Takedown Report

Amateur Wrestling Reports

Women’s Wrestling News (2021) – # 7

TDR Editor’s Notes ; The following articles are a part of the great increase in women’s wrestling news. The growth has been so much so that it will be necessary to post separate college and scholastic women’s wrestling articles. Until then catch up on the progress and news so far that is listed below. Keep on encouraging wrestling!
E-mail us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com
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1 } – (Iowa) Coss: Numbers continue to soar for girls wrestling, but should it be sanctioned?
When the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association conducted its first girls’ state wrestling tournament two years ago, there were 87 participants spread over 10 weight classes. With only four wrestlers in the 195- and 285-pound weight classes and just seven in the 113-pound division, it didn’t have a state tournament feel. Weather impacted participation, but you still wondered if the event had staying power. Then last season, the number of competitors ballooned to 350 and officials knew they had to find a bigger location than Waverly-Shell Rock High School’s gymnasium to house the tournament. Even in what has been the most unusual year of our lifetime because of a global pandemic, the IWCOA state tournament moved to the newly built Xtream Arena in Coralville and had 457 girls from more than 120 schools take the mat for the two-day tournament this past weekend. … rest of story at https://qctimes.com/sports/high-school/wrestling/coss-numbers-continue-to-soar-for-girls-wrestling-but-should-it-be-sanctioned/article_a7bd128f-ccc4-5928-8a21-dd82703cb78d.html?mc_cid=348fe62197&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – (Indiana) Kokomo sophomore wrestler lays blueprint for girls in the sport
Aulani Davis wins back-to-back state championships
Kokomo sophomore Aulani Davis is blazing a trail as a female wrestler after she became the first girl in the school’s history to win a wresting state championship last year, and then she went back to do it again this year. On Jan. 15, the sophomore got to work in her second Kokomo state championship and took care of her opponent in a dominant fashion to become a back-to-back champion. To be the first girl to win it all last year, Davis said she was relieved, overwhelmed, and exhausted after the match came down to the wire. To do it again, it’s what she expects from herself now. “The first year I was really, really nervous. But this time around, I just went out and wrestled like it was just another match, and I wasn’t nervous like before. Obviously I was nervous, but it just wasn’t bad to where I was scared,” Davis said. Most high school athletes never even sniff a state championship, much less win two in a row. But Davis said she wasn’t satisfied and will be upset if she doesn’t win another one. She has two years left at Kokomo, and she wants the career sweep. … rest of story at http://kokomoperspective.com/sports/kokomo-sophomore-wrestler-lays-blueprint-for-girls-in-the-sport/article_63d4fd72-5f2e-11eb-8824-770b189e90b8.html?mc_cid=348fe62197&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND Sarah Huse IndianaMat’s first Miss Gorilla award winner
Sarah Huse didn’t know it, but she needed wrestling. Once she found it, her life has changed for the better. “Everyone has their own sob story, I guess,” Huse, a senior at Lebanon High School, said. “But it’s what you do to overcome that story that matters.”
In 8th grade Huse struggled with her weight, and her confidence. She was 245 pounds, and according to her, still trying to figure out who she wanted to be. So, she started trying to get in better shape. She took up dance, which helped with her flexibility and balance. Then, as a sophomore, a friend talked her into going out for wrestling. That’s where Huse started to make her mark. In just three years she has went from a beginner, to a two-time state champion with multiple college offers. She is also this year’s Indianamat Miss Gorilla award winner, which recognizes the best senior female wrestler in the state.
Huse has pinned every single opponent through the IHSGW tournament for two consecutive years. This year she defeated Northview’s Mercedes Tellechea in the championship, pinning her in just 1:09 to win the 170-pound class. Huse also took home the Katie Downing Mental Attitude Award. “When I started winning in wrestling is when I started feeling my best, mentally,” Huse said. “I was finally able to look myself in the mirror and be proud of who I am.” When Huse first started wrestling, she was nervous to tell her family. Her dad, J, wrestled collegiately, but she wasn’t sure how he would react. … rest of story at https://indianamat.com/index.php?/articles.html/mr-gorilla-award/sarah-huse-indianamats-first-miss-gorilla-award-winner-r1037/&mc_cid=653cd27934&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – (Iowa) Former high school wrestler goes from girls’ trailblazer to tournament coach
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – No one appreciates the girls’ state wrestling tournament more than Cassy Jakoubek. Hardcore wrestling fans may remember her as Cassy Herkelman. 10 years ago, she was chasing a dream as a freshman on the Cedar Falls wrestling team. “It got me excited,” Jakoubek said, at the time. “I am going to be a girl who goes to state. I am going to do it.” And, she did. Jakubek was the first girl to qualify for the boys’ state wrestling tournament. She won her first match by forfeit and lost her two others. But she had broken the barrier and drew much media attention. “I looked forward to do it. I didn’t take it as anything special,” Jakoubek said, now, reflecting back on that time. “I signed up for the sport. That was my goal. I went out and did it.” What goes around comes around: Jakoubek is in her first year as the head coach of the Cedar Falls girls’ wrestling program. “I am glad I can give back to the sport that gave me a lot,” Jakoubek said. “Some of them [know about my career]. They know I wrestled but I don’t know that they realize the things I have accomplished in my wrestling career.” … rest of story at https://www.kcrg.com/2021/01/23/former-high-school-wrestler-goes-from-girls-trailblazer-to-tournament-coach/?fbclid=IwAR0TPsmY5kyqtENd18luSoNKZOFc6OOV4ylXDjcqZ8kj8__l8l9WLiP4rxs

4 } – Osage’s Emma Grimm commits to North Central College
Emma Grimm is not done yet.  On Wednesday, the Osage senior wrestler announced that her career on the mat will continue at the next level, with a commitment to North Central College.  Grimm announced her decision in a Twitter post, saying “Three wrestling seasons just didn’t quite feel like enough. Here’s to four more years of doing what I love most at North Central College! Thank you everyone!” Over the past three years, Grimm emerged as one of the state’s top female wrestlers, with three top-six finishes at the state tournament, and two state medals.
Her junior year, Grimm finished second overall at state at 126 pounds, and finished third this past season after losing to Avery Meier of Waverly-Shell Rock in the state semifinals.  North Central College is an NCAA Division III school located in Naperville, Illinois. The Cardinals finished sixth at the 2020 National Championships, and had five All-Americans. They are led by coaches Joe Norton and Zach Cook. … rest of story at https://globegazette.com/sports/high-school/wrestling/osages-emma-grimm-commits-to-north-central-college/article_cf2cbf36-cee5-5898-a4e9-3343ec462b8b.html?mc_cid=7c3cd1ad34&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – Girls’ state wrestling: Not only are Iowa’s numbers growing, the depth and talent are, too
CORALVILLE, Ia. — Every year, the girls’ wrestling conversation in Iowa centers on overall participation. The numbers have popped, from 67 five years ago, per the National Federation of State High School Associations, to 683 this year. That’s important. Growth is good, and Iowa’s growth has been very good. But it’s time for the conversation to include the state’s growing talent and depth — because that’s just as important, if not more so. And if you’ll allow me a minute here, we can discuss how Iowa has made incredible progress in overall on-the-mat development. That talent was on display here at Xtream Arena this weekend at the 2021 girls’ state wrestling championships, hosted for the third time by the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association. There were 457 girls from more than 100 different schools that competed this weekend. Only 87 came in 2019, then 350 competed last year. Again, the numbers are growing, and that’s good.
But consider this, too: The 24 wrestlers that reached Saturday afternoon’s finals were from 17 different schools. … rest of story at https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/01/23/iwcoa-girls-state-wrestling-championships-2021-not-only-numbers-growing-depth-talent-are-too/6686428002/

6 } – 2021 Colorado Girls High School Preseason Ranking
The wrestling season is just beginning with a later start date then normal and also a shorten high school season, with duals only for both the girls and boys in Colorado. This the first year of being a CHSAA sanctioned high school sport for girls has been a long time coming. The road has been a long one that started four years ago with the coaches hosting girls only tournament events and the state championship until CHSAA approved to a two year probation and finally sanction of the sport. The growth of the girls teams and individual wrestlers has just about double each year since the start of the high school coaches pushing for the girls only division. Last year number had over 90 high school represented at the district tournaments and the number of girls was around 325. At a quick glance this year the team numbers are down to around 55 high school teams and the individuals numbers could also be done , mostly because of covid19. with this the girls competing shall still get the recognization that they desire. InsideCoWrestling is proud to host the ranking for the girls individual and girls teams ranking for 2021 – 2022 season.  
… rest of story at http://insidecowrestling.com/index.php/16-high-school/1864-2021-2022-colorado-girls-high-school-preseason-ranking?mc_cid=8a92ee7e2c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Bridgette Schoultz is excited to compete at upstart Delaware Valley
World medalist Leigh Jaynes is leading a new women’s program at Delaware Valley. Bridgette Schoultz has emerged as a leader on the team. … story and podcast at https://www.trackwrestling.com/PortalPlayer.jsp?TIM=1611895063381&twSessionId=bjcjpwztut&videoId=1008180135&mc_cid=8a92ee7e2c&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND Fowler Named Women’s Assistant Wrestling Coach
Charlotte Fowler has been named the new Women’s Assistant Wrestling Coach at University of the Ozarks. Fowler was a team captain and three-time Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) All-American at Campbellsville University in Kentucky. She helped Campbellsville to WCWA national championships in 2018 and 2020. A native of Texas, Fowler will help lead the new women’s wrestling program that will compete for the first time this spring, according to U of O Head Wrestling Coach LeRoy Gardner. “I am excited about Charlotte, and the opportunity for her to add and share her championship experience with our student-athletes,” Gardner said. “She’s a fierce competitor, excellent citizen, and just a great person and role model for our student-athletes. I am just really excited for our student-athletes and her to be around one another day in and day out to learn. … rest of story at https://www.uofoathletics.com/sports/wwrest/2020-21/releases/20210206qphn98?mc_cid=18c25877f2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – Rock Hill-area programs continue to lead girls’ wrestling movement in SC high schools
Girls’ wrestling is continuing to gain popularity across the state as it battles to expand and break barriers despite restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A couple of area coaches in particular are working extremely hard to get the sport recognized and sanctioned by the South Carolina High School League: Cain Beard of Rock Hill and Mike Fitzgerald of Clover. The battle that all of the coaches are waging is taking hold — even if the growth of the sport grew only a little from last year in terms of numbers. “We are picking up some numbers, but it is hard to gauge because of the virus,” Beard told The Herald earlier this week. “When we get through all of this virus, we will know a lot more about what we have.” Despite the minimal growth in numbers, the multi-time state champion coach sees a lot of progress from last year on the mat. … rest of story at https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/high-school/article248858074.html?mc_cid=ad9f03475a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – Saucon Valley wrestling scorekeeper Cathy Leibensperger’s life-long dedication to the program
First in a series: Getting to know the stories behind the familiar faces of Lehigh Valley wrestling programs
Cathy Leibensperger shook off the snow from her coat and hair as she walked into Catasauqua’s old high school gym in 1980. She was among a dozen people who showed up for Saucon Valley’s wrestling match. The snowstorm kept away the cheerleaders. A Saucon Valley coach and a few wrestlers also were missing. So was the Panthers’ scorekeeper. Head coach Charles Bartolet asked Leibensperger if she could keep the book for the match. “I said, ‘Sure, why not?’” she recalled. “And I never moved away since. Leibensperger is in her 41st season as Saucon Valley’s scorekeeper and the team’s biggest fan. She’s never had a child wrestle in the program but has been a part of the lives of hundreds who have come through the program. The 63-year-old has traveled to out-of-state tournaments and postseason events for decades to continue her support of a program that has been in her blood for generations. “Wherever Saucon Valley wrestling goes,” athletic director Bob Frey said, “Cathy goes. She loves the wrestlers in the program as if they were her own.” … rest of story at https://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/wrestling/mc-spt-saucon-valley-wrestling-cathy-leibensperger-20210129-pbaxvya32va3jcvegykdikwsje-story.html?mc_cid=ad9f03475a&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Class of 2021’s #1 Mia Palumbo to Iowa Wesleyan
This morning, on FloWrestling’s “Bader Show”, the top-ranked girls high school wrestler in the Class of 2021, Mia Palumbo (Richards, IL), announced her college intentions. Mia will wrestle for Iowa Wesleyan, a DIII school that is providing women’s wrestling for the first time in the 2020-21 season. Iowa Wesleyan is located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa and is coached by Shawn Contos.  Palumbo is currently ranked second in the nation at 112 lbs by USA Wrestling and was a double national champion in Fargo during the summer of 2018. Earlier that year, Mia made Illinois state history by becoming the first girl to win a match at the boys high school state tournament. She was also just the third girl to qualify.  Mia stole the show on a pair of standalone cards this year with her physicality and explosiveness. She was a part of the “Rumble on the Rooftop” in her native Illinois and rolled to a 10-0 tech over Shea Reisel. In October, … rest of story at https://news.theopenmat.com/womens-wrestling/class-of-2021s-1-mia-palumbo-to-iowa-wesleyan/79812?mc_cid=6b4820f7a2&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND ‘It’s the norm’: Colfax-Mingo part of Iowa wrestling evolution
“To think of where we started and where we are now, it’s kind of hard to believe we got so big so fast,” junior Kylie Doty said.
Wrestling practice at Colfax-Mingo High School looks like many others. The wrestlers file in, tape some ankles, warm up and practice. Except, there is one difference. “Here at Colfax-Mingo, it’s the norm to have girls involved in wrestling,” Head Coach Erin Hume told Local 5. To be fair though, it is slowly becoming the norm across the state.  Back in January, 476 girls competed at the IWCOA Girls High School State Championship. “To think of where we started and where we are now, it’s kind of hard to believe we got so big so fast,” junior Kylie Doty said. That weekend showed more than just how far girls wrestling has come. … rest of story at https://www.weareiowa.com/article/sports/local-sports/colfax-mingo-wrestling-girls-iowa-wrestling-evolution/524-7396f93f-34d8-4b80-9d80-eb75abeb1750?mc_cid=653cd27934&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – THIS WEEK’S WOMEN’S COLLEGE SCHEDULE, LISTED BY DAY, WITH NATIONAL RANKINGS NOTED
With the announcement of the post-season schedule for the NCAA women’s wrestling programs today, we enter the back stretch of the women’s college season during February. The NCAA colleges will compete at four Regional competitions on the weekend of Feb. 20-21, with their national event, the NCWWC set for March 6 at Tiffin. The NAIA colleges will have conference competitions over two weekends, either on Feb. 20 or Feb. 27, with the NAIA Women’s National Invitational at Jamestown, March 12-13. With that in mind, numerous women’s programs are getting in dual meets or tournaments in preparation for their postseason. Sunday is a big day for NCAA colleges, with No. 1 McKendree hosting two ranked teams for dual meets, while No. 6 Tiffin has three other ranked teams in town for dual meets, including No. 2 King.
A big-time tournament is set on Saturday, Feb. 6, with the Grand View Open held at NAIA No. 4 Grand View. There will be many ranked teams and individuals at that competition, with both NAIA and NCAA teams expected. Another women’s college event on Saturday is the Nampa Collegiate Invite in Idaho. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/February/03/NCAA-womens-college-schedule-this-week?mc_cid=653cd27934&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND TRANSITION WRESTLING Women’s Wrestling News
January 2021
Card-style events, college duals, the Captains Cup, Henri Deglane, high school state championships, athlete relocations, rankings: January was an active month for women’s wrestling. 
Senior Level | Card-Style Events
Card-style events have provided match time for wrestlers and fan engagement at a new level this season. January started with a senior level women’s match at the Battle on the Banks between World Champion Jacarra Winchester and U23 finalist Koral Sugiyama in New Jersey. Winchester won by technical superiority. … rest of story at https://www.transitionwrestling.com/january-2021/?mc_cid=e1d5a94c45&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – Wreaper Wrestling
THE LEGACY SERIES: KRISTIE DAVIS
“I love the growth of the sport. I love being around them. I get to be a nurse at nights and then I get to go in and be with my women’s program”EMMANUEL COLLEGE HEAD WOMEN’S COACH, KRISTIE DAVIS … story at https://www.wreaperwrestling.com/the-legacy-series-kristie-davis/?mc_cid=e1d5a94c45&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND CAPTAINS’ CUP POOLS
All The Possibilities
Now that Captains’ Cup pools have DROPPED, we can dig into all the match-ups and tournament possibilities! Outside of the Draft and the actual event, this is our favorite part. Per the schedule BELOW, teams from Pool A will compete against each other first on Day one, followed by Pool B competition. Day 2 will wrap up with placement matches (5th/6th, 3rd/4th) and the GOLD medal dual. The #CaptainsCups2021 Day 1 will start February 13 at 2 P.M. CST and Day 2 will begin 4 P.M. CST. This event will be streaming live VIA | FloWrestling.
Brush up on all six team rosters HERE.
More info about Captains’ Cup Team Captains HERE. … rest of story at https://www.wreaperwrestling.com/captains-cup-pools/?mc_cid=e1d5a94c45&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
AND RTC MOVES
Regional Training Center Trends
2020 was a season of major shake-ups and big moves. 2021 is giving us some of that same energy.
Most recently, 2016 Olympian, 5X Senior World Champion, and 2021 Olympic hopeful Adeline Gray has officially made the move to train at the Beaver Dam RTC in Corvallis, Oregon. Gray has been and will also continue to train at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs, Colorado to prepare for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. … rest of story at https://www.wreaperwrestling.com/rtc-moves/?mc_cid=7fbcdf9574&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

March 4, 2021 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment