Takedown Report

Women’s News, Notes, Results & Report # 10

West Orange HS girls wrestling program thriving
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange High School girls wrestling team is making history at the high school and in New Jersey as part of a new national and worldwide movement acknowledging girls wrestling as a sport in its own right. At least 15 states have approved girls wrestling as a sport beginning in 2019, including New Jersey, which was the 12th state to approve. The state is well-known for how seriously it takes the sport, featuring detailed sports coverage, camps, tournaments, clubs, and more. Previously, girls were allowed to wrestle on co-ed teams. They still can, but as schools begin to build a full-size girls team —  enough members to compete in each weight class — it is expected that girls will choose to play other females, especially at the higher weight classes. “Once you get over 132 pounds, it gets hard to wrestle boys,” said senior Sandy Guerrero, who wrestles girls at 215 pounds. “It’s like wrestling men,” she laughed. Until there are enough full-size teams for competition, girls wrestling tournaments remain individual in nature, meaning that there are no official team placements/scores. Building girls wrestling teams across the state is a process, but with the success of its inaugural 2019 season, it is growing quickly. The WOHS team started with seven girls last year and is up to 20 this year. The program at WOHS has expanded mostly by recruitment and word-of-mouth. Several girls had played other sports, like track and soccer, but liked the idea of doing something new and different. “At first I just liked the idea that there were no tryouts,” said sophomore Esther Gratia, “but it turned out to be so much more disciplined and serious. Practices are different from middle school – they’re aggressive and you practice to win. It’s a different mindset and a different culture.” For junior Elicia Kimble, wrestling offered something physical and demanding. “I have seven brothers and three sisters,” she said, “and things are always physical around my house. I wanted to get stronger and hold my own.” From the beginning, West Orange wrestlers Guerrero and Daniela Tacuri were incredibly successful, winning several championships in their weight classes, with Tacuri placing second and Guererro placing fourth in the state at Atlantic City in February, 2019. Both girls are on track for another shot this year, along with sophomore Esther Gratia. All three qualified on Jan. 11 to move forward –  Tacuri was a 6-5 winner at 114 and Guerrero pinned her way to the championship at 215 pounds. Esther Gratia (180) was a runner-up. Guerrero has wrestled for 10 years, first with the West Orange Rec program, then middle school, and at West Orange High School. She also participates … Rest of the story at https://essexnewsdaily.com/sports/sports-westorange/84960?mc_cid=edf20d65ae&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Trine University to Sponsor Women’s Wrestling
ANGOLA, Ind. – Today, Friday, Jan. 17, as girls from across the state travel to the Indiana High School Girls Wrestling (IHSGW) 2020 Finals, Trine University has announced it will start a women’s wrestling program of its own. The program will begin competition in the 2020-21 season. “We are excited to announce another opportunity for women athletes to compete at the collegiate level at Trine University,” said Assistant Vice President for Athletics Matt Land. “Women’s wrestling is a growing sport and we are proud that women across the region will have a new opportunity to compete here at Trine.” Women’s wrestling is a sport on the rise across the country, with 20 states officially offering a scholastic state championship, according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) is set to join those ranks next year, announcing the formation of its own championship for the 2020-21 season. At the college level, more than 70 institutions offer women’s wrestling; 24 within the NCAA. Six NCAA Division III institutions currently sponsor women’s wrestling in the region. Trine becomes the first NCAA institution to sponsor the sport in Indiana. The biggest news for the growth of women’s wrestling came this past June when the NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics “recommended that all three divisions of the NCAA governance structure add women’s wrestling as an NCAA emerging sport, effective August 1, 2020.” … Rest of the story at http://www.nwcaonline.com/trine-university-to-sponsor-womens-wrestling/

AWW Radio #8 – Team USA in Rome, News, NCAA & NAIA National Duals Recap
New AWW Radio episode just dropped today! Join the Bleacher Brothers on Apple Podcasts ⬇️⬇️⬇️, Spotify, Anchor, or other podcast platforms.
”AWW Radio #8 – Team USA in Rome, News, NCAA & NAIA National Duals Recap”
Rest of the story, podcast and links at https://www.americanwomenswrestling.com/news-2/aww-radio-episode-8?mc_cid=8ef0a047a0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Bruntil Named USA Wrestling Athlete Of The Week
(COLORADO SPRINGS, Co., Jan. 15) – McKendree University Women’s Wrestler Emma Bruntil () has been selected as their athlete of the week, the assosiation announced earlier this week.  Bruntil earns the national award after a 3-0 performance at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals, doing her part to secure McKendree’s second-straight NWCA title, which they did so by defeating Presbyterian College, No. 3 Colorado Mesa, and No. 5 Simon Fraser. … Rest of the story at https://mckbearcats.com/news/2020/1/15/womens-wrestling-bruntil-named-usa-wrestling-athlete-of-the-week.aspx?mc_cid=8ef0a047a0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

January 26, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized