| |
 |
| |
In Wrestling, Position is Nine-Tenths of the Law
|
by Roger Brigham (San Francisco, CA)
2006-07-19
CHICAGO, 17 July 2006 -- Newly formed Windy City Wrestling Club turned in a powerful performance as host team of the Gay Games VII wrestling tournament Monday, taking third place in total weighted team points with seven individual gold medalists.
Golden Gate WC of San Francisco led the field at historic Welsh Ryan Arena with eight gold medalists and 41 total points, followed by Southern California WC (six golds) with 30 points and Windy City (seven golds) with 29 points. Philadelphia Spartan WC had one gold and 17 points for fourth and San Diego Bulldog WC had two golds and 10 points for fifth, followed by Metro WC of New York City in sixth with four points and Denver with two points for seventh.
By geographic breakdown, Northern California placed first, followed by Los Angeles/Orange County in second, Chicago metropolitan area third, eastern Pennsylvania fourth, San Diego fifth, greater New York sixth and Denver seventh. Based on power ratings per wrestler entered, Los Angeles topped the chart followed by San Francisco, Denver and Chicago.
Although the wrestlers had to battle brutal heat, there were no major injuries and the tournament ran relatively smoothly.
"We were very pleased with the organization of the tournament and hope this builds the foundation for a revival of gay wrestling in the Chicago area," said Roger Brigham, Gay Games wrestling liaison for Wrestlers WithOut Borders. "Coach Tim Cyziewski of Northwestern gave a great techniques clinic that wrestlers of all skill levels could benefit from, and the officials from Illinois wrestling who participated said they were very enthusiastic about the formation of Windy City WC and hoped to work with the wrestlers in the future to help with their development."
In the women's competition, Erika Hom of San Francisco defended her 2002 Gay Games VI title with a pin against Rene Mercado of Chicago in the open 68 kilogram weight class. The remaining women all were unopposed in their weight classes and wrestled exhibitions. Gold winners were Chicago's Courtnay O'Connell in the master's 48 kilos and Angela Nelson in the open 100 kilos; Erin Carlisle of New Jersey in the master's 74 kilos; Becky Rosenberg of Atlanta atthe open 48 kilos; and Donna Rose in the master's 82 kilos.
"Women's participation was UP despite of the overall total drop since Sydney," said Federation of Gay Games wrestling representative Gene Dermody. "The renewed team strengths of the Philadelphia Spartans and Southern California clubs was a pleasant surprise, plus the newly reconstituted San Diego club with their new mats has made a big difference in the evel of competition. Windy City WC was the local favorite Cinderella team that will now have the responsibility to live up to their great showing.
Hopefully, the excitement for and by the Chicago women will translate to a growth in the women's participation. My compliments go to the remarkable competitiveness and camaradarie of the tournament despite the heat and extra work of moving the mats in and out."
The toughest competitions emerged in the men's open and master's (35-49 years old) upper middleweight divisions. In the master's 68 kilogram class, SCWC's Mike Massino beat Philadelphia's C. F. for the gold, and Sydney gold medalist Johnny Almony, knocked out in the semifinals because of injury, took the bronze.
Chicago picked up two golds in the masters with Joe Watkins at 74 kilos and Keith Boykin at 82. Paul Reitzel of Long Beach, Calif., dominated at 90 kilos.
In the men's open division, SCWC's Rafael Medina took the gold at 74 kilos, Shawn Giberson of Vorhees, N.J., won at 68, and Antonio Quirante of SCWC triumphed at 62 kilos.
Successfully defending their 2002 gold medals were Matt Carey of SCWC in the master's 62 kilo class and Calvin Malone of GGWC in the open 82 class.
For the first time, the Gay Games offered a veterans (50 and over) age division. Gene Dermody of GGWC won his second gold at 84 kilos for his sixth Gay games medal overall, then promptly announced his retirement -- again.
"This is really it this time," Dermody said. "The over 50 age group was great, but I'm not going to create an over 60 age division!"
Other gold medal matches in the veterans were won by John Ascher (100 kilos), Si Durney (74 kilos) and Brigham (62 kilos), all of GGWC; and Steve Ford of SCWC at 68 kilos.
|
| |
|
|
  Copyright 2010 Chicago Games, Inc. | All Rights Reserved | Contact Us
"Gay Games," the "Federation of Gay Games," the interlocking circles device
are registered trademarks of the Federation of Gay Games, Inc. The Gay Games VII logo
and its figures are copyrighted images of the Federation of Gay Games, Inc.
Gay Games VII welcomes people of all orientations. Publication of the name, photograph, or
likeness of a person on this website or in any electronic or printed Gay Games VII
promotional item is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person.
Website Designed, Hosted, and Powered by Materville Studios
| |
