Bethel's Liang has a home-mat advantage
By Jose San Mateo / Times-Herald
Posted: 12/13/2011 01:00:32 AM PST
Frankie Liang
For Bethel High School wrestler Frankie Liang her toughest matches take place in the school gymnasium.
There's about a 10-pound difference between Liang and teammate Alyssa Wong, but they are often matched up against each other during practice.
"There are some days Frankie is a little bit better, but they are both very different," said Bethel wrestling coach Mike Sariano. "They are hard workers, they want to win and they are both very humble. It's a pleasure to have them both in the practice room because both of them are leaders in the wrestling room."
The extra practice has paid dividends for Liang as she stole the show and the Times-Herald Athlete of the Week by dominating the competition at the Roger Briones Invitational in San Leandro, winning the 126-pound title with a 4-0 record and four pins.
"She's bigger in terms of weight, but I know I can hang with her," Liang said. "She's helped me know I can take down stronger opponents. If I can work with Alyssa I can definitely take down any opponent."
She said that it was the first time she finished a tournament by making every one of her opponents submit, but her sights are set much higher than winning an early-season tournament.
"I got rid of my nerves that first match and then I was able to pin all my opponents," Liang said. "It's still early, so I use that day as a stepping stone. I haven't gone through a tournament with four pins. Its a great accomplishment, but I'm working towards state."
Liang and Wong have competed in many of the same tournaments and often finish in similar places in their respective divisions. Both wrestlers finished third at the state tournament last year. At the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters tournament in which the Jaguars finished second as a team, Liang and Wong finished third as well.
Both wrestlers also competed at the 2011 USA Junior Women's Freestyle Nationals at the Fargo Dome in North Dakota last year. Liang placed fifth as a 121-pounder as the Cadet team she was a part of finished in second place overall.
Competing in the tournament and watching her Jaguars teammate succeed was a watershed moment for her that has given her the confidence to perform well this season
"Anywhere I get to wrestle is a great experience and it's extra mat time," Liang said. " I take that and see where I'm at and build on it."
The new attitude is not lost on her coaches, who laud her determination on the mat.
"(Frankie) is a very very tough girl," said Sariano. "She's physical and has a lot of determination. She doesn't want to lose, and her expectation is to win every time."
Over the summer, Liang often practiced against her sister Ricki who joined the Bethel wrestling team as a freshman. The two enjoy a healthy sibling rivalry that often plays itself out on the mat. Sariano said that having the Liang sisters on the same same team has been beneficial for both of them.
"I get to share experiences with her and see her succeed on the mat as well," Liang said. "On the mat sometimes we butt heads, but that's normal and we push each other. I always try to help her and point out little details she may not see."
Moving forward, Liang wants to improve on her third-place performance at state last season and possibly take home a state championship. If her performance at the Briones Invitational is any indication then she is well on her way.
"I really believe in myself this year," Liang said. "I can take anyone down; not just my teammates. It doesn't matter if they are ranked in state or in the nation. I can go out and wrestle them."
Honorable mentions
Nikki Andaya (Benicia girls basketball) Andaya had 19 points, seven assists and 10 steals in the semifinals of the St. Helena tournament as the Panthers beat the Saints 79-32. Andaya was all-tournament.
Daseion Cole (Bethel boys basketball) Cole scored 21 points and had 10 boards in the fifth-place game of the Edison Classic in Stockton on Saturday and made the all-tournament team.
Taylor Hamilton (St. Pat's girls basketball) Hamilton scored a total of 54 points in three games in the Piedmont tournament, earning all-tournament honors.
Tajai Johnson (Vallejo boys basketball) Johnson had 26 points and eight boards as the Apaches closed out the Edison Classic with a 73-67 win over Grant.
Paige Pangelinan (Benicia girls basketball) Pangelinan had 15 points, 11 boards, four steals and two blocks in the finale of the St. Helena tournament. She was all-tournament.
Alyssa Wong (Bethel wrestling) Wong was 4-0 and named the best middleweight wrestler at the Roger Briones tournament in San Leandro over the weekend.
Posted: 12/13/2011 01:00:32 AM PST
Frankie Liang
For Bethel High School wrestler Frankie Liang her toughest matches take place in the school gymnasium.
There's about a 10-pound difference between Liang and teammate Alyssa Wong, but they are often matched up against each other during practice.
"There are some days Frankie is a little bit better, but they are both very different," said Bethel wrestling coach Mike Sariano. "They are hard workers, they want to win and they are both very humble. It's a pleasure to have them both in the practice room because both of them are leaders in the wrestling room."
The extra practice has paid dividends for Liang as she stole the show and the Times-Herald Athlete of the Week by dominating the competition at the Roger Briones Invitational in San Leandro, winning the 126-pound title with a 4-0 record and four pins.
"She's bigger in terms of weight, but I know I can hang with her," Liang said. "She's helped me know I can take down stronger opponents. If I can work with Alyssa I can definitely take down any opponent."
She said that it was the first time she finished a tournament by making every one of her opponents submit, but her sights are set much higher than winning an early-season tournament.
"I got rid of my nerves that first match and then I was able to pin all my opponents," Liang said. "It's still early, so I use that day as a stepping stone. I haven't gone through a tournament with four pins. Its a great accomplishment, but I'm working towards state."
Liang and Wong have competed in many of the same tournaments and often finish in similar places in their respective divisions. Both wrestlers finished third at the state tournament last year. At the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters tournament in which the Jaguars finished second as a team, Liang and Wong finished third as well.
Both wrestlers also competed at the 2011 USA Junior Women's Freestyle Nationals at the Fargo Dome in North Dakota last year. Liang placed fifth as a 121-pounder as the Cadet team she was a part of finished in second place overall.
Competing in the tournament and watching her Jaguars teammate succeed was a watershed moment for her that has given her the confidence to perform well this season
"Anywhere I get to wrestle is a great experience and it's extra mat time," Liang said. " I take that and see where I'm at and build on it."
The new attitude is not lost on her coaches, who laud her determination on the mat.
"(Frankie) is a very very tough girl," said Sariano. "She's physical and has a lot of determination. She doesn't want to lose, and her expectation is to win every time."
Over the summer, Liang often practiced against her sister Ricki who joined the Bethel wrestling team as a freshman. The two enjoy a healthy sibling rivalry that often plays itself out on the mat. Sariano said that having the Liang sisters on the same same team has been beneficial for both of them.
"I get to share experiences with her and see her succeed on the mat as well," Liang said. "On the mat sometimes we butt heads, but that's normal and we push each other. I always try to help her and point out little details she may not see."
Moving forward, Liang wants to improve on her third-place performance at state last season and possibly take home a state championship. If her performance at the Briones Invitational is any indication then she is well on her way.
"I really believe in myself this year," Liang said. "I can take anyone down; not just my teammates. It doesn't matter if they are ranked in state or in the nation. I can go out and wrestle them."
Honorable mentions
Nikki Andaya (Benicia girls basketball) Andaya had 19 points, seven assists and 10 steals in the semifinals of the St. Helena tournament as the Panthers beat the Saints 79-32. Andaya was all-tournament.
Daseion Cole (Bethel boys basketball) Cole scored 21 points and had 10 boards in the fifth-place game of the Edison Classic in Stockton on Saturday and made the all-tournament team.
Taylor Hamilton (St. Pat's girls basketball) Hamilton scored a total of 54 points in three games in the Piedmont tournament, earning all-tournament honors.
Tajai Johnson (Vallejo boys basketball) Johnson had 26 points and eight boards as the Apaches closed out the Edison Classic with a 73-67 win over Grant.
Paige Pangelinan (Benicia girls basketball) Pangelinan had 15 points, 11 boards, four steals and two blocks in the finale of the St. Helena tournament. She was all-tournament.
Alyssa Wong (Bethel wrestling) Wong was 4-0 and named the best middleweight wrestler at the Roger Briones tournament in San Leandro over the weekend.
