Women's Wrestling

TWU WRESTLING WELCOMES SIX ATHLETES TO INAUGURAL TEAM

February 16, 2022 by Tara S

By: Morgan Boling

DENTON, Texas (Feb. 7, 2022) – History once again knocks on the doorsteps of Texas Woman’s University. On Feb. 7, 2022, the TWU wrestling team announced the signing of its first recruits in program history.

TWU head coach Randi Miller welcomed six athletes to her inaugural roster for the 2022-23 season.

From Pharr, Texas, Alyssa Ayala joins the wrestling team after already attending TWU for three years, pursuing a degree in Kinesiology Coaching and Teaching K-12.

Ayala, at 30-years-old, said she believes this opportunity will give her one last time to return to the sport she loves.

“I joined this team for the love of the sport, as I wrestled in high school 2005-09,” Ayala said. “When I heard of the wrestling team, I felt it was an opportunity for me to try one last time and challenge myself.”

While in high school at PSJA North High School, Ayala was a two-time wrestling district champion. She also competed in the Semi Pro Women’s Football League for two years (2011-13).

Kailah Key joins the Pioneers as a freshman from Fort Worth, Texas. Key wrestled for Lamar High School for three years and won first place in districts.

In her sophomore year at TWU, China Saturley attended McKinney High School in McKinney, Texas. She wrestled for one year in high school and made it to state in 2019.

Samantha Simonette will be another true freshman on the Pioneers squad in its first year. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Simonette wrestled at Decatur High School for three years, before transferring to Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania.

In 2021, Simonette won the USA Georgia State Championship at 180 lbs. She also is a three-time All-American. While in high school, she also wrestled with her club team: Charlies Morris Fitness Angels.

From Justin, Texas, Kylee Spearman becomes the third freshman on the Pioneers roster. Spearman wrestled for four years at Northwest High School. During her junior year, she was a District Champion, and a Regional and State Placer. She also won the Most Outstanding Wrestler and Ultimate Teammate Award for Northwest.

Finally, Hannah Vos joins the Pioneer wrestling team as the fourth freshman. Vos, from Roanoke, Texas, wrestled at Byron Nelson High School. While training herself, Vos also helps coach middle school and kids club wrestling in her spare time to “help shape the future generations of wrestling.”
In 2020, Vos was a State Qualifier and, in 2021, a District Champion – both in the 148-lbs division. She was also a three-time Regional Qualifier in high school. Her team at Byron Nelson won the 2019 Team District Championship, and they were the 2021 Team District Runner-Up.

Vos also wrestled with her club team Sisters on the Mat.

The Pioneer Wrestling team will begin their inaugural season in Fall 2022.
-PIONEERS-

African-American Pioneers in Women’s Wrestling

February 16, 2022 by Tara S

guest writer Shannyn Gillespie
IG: @coachshannyntalks
FB: www.facebook.com/coachshannyn2

Women’s wrestling at the Olympic Games (2004), in College (1994), & World Championships (1987) is a relatively new phenomenon when compared to men’s wrestling which started about 100 years earlier in Olympic, World, & College competition (1903 & 1904). However, African-American women (and men) have been trailblazers in women’s wrestling from the start of USA fielding teams…

Tamyra Mensah-Stock became the first African-American Olympic Champion at the 2020 Tokyo Games and second African-American women wrestler to be crowned World Champion in 2019. She accomplished this feat at 68kg and also won a World Championships silver medal in 2021 and a bronze medal in 2018. In college, she was a 2X WCWA National Champion and 4X all-American for Wayland Baptist University. Mensah-Stock is from Texas (where high school girls wrestling has been sanctioned since 1999) and won 2 state titles while finishing as runner-up her sophomore year for Morton Ranch H.S.

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CLARISSA CHUN NAMED IOWA WOMEN’S WRESTLING HEAD COACH

January 7, 2022 by Tara S

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Clarissa Chun has been named head coach of the University of Iowa women’s wrestling team. The announcement was made Thursday by Gary Barta, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair.

“Clarissa is the perfect fit to lead us in our journey to build a championship women’s wrestling program,” said Barta. “Her credentials speak for themselves, and her approach and philosophy match well with our Win. Graduate. Do it Right. values.”

Chun is the first head coach in the history of the program. Iowa announced on Sept. 23, 2021, that it was adding women’s wrestling as an intercollegiate program, becoming the first NCAA Division I, Power Five conference institution to offer the sport.

“It is an honor to be involved in a historic and exciting opportunity for young women across the country to compete as Hawkeyes in women’s wrestling,” said Chun. “I want to thank Gary Barta, Barbara Burke and Tom Brands for their initiative and leadership, which is going to make a positive and lasting impact on the wrestling world. This didn’t happen overnight; it took a lot of hard work and investment from community members and the University of Iowa’s administration, and I send a sincere thank-you to all who have worked to make this happen.

“It is a privilege to be a part of the Hawkeye brand. With that comes great responsibility and high expectations. I am ready to meet those challenges and I am excited to build a winning program in Iowa City, Wrestling Town USA.”

“Gary Barta and Barbara Burke said from the beginning that they would target the best person for the job and that’s exactly what they did,” said Iowa men’s wrestling head coach Tom Brands. “Clarissa Chun has charisma. She has credentials. She has championships. She commands respect and the wrestlers that come to school here are going to love her. This is a big deal for the University of Iowa.”

Chun joins the Iowa women’s wrestling program from USA Wrestling, where she was an assistant coach on the women’s national team from 2017-21. Working on staff with former Hawkeye national champion and women’s national team head coach Terry Steiner, Chun helped lead the United States to 17 World medals, including seven gold, four silver and six bronzes, as well as an Olympic gold, Olympic silver and two Olympic bronzes.

“I am grateful for Coach Terry Steiner’s leadership and mentorship and look forward to continuing our partnership and developing future national, world and Olympic champions for the United States of America. I cannot thank USA Wrestling enough for helping me grow as a person and coach,” said Chun.

In the United States’ most recent showing at the 2021 World Championships in Oslo, Norway, the women’s team won two gold, two silver and three bronze medals, a historic seven-medal performance that led Team USA to a second-place finish.

Prior to being hired at USA Wrestling, Chun was among the most accomplished athletes in international wrestling.

A two-time Olympian, she took fifth at the 2008 Beijing Games before earning a bronze medal at the 2012 London Games, competing at 48 kg. Chun wrestled at five Senior World Championships, which included a gold-medal performance at the 2008 Worlds in Tokyo. She also competed at the 2000, 2009, 2011 and 2012 World Championships.

During her career, Chun won five U.S. Open titles. She was a 2011 Pan American Games silver medalist and won four gold medals at the Pan American Championships. She was a runner-up at four U.S. World Team Trials and three U.S. Opens, in a career which spanned 18 years competing at the Senior level.

Chun competed for Missouri Valley College, where she was a star on one of the pioneer women’s college wrestling team programs. She made the Senior Women’s National Team while still a student at Missouri Valley.

After leaving college, Chun became a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete for many years, but has also trained at Regional Training Centers on college campuses.

Chun has coaching experience at both the international and college levels. She was a member of the men’s wrestling staff at West Virginia University, serving as the program’s Operations Assistant while also training at the Regional Training Center.

Chun will be inducted in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in June, 2022. She is one of only four females bestowed Distinguished Member honors. In 2018, Chun was inducted into the Missouri Valley College Hall of Fame, Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame, and Roosevelt High School Hall of Fame.

CATARINA MACARIO, CHLOE KIM AND MORE: 20 FEMALE ATHLETES TO KNOW IN 2022

December 21, 2021 by Tara S

As 2021 comes to an end, it’s time to look forward to the year ahead in sports.

With the Winter Olympics in February, March Madness on the calendar and a landmark NWSL season to come, women’s sports fans are in store for an exciting year.

Here are the 20 athletes to know or get reacquainted with in 2022:

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Promoting the Growth Of Girls And Women’s Wrestling

October 8, 2021 by Tara S

OLYMPIAN MIRACLE MAKES WORLD TEAM IN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE; BURKERT WINS IN DECIDING THIRD BOUT FOR FOURTH WORLD TEAM

September 13, 2021 by Tara S

By Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Jenna Burkert of Army WCAP celebrates after her stunning win at the World Team Trials. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com

Six new U.S. Senior World Team members in women’s wrestling were determined during the Championship Series at the Senior World Team Trials in Lincoln, Neb.

The winners join four Tokyo Olympic medalists from the USA to form the 10-athlete team competing in Oslo, Norway, October 2-10.

2020 Tokyo Olympian Kayla Miracle of the Sunkist Kids will also compete in the World Championships in Oslo after defeating 2018 World bronze medalist Mallory Velte in two matches at 62 kg. Miracle won the first bout, 5-3, but was able to open up her offense in a 10-2 victory in bout two. This will be Miracle’s second Senior World team, to go along with the Olympic berth.

Making her fourth Senior World Team was Jenna Burkert of Army WCAP, who needed three full matches to defeat 2019 World champion and 2020 Olympian Jacarra Winchester of the Titan Mercury WC at 55 kg. All three bouts were close, with exciting finishes.

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TAMYRA MENSAH STOCK WINS SECOND U.S. WOMEN’S WRESTLING GOLD MEDAL IN HISTORY

August 23, 2021 by Tara S

By Karen Price

Freestyle wrestler Tamyra Mensah Stock stood wrapped in the U.S. flag, alternating between sobs of joy and bouncing up and down with excitement.

The newest Olympic champion in the 68 kg. class had just accomplished what she said she knew she could from the moment she started in the sport.

The 28-year-old from Katy, Texas, won the gold medal.

“I knew I could do it,” she said. “I knew it would be hard. I prayed I could do it. In my wildest dreams I knew.”

The reigning world champion rolled through the Olympic tournament, finishing with a 4-1 victory over Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu in the gold-medal match in Tokyo on Tuesday night. Immediately after, she raised her hands above her head in a heart shape, as she’s done throughout, and the emotion swept over her face. She broke down in tears as she hugged her coaches and clutched the flag for a victory lap.

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10 Reasons Why Kids Should Wrestle

August 17, 2021 by Tara S

Wrestling is one of the most unique sports on the planet. It is definitely not the most popular sport, but that is quickly changing as more and more people become aware of the incredible benefits that a career in wrestling can provide.

1. Wrestling Develops Athleticism

Balance, strength, coordination, and overall body awareness is fundamental in having success in the sport. Year after year kids will start practice with gymnastics, calisthenics, and activities that develop these skills. It provides a foundation of athleticism.

2. Wrestling Promotes Personal Responsibility

As an individual sport the only person responsible for success or failure is the individual themselves. Wrestling teaches self-awareness and how to be responsible for your actions. What you put in is what you get out.

3. Wrestling Develops Mental and Emotional Resilience

Like no other sport, wrestling triggers the emotions of athletes. When you suffer losses and setbacks they are often painful and uncomfortable. However, through the process individuals can develop resilience that will last a lifetime.

4. Wrestling Teaches About Nutrition and Weight Management

Through competition athletes become aware of weight-classes. If done correctly, this can encourage athletes to learn about food and how proper nutrition can impact their performance.

5. Wrestling Develops Leadership Skills

Leadership is both verbal and nonverbal. A wrestling room has the ability to create an environment where leaders emerge. You will quickly see young athletes push each other, teach each other, and support one another.

6. Wrestling Teaches Discipline and Accountability

Discipline and accountability are requirements for achieving success in the sport of wrestling. There is literally no way to achieve ultimate success in the sport without choosing to do hard things even when you don’t want to and athletes must hold themselves accountable for their own actions if they want to succeed.

7. Wrestling Brings People Together From All Backgrounds and Cultures

Wrestling is an international sport and doesn’t require anything to participate. People from all corners of the planet and from all different economic and social backgrounds can compete in the sport.

8. Wrestling Promotes Self-Mastery and Focus

Wrestling has been described as the most difficult martial art to master. It takes years of practice and experience to understand the positions of wrestling. The sport teaches individuals to have a long-term perspective and requires a high level of passion to pursue the elite levels of the sport.

9. Wrestling Teaches Self-Defense

The best way to ensure that you’re not a victim of physical violence is by learning self-defense. Wrestling is the most important skill-set required in combat sports today because it has the ability to control where the battle goes. Knowing how to wrestle could very easily help anyone in a situation of self-defense.

10. Wrestling Can Provide Opportunities to Travel and Further Education

There are so many opportunities to travel the country and see the world while competing in youth and high school wrestling. In addition to traveling, there are endless opportunities to wrestle in college. Individuals can use the sport to create educational opportunities that might not otherwise have existed.

Ola’s Amani Jones wins gold at Junior Pan American Championships

July 22, 2021 by Tara S

Amani Jones, fresh off her graduation from Ola, made history at the Junior Pan American Championships in Oaxtepec, Mexico.

Jones became the first Georgia high school girls wrestler to win a gold medal at the games, taking the freestyle title at 55 kilograms with a dominating 10-0 win over Mexico’s Victoria Chazez in the finals. The U.S. team won gold in the event with 176 points, finishing ahead of runner-up Mexico’s 147 and third-place Cuba’s 101.

“This is a huge step for Amani,” Ola coach Joey DiNino said. “She has international level aspirations and this is a step in the right direction. We are extremely proud of Amani.”

Jones, a North Central College (Ill.) recruit, won high school state championships the past three seasons, the first three the Georgia High School Association sanctioned wrestling. She also is a Girls USA Cadet Freestyle National Champion, a Girls Super 32 National Champion and a USA Today Atlanta Sports Female Wrestler of the Year.

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