Takedown Report

Women’s Wrestling News – # 36

1 } – Erica Wiebe stresses positives while wrestling with disappointment of Olympic postponement
In the search to find purpose and to accomplish something new each day while in isolation, Erica Wiebe has discovered a talent for getting dressed upside down. It’s all part of the optimism and sense of humour that helps lift the Stittsville native and reigning Olympic 75-kilogram freestyle wrestling champion past the disappointment of not being able to defend her gold medal in Tokyo this summer. …. rest of story at https://ottawasun.com/sports/olympics/erica-wiebe-stresses-positives-while-wrestling-with-disappointment-of-olympic-postponement?mc_cid=d92f731bd9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – High school wrestling in New Jersey adapting to rising girls participation
The National Federation of State High School Associations wants wrestling to become more gender-neutral as participation by girls continues to grow.The NFHS wrestling committee announced significant rule changes Tuesday for the 2020-21 wrestling season, including modifications to hair length restrictions and weigh-in protocol.
In a statement from the organization, the revision was “linked to the committee’s focus on inclusion” of boys and girls. “I think that’s amazing,” said Mainland Regional junior Amirah Giorgianni, who was a first-team Press All-Star this past winter after she placed second at the state tournament in March.
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, which governs most high school sports in the state, allowed girls wrestling for the first time in the 2018-19 season. It grew in popularity this past winter. “Girls and boys both deserve the same,” said Giorgianni, 16, of Somers Point. “Girls should get as much credit as boys, and it’s great that people are seeing that and . …. rest of story at https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/high-school-wrestling-in-new-jersey-adapting-to-rising-girls-participation/article_16e10413-c568-5636-b038-525870568f73.html?mc_cid=3a87a899d8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Kelly Inks with Colorado Mesa Women’s Wrestling
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Mesa University head women’s wrestling coach Travis Mercado announced the signing of Colorado native Tristan Kelly to a letter of intent.  
“Tristan is one of the country’s top recruits this year and being from Colorado, she was a must have girl for our program,” coach Mercado said.
Kelly is a two-time Colorado state champion wrestling for Douglas County High School and went 26-0 at 161 pounds as a senior. The Erie, Colo. dealt Vista Ridge senior Bella Mitchell her only two losses of the season, once in the region finals and once in the state championship match, an 11-2 major decision. … rest of story at … https://cmumavericks.com/news/2020/5/1/kelly-inks-with-womens-wrestling.aspx?mc_cid=3a87a899d8&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – TOM’s Quarant-Interview with Colorado Mesa-Signee Tristan Kelly
On Friday, Tristan Kelly, one of the top high school girls in the nation made her college intentions official by signing with Colorado Mesa. The Cadet World Team member and double Fargo champion will be staying in her home state of Colorado to join head coach Travis Mercado’s third-year program. In addition to her decision to sign with Colorado Mesa and the recruiting process, we talk with Tristan about her wrestling role model (also from Colorado), her travels in the sport, and … rest of the story at … https://news.theopenmat.com/womens-wrestling/toms-quarant-interview-with-colorado-mesa-signee-tristan-kelly/77841?mc_cid=6299171a9e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Clarissa Chun: My Wrestling Hero
The 13th installment of My Wrestling Hero features 2008 World champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Clarissa Chun, who shares her thoughts on her wrestling hero — four-time World champion Tricia Saunders.  
These are Chun’s thoughts on her wrestling hero: 
“She was one I had to compete against, but she paved that way and inspired me that my goals were possible because of women like her out there. She was a strong advocate for women’s wrestling in the United States when people were kind of turning their heads to women’s wrestling. She was that strong woman with a voice and not turning down any opportunities. She pushed forward opportunities for women. I believe she helped fight for women to get a stipend, even though it wasn’t an Olympic sport. She helped get support for women’s wrestling within USA Wrestling. … rest of story at … https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPost.jsp?TIM=1588803032387&twSessionId=ksgfepqucq&postId=780477135&mc_cid=6299171a9e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – Sanctioning of high school girls wrestling awaits approval by the FHSAA Board of Directors
Currently, there are 23 sanctioned sports governed by the Florida High School Athletics Association.
However, if things go according to plan, by next month, this figure will be bumped up to 24 with the historic addition of girls wrestling. The FHSAA recently voted unanimously to endorse the sport. Now, it’s up to the Board of Directors to give the stamp of approval. They will host a meeting through Zoom in June to announce their decision. Sanctioning would allow girls to compete in an official state championship tournament. It also allocates money for equipment, coaches and transportation. Perhaps the strongest local advocate is Mike Crowder, head wrestling coach at Lincoln High School. … rest of story at … https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/2020/05/06/girls-wrestling-awaits-approval-fhsaa-board-directors/3062297001/?mc_cid=6299171a9e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Lukasz Zagowalko Named Assistant Women’s Wrestling Coach at NJCU
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Lukasz Zagowalko, a wrestling trainer with international experience, has been named as an assistant women’s wrestling coach at New Jersey City University, head coach Elena Pirozhkova has announced. Zagowalko is the third member of the first-ever women’s wrestling staff in NJCU history, which launches as a varsity program in Fall, 2020.  
A native of Poland where he lived for most of his life, he held three wrestling head coaching positions in the European nation. Most recently, Zagowalko was head coach of The West Pomeranian State Wrestling Association from 2015-18. Previously, he coached the Sports Club “Orzel” Szczecin from 2006-10 and the Student Sports Club “Orliki” Szczecin from 2004-09.
Zagowalko was an assistant coach for Sports Club “Technik” Swidwin from 2013-18. Additionally, he served as an assistant for West Pomeranian State Wrestling (2005-08) and the Academy of Physical Education Academic Sports Club Gorzów Wielkopolski (2002-03).  
From 2003-05, Zagowalko coached Polish Olympian Monika Michalik. The most titled Polish competitor in history, …. rest of story at https://njcugothicknights.com/news/2020/5/6/202005-06_lukasz-zagowalko-named-assistant-womens-wrestling-coach-at-njcu.aspx

8 } – Athletes build own wrestling hall to train during lockdown
Wrestler and Olympic hopeful Ana Moceyawa was in Morocco when the global impact of the Coronavirus started to be felt. “I was at my Olympic qualification tournament and unfortunately it got cancelled before we got a chance to compete,” said Moceyawa. “It was tough because I’d been training for that moment for a long time but peoples health and safety has to take priority.” From there the 30-year-old raced back to New Zealand where she hoped to reunite with her family in Christchurch. “I had only just got back to New Zealand when we went into Alert Level Four so it was a real rush for me. … rest of story at … http://www.olympic.org.nz/news/athletes-build-own-wrestling-hall-to-train-during-lockdown/?mc_cid=6299171a9e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9 } – RETIREMENT TO RIGHT BACK IN THE GAME
What it’s like to put your life on hold for your Olympic dreams
My name is Julia Salata and I’m a 2020 Olympic Hopeful.
At least, I was.  Now that’s changed, not just for myself, but for thousands of athletes all over the world. What I’m doing today, on a weekday in early May, is not what I thought I would be doing 3 months ago. 3 months ago, there were one of two things I would have been doing today… rest of story at … https://www.wreaperwrestling.com/retirement-to-right-back-in-the-game-what-its-like-to-put-your-life-on-hold-for-your-olympic-dreams/?mc_cid=682211b4c7&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award State Winners Announced
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Tuesday announced the state winners of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award (TSHSEA). First presented in 2014, the TSHSEA is named for Tricia Saunders, a four-time World Champion and women’s wrestling pioneer. Saunders was the first woman to be inducted as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006 and was inducted into the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2011. The award recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior female wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service. For the third consecutive year, the Hall of Fame is recognizing a record number of state winners with 46, up from 35 winners in 2019 and 32 winners in 2018. … rest of story at … https://nwhof.org/blog/tricia-saunders-high-school-excellence-award-state-winners-announced/?mc_cid=c97d5b4f2c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

May 23, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized