SPORTS - January 16, 2004 - The Gazette
Volume 97, Issue 59
Jock Talk with Terri McNutt ( wrestling)
After a long hiatus, the Purple Pipe is finally back, recognizing the accomplishments of the best of Western sports.
The first winner in the new year is Terri McNutt, star of the Western women’s wrestling team. Terri is no stranger to the Pipe, as she is a second- time winner. She won the Pipe for her accomplishments last year.
The third-year nursing student is coming off a gold medal performance at the Toronto Open Wrestling Tournament, leading the team to a second place finish. She pinned former Mustang Rachel Dean, who is now competing for Lakehead University in the 53 kg category.
The gold medal kept her undefeated streak alive. She has not lost a match throughout the entire season and is ranked third in Canada.
She also won a gold medal earlier in the year at the Brock University Dual Tournament.
During the holiday break, Terri competed at Olympic trials in Edmonton, adding to her impressive qualifications as a Pipe winner.
Terri is the defending Ontario University Athletics champion in the 53 kg category and is poised to become a back-to-back champion. If she does, she will have the opportunity to do so in familiar surroundings.
Western will host this year’s OUA wrestling championships, which would make a championship even more special.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21 in the Thames Hall gym. Western will be looking to win the OUA championship for the first time since 1994.
—Ian Denomme
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| David Lee/Gazette |
| GRABBING THE PIPE MAKES ME SMILE. This week’s Purple Pipe winner and captain of the women’s wrestling team Terri McNutt flashes the pearly whites despite the body slam she’s about to receive. |
How long have you been wrestling? What was your initial attraction to the sport?
This is my eighth year of wrestling. [I’ve done] jiu-jitsu and karate since I was six. I liked the individual aspects of those sports, and it was the same thing for wrestling. Even though sometimes I might say that I don’t like going on my own, I like the fact that there’s nobody else to blame when things go wrong.
What’s it like to be a well-known female wrestler?
It brings more of a social aspect to the sport — I’ve become friends with people that I met through wrestling alone. And it makes the tournaments easier to go to. I guess there are also opportunities that come with being well-known, like invitations to the World University trials and Olympic trials.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while wrestling?
For me, it’s the mental aspect. Sometimes, I have a hard time preparing for a match, so that’s why I spend most of my preparation time trying to get in the right frame of mind.
What are your thoughts about No Holds Barred?
I’ve never heard of it.
It was a cult classic with Hulk Hogan — he beats Zeus and the evil TV producer. Any similarities to your wrestling career?
To be honest, not really. There aren’t a lot of evil people wrestling at the university level.
What’s your take on professional wrestling?
I’ve never watched it. People enjoy it, because it’s entertaining for them. I guess it gives “real” wrestlers bad news, though there are some amateur wrestlers that have turned pro.
Who’d win in a fight between you and Ray Takahashi (Western’s wrestling head coach)?
(laughs) I guess Ray. We wrestle a lot, because it’s beneficial to train with someone that’s the same size. He’s an Olympian, so he’d probably win.
So he’s unbeatable?
(laughs) Nobody’s unbeatable.
What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you during a wrestling match?
My boobs have almost fallen out (laughs). They never actually came out, though. So I guess that’s it.
—David Lee
Women take team silver, Men take bronze at Ontario Open Junior Wrestling Championships
Milton, Ontario, Canada, February 1, 2004
Two mustang women took gold at the Ontario Junior Wrestling Championships for a 2nd place overall team placing. First year Western students, Laura Skopelianos (48 kg) and Shannon Smart (59 kg) battled hard in the final to win gold in the under 20 year-old Ontario championships.
Skopelianos needed double overtime to upset Stephanie Szmiett, of Brock 5-3, who beat Skopelianos two weeks earlier. "Laura did an outstanding job to stay tough and not to panic especially when Szmiett was pressing hard in overtime.," said Coach, Ray Takahashi. "Laura finally caught Szmiett with her head low in a deep half-nelson when she was trying to push Laura out-of-bounds. "
Brock won the team gold with Guelph placing third. Teammate, Shannon Smart scored with less than ten seconds remaining to take a 9-7 lead over London-Western club teammate, Lesley McCallum who placed 2nd at 59 kg. "There was a stoppage in the match with 27 seconds left in the match," Takahashi recalls. "Shannon was down by a point and we agreed that she needed to hit either and "inside trip" or use her "head and arm" throw. She caught Lesley nice with the inside-trip near the edge of the mat." But, in another match, it was a heart-breaker for Jill McCallum (no relation to Lesley) who lost a controversial 6-5 decision to eventual winner, Katrina Piatowanakwat (Guelph). "There was a flurry of action when Jill countered a leg attack and received no points," said coach, Josip Mrkoci. "It was a great match which could have easily been scored the other way." Jess Fitzgerald rounded the fourth medal by the mustang women winning bronze in the 72 kg weight class.
In the men’s division, Ian Patton’s gold in the heavyweight division (120 kg) led to a 3rd place team finish for London-Western. Northwestern Ontario and Hamilton wrestling club tied for first, while Matmen Wrestling Club out of Brampton placed 2nd in team standings. Patton, dominated his four opponents winning by pin or technical superiority. "It was nice seeing Ian perform so well," commented Takahashi. "He competed with confidence and this should give him momentum for the Junior Nationals (mid-March in Calgary)." Teammate, Adam Shields placed 5th at 55 kg.
Matt Steel (50kg) of Saunders Secondary School , wrestling for London-Western Wrestling Club won a silver medal. Chris Capangyarihan - age group coach for London-Western Wrestling Club and Assistant with the Mustangs was very pleased with Matt’s performance for winning a silver medal since he is still 2nd year Juvenile age wrestler. Overall the Coaching staff were pleased with the Junior athletes performance and are looking forward to the Junior Nationals in Calgary, March 19-20, 2004.
Local Results
Photos - Laura Skopelianos - 2004 Ontario Junior Champion
- Shannon Smart - 2004 Ontario Junior Champion
- Ian Patton - 2004 Ontario Junior Champion
Action photos from - 2004 Ontario Junior Championship
Junior Women
Laura Skopelianos (48 kg) 1st – Western
Shannon Smart (59 kg) 1st – Western
Lesley McCallum (59 kg) 2nd – Woodstock Huron Park grad -- London-Western Wrestling Club
Jill McCallum (67 kg) 2nd – London Saunders grad - Western
Jess Fitzgerald (72 kg) 3rd – Western
Junior Men
Ian Patton (120 kg) 1st – Western
Matt Steele (50 kg) 2nd – London Saunders SS - London-Western Wrestling Club
Adam Shields (55 kg) 6th – Western
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