Springstowne launchpad for Vallejo's top girl grapplers
By DAN NIED/Times-Herald sports writer
Article Launched: 04/16/2007 08:20:23 AM PDT
TWO GRADUATES of Springstowne Middle School's successful girls' wrestling program are sisters. Mary Jane Fernandez, of Vallejo High School, in the red grappling gear, is pictured in action at the recent U.S. Girls Wrestling Association Championships in Michigan. (Courtesy photos/Rob Allor)
Editor's note: Second in a two-part series on how girls' wrestling has put Vallejo on the national map.
When wrestling coach Jason Guiducci came to Springs-towne Middle School in 1999, just two girls were on the team.
Today, the number has swol-len to more than 30 - girls now outnumber guys at Springs-towne - and the school has developed the largest girls' wrestling program in the nation - not just among middle schools, but elementary and high schools as well.
For the past few years, girls' wrestling at Springstowne not only has become cool, it also has become the starting point for state and national championship contenders.
One of Guiducci's two originals, Maribeth Grim, went on to win an unofficial state high school title with Bethel High. And five Springstowne alumni competed recently in the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association Championships in Michigan.
The upswing began, coincidentally or not, in 2004, the same year womens' wrestling debuted in the Olympics. That year, 14 Springstowne girls came out for wrestling team, compared to eight in 2003. In 2006, the number swelled to 35. Last season, there were 34 girls and 28 boys on the team roster.
With Guiducci actively re-cruiting girls and dedicating physical education classes to the sport, the school's program has tipped toward girls.
Springstowne has been the starting point for some of Vallejo's best high school wrestlers. At the USGWA national championships earlier this month, five girls from either Vallejo High or Hogan High boasted Springstowne roots. Vallejo High sisters Jennifer and Mary Jane Fernandez, along with teammate Angie Miller, began wrestling at Springs-towne under Guiducci and assistants Pete Trave and Mo McNally. Hogan sisters Sami and Alice Hoover also are Springs-towne products.
At the USGWA nationals, Jennifer Fernandez took fourth at 100 pounds and Miller was second at 138 pounds.
* * * *
Determined coaches
When the number of girls grew, so did the coaches' dedication. Guiducci, Trave and McNally began taking girls to tournaments, trying to make them the best girls team in California.
"Once we started going to tournaments and our girls were given the opportunity to compete, it became something we have been very proud of," Guiducci said. "The girls have a lot more to prove. It is a challenge to them to say 'Hey, I belong. I can do this.' "
Springstowne serves as the feeder school for Hogan, Bethel and in some cases, Vallejo High. As the numbers at Springstowne have climbed, Hogan's program has followed.
"Coach Guiducci is a special character," said Hogan wrestling coach Ric Manibusan. "He is a driver, he has a vision. He wants it to be the best possible wrestling program in Vallejo."
Middle school programs like Springs-towne's create the base of girls wrestling not only in Vallejo, but in the rest of the Bay Area.
"You have that East Bay area basically that the middle school programs are so developed," said Robert Redman, the head of the California Women's Wrestling Association and San Jose State University's head women's coach.
* * * *
Early work pays off
The early training gives kids a jump on high school beginners.
"Most kids who come in as freshman who haven't competed. They are a step behind," said Guiducci, a former high school wrestler. "We give them the basics. Just having had success makes the kids hungry to stay with it."
Vallejo coach Mike Minahen, whose school is outside of the Springs-towne district, views Springstowne's program with a twinge of jealousy.
"They've got two gym classes that just wrestle," Minahen said. "The mat room's open every day at lunch and they work out, so it is phenomenal. I wish we had something anywhere close to that at Vallejo Middle School."
Article Launched: 04/16/2007 08:20:23 AM PDT
TWO GRADUATES of Springstowne Middle School's successful girls' wrestling program are sisters. Mary Jane Fernandez, of Vallejo High School, in the red grappling gear, is pictured in action at the recent U.S. Girls Wrestling Association Championships in Michigan. (Courtesy photos/Rob Allor)
Editor's note: Second in a two-part series on how girls' wrestling has put Vallejo on the national map.
When wrestling coach Jason Guiducci came to Springs-towne Middle School in 1999, just two girls were on the team.
Today, the number has swol-len to more than 30 - girls now outnumber guys at Springs-towne - and the school has developed the largest girls' wrestling program in the nation - not just among middle schools, but elementary and high schools as well.
For the past few years, girls' wrestling at Springstowne not only has become cool, it also has become the starting point for state and national championship contenders.
One of Guiducci's two originals, Maribeth Grim, went on to win an unofficial state high school title with Bethel High. And five Springstowne alumni competed recently in the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association Championships in Michigan.
The upswing began, coincidentally or not, in 2004, the same year womens' wrestling debuted in the Olympics. That year, 14 Springstowne girls came out for wrestling team, compared to eight in 2003. In 2006, the number swelled to 35. Last season, there were 34 girls and 28 boys on the team roster.
With Guiducci actively re-cruiting girls and dedicating physical education classes to the sport, the school's program has tipped toward girls.
Springstowne has been the starting point for some of Vallejo's best high school wrestlers. At the USGWA national championships earlier this month, five girls from either Vallejo High or Hogan High boasted Springstowne roots. Vallejo High sisters Jennifer and Mary Jane Fernandez, along with teammate Angie Miller, began wrestling at Springs-towne under Guiducci and assistants Pete Trave and Mo McNally. Hogan sisters Sami and Alice Hoover also are Springs-towne products.
At the USGWA nationals, Jennifer Fernandez took fourth at 100 pounds and Miller was second at 138 pounds.
* * * *
Determined coaches
When the number of girls grew, so did the coaches' dedication. Guiducci, Trave and McNally began taking girls to tournaments, trying to make them the best girls team in California.
"Once we started going to tournaments and our girls were given the opportunity to compete, it became something we have been very proud of," Guiducci said. "The girls have a lot more to prove. It is a challenge to them to say 'Hey, I belong. I can do this.' "
Springstowne serves as the feeder school for Hogan, Bethel and in some cases, Vallejo High. As the numbers at Springstowne have climbed, Hogan's program has followed.
"Coach Guiducci is a special character," said Hogan wrestling coach Ric Manibusan. "He is a driver, he has a vision. He wants it to be the best possible wrestling program in Vallejo."
Middle school programs like Springs-towne's create the base of girls wrestling not only in Vallejo, but in the rest of the Bay Area.
"You have that East Bay area basically that the middle school programs are so developed," said Robert Redman, the head of the California Women's Wrestling Association and San Jose State University's head women's coach.
* * * *
Early work pays off
The early training gives kids a jump on high school beginners.
"Most kids who come in as freshman who haven't competed. They are a step behind," said Guiducci, a former high school wrestler. "We give them the basics. Just having had success makes the kids hungry to stay with it."
Vallejo coach Mike Minahen, whose school is outside of the Springs-towne district, views Springstowne's program with a twinge of jealousy.
"They've got two gym classes that just wrestle," Minahen said. "The mat room's open every day at lunch and they work out, so it is phenomenal. I wish we had something anywhere close to that at Vallejo Middle School."
