Girls getting tougher for wrestling at West

BY JOANNA CHADWICK
The Wichita Eagle

West senior Christopher Foust is your typical big brother who wants to protect his little sister, Makayla, from any harm. So the past two months since Makayla joined the West wrestling team have been unbearably tough on him.
While he appreciates her happiness while wrestling, he's seen how opponents dismiss her as a mere girl.

"The guys who wrestle her treat her like she doesn't belong there," said Christopher, a 215-pound wrestler and former state qualifier. "It upsets me, but I want to keep her motivated. She's doing good."

Makayla Foust isn't the only female wrestling for West -- the Pioneers have four who have wrestled varsity this season. "This is what I want to do," said Foust, a freshman at 189 pounds. "I'd be doing it even if there weren't any other girls."

Females wrestling isn't new. In 1999, Santa Fe Trail's Brooke Bogren was the first female to compete at the state tournament. She won one match at 103 pounds in Class 4A.
The Kansas girls wrestling championships -- part of the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association -- is Feb. 25 at McPherson's Central Christian College. Women's wrestling was added to the 2004 Olympics.

But four females on one high school team, that's a rarity. West coach Jim Dryden said he hasn't seen another team with one female this season. Foust, senior Rosalina Valdovinos (145 pounds) and freshman Cobie Morton (112) have been with the Pioneers all season. Senior Theresa Speight also spent time at 160 pounds.
Not one had previous wrestling experience.

Their decisions to wrestle weren't based on making a social statement. Rather, it was a way to compete. Foust, who also rides dirt bikes, was intrigued by the sport, while Valdovinos and Morton chose wrestling because neither was good at the other winter sports -- basketball or bowling.

Morton and Valdovinos knew little about wrestling, other than what they'd seen from Stephen Christenberry, who wrestles at 112. Christenberry is Morton's brother and Valdovinos' boyfriend.

It's been a slow process for the girls, not only learning the various moves but the basic rules. After two months, Valdovinos has progressed to where she now understands what her coaches are telling her to do during matches. "I wish I would have (joined the wrestling team) sooner," Valdovinos said. "If I could find younger friends, I would tell them to do it. "... I've learned a lot of things, I've become mentally tough and I'm in the best shape of my life. (To wrestle) I have to be determined -- I'm only going to drink water, I have to stick with it. If I'm hurting, I have to push through it."

Dryden welcomed all four girls to the team. He said West's only other female in his 10 years with the program didn't compete on the varsity.

West, which won the Class 6A title in 2001, has struggled as a team, only fielding 17 wrestlers. Heading into Thursday's match with East, the Pioneers' only win came in a tournament dual against East.

Because West's wrestling numbers are extremely low, Dryden has been able to use the girls on varsity so the Pioneers don't have to forfeit at multiple weights. Forfeits are worth six points, as much as a pin.

None have won a varsity match, although Foust won one match on the junior varsity.
"I'm very impressed (that they keep competing)," Dryden said. "I have guys with far more talent, but they can't handle the losing and they quit. (The girls) realize, 'I'm not supposed to beat this guy, but if I lose, I can hold my head high that I gave it my best effort.' "

The girls are at a disadvantage -- their opponents generally are stronger and more technically advanced. And they know the guys they wrestle are especially intent on beating them. You know, a guy can't lose to a girl.

"Makayla usually wrestles juniors and seniors," Dryden said, "and they don't just want to beat her, they want to beat her up. I think they find it offensive."
After one match, Foust had a bruised nose, bruised lip and her back and one arm hurt badly. Valdovinos has been bruised the most -- she said she bruises easily -- but none of the three have backed down.

Dryden has urged them to be more aggressive and assertive, to be more of an attacker.
All have made strides. "You have to push yourself and fight," Valdovinos said. "At first, I wanted to last 30 seconds, now I want to not only last longer, I want to do something to get points. I'm excited when I get a takedown or get a guy on his back for five seconds."
Morton added: "I know they're thinking, 'Wow, there's girls.' But I want them to know we're not going to quit."
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Joanna Chadwick covers high school sports. Reach her at 316-268-6270 or jchadwick@wichitaeagle.com.