will be at Reunion Arena in June , a step in Dallas' bid for the 2012 Olympics.
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Tournament reflects wrestling's growth, coach says
By Rick Mauch - Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000 at 22:23 CST
Special to the Star-Telegram
ARLINGTON -- Lamar wrestling coach Jeff Provence grew up competing in Oklahoma, where the sport has been popular on the high school level for many years. His father is coach of the Harrah (Okla.) High School program.
Provence said he dreams of the day when wrestling in Texas will be as popular as it is in his home state. He can see evidence of growth in that direction in his team's own tournament, the Lamar Invitational, scheduled for this weekend at the Lamar High School gymnasium.
Entries for the boys tournament, which was held the weekend before Thanksgiving last season, have nearly doubled, and the girls field has increased as well. Fifteen boys teams, up from eight, are entered, and the girls bracket will have five entries.
The tournament, in its fourth year, has been expanded to two days.
"In Oklahoma, every tournament I ever went to was two days and that just seems the best way to do it," Provence said. "I really don't like getting up at 5 a.m. on a Saturday, having weigh-ins and being out until midnight."
Provence said he wanted to expand the tournament to two days in past seasons, but didn't have the manpower. He said the fact that he has enough knowledgeable helpers this year is also proof of how wrestling has blossomed.
"If we didn't have the people, I wouldn't expand it, and I mean people who know about the sport," Provence said. "In the past, we just didn't have the resources, but this year we've got returning graduates, parents have learned more and we've got plenty of people who know about wrestling involved."
The boys field includes Lamar, defending champion Dallas Lake Highlands, South Grand Prairie, Martin, Sam Houston, Grand Prairie, Richardson, Plano West, Plano East, Nimitz, Plano Shepton, Irving, Marcus, Carrollton Smith and Dallas Jesuit. The girls field will feature defending champion Sam Houston, Arlington, South Grand Prairie and two teams from Dallas Bishop Dunne.
Originally, 17 teams were entered in the boys bracket. Bowie withdrew pending an investigation into its program and Arlington withdrew earlier this week so as not to exceed its limit of tournaments. The Colts want to remain available for state duals next month, coach Henry Harmoney said.
"It's a great tournament and there's some very good teams there, but we think we can do well at state duals," Harmoney said.
Sam Houston coach Roy Shultz said that even though most of the teams in the boys bracket are familiar with each other, the week should be filled with competitive matches.
"Everybody's seen each other and they know how good some of these teams are, but Martin is Martin, Lake Highlands is always going to be good, and Lamar and Grand Prairie have some decent kids," said Shultz. "This is just a tough tournament."
Brandon Doherty, who wrestles at 135 pounds for the Vikings, said the tough field can be a big help in preparation for the teams' upcoming district and postseason meets in February.
"I'm guessing about two of the top six guys in the state at every weight class will be here," Doherty said. "It's going to get us and everybody ready.
"Region III is the best region in the state and that's where most of these teams come from. This will be a good chance for us to scout our competition ahead at regionals."
Provence said the individual seedings at the regional meet are based on head-to-head competition. Success against tough opponents now would mean a higher seeding for those who advance out of district.
"When we were having the tournament in November, a guy might not be wrestling his best at that time," Provence said. "But if that's the only time he faced a certain opponent all season and lost, he'd have a lower seeding in February when he might actually be the better wrestler of the two."
David Geyer, who wrestles at 171 pounds for Lamar, said he is always learning from his opponents and thinks there is a lot to learn from the talented performers at the tournament. He also said a good showing can only boost a wrestler's confidence with crucial meets around the corner.
"Not only can this meet be a confidence-builder, it can be a talent-builder and an experience-builder," Geyer said. "At St. Mark's, I didn't use any of my own moves, I used things I had learned from others. It will be interesting to see what they have to offer this weekend."
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FOOTBALL SUCCESS TAKES TOLL ON MATS HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Monday, January 3, 2000
Scott Priestle
Dispatch Sports Reporter
While the Worthington Kilbourne football team was marching to the state semifinals, at least one man had reason to wish it would rain on the Wolves' parade. The longer football season lasted, the longer wrestling coach Paul Bukky would be without a handful of starters.
But even Bukky could not find the cloud in that silver lining.
"We want kids to play more than one sport,'' he said. "I would rather have those kids that play football or some other sport and have that kind of experience.''
The problem, as Bukky sees it, is that too many kids come out of football season with more than extra experiences. Like extra pounds.
Because the Wolves' football season lasted until Nov. 25, the wrestling team was still working into shape past Christmas. A similar scene has been played out at Pickerington, Watterson and Amanda-Clearcreek, where the football players-turned-wrestlers are just now rounding into form.
"It's going to be an ongoing process,'' said Pickerington coach Nick Burgess, who has started five freshmen because football players on his team could not make weight earlier.
While most wrestling coaches are quick to point out how well football and wrestling complement each other athletically, they often are at odds physiologically. Athletes who are expected to add bulk for football then must shed the pounds for wrestling.
Jason Maher of Pickerington, a state qualifier at 145 pounds last season and a starting running back this fall, injured his knee trying to wrestle at 152 pounds while working his way down to 145. He returned last week and took fourth place at 145 at the prestigious Medina Invitational.
Travis Smith of Teays Valley took the opposite approach, adding pounds for football and keeping them. After qualifying for the state meet at 152 pounds last season, he is wrestling at 189 pounds this season and having similar success, finishing third at Medina.
Shawn Ritzenthaler of Kilbourne, who was listed at 205 pounds in the state football program, is wrestling at 215 and is ranked second in the Dispatch-coaches poll.
Bukky said the key was Ritzenthaler never got too big during the fall.
"A lot of football coaches encourage kids to be obese, to keep getting bigger -- not necessarily stronger but bigger. Nobody complains about it, but then they complain about kids trying to cut a couple pounds for wrestling,'' Bukky said. "I'm not being critical of our football program, be clear on that. It's just a general attitude that people think these kids have to be bigger, bigger, bigger for football . . .
"If they're working hard and training, their bodies should be lean.''
* MORE THAN A NOVELTY -- Two years ago, Northmor had a strong team that went on to win the first of back-to-back Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference titles. But the main attraction always seemed to be part-time starter Jessica Shirley, who went 14-6 and "was hot news,'' Knights coach Mike Skelton said.
After missing last season with a shoulder injury, Shirley returned this season better than ever. And she has fit in better than ever.
The proof, Skelton said, is in the Dispatch- coaches poll: Shirley is ranked third at 112 pounds in Division III, one of five Northmor wrestlers so recognized, including returning state qualifiers Waylon Spencer and C.B. Dollaway.
"She received a lot of coverage because she was a girl, and I understand that. Now she deserves to get credit as a wrestler,'' Skelton said.
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Del Oro comes back to beat Rocklin 31-28
(Published Jan. 13, 2000)
Now would be a good time to ask Del Oro wrestling coach Dave Sanchez to pick up the tab at lunch. He's in an especially good mood after his team's 31-28 victory over Rocklin on Tuesday.
The Golden Eagles' Sierra Foothill League winning streak has been stretched to 24, and Del Oro now has a firm grasp on a third consecutive conference title.
Del Oro trailed Rocklin 21-3 halfway through the match. The Thunder, only needing two wins in the last seven matches for victory, could only manage a pin at 160 by top-ranked John Kirkwood.
"Every one had a job to do and they did it," Sanchez said. "We talked about the overall match and had a pretty good idea what had to happen. The key was not getting pinned and pinning when we could."
Rocklin, a dominating team in the lightweights with three No. 1-ranked wrestlers, won six of the first seven weight classes. But the Thunder had no pins.
"Any one guy gives up a single point more and we're tied," Sanchez said. "We've trained hard this year and it's been worth it. We're peaking now and now is the right time. Oh, I'm in a good mood."
Another big match occurs today at 6 p.m., when Elk Grove visits Laguna Creek in what should decide the Delta League title.
Ponderosa 112-pounder Jake Barwis locked horns with nemesis Darrell Vasquez of Bakersfield in the finals of the Doc Buchanan Invitational in Fresno, losing 6-4 in overtime. Barwis lost to Vasquez in the championship match for the state title at 103 pounds last year.
Josh Carling added a silver medal at 145 for the Bruins. Bruins Rodney Pebley at 152, Matt Quintmeyer at 160 and Woodland's Ryan McNaughton at 171 earned bronze medals.
Bear River's Dave Roberts (16-1) mauled the competition, winning the 125-pound class, and teammate Mike Spalliero (16-3) placed fifth at 145.
Tom Rapisardi (22-0) of Vacaville found the leap from 140 to 152 to his liking in the Gary Bianchini Tournament in Cupertino, capturing the title. Other Bulldogs who fared well were sophomore Daren Murphy (26-3), first at 215, and senior Tim Hausler (15-4), second at 145. Hausler, who finished sixth in the state last year, lost to the state's No. 1-ranked Peter Le of Santa Teresa, who placed seventh at the state tournament last year.
Del Oro's 160-pound Brett Del Balso (10-2) was victorious, keeping his California slate clean. His only two losses were to wrestlers from Idaho and Utah. The Golden Eagles' 189-pounder Matt Brunello was second, losing only to the state's No. 1 man, Dave Galante of Del Mar, who finished fifth in the state last year at 171. On his way to a silver medal, he beat Beau McCoy (24-5) of Vacaville in the semifinals.
Bronze medalists in Cupertino included Mike Wilson (19-10) at 112 and Jason Reyes (24-4) at 171 of Vacaville and Dave Vargas at 119 of Del Oro.
Casa Roble's 112-pound Tuvien Le (18-2) and 171-pound Charlie Corrasa (27-0) each won titles at the 28-team Escalon Tournament. Corrasa upset No. 1-ranked Adam George of Elk Grove 3-0. The Rams also had Tyler McGuire (18-1) place second at 160 pounds.
Jacob Croft, who had earned The Bee's No. 1 ranking at heavyweight off his fifth-place finish at the section tournament last year, is not wrestling this season. Croft, a 6-foot-51/2, 312-pound All-City football standout at Yuba City, is over the 300-pound weight limit.
No wonder Mesa Verde No. 1-ranked 119 pound Jeff Washburn (21-1) is off to such a great start. He gets in a little extra practice and pointers at home from sister Sonia Washburn, who placed fourth in the national girls tournament in Michigan last year.
Another brother-sister duo is 119-pound Anthony and 112-pound Theresa Dal Ben at Laguna Creek. A couple of other girls worth noting are 103-pounders Lindsay Torrance at Nevada Union and Jen Modellas at Kennedy.
Galt heavyweight Gabe Flores broke his leg and is in a boot cast. He is hoping to return by the league tournament. Sheldon's 152-pound B.J. Hoover suffered a knee injury and his return is up in the air.
The wrestling background in the Lynch family out of Granite Bay goes way back. Kevin Lynch (9-1) was a significant cog in the Grizzlies' Sac-Joaquin Section Division II title run in football this past fall and is now displaying his aggressiveness in the heavyweight division. His dad Mike Lynch Sr., who coaches both football and wrestling, was the 1966 Sierra Foothill League champ at 175 pounds at Marysville High. Kevin's brother, Mike Lynch Jr., a former Capital Valley Conference champion at Oakmont, is in his first year as assistant football coach at Utah State. Another father-son combo is 152-pound Grant Nixon and father Kurt Nixon, a former Alaskan state champ.
