By Larry A. Cantor, PSAL/BTS Wrestling Commissioner
Dedication and continuity is the name of the game, as nine PSAL graduate wrestlers placed in the top six of their weight classes in this year’s Open Division of the Empire State Greco Roman Championships. The outstanding effort, of these wrestlers, lead to capturing the team title.
Each one of these student athletes have gone on or will be competing on the intercollegiate level.
On the Greco Roman scholastic level, New York City advanced six finalists; earning three gold. The New York City Region placed twenty-two wrestlers.
This is only the second time New York City has won the Open Greco Roman team title. The first win was back in 2000.
Danny Franco, entering his senior year at Michael J. Petrides Educational Complex, won both the freestyle and Greco Roman weight class at 132 pounds.
Fall, spring and summer wrestling makes winter champions. New York City wrestling believes in this statement, as the fruits of labor continually show.
Freestyle Scholastic Place Winners
132 lbs. Danny Franco, Petrides, Gold medal
143 lbs. Kevin Hartnett, Monsignor Farrell, Bronze medal
192 lbs. Patrick Thorton, Petrides, (Fifth place)
Greco Roman Scholastic Place Winners
98 lbs. Anthony Castano, St. Joseph by the Sea, Silver medal
106 lbs. Marlon Perez, Grand Street, (Sixth place)
115 lbs. Timmy Mccann, Monsignor Farrell, Silver medal
123 lbs. Akinran Akinfemi, Grand Street, (Sixth place)
132 lbs. Danny Franco, Petrides, Gold Medal
132 lbs. Jesse Cusimano, St. Joseph by the Sea, Silver medal
143 lbs. Kevin Hartnett, Monsignor Farrell, Gold medal
154 lbs. Eugene Komissarov, James Madison, Gold Medal
192 lbs. Patrick Thorton, Petrides, (Fifth place)
Open Freestyle Place Winners
119 lbs. Novic Reese, graduate of Grand Street, Silver medal
128 lbs. PJ Morales, graduate of Grand Street, Gold medal
152 lbs. Vitaly Simkin, graduate of Sheepshead Bay, (Sixth place)
187 lbs. David Khavin, graduate of James Madison, (Sixth place)
213 lbs. Abakar Gadjiyav, (Sixth place)
275 lbs. Carlos Dolmo, Gold medal
Open Greco Roman Place Winners
119 lbs. Jonathan Soto, graduate of Sheepshead Bay, Bronze medal
119 lbs. Carlos Soto, graduate of Sheepshead Bay, (Fourth place)
128 lbs. PJ Morales, graduate of Grand Street, Silver medal
139 lbs. Oliver Lopez, gradate of McKee/Staten Island Tech, Bronze medal
152 lbs. Seji Mugishima, (Fourth place)
167 lbs. Cory Sands, graduate of Sheepshead Bay, (Fourth place)
187 lbs. Devon John, graduate of Sheepshead Bay, Silver medal
213 lbs. Dzmitry Kruhik, Gold medal
The Next Challenge: By John Torenli (sports@brooklyneagle.net)
Published online 07-10-2008
Matt Goldberg doesn't know the meaning of taking it easy.
The Ditmas Park resident and four-time state champion wrestler out of Bay Ridge's Poly Prep Country Day School has actually increased his work load — both on and off the mat — since accepting a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh back in February.
“I work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., lift weights from 3:30 to 5:30 and practice from 7 to 9 five days a week,” said Goldberg, who has also found time to enter a few “open” tournaments since finishing up his brilliant high school career with the Blue Devils.
Goldberg, who will be wrestling at 125 pounds for legendary Panthers coach Rande Stottlemyer this fall, had several options when it came time to decide which Division I program he'd fit in with best over the next four years.
Pitt ultimately won out, not only for its reputation as a perennial national championship contender, but also its dedication to making sure its student-athletes live up to a high standard in the classroom. That was something Goldberg became accustomed to at Poly.
Read more.
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
08/05/2008
 U.S. Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach Momir Petkovic watches practice on Tuesday night at Beijing Normal University. Photo by Gary Abbott.
BEIJING, China - It happened 32 years ago.
But Momir Petkovic still vividly remembers everything about that special moment.
It was the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada and Petkovic reached the pinnacle of his sport by winning an Olympic gold medal for the former Yugoslavia.
"It was just an unbelievable joy to do something you dreamed about doing," Petkovic said after Tuesday night's practice at Beijing Normal University. "Everything came together in that one moment. When I was a kid, I looked up to the Olympic champions like they were Gods. To be able to win an Olympic gold medal, it was pretty special."
Now the Assistant National Coach for the United States Greco-Roman Wrestling Team, Petkovic is determined to see his athletes experience the same feeling he did more than three decades ago. The U.S. Greco-Roman Team will compete in the Olympic Games on Aug. 12-14 at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium.
Read more.
By Jason Bryant
National Wrestling Coaches Association
With backgrounds varying from active competition, technology, coaching and administration, the three recipients of the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Dan Gable “America Needs Wrestling” Award cross the entire spectrum of wrestling.
The work done by the 2008 award winners – Danielle Hobeika of Naperville, Ill., Jim Root of Saratoga, Calif., and Rex Jones of Chadron, Neb., in support and promotion of wrestling are applauded with this award.
“We have three individuals who rightly deserve this award with vastly different backgrounds,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “It goes to show you don’t always have to be one type of individual to do wonders for the sport of wrestling.
This award is to recognize those individuals who have given significant time and effort to the sport of wrestling. Those efforts must have had significant impact on the preservation or promotion of the sport, through contributions that are financial, service and/or leadership in nature.
Hobeika, a former member of the U.S. Women’s National Team and a graduate of Harvard, has long been the driving force behind wrestling’s presence on the internet. After starting wrestling late in her high school career, Hobeika competed at Harvard before dotting the country with coaching stints at Menlo College, Pacific, and Princeton.
But her impact has been made in her quick efforts to help athletes launch web sites and for causes like Beat the Streets, Save Fresno State Wrestling, Save Oregon Wrestling and the NWCA’s Program Entrenchment initiative.
Hobeika has also been active in the promotion of women’s wrestling, launching The Women’s Mat, a web site exclusively for women’s wrestling. She’s also been spearheading the research in trying to elevate women’s wrestling as a recognized emerging sport by the NCAA.
Read more.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/ wrestling/photos/galleryid= 148886.html
USA Wrestling
07/16/2008
A group of concerned supporters of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Teams have made it possible for each wrestler on America’s Olympic Wrestling Team to have two family members supporting them and the team in Beijing.
This badly needed support is a result of solicitations and donations from Beat the Streets Chairman Michael Novogratz, David Barry and Michael Malone. As the Fuel the Dream campaign became visible, it showed a real need and the result is clear: America and the wrestling community are behind the men and women of our Olympic Wrestling Teams.
USA Wrestling established the initiative Fuel the Dream to directly benefit the men and women of our Olympic Teams. When you contribute to Fuel the Dream, 50% of your donation will go, without any reductions, to the individuals that competed and made the 2008 Olympic Team at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The other 50% goes to help train athletes that will be on future World and Olympic Teams. USA Wrestling is a 501 (c) (3) and your contribution is tax deductible.
America’s wrestlers make significant sacrifices on the road to representing the USA at the Olympic Games. Many delay careers and families, others pursue careers and families while competing in what we believe is the world's toughest sport.
All donations over $25 will receive a unique Fuel the Dream 2008 Olympic Games pin.
Be a real part of our Olympic effort. It only happens once every four years. Do it now…go to www.fuelthedream.org and give as much as you can…and be a part of our Olympic effort.
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
07/05/2008
 ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Both 2007 World Beach bronze medalists who entered this year's U.S. Beach Nationals were able to claim national titles on Saturday at Ontario Beach Park.
Jeff Funicello (Gilbert, Ariz./American Pankration) captured the 187-pound title and Carlos Dolmo (Bronx, N.Y./Blast Double NY) won the 302-pound class, adding national titles to their World medals from last summer.
Funicello won three matches, including a 2-1 victory over 2007 U.S. Beach Nationals champion Neil Cook (Rochester, N.Y./Team Titan) in the championship match.
Dolmo also won three bouts, including a 2-1 win over runner-up Mike Carroll (Lake Winola, Pa./Avalanche) in the finals. Dolmo won his second straight U.S. Beach Nationals title.
The top three placewinners in each Senior weight class earn a spot in Sunday's U.S. Beach World Team Trials, which will also be held at Ontario Beach Park. There are two weight classes in the U.S. World Team Trials, Below 85 kg (187.5 lbs) and Above 85 kg (187.5 lbs.).
Read more.
.All 9 wrestlers participated in the 2008 Olympic Trials in Las Vegas last month. These young stars could be the US representatives to the Olympics in London 2012!
Elizabeth Wiley USA Wrestling
The USA Wrestling University World Teams will travel to Thessoloniki, Greece for the University World Championships July 9-13.
Men's freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's freestyle teams will all compete against some of the best in the world at the competition.
Jake Herbert is the only returning competitor on the men's freestyle team. A bronze medalist at last year's competition, Herbert will provide leadership and experience for the team as he competes at 84 kg/185 lbs.
“Herbert is a returning bronze medalist,” Freestyle Developmental Coach Dave Bennett said. “He knows what he needs to do. We're expecting a good performance.”
Joining Herbert on the freestyle team are Brad Pataky at 55 kg/121 lbs., Reece Humphrey at 60 kg/132 lbs., Josh Churella at 66 kg/145.5 lbs, Keith Gavin at 74 kg/163 lbs., Brendan Jones at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Tervel Dlagnev at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. All six of these wrestlers are making their first trip to compete at University Worlds.
“My goal for this team is to come back with seven gold medals and I think it's a goal for them, too,” said Bennett. “That may not happen, but we have to go in believing all things are possible.”
The men's freestyle team will be coached by Lou Rosselli and Wes Hand. Dave Bennett is serving as team leader for the trip.
The Greco-Roman squad features two wrestlers who just missed out on berths to the 2008 Olympic Games, as well as a number of other talented athletes.
“(Sam) Hazewinkel competed at the Olympic Team Trials and was one match from making the Olympic Team,” Greco-Roman Developmental Coach Ike Anderson said. “I'm excited about him.”
Sam Hazewinkel lost to Spenser Mango in the Championship Series at 55 kg/121 lbs. while Cheney Haight finished behind T.C. Dantzler at 74 kg/163 lbs.
“I expect Cheney Haight to be able to medal,” said Anderson. “Again he was one match from making the Olympic Team against T.C.”
Another top contender for the Greco-Roman team is Chas Betts. Betts was a silver medalist at the 2006 University World Championships and hopes to medal again in 2008.
The rest of the team is Donovan Depatto at 60 kg/132 lbs., Jacob Curby at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., and Robbie Smith at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. The heavyweight contender has not yet been determined for the U.S.
Eric Wetzel and Gary Mayabb will coach the Greco-Roman team.
The women's side features seven athletes that took part in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and should be incredibly competitive in Greece.
Three wrestlers on the team also competed at the 2006 World University Championships. Alaina Berube was a bronze medalist at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. two years ago. Joining her from that squad are Sara Fulp-Allen at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Othella Lucas at 59 kg/130 lbs.
Rounding out the women's team are Katherine Fulp-Allen at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Chelynne Pringle at 55 kg/121 lbs., Elena Pirozhkov at 67 kg/147.5 lbs., and Stephany Lee at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Serving as coaches for the women's freestyle team are Shannyn Gillespie and Trevor Keifer.
University World Championships
Thessoloniki, Greece
Men's Freestyle:
55 kg: Brad Pataky, Clearfield, Pa. (New York AC)
60 kg: Reece Humphrey, Indianapolis, Ind. (Ohio State)
66 kg: Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
74 kg: Keith Gavin, Factoryville, Pa. (New York AC)
84 kg: Jake Herbert, Wexford, Pa. (New York AC)
96 kg: Brent Jones, Burke, Va. (Cavalier WC)
120 kg: Tervel Dlagnev, Arlington, Texas (Loper WC)
Coach: Lou Rosselli
Coach: Wes Hand
Team Leader: Dave Bennett
Greco-Roman:
55 kg: Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Gator WC)
60 kg: Donovan Depatto, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corp)
66 kg: Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (USOEC/GatorWC)
74 kg: Cheney Haight, Orem, Utah (USOEC/New York AC)
84 kg: Chas Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (USOEC/Minnesota Storm)
96 kg: Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
120 kg: TBD
Coach: Eric Wetzel
Coach: Gary Mayabb
Women's Freestyle:
48 kg: Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
51 kg: Katherine Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif. (Menlo College)
55 kg: Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
59 kg: Othella Lucas, San Diego, Calif. (New York AC)
63 kg: Alaina Berube, River Falls, Wis. (New York AC)
67 kg: Elena Pirozhkov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
72 kg: Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Coach: Shannyn Gillespie
Coach: Trevor Keifer
Coach organizes events to inspire local athletes
By DAVID SANCHIRICO, Special to the Times Union
First published: Sunday, July 6, 2008
It's hard to consider the Capital Region a wrestling hotbed when no collegiate wrestling programs exist within 65 miles.
No programs? No problem. Frank Popolizio will get them to visit, and just maybe, a few young wrestlers will be inspired by what they see.
Capital Communications Federal Credit Union
Popolizio's efforts have attracted some of the best collegiate wrestling programs in the country to the Capital Region. In addition to founding the Northeast Collegiate Duals, now considered one of the top early-season meets in the country, Popolizio made arrangements for 34-time NCAA champion Oklahoma State to hold its summer training camp at SUNY Cobleskill, where the Cowboys are wrapping up today.
Read more.
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
2007 World Beach bronze medalists Jeff Funicello (Gilbert, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) and Carlos Dolmo (Bronx, N.Y./Blast Double NY) are among the top stars expected to compete at the U.S. Beach National Championships and World Team Trials, which will be held at Ontario Beach Park in Rochester, N.Y., July 4-6.
Funicello won a bronze medal at the Below 187.75 lbs. division, and Dolmo won a bronze medal at the Above 187.25 lbs. division at the World Beach Wrestling Championships in Antalya, Turkey in 2007. Both have indicated that they will compete in Rochester this year, to earn another chance at the U.S. Beach World Team.
2006 World bronze medalist Ray Downey (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow WC) has also indicated he will compete again this year. Downey is two-time Beach Nationals champion who captured the 176-pound national title last year.
Read more.
By Jason Bryant
jbryant@intermatwrestle.com
They’re two legends of the game. Long-time coaches with lengthy resumes and hundreds upon hundreds of young wrestlers passing through their wrestling rooms.
Each one of them, taking away something from their mentor, their coach.
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown head wrestling coach Pat Pecora has led the Mountain Cats program to over 400 dual meet victories and has been one of the most respected men in college wrestling.
George Dlugolonski has guided Chaminade High School on Long Island in New York for the past 35 years and has been a one of the top producers of second and third generation wrestling coaches, including recent Beat the Streets High School Developmental Coach of the Year Keith Conrade.
Read more.
Las Vegas, Nevada: Brad Vering, 2004 Olympian and a World Silver Medalist has the experience and the skill to win an Olympic Championship. The former Nebraska University NCAA Champion coming off a Silver Medal performance in last years world championship is in position to "go for the gold!".
Andy Hrovat once again stole the show at the trials with a stunning upset of Mo Lawal, Gator Wrestling, who was the top seed by virtue of winning the 2008 USAW National Open. Lawal had defeated Hrovat in the finals of the U.S. Nationals in 2008. Hrovat defeated Lawal at the World Team Trials in 2006 on the way to his first World Championships appearance.
At 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in freestyle, Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) qualified for the Olympics by defeating 2007 World Team member Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) in three bouts. Mocco who hails from New Jersey, began his wrestling career at St. Benedicts and transferred to Blair Academy. He won an NCAA Championship for both Iowa and Oklahoma State University.
Although the U.S. has not qualified for the Olympics in greco at 60 kg/132 lbs., the NYAC's Joe Betterman won this weight division and is hopeful he can gain a wild card into the Olympic Games. Seven overall wild cards will be awarded among the 18 total Olympic weight classes in all three styles. The wild cards will be awarded shortly after the Trials.
Sonny Greenhalgh, Wrestling Chairman and the New York Athletic Club had a tremendous showing over the 3 day tournament with several finalist in Women's, Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestling. Considering the financial restraints of a private club in New York City, is still able to recruit and compete with its counterparts the Sunkist Wrestling and the Gator Wrestling Clubs.
The NYAC since 1898 has been a leader in sponsoring athletes in World and Olympic Competition in many sports.
NBCOlympics.com, in cooperation with USA Wrestling, will provide a live webcast of the Championship Series matches at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev., June 13-15.
Fans can go to NBCOlympics.com and see the matches from the final round on all three days, starting at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Each day, there will be six best-of-three Championships Series held. The weight classes contested each day are:
- Friday, June 13 – 48 kg women's freestyle, 55 kg women's freestyle, 63 kg women's freestyle, 72 kg women's freestyle, 55 kg Greco-Roman, 60 kg Greco-Roman
- Saturday, June 14 – 66 kg Greco-Roman, 74 kg Greco-Roman, 84 kg Greco-Roman, 55 kg men's freestyle, 60 kg men's freestyle, 66 kg men's freestyle
- Sunday, June 15 – 96 kg Greco-Roman, 120 kg Greco-Roman, 74 kg men's freestyle, 84 kg men's freestyle, 96 kg men's freestyle, 120 kg men's freestyle
The broadcast team for the NBCOlympics.com live wrestling webcast will be veteran announcers Van Stokes and Scott Casber. Stokes has been the play-by-play commentator for numerous USA Wrestling telecasts on a variety of networks, and also has national broadcasting experience with other sports. Casber, a veteran radio and broadcast announcer, is the founder and voice of Takedown Radio, a wrestling show that airs weekly in a number of markets as well as internationally over the Internet all year long.
This special webcast is in addition to the previously announced television coverage for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling and Judo. A two-hour taped show from the event will be broadcast on Sunday, June 22 at 12:00 noon ET on MSNBC. The broadcast team for the MSNBC show is play-by-play announcer Matt Devlin, wrestling color commentator Rulon Gardner and judo color commentator Pat Burris.
Congratulations to Tony Carlo and Ben Villaret of Monsignor Farrell for their performance this past weekend at the Northeast Cadet Regional Championships. Tony took home double golds as he went a combined 8-0 in freestyle and greco roman - he also did not lose a period in the greco roman competition. Villaret was a combined 9-2 in the weekend placing 3rd in freestyle and 2nd in greco roman. Both wrestlers will be competing at the Cadet National Championships in Fargo, ND July 20th to the 26th.
This past year both sophomore wrestlers were NYC Mayors Cup champions and Villaret was a CHSAA State Champ. Congrats again on their year round wrestling success!!
DATE: 5/30/2008 1:21:00 PM By John Crisafulli
Duke University Sports Information
Konrad Dudziak continued his quest to make the U.S. Olympic team this past weekend when he won the championship in freestyle at 211.5 pounds at the University World Team Trials. Dudziak is currently wrestling with the New York Athletic Club while taking a redshirt year from Duke to compete for an Olympic spot.
Dudziak swept Brent Jones of Cavalier Wrestling Club in the finals, 4-4 and 3-0, and then 3-0 and 3-0, to take the title. Jones is the University National Champion and one of the top contenders for the Olympic spot at 211.5 pounds. Dudziak, a native of Bayonne, N.J., is now considered a favorite for the Olympic spot at 211.5 pounds, which is an incredibly strong weight class in the U.S.
In 2006 at Duke, Dudziak placed third in the ACC Tournament as a sophomore. He went 9-0 in tournaments with three falls in 2006-07 before making the decision to take a year off to compete at the Olympic level. Dudziak will return to Duke this fall as a redshirt junior and as a top contender for winning NCAA's at heavyweight.
Dudziak will next compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials from June 13-15 in Las Vegas, Nev. He is scheduled to wrestle Jones again in the first round and if victorious would most likely face Willie Parks, who he also just defeated at the University World Team Trials.
If successful again against that pair Dudziak will be in the finals of the Olympic Trials mini-tournament. The winner of that tournament faces the No. 1 ranked American wrestler in a best-of-three series to represent the U.S. in the Olympics.
“Konrad, very realistically, can win the mini-tournament and challenge to represent the U.S. in Beijing at the 2008 Summer Olympics,” said Duke coach Clar Anderson. “He has come so far so fast that winning the right to represent the U.S. in the Olympics is no longer a boyhood dream, but now an expectation.”
 By KATIE THOMAS, The New York Times
Women's wrestling teams are sprouting in the most unlikely places.
Missouri Baptist University, a small Christian liberal arts institution, is starting a team this fall. Oklahoma City University, the alma mater of three Miss Americas, began a program in 2007. And Menlo College near San Francisco, which specializes in business management and where nearly two-thirds of the students are men, has had a women's wrestling team since 2001.
The growth of such an unconventional women's sport at these small, private institutions has little to do with the federal gender-equity law known as Title IX and everything to do with their bottom line. Officials at tuition-hungry colleges say women's wrestling is an untapped market of prospective students, one that has curiously been all but ignored by bigger universities.
The inclusion of women's wrestling in the Olympics beginning in 2004 provided a huge boost to the sport's popularity and credibility. Five thousand girls nationwide wrestled in high school in the 2006-7 academic year, yet only eight colleges offer it as a varsity sport. Three of those eight programs are starting this fall.
Rosters fill up nearly as quickly as colleges create teams. “When we can get so many girls to come here for a first-year program, that's 20 to 25 extra students who normally wouldn't have looked at Jamestown College,” said Cisco Cole, the women's wrestling coach there.
Read more.
The women of New York had another great showing on the National stage. During the weekend of May 16th and 17th the following young ladies travelled to Colorado Springs and wrestled in the Body Bar National tournament.
It is my belief that this is the most important of all the national tournaments because it qualifies our young ladies to represent the USA in three very important competitions.
The Cadet Champion qualified for the Cadet Pan American Championships which will be held in El Salvador in July.
The Champion of the Junior tournament will represent the USA in the Jr. World Championships in Turkey from July 28th - August 4th and the runner-up for the Junior tournament will be headed to Ecuador in late June for the Jr. Pan American Championship.
In the Cadet Tournament
46kg / 101.25 - 2nd Place - Carlene Sluberski - Fredonia
Carlene had a good tournament as she pinned or teched her way into the finals. Along the way she defeated Nes Marie Rodriguz of Puerto Rico with a pin in :43 of the second period. She then went on to pin Britney Hudson of Colorado in the same time of :43 in the second. With those two victories it put Carlene in the finals were she lost to Victoria Anthony of California 2-0, 6-0 and ended in second place. Congratulations to Carlene who qualified for the Cadet Pan American Championships when Victoria, the young lady who beat her, qualified for the Jr World team.
52 kg / 114.5 - 2nd Place - Jenna Burkett - Longwood
Jenna had a terrific tournament with a pool championship pin over Brazil Marquez the third place finisher form California and a win over Katlynn Cormier of Florida fall. In the Finals Jenna wrestled her best match of the tournament when she dropped a very close match with 3 time National champion Helen Maroulis of Maryland by the score of 8-0, 3-3, 2-1.
Congratulations to Jenna who qualified for the Cadet Pan American Championships when Helen, the young lady who beat her, qualified for the Jr World team.
56 kg / 123.5 - 2nd Place - Shanalee Prifte - Longwood
Shanalee did a great job. She won her pool and made her way into the finals were she lost a tight match against Kat Perez of California. Shanalee defeated Danielle Robinson of California 7-0, 6-0 and then went on to pin Cassandra Lasio of Michigan. In the finals it was a great back and forth match were Shanalee ended up winning the first period 3-0 but lost the next two periods 3-1 and 3-1 to take second place.
56 kg / 123.5 - 4th Place - Logan Howard Chautauqua-Lake HS
Logan had some good matches posting victories over Dakota Dodgen of Texas 5-3, 4-0 and pinning Victoria Kinsey of Oklahoma in 1:26 of the first period. Logan then went on to lose her next match against the eventual weight class champion 4-6, 3-4 and lost by pin for third and 4th against Rachel Shannon of Alaska in 1:21.
60 kg / 132.5 - DNP -Tanya Kusse Webster-Schroder HS
Tanya has some incredible talent. She is a gifted athlete and I can't wait for her to get some more confidence. She went 0-2 but was winning both matches before losing. It was great to meet her and watch her compete. Tanya lost to Samantha Lynch of Kansas and Ashley Mathews of California.
70 kg / 154.25 - 3rd Place - Kelsea Suchocki Cobleskill
Talk about a talented athlete. Kelsea continues to improve in her wrestling skills. In the cadet tournament she placed third and recorded three pins along the way. Kelsea opened up with a pin against Rebecca Taylor of Wyoming :46 seconds into the second period. She then dropped a close match to eventual Cadet and Junior Champion Adeline Grey of Colorado 3-0, 6-0 before coming back to pin Britney Jones of Texas in 1:08 and Tera Kun of California in :46.
In the Junior Tournament (Ages 17-20)
Both Carlene and Kelsea moved up in age group to compete in the Junior age group and both ladies did a very nice job in the competition.
46kg / 101.25 - 3rd Place - Carlene Sluberski Fredonia
Carlene opened up with a loss to the eventual champion Victoria Anthony of California in a 2-6, 3-0 battle. She then went on to beat Denisia Godfrey of Wyoming 6-0, 7-0 to take 2nd in her pool. Carlene then had a cross over match against Stephanie Waters of Florida who just finished up her Freshman year at Oklahoma City College. Carlene won 4-4, 2-0. Carlene then had a chance to qualify for the Jr. Pan American Championships with a "True 2nd" match against 2006 Jr. World Champion Nicole Woody of Maryland, who also just completed her freshman year at Oklahoma City. The match was a very good one but Carlene lost 3-0, 2-1.
70 kg / 154.25 - 4th Place - Kelsea Suchocki Cobleskill
Kelsea went 1-2 in the Jr. division as she lost to Lindsey Brooks of Michigan and then defeated Teri Milkoff of Kentucky 4-0, Pin 1:59 but lost in the cross over match against Annaliese DeAragon of Idaho 8-6, pin :35.
The entire tournament was an awesome event and the camp before the tournament was a great success.
I hope that all the girls in attendance had a terrific experience at both.
I will be sending a reminder and information on the upcoming USA National championships to be held in Fargo, ND in July.
I hope we have a good number of athletes looking to participate. It should be a great time for all.
Thanks for all you do to help the success of women's wrestling.
Alex Conti
Arizona State University
05/23/2008
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University Vice President for Athletics Lisa Love announced Friday that the athletic department is fully reinstating the sport of varsity wrestling, effective immediately, due to financial support from local civic leadership. The reinstatement of wrestling gives ASU 21 sports in its varsity athletic program.
"It is with great pleasure that I announce the reinstatement of the varsity sport of wrestling at ASU," says Love. "The wrestling community, both locally and nationally, accepted this as a challenge to do something wonderful for the sport. ASU is forever grateful for that passion and unwavering support. Something special is happening on our campus thanks to civic leadership that cares deeply about ASU wrestling."
ASU had announced on May 13, 2008 that it was discontinuing the sport of wrestling due to the rising cost of operating a 22-sport varsity program. It was determined at that time that sponsoring a 20-sport program would better fit ASU¹s athletic financial profile. Love indicated at the time that if the wrestling community were able to raise enough financial support the sport could be reinstated. That commitment is there and the sport will continue at Arizona State.
Love said that fundraising for the sport of wrestling will be an ongoing process. The objective is not just to sponsor wrestling as a varsity sport, but to position the sport as one of the top programs in the country.
The Sun Devil wrestling team is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference.
For more information regarding giving to assist the Sun Devil varsity sports programs, visit www.sundevilclub.com .
Kerry and his wife Abbey are "donors" to the Beat the Streets Wrestling Program. Kerry was born and raised in Brooklyn and in the 8th grade moved to Middle Island, Long Island and wrestled for Coach Mike Picozzi on the great teams that Longwood HS (Sec.11) had in the 1990's. John Lange, a 3 time NYS Champion and All-American at Penn State was a teammate of Kerry in high school and college.
University of Maryland
05/12/2008
 COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Director of athletics Deborah A. Yow announced May 12 that Kerry McCoy has been named the head coach for the University of Maryland wrestling program. In three seasons as head coach at Stanford, McCoy transformed the Cardinal into a national contender after inheriting a team that went 6-8-1 in 2004-05.
"I am very fortunate to join such a great program," McCoy said. "The opportunity to be closer to our family and having a chance to compete for a national championship is very exciting. I want to thank Dr. Yow and everyone who was involved with this process for supporting me and more importantly for supporting the sport of wrestling."
McCoy led the Cardinal to a 19th-place finish at the NCAA Championships this past season which was the second-best finish in program history. Stanford went 13-4 with a 6-3 mark in the Pac-10 while finishing second in the conference championships, its best showing ever. Stanford sent five wrestlers to nationals in St. Louis for the second straight season, which was also the most in team history.
"Kerry McCoy is the right coach for Maryland at the right time," Yow said. "He will achieve as a coach what he achieved as an athlete - elite status as a program and eventually, the possibility of winning the national championship."
McCoy made an immediate impact in his first season as Stanford went 8-7 in 2005-06 and improved its showing at the Pac-10 Championships by two places. He guided two wrestlers to the NCAA Championships that season and mentored Tanner Gardner to All-America accolades.
In 2006-07, McCoy continued to steadily improve the program, as the Cardinal went 8-8 during the season and performed even better than the year before in the conference championships, finishing sixth. Five wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Championships which was a program record, and two wrestlers, Gardner and Josh Zupancic, became the first Stanford duo to earn All-America honors in the same season since 1967.
In addition, Zack Giesen was tabbed the Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year.
"I would like to thank Stanford for giving me the opportunity to lead the wrestling program," McCoy added. "It was an amazing experience and a very difficult place to leave. I also want to thank all of the alumni, fans, parents and administrators for the support the program received. I especially want to thank Bob Bowlsby and Earl Koberlein for providing me with the tools necessary to build a top notch program. I am very happy with the direction the program is going and I expect great things in the future."
Prior to his time at Stanford, McCoy spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Lehigh where he mentored 14 All-Americans and a pair of NCAA Champions. He helped the Mountain Hawks to four Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association titles and led Jon Trenge to a school-record 133 wins in his career at 197 pounds. Trenge was a three-time All-American.
During his time at Lehigh, McCoy shared the sidelines with former Maryland head coach Pat Santoro, who was also on the staff at Penn State when McCoy was a wrestler.
"I have been very fortunate to know Kerry as an athlete and coach over the past 15 years, and we have become very close," Santoro said. "Kerry is a great fit for this team and will help take them to the next level. I am excited for Kerry and his family to have this opportunity at Maryland to reach their professional goals. Personally, our family is excited to have him back on the east coast."
While at Lehigh, McCoy also served as the director of wrestling and head coach of the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club where he was responsible for conducting clinics in the local area, promoting the sport of wrestling, and fundraising. McCoy serves on the USA Wrestling Athlete Advisory Committee as well as the USAW Executive Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and has been a U.S. Freestyle World Team coach for two seasons.
McCoy also had a stint as an assistant coach at Penn State for three seasons, where he helped the Nittany Lions to a pair of fourth-place finishes at the NCAA Championships and guided 10 All-Americans and two national champions.
McCoy spent his collegiate wrestling career with the Nittany Lions and posted a record of 150-18 in his four seasons. He captured a pair of NCAA Championships in 1994 and 1997 and won three Big Ten titles. After going 19-17 in his first 36 matches at Penn State, McCoy lost just once in his final 132 with an 88-match winning streak.
A three-time All-American, McCoy was named the Penn State Athlete of the Year and the Nittany Lions' Wrestler of the Year in 1994 and 1997 while being tabbed the 1997 Hodge Award winner as W.I.N. Magazine's Wrestler of the Year. He earned his bachelor's degree in marketing in 1997.
McCoy was also a two-time Olympian for the United States and took fifth place at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and seventh in 2004 in Athens. McCoy also won five straight U.S. National Freestyle Wrestling Championships from 2000 to 2004.
McCoy has been a member of the United States National Team nine times and earned a silver medal in 2003 at the World Championships. In August 2003, McCoy won a gold medal at the Pan-Am Games and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
McCoy and his wife, Abbie, are expecting their first child in July.
NYSWCA WRESTLING UPDATE MAY 2008
Wrestling Committee Votes To Further Consider State Regionals
Coaches And Athletic Councils Still Not Fully Aware Of Regional Concept
Additional Information On Potential Costs Needs To Be Developed
Last month the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Committee voted overwhelmingly to continue their consideration of the State Regional Tournament concept. With a vote of ten in favor, one opposed and one absent, the committee voted to continue to explore the concept. This is the third favorable committee vote regarding state regionals.
The wrestling committee expressed a concern that there were many coaches who were still not fully aware of the concept which required more time be taken to make the proposal known to coaches and Section Athletic Councils. In addition, members of the committee raised again two issues which have yet to be resolved: the status of State Federation entries in the state regional tournament format and the financial aspects of concept.
The New York State Wrestling Championships combines the state's public school (NYSPHSAA) championship with the state's private schools (CHSAA) and New York City schools (PSAL) in order for the one event to also serve as the State Federation Championships. It is structured as a two-tournaments-in-one event. Historically, under this arrangement, the CHSAA and PSAL each got one entry to the state championships. In the most recent version of the state regional tournament concept, the PSAL and CHSAA made up a “federation region” with two entries from the federation regional advancing to the state finals event. Members of the wrestling committee and others argue that if state regional format is adopted as part of the “state championship series” like it is in some other sports then the PSAL and CHSAA should square off against public school competition at the regional level. New versions of the regional groupings are being developed for the committee's review.
While supporters of the state regional format are confident about the financial aspects of the concept, the committee noted that there are not uniform practices across the sections regarding the expenses of championship competition and requested that more information about the projected costs be developed for their next meeting.
The wrestling committee is scheduled to meet again in October. It will be the final opportunity to approve and recommend the state regional format in time for the 2009-10 State Tournament.
For Questions Or Comments: Contact Dick Farfaglia at rfarfaglia@twcny.rr.com or Rich Romeo at romeo68@frontiernet.net
Cassie Krisher NFHS
05/01/2008
 INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 1, 2008) - The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee emphasized risk minimization and standardized procedures to assist both coaches and referees through 16 wrestling rules changes for the 2008-09 school year. Rules changes were made by the committee at its April 5-7 meeting in Indianapolis and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
The time sequence for the offensive wrestler in assuming the offensive starting position was standardized with the addition of a note to Rule 5-20-5. First, the wrestler must set the knee(s) and feet.
Second, the wrestler must place the palm of one hand on the navel.
Third, the wrestler must place the palm of the other hand on or over the near elbow. Fourth, the referee shall pause momentarily before starting wrestling. This rule change is meant to provide consistency for coaches, wrestlers and referees. While each action is currently standard practice, there has not been a written sequence of those events in the NFHS Wrestling Rules Book.
"These changes provide further rules support based on interpretations," said Bob Colgate, assistant director of the NFHS and liaison to the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee. "The clarifications make the rules easier to administer."
Read more.
Steve Sutton (141) - After a two year hiatus from the wrestling team, Steve made a comeback in an effort to help the team and to be able to leave the sport with pride. He accomplished both of these goals. His first match saw him wrestle the #8 seed and it was quite an exciting match. The wrestler from East Stroudsburg gave 2008 NCAA all-American, Matt Kyler, a very close match at the 2007 EIWA Tournament. Although he was dominating Sutton on his feet He was strong in his feet but unbeknownst to him, he was unaware of Sutton's strength on top and chose bottom for his choice going into the second period. Although he gave it all he could to keep from getting turned on bottom, he gave up two stalling calls which equated to one point for Sutton. In the third, Sutton naturally chose top and turned him once as well as getting two more stall calls on behalf of his ESU opponent. With the score tied at nine a piece, Su! tton flipped his opponent over to his back and pinned him with seconds left on the clock. It was quite a way to start the round. He got a shout-out from Jason Bryant, the tournament's emcee announcing that many fans might know his name from his thrdr place finish in 2003 (and NCAA berth). Although Steve would lose his next two bouts, it was still a memorable moment from the weekend for someone that hadn't competed in two years.
Anthony Constantino (149) - As a former NCAA Qualifier who lost his spot last year to star freshman, Matt Dunn, Anthony emerged this year on a mission to go out on a high note to conclude his career. As the #6 seed in a loaded weight class, he lost a very close match to Cesar Grajales from Penn, the eventual EIWA Champion. Following that loss, he rattled a off a couple victories and found himself in a rematch against the the #5 seed, DJ, Meagher from Cornell (Anthony had lost to him by a score of 8-1 only a few weeks before). The winner of this match would determine who would find them selves in the consolation finals, thus guaranteeing themselves an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It was a very close match with no score after the first period. Anthony had a strong game plan going into this match and it paid off. He shut down all of Meagher's offensive attacks and scored a takedown of his own in the second period. In t! he third period, he clinched the match with another takedown by a score of 4-1 and thus qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Anthony lost his final match of the weekend in the consolation finals but still had a fine tournament.
Ryan Flores (HWT) - Last year as a high school senior, Ryan capped off his senior year with his second state tittle as well as a finalist in the high school national finals. Coming in this year, we had very high expectations for him. Unfortunately, he was injured the entire first semester and did not make his debut until the WIlkes-Barre Tournament where he won his weight class defeating various talented wrestlers from the northeast. He then wrestled well during the second semester while we rotated between him and senior Jed Wade, who was also having a good season. Ryan ended up representing us at the EIWA Tournament and did incredibly well. This weight class was also a loaded weight class and as the #7 seed, I knew he was significantly better than his seed and that no one wanted to draw him early in the tournament. After a bye first round, he drew the #2 seed from Penn, Trey McClean. Fifteen seconds going into the match, ! McClean shot a high crotch on Ryan and had Ryan bouncing on one leg. Ryan, with outstanding use of his hips, locked around his opponents head and fell backwards as McClean pushed into him. McClean rolled over his back where he did not move as Ryan was awarded the pin in :35 seconds. Next up for Flores was Levon Mock, a 2007 NCAA Qualifier and the #3 seed. Within the first twenty seconds of the match, Flores used his patented "foot stomp" and threw Mock to his back. It looked certain that Mock was pinned but unfortunately he fought off his back. Mock scored a reversal of his own as did Flores and when the bout was over, Flores won by a score of 11-6. In the finals, it was a very tight match against the #1 seed and #5 nationally ranked Ed Prendergast from Navy. The score was 1-0 Prendergast going into the third as Flores had the choice and decided to go down. Flores, severely outsized decided to go down. A! s Prendergast was on top, Flores tried to utilize hi ships by ! creating a scramble so he could reverse Prendergast. Unfortunately, Flores gave up a set of back points and lost the match by a 5-1 score. It was a well fought match and Flores became the talk of the EIWA Tournament.
EIWA Stories:
http://www.gocolumbialions.com /ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=43594 &SPID=3876&DB_OEM_ID=9600 &ATCLID=1407638
http://www.gocolumbialions.com /ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=43594 &SPID=3876&DB_OEM_ID=9600 &ATCLID=1407952
http://www.gocolumbialions.com /ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=43594 &SPID=3876&DB_OEM_ID=9600 &ATCLID=1408884
NCAA Tournament
Brandon Kinney, Anthony Constantino, and Ryan Flores each represented Columbia University at the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, Ryan Flores was the only member of the team that won a match in St. Louis. We certainly did not have the best draws however, we did not wrestle like we know we could have. For Brandon and Anthony, these were their last matches of their career but for Ryan, this served as great experience so he know what tp expect when he is there next year. Regardless, we are proud of them since they dedicated themselves to become the best throughout the entire season and helped us win various dual meets this year.
NCAA Stories:
http://www.gocolumbialions.com /ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=43594 &SPID=3876&DB_OEM_ID=9600 &ATCLID=1416511
http://www.gocolumbialions.com /SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID =9600&KEY=&SPID=3876&SPSID =43594
"My high school coach shaped my whole wrestling career," Kemp said. "He gave me the courage to dream and to be the best. He saw potential in me when I didn't see it in myself."
"I am thoroughly happy about the opportunity to help another athlete reach his dreams and ultimate goal," he said. "It would be something that I could do that would last forever. I have remembered my high school coach my whole life and probably will until the day I die."
There is no other profession where you can impact the lives of kids and be remembered until the very end other than in teaching and coaching.
You will have the opportunity to meet and talk to Lee Kemp at the BTS/NYAC Coaches Clinic on May 16th at the NYAC.
Information will be on www.beat-the-streets.org
Lee Kemp Bio
The man who everyone in the wrestling world has come known as Lee Kemp, was officially known as Leroy P. Kemp, Jr., by the age of four-and-a-half, after being born Darnell Freeman to a mother and a father he would not meet until the age of 37. On Dec. 24, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio, he was born to 18-year-old single mother Barbara Freeman and father Theodore Mathis, Jr., also 18 and home on leave from Korea after a stint in the Army. Already a mother of two and at the advice of her mother, Barbara Freeman gave her son up for adoption. After spending time in two foster homes, Leroy Percy Kemp and his wife Jessie, both nearly 50 years of age, adopted young Freeman and quickly changed his name to that of his new father.
It took nearly five years of uncertainty, but finally Kemp was given a chance at life and more importantly, two parents to love.
Jessie and Leroy, Sr., two honest and hard-working individuals, who had never owned a credit card until Kemp was in college, uprooted the family from Cleveland and purchased a 25-acre farm 30 miles northeast of the city in the rural town of Chardon.
Kemp called the move a dream come true for his parents, but for him, it was so much more. It was a fresh start.
A start to something special.
Initially Kemp's athletic career at Chardon High began on the basketball court, but life as a basketball player last all but two days. His fellow classmates encouraged him to tryout for the high school wrestling team as a freshman in 1970-71, which he managed to win the conference tournament with just two one-point losses to his record. But it would be his sophomore season where Kemp's life would change forever. Chardon hired Richard Depenbrok as its wrestling coach and he quickly became a fan of the young and still inexperienced Kemp.
"My high school coach shaped my whole wrestling career," Kemp said. "He gave me the courage to dream and to be the best. He saw potential in me when I didn't see it in myself."
Kemp became acclimated to wrestling with an average 11-8-3 campaign his sophomore season. However in his junior year, he topped the defending runner-up and state champion in route to a perfect season. He captured his second-straight Ohio state high school title in 1973-74 and finished his final two seasons with 24 pins and a record of 55-0-0.
His success in wrestling led Kemp to Madison and the University of Wisconsin, a town and school he immediately felt comfortable in, something other African-American student-athletes didn't necessarily feel for some time.
"Madison and rural Wisconsin were similar environments to where I grew up in a farming community," Kemp said. "Chardon was a predominately white community, which prepared me for the environment in Wisconsin. Typically your first year is really tough to acclimate, but it wasn't tough for me to get used to. I had the benefit of being in a more diverse environment growing up compared to some of my black classmates."
Now all Kemp had to do was wrestle.
"I expected to win right away in college," he said. "The coaches at Wisconsin allowed me to have those thoughts. (Former UW head coach) Duane Kleven and I joke about it now. I was a different type of individual, but he allowed me to be an individual."
It was at Wisconsin where Kemp earned the nickname "Lee" as well as immediate respect as a dominant wrestler. The Badger freshman became the first rookie to ever reach the NCAA Championships title bout, but suffered a defeat by way of a split referee's decision in overtime. Many feel the decision was unjust considering Kemp ruled the match and scored the lone takedown in the bout.
"My initial goal was not to ever lose a match in college," he said. "I lost five my freshman year and three of those were to the same person. I wanted to move the bar higher than where it currently was."
After that devastating defeat in the championship final, Kemp never lost again.
As an 18-year-old sophomore, he earned national recognition by defeating legendary Dan Gable and went on to win three straight NCAA Championships at 158 pounds, while compiling an impressive record of 108-0-1. Kemp concluded his career as a Badger with a final mark of 143-6-1, including a streak of 87 straight victories and an unbeaten string of 103 consecutive matches. That streak is fourth-best in NCAA history along with his winning percentage of .953.
"Winning my first national title was my most memorable moment," Kemp said. "Keep in mind, I only started wrestling in the ninth grade, so to win the title in just my sixth year was pretty special. And certainly winning my third national title was special as well."
In August of 1978, just two months after graduating from Wisconsin, Kemp defeated Bulgaria's Alexander Nanev to capture the World Freestyle Championship. At the age of 21 years and 8 months, Kemp became the youngest American wrestler to capture a gold medal, a record that still stands today.
"That is probably the one thing I am most proud of," he said. "I always wanted to do something that had never been done before."
He then became the first American to win the event three times, as he added the 1979 and 1982 titles to his collection, along with a bronze medal in 1981. He also held the distinction of becoming the first American to win four straight Freestyle World Cups. All this success pointed to an opportunity to compete in the 1980 Olympics. Kemp was a favorite to win the gold in Moscow, but never had an opportunity to compete due to the United States' boycott of the 1980 Games. However, Kemp did defeat the Bulgarian Valentin Raitchev, the 1980 Olympic Champion, in the Super Champions title match following the Games in December. Four years later he placed second in the Olympic trials to Dave Schultz, who went on to win the gold medal in Los Angeles.
"(The boycott) bothers me to this day," Kemp said. "It's tough to live with that thought. Maybe that is the reason I got out of wrestling."
Kemp retired shortly after the trials in 1984 and entered the business world, becoming involved in a variety of different ventures. He worked in Chicago and New York City, and eventually took over ownership of a car dealership in a suburb of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in Minnesota.
In February of 1990, Depenbrok returned to induct Kemp into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, which he called a "confirmation of a lifetime of wrestling."
Perhaps it was also a sign to become more involved in the sport that provided him so much fame in life.
Kemp started the Lee Kemp Cooler Wrestling Club as his way to give back to the wrestling community.
"I get excited about going to practice each day," he said. "I remember the impact it had on me, so I'm very aware of how much of an impact it could have on these kids."
The impact stemmed from Kemp's high school mentor just simply believing in him. Now, Kemp shows his kids he believes in them.
In recent years, Kemp coached the U.S. World Freestyle Team World at the 2007 World Championships in Guangzhou, China, as well as the U.S. Junior World Freestyle Team at the 2007 Junior World Championships in Beijing. Last November, Kemp was confirmed as Team USA's freestyle coach for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing this summer.
It took 28 years, but Kemp will finally have his chance to compete at the Olympics.
"I am thoroughly happy about the opportunity to help another athlete reach his dreams and ultimate goal," he said. "It would be something that I could do that would last forever. I have remembered my high school coach my whole life and probably will until the day I die."
And now Kemp's life has come full circle. The sense of pride and accomplishment of his individual success is there, but now he is where he was meant to be and doing what he was meant to do.
Helping others become champions.
 The Phil Porteuse Northeastern Kids and Cadet Regional Championships will be hosted by NY-USAW in Binghamton at the Broome County Community College Ice Rink on May 30-June 1st.
The event is named after a great man, Phil Porteuse , who was very active in New Jersey and NYS Wrestling through the 1970's until his death a few years ago with cancer.
The event draws wrestlers from all over New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and has always been well run by the national office of USA Wrestling.
It is an outstanding event for Kids and Cadets in being introduced to Freestyle and Greco -Roman Regional competition. This is a high level event and parents and youth coaches should be aware of the talent level at this tournament.
Many of the top wrestlers in high school today from these states are products of the USAW Regional Championships...for more information please click below for applications and contact numbers.
One of America's Top Wrestlers
3 time World Champion and 3 time NCAA Champion
1980 Olympic Team
2008 US Olympic Freestyle Coach
Friday May 16th, 2008
At the New York Athletic Club (58th St and 7th Ave in Manhattan)
Registration and Social: 7:30pm -8pm
 PROGRAM
Q & A with Lee Kemp: 8pm-8:30pm
Technique Demonstrations: 8:30pm- 9pm
Social with finger foods: 9pm-10:00pm
Clinic Fee: $35
2008 USA Wrestling Coaches Members: $20
Beat the Streets & New York City HS Coaches: Guests of Beat the Streets Wrestling Inc.
For more information contact:
Sonny Greenhalgh, sonny@cnjgroup.com
Mike Cigala, mcigalabts@yahoo.com
Larry Cantor, LCantor2@schools.nyc.gov
NY-USAWrestling has announced the New York State Cadet and Jr. Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships scheduled for May 9-11 at Broome Community College in Binghamton.
The Bill Knapp Kids Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships are scheduled for May 3-4 at Amsterdam HS.
Congratulation to Steven Keith for winning the prestigious FILA Cadet National Championships and being selected as USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week.
New York City had several wrestlers participating in the Championships and did very well. As the expression goes "you got to be in it, to win it".
Making the trip was Lou DeStefano, Head Coach at Monsignor Farrell HS. Many of these wrestlers train at the Beat the Streets Training Center on Staten Island.
Connor Hanafee - 128 - went 3-2 in Greco roman - 4 and 2 in freestyle - beat a NC and Washington state runner-up - lost a 3 period match to the Ohio State Champ and lost a 3 period match on the leg clinch in the All American round - was 10 seconds away!
Tony Carlo - went 2 and 2 in freestyle
Danny Franco (Petrides) and Kevin Hartnett (Farrell) both went 1 and 2 in freestyle and Greco roman
YEVGENIY KOMISSAROV (Madison HS) - went 2-2 in Greco 2008- 5 wrestlers entered. 2009- a Full Contingent of New York City wrestlers will be "getting into the mix".
- INFO ON NEW YORK – USA WRESTLING 2008 WILLIAM “BILL” KNAPP KIDS STATE FREESTYLE & GRECO WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS, MAY 3-4, AMSTERDAM, NY: Page 1. Page 2. Registration Form.
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
04/16/2008
Steven Keith (Shoreham, N.Y./Team New York) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for April 8-14.
Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.
Keith won the 50 kg/110 lbs. division in freestyle at the FILA Cadet National Championships in Akron, Ohio, April 12-13, and was named the Outstanding Wrestler.
Read more.
Held April 13, 2008 at Petrides HS in Staten Island
Baldwin HS and Petrides HS on Sunday hosted the first leg of the Road to Fargo with over 400 wrestlers at these two events qualifying Cadet and HS wrestlers for the New York State Freestyle Championships scheduled for Binghamton on May 10-12.
This weeks qualifiers are scheduled for Kings Park HS in Suffolk County and Chester High School in Orange County. Both sites are within a 90 minute drive from New York City.
Attached are the applications and information about the two state qualifying tournaments.
Spring and summer wrestling is a great opportunity to develop the skills that are needed in order to compete at the state, regional and national level. If we examine the results of the NCCA Championships every year, over 90% of the wrestlers who win All-American honors follow the same journey to becoming an All-American.
Freestyle wrestling teaches young wrestlers the value of learning good positions in that, the rules are designed to reward wrestlers who execute good technique, kinesthetic awareness and tactical/technical skills.
Coaches encourage your wrestlers to participate in off season wrestling...it is FUN and a chance to meet kids from all over the State.
Elizabeth Wiley USA Wrestling
04/04/2008
 USA Wrestling is pleased to announce the creation of TheWomensMat.com, a complete guide to women's wrestling.
"It's a one-stop shop, a one-stop location for anyone involved in women's wrestling to go for information," U.S. Women's Freestyle Coach Terry Steiner said.
This website will provide exactly what women's wrestling has been missing, a central location that has everything related to the sport.
"It really should be an all-inclusive site," said Steiner. "It has information on camps, competitions, and technical advice."
Visit www.thewomensmat.com today to find out what all the fuss is about!
TheWomensMat.com features a variety of content including blogs from top female wrestlers, an elite access section, and current news.
Read more.
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
04/05/2008
BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Seven freestyle wrestlers earned a place in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials with victories in their weight classes at the Northeast Regional Olympic Trials held at Tuttle North Gymnasium at SUNY-Brockport on Saturday.
The Outstanding Wrestler at the tournament was Bryce Hasseman (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who captured the 84 kg/185 lbs. weight class.
In a battle of nationally ranked wrestlers in the finals, Hasseman defeated Tony Gansen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 0-2, 2-0, 1-0. In the
Hasseman won six matches on the way to his title, including a 2-0, 3-0 win in the quarterfinals over Matt Pell (Charlottesville, Va./Cavalier WC), the eventual bronze medalist.
Read more.
New York-USAW has announced additional qualifiers for the New York State Schoolboys, Cadets and Junior Championships to be held in on May 9 -10-11 at Broome Community College Binghamton, New York.
In order to participate at the State Championships a wrestler must enter any freestyle qualifier held throughout New York State. The State Championships will qualify wrestlers for the New York State State Teams participating in the USA Wrestling Kids, Schoolboys, Cadets and Jr. National Championships and the Schoolboy, Cadet and Jr. National Team Duals.
Qualification Tournaments for the New York City Metropolitan area are:
April 12th Sat. Baldwin High School- Kids- Midgets, Novice, Schoolboys and Cadets
April 13th Sun. Baldwin High School- Jr. and Open Championships
Directions- Take Southern State Parkway to Grand Ave. South and go 4 miles the school is located on Kohlberg Avenue behind a Shopping Center
LIRR- Take a train from Penn Station and get off...walk 3 blocks to the school.
April 13th- Sunday- Petrides HS- Cadets and Jr's
Directions-Belt Parkway to Verrazano Bridge to Richmond Road Exit. Turn left on Renwich Road and make a right turn to the school's entrance.
Suffolk County is also organizing a Qualifier in a few weeks and is looking for a site. Please contact Amy Prenderville, Section 11 Chairman if you are interested helping wrestling by hosting a qualifier.
SECTION 11 CHAIRMAN
Amy Prenderville
313 Park Avenue
Babylon, NY 11702
631-893-4148
AJPrenderville@netscape.net
All Competitors must have a valid 2008 USA Wrestling Competitive Membership Card, a Red/Blue Singlet or a Reversible. Both Cards and Equipment will be on sale at the events.
For More Information: Contact the Sectional Reps.
Ray Adams- Sec. 8- 516-623-4157
Larry Cantor- New York City- evenings- 212-865-3549
Amy Prenderville- Suffolk-Sec. 11- 631-893-4148
Ed Gould State Chairman-516-379-9832
Event Flyers:
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
03/24/2008
On behalf of the Beat the Streets Wrestling Inc, we extend to Danielle our sincere congratulations for being recognized by the Journalist Community for outstanding work in the field of wrestling photography.
For the past 18 months, she has been the Beat the Streets Webmaster and Photographer. The website and the internet itself has been a wonderful tool for us to get our message out to the New York City community. The scope of the Beat the Streets Wrestling Program is a tremendous undertaking with over 1000 schools, colleges and clubs in the New York City Metropolitan area that we are trying to make into a "wrestling family".
Our mission of expanding the base of wrestling from Youth through the Olympics requires a tremendous communication effort. Danielle, through her skills, has a created the Beat the Streets Website that provides us a vehicle for communication to our large and diverse community.
Once again, CONGRATULATIONS!
Photographer of the Year - Danielle Hobeika
Hobeika started photographing wrestling in 1997, her senior year of high school, and the year she started wrestling as an athlete. She had been an avid artistic photographer for the previous 4 years, and put the two things she loved together in her wrestling photography.
She was a member of the wrestling team at Harvard Univ., and continued photography there, working for the school's newspaper, the Harvard Crimson. She also provided photos to the wrestling program for use in promotion of the sport.
In 2002, the year after she graduated college, she was introduced to a photographer and wrestling enthusiast named Al Elrefai, who knew she had both an interest in web design and photography. Together, they developed a website for posting wrestling photos called AmateurWrestlingPhotos.com.
For the past six years, Hobeika, along with Elrefei and wrestler/photographer Julieta Okot, have photographed numerous amateur wrestling events from the youth level up to the Olympic level. Her personal focus has been covering the collegiate level of wrestling, and this year also expanded her coverage to include photographing Mixed Martial Arts fights.
Publications in which her photos have appeared include WIN Magazine, Amateur Wrestling News, The Morning Call Newspaper, the New York Athletic Club's Winged Foot Magazine, Newsday, Pennsylvania Wrestling News, and others.
She has been a competitor on the Senior women's wrestling circuit for the past decade. Hobeika placed second at the 2002 U.S.Nationals and qualified three times for the U.S. Women's National Team. In addition, she has designed numerous websites for the sport of wrestling, assisting both organizations and individual athletes in having their own websites specific to their needs.
From Kindergarten through Open there are Events for ALL. This Weekend, From the Jersey Shore (Wildwood, NJ) to the Hudson Valley (Brewster, NY), Long Island (Middle Island, NY) or Upstate (Rochester, NY) and Many in Between!
Click here for more info.
Shannyn Gillespie USOEC
03/14/2008
The U.S. Olympic Education Center (USOEC) has received a verbal commitment from Helen Maroulis of Rockville, Maryland (Colonel Zadok Magruder High School).
Maroulis, a member of the 2007 ASICS Girls High School All-American Team, will enter the USOEC resident athlete program as a high school senior and will attend Marquette Senior High School.
The USOEC has a star studded 2008-2009 recruiting class that includes Amy Whitbeck, Adeline Gray, Emily Martin, Patricia Hill, Veronica Carlson, Melissa Apodaca, Erin Golston, and Brenda Mendoza.
Read More.
ST. LOUIS – March 13, 2008 – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum will honor the contributions made by African Americans to the sport of wrestling in a special recognition ceremony on Thursday, March 20 at the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships Fan Fest at Union Station.
Free to the public, the event will begin at 5 p.m. with the official recognition of the greats in attendance. A Q&A forum with former NCAA All-Americans Bobby Douglas (Oklahoma State), Lloyd Keaser (Navy), Lee Kemp (Wisconsin), Kenny Monday (Oklahoma State), and Simon Roberts (Iowa) will follow. Roberts became the first African American NCAA wrestling champion 50 years ago. The event will conclude with an autograph session.
A special traveling exhibit, entitled “50 Years of African American Wrestling Excellence,” will be on site at the Fan Fest throughout the Championships (March 20-22). The exhibit features a timeline of African American wrestling firsts and a list of African American NCAA champions, Olympians, and hall of famers.
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum will hold a champions reunion and social prior to the recognition ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Tickets for the reunion and social, which is open to the public, are $35 and can be purchased by calling Krista at 405/377-5243.
The 2008 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships are hosted by the University of Missouri and the St. Louis Sports Commission. This marks the fourth time this decade St. Louis hosts the event. The Championships return to Scottrade Center in 2009. For event schedule and ticket information, visit stlsports.org/wrestling .
Middle School Results
89 pound 1st place Hanna Grisewood from Warsaw, NY
96 pounds 1st place Andrea Marsh from Panama, NY
103 pounds 1st place Meghan Clark from Ballston Spa, NY winner over Papa by pin 3:22
103 pounds 2nd place Gabriele Papa from Salamanca, NY
118 pounds 1st place Mary Westman from Cattaragus, NY
High School results
95 pounds 1st place Carlene Sluberski from Fredonia, NY
102 pounds 1st place Emily Buck from Pine City, NY
109 pounds 1st place Jenna Burkert from Middle Island, NY winner over Clark by pin :42
109 pounds 2nd place Amanda Clark from Ballston Spa, NY
123 pounds 1st place Logan Howard from Dewittville, NY winner over Prifte by decision 2-0
123 pounds 2nd place ShanaLee Prifte from Shoreham, NY
130 pounds 1st place Michelle Quiles from Forestville, NY winner over Thompson by pin :46
130 pounds 2nd place Charis Thompson from Fredonia, NY
146 pounds 1st place Shorna Brown from Kingston, NY
155 pounds 1st place Kelsea Suchocki from Summit, NY winner over Strang 9-4, winner over Westman 15-0
155 pounds 2nd place Alexandra Strang from Rochester, NY winner over Westman 4-3
155 pounds 3rd place Ashley Westman from Cattaragus, NY
Read More.
03/08/08
New York University senior Stephen Hult won the bronze medal and senior captain Takafumi Hashimoto took fifth place in their respective weight classes at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on Saturday, March 8, at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Hult, seeded #4 at 141 pounds, defeated #8 seed Travis Grawin of Luther College in the third-place match by a score of 6-2.
Hult earned All-America honors for the first time with his performance, and tied for the best finish ever at the NCAA Championships by an NYU wrestler.
Mat McClenahan, a two-time All-American, finished third in the 118-pound weight class in 1990.
Hult, who did not wrestle at all during the 2006-07 season, became the first NYU wrestler ever to earn All-America honors in the 141-pound weight class.
Read more
In a tough sport, three of Farrell's four state qualifiers have had it even harder than usual
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
By TOM DOWD STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It's not to say Ben Villaret had it easy. Just easier than the three guys he's traveling with this weekend.
Villaret is the prodigy-type, the kid who was practicing with the Monsignor Farrell guys when he was in seventh grade, who won a state schoolboy title in eighth grade.
"He's a stud," says Farrell wrestling coach Lou DeStefano.
Now he's just the third Lion wrestler to win a Catholic state title and advance to the New York State championships as a sophomore.
Villaret, a 125-pounder, will be in Rochester this weekend for the two-day tournament with three teammates -- Connor Hanafee, Kevin Hartnett and John Newman -- as Farrell becomes just the second Island school to qualify four individuals for the state championships.
But it's safe to say Villaret's road to Rochester carries a little less intrigue than his those of his teammates. When it comes to backstory, they've got him beat.
Read more.
DATE & TIME: Sunday, March 30, 2008
Check-in & Weigh-in @7:30-8:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Massapequa High School , 4925 Merrick Road, Massapequa, New York 11758
More Info
Steven Perez a New York City wrestler graduating class 2006 from Francis Lewis High School, finished 7th at the 2008 Junior College National Wrestling Championships, Rochester, Minnesota. With this victory at the Junior College Nationals Steven Perez attained title of "All American".
Steven Perez decided to go to Nassau Community College at the encouragement of his coach Beat the Streets' very own DrMWSpanakos also an alumnus of NCC wrestling. Steven. Perez, is a PSAL 2006 Heisman Wingate recipient and past captain of his high school team. During his PSAL high school career Steven Perez was undefeated in PSAL competition for all three years of participation. During the off season Steven Perez will be taking his wrestling to Parsons the local BTS training center helping other up and coming wrestlers along with another local product Andre DeChristo who is presently going to the Division 3 nationals for Hunter College.
Congratulations Paul Schmidt, Head Coach of Nassau Community College in capturing the Junior College National Team Championship.
|
