Takedown Report

Women's Wrestling News/Results — #22

EAGLES TOP MIDLAND IN HOME DUAL
FAYETTE, Mo. – The Central Methodist University women’s wrestling programed earned its second consecutive home victory with a win over Midland University on Saturday afternoon. Treasure Smith (FR/Saint Louis, Mo.) and Da’Viona Bonner (FR/Bridgeton, Mo.) highlighted the event with a pair of wins on the mat. Smith earned a tech fall at the 170 weight class after running the score up, 10-0, on Midland’s Kiana Hatfield. Bonner earned a victory at the 123 weight class with an 8-2 decision over Midland’s Avery Thomason. … story at http://www.cmueagles.com/article/5696.php?mc_cid=73f08c1943&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Hopkins Creates First Girls Minnesota High School Wrestling Program
Hopkins Independent School District 270, in partnership with Hopkins Wrestling Club, has announced the formation of Hopkins Girls Wrestling for the 2020-2021 school year. Offered through its Independent Provider program, Hopkins ISD 270 and Hopkins Wrestling Club have established the first girls high school wrestling team in Minnesota for 7th-12th grade students.

Two years ago, a girls youth wrestling program was established by former Hopkins Wrestling Head Coach William Barringer through Hopkins Community Education. In its inaugural year of 2018, 11 motivated female students participated in the program. The following year, 27 girls joined the youth program, and in this upcoming third year, it is expected to have 40+ participants. … story at https://theguillotine.com/2020/02/hopkins-creates-first-girls-minnesota-high-school-wrestling-program/?mc_cid=148f5f63fc&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

19 Days to Adrian: Dom Parrish
Dominique Parrish
College: Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, Canada)
High School: Scotts Valley High School (Scotts Valley, California)
Age: 23
Best friends: Abby Nette and Kayla Miracle
High school and college credentials: Parrish was a California girls high school state champion in 2014 and 2015 following a second-place finish in 2013. She won WCWA championships in 2018 and 2019 following a second-place finish in 2017 and a third-place finish in 2016. 
International credentials: The 23-year-old American star reached the finals of the World Team Trials in 2019 (known as Final X) at 55 kg and won a Senior National title in 2019 at 53 kg. She also represented the United States at the U23 World Championships in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Where is Parrish now? Parrish is on the U.S. National Team where she trains at Simon Fraser University with head coach Justin Abdou. She will compete at the 2020 Olympic Trials in the 53 kg weight class. 
In her own words: “Wrestling has played a major role in the direction of my life. … story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1582003025419&twSessionId=mgxkfiujkh&postId=385849135&mc_cid=2452563664&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

18 Days to Adrian: Toccara Montgomery
Toccara Montgomery
College: University of the Cumberlands
High School: East Technical High School (Cleveland, Ohio)
Age: 37
High school and college credentials: Montgomery competed on the men’s wrestling team at East Technical High School in Cleveland, Ohio. She won a women’s national championship (now the WCWA) in 2004 during the first year the event was held and another title in 2006. 
International credentials: Montgomery won silver medals at the Junior World Championships in 2000 and 2001 followed by silver medals at the 2001 and 2003 Worlds, and a gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. She placed seventh at the 2004 Olympics during the first year that women’s freestyle wrestling was included in the Games. Montgomery retired from active international competition at the age of 21 after the Olympics.
Where is Montgomery now? Montgomery coached at Cumberlands before taking over has head women’s wrestling coach Lindenwood (St. Charles, Missouri). She currently works as a kindergarten teacher at Normandy Schools Collaborative and is an assistant wrestling coach at Ritenour High School. 
In her own words: “If I had to sum up women’s wrestling in one word I would say ‘opportunity.’ … story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1582003025419&twSessionId=mgxkfiujkh&postId=429019135&mc_cid=2452563664&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Oregon sees an influx of girls competing in the sport
Two decades ago, the idea of a girls-only dual wrestling meet seemed impossible to Casey Horn. A standout prep wrestler at North Salem High in the late 1990s, Horn was fascinated with the world of coaching and wanted to jump-start his own career however possible. So for his senior project, he spent the better part of a year talking with coaches around the state, including former Oregon State coach Dale Thomas. Out of everything he gleaned from his interview with the collegiate coaching legend, one thing in particular stuck with Horn. “He told me back in 1998 that girls wrestling was going to save boys wrestling,” Horn said. Now the head coach at West Albany, Horn is watching firsthand as Thomas’s prediction comes true. Few high school sports in the U.S. are growing more quickly than girls wrestling, and Oregon has seen a 77 percent increase in participation in the last decade alone. For a sport that was at risk of being removed from the Olympics as recently as 2013, and had seen decreases in numbers at the prep level throughout the 2000’s, the recent influx of female wrestlers has brought life to the sport. “We kind of giggled about it back in the day,” Horn said. “But 22 years later, (Thomas) is right.” Horn and plenty of other coaches around the state are doing everything they can to continue growing the sport and giving girls the opportunity to pursue their passion on the mat. … story at https://www.gazettetimes.com/sports/high-school/prep-wrestling-oregon-sees-an-influx-of-girls-competing-in/article_efec375e-ace6-5760-8f88-d290658ada41.html?mc_cid=2452563664&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Milner: Expanding girls wrestling is the next step in Iowa
This weekend will mark the return of one of Iowa’s truly unique events. The state wrestling tournament is a highlight of the state’s sports calendar. For three days, Iowa’s best high school wrestlers will take to the mats in Des Moines. It’s an absolute frenzy. By the time the finals arrive, fans are as keyed up as you’ll find at any event. Frankly, we doubt most states could pack an arena the way Iowa does for any sport, let alone one that has the comparatively small national footprint of wrestling. But Iowa does wrestling better than any other state. The fans know what to look for and they recognize when a great effort or gutsy performance stands out, even if it’s in a losing effort. If you’ve never gone before, it’s well worth seeing.
The arrival of the state tournament leaves us wondering, though. Why has Iowa, of all states, lagged behind in the development of girls’ wrestling? The absence of a formalized girls wrestling program at the high school level is even more striking when you consider the development of women’s wrestling programs at the collegiate level. Indian Hills has announced plans to introduce both men’s and women’s programs. William Penn in Oskaloosa has hired Tucker Black to be the school’s first women’s wrestling coach. In 2019, 87 competitors took part in the first Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Girls’ State Wrestling Tournament. There’s no question that the interest and enthusiasm was real. It’s a good foundation to build on. There was a time when girls or women on the mats could be dismissed as a small handful of people who weren’t reflective of broader interest from female athletes. That argument is getting harder and harder to make. Schools don’t create programs and make the investments they require on a lark. They do it when they think there’s enough interest to help them boost student numbers. … story at https://www.clintonherald.com/milner-expanding-girls-wrestling-is-the-next-step-in-iowa/article_8e9b7222-51d1-11ea-acc7-6bfe0146692e.html?mc_cid=2452563664&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

Amy Hildebrandt named head women’s coach at Trine University
ANGOLA, Ind. – Trine University Assistant Vice President for Athletics Matt Land has named Amy Hildebrandt as the inaugural head coach of the Thunder women’s wrestling team. “Amy is a great asset to Trine University and the sport of women’s wrestling,” said Land, “She is determined to grow women’s wrestling. Her lifelong passion will serve Trine University well as we develop our program.”
Hildebrandt has served as the coach of the Penn High School girl’s wrestling team for the past two years. While there she has led the team to two state championship titles while coaching four individual state champions. The team can trace its roots to Hildebrandt’s time at Penn as a student when she was instrumental in starting the first Penn Girl’s Wrestling Club which later became the full-fledged team when the IHSGW began sponsoring the sport statewide. “I am honored to be Trine University’s first women’s wrestling coach.” said Hildebrandt, ” …. story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/February/18/Amy-Hildebrandt-new-womens-coach-at-Trine?mc_cid=19e001f281&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

This ‘Helen’ story shows how far women have come
It’s hard to know what the parents of Helen Maroulis were thinking when they named their daughter ‘Helen.’ The family is Greek so there is a chance that the name had something to do with Greek mythology. Regardless, Helen’s parents had no idea that their famous daughter would be the focal point of a Broadway play called ‘Helen.’
Well, it’s not a play yet. It’s just an idea in my head for a play. One that starts with Helen of Troy and ends with 2016 Olympic wrestling champion Helen Maroulis of the United States. And if someone is smart, they will push this thing through. In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy (or Helen of Sparta or Helen of Greece, whichever you prefer) is the ‘Face that launched a thousand ships.’ It was said that Helen was the most beautiful woman in the world and that her abduction by Paris of Troy from King Menelaus of Sparta was what started the Trojan War.  This is where the play begins. Helen of Troy will have a scene where she talks openly about being judged by her beauty and the pressures of starting the Trojan War based solely on appearance. The audience gets to hear Helen’s internal conversation about thousands of men fighting over her.
The play will fast forward to the 1980s when Afsoon Roshanzamir (now Afsoon Johnston) flees from Iran to the United States. Wrestling is popular in Iran but women are not allowed to wrestle, so, as her parents’ only child, Roshanzamir tries out for wrestling in California. For the first time ever, the United States sends a women’s wrestling team to the 1989 World Championships in Martigny, Switzerland of which Roshanzamir is a part.  A few things happen to her at the World Championships. Roshanzamir tries to shake hands with the men’s wrestling team from Iran but they were instructed by the government not to shake her hand. She becomes the first U.S. woman to medal at the World Championships but her accomplishment is overshadowed by politics. …. story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1582084121178&twSessionId=hzpvgjzlzl&postId=461794135&mc_cid=19e001f281&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

17 Days to Adrian: Mallory Velte
Mallory Velte
College: Simon Fraser
High School: Christian Brothers (Sacramento, California)
Age: 24
High school and college credentials: Velte won California girls state championships in 2012 and 2013 followed by WCWA titles for Simon Fraser in 2016, 2017, and 2018 after finishing fourth in 2014.
International credentials: The 24-year-old won a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships after participating at the 2017 Senior Worlds and finishing fifth at the 2013 Junior World Championships. 
Where is Velte now? Velte currently lives in Port Moody, British Columbia at the base of Burnaby Mountain. She trains with Simon Fraser University with periodic training trips to Fresno, California, and the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Velte will attempt to make the 2020 Olympic team at 62 kilograms. 
In her own words: I believe in the value of kids being welcomed and encouraged to discover their passions, strengths, and limits. … story at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1582084121178&twSessionId=hzpvgjzlzl&postId=462585135&mc_cid=19e001f281&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

#2 OAKS DOMINATE #4 SOUTHERN OREGON TO CONCLUDE REGULAR SEASON
ATHERTON, Calif. – It was Senior Night inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion on Monday evening and the #2 Menlo College Oaks were looking to wrap up the regular season on a positive note. They did exactly that, downing the fourth-ranked Southern Oregon Raiders 33-8 in front of raucous crowd to send the senior class off in style. Thank You Seniors.
It was the final home event for six Menlo seniors who left an incredible impact of the legacy of wrestling at Menlo College. Those seniors include: Precious Bell, Christie Sandez, Solin Piearcy, Marilyn Garcia, Lexie Contreras and Alexa Christoforatos.
Garcia Goes Out in Style
Senior Marilyn Garcia was wrestling her final match inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion and it was one for the ages. Garcia, ranked #9 at 155 pounds was down 9-0 late in the match to #4 Gladdys Palma of Southern Oregon. While the team score was never in doubt at this point, it appeared as though Garcia was going to drop her final bout. That was until an incredible late scramble saw fortunes turn in an instant when Garica flipped the script and pinned Palma with just 56 second remaining in the bout. The crowd went wild for what proved to be the most memorable match of the evening. … story at http://www.menloathletics.com/article/8163?mc_cid=19e001f281&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

March 19, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized