Here is a copy of a message I posted on another women's wreslting bulletin
board:


I would like feed back and spark discussion about the age girls can start
wrestling on the open women's tournaments. Currently it is 17. Many of the
top women this year at the Women's team trials are 17-20. Some most likely
turning 17 this year and competing at the women's level.

Clarissa Chun
Jenny Wong
Erin Tomeo
Sara McMann
Tonya Evinger
Toccara Montgomery
Dominique Smalley
Alicia Mena

Just to name a few. I would love to see the women's age limits lowered to
say 15, if certified by a docotor and muscularly fit. How are we going to
farm Olympic wrestlers if they don't get competition. For example, My
daughter is 14 and could compete and most likely place in the top 5 in most
of the women's tournaments. She has no competition to speak of. Her only
competition so far has been Alicia Mena at the USGWA whom she lost to. She
went 6-1 in that tournament with all 6 of her wins pins, she was notified
later that she actually won the most pins award. They gave it to the wrong
person there at the tournament. She is only an 8th grader and h w it sits
now she has to wait 3 more years to compete against top women!!!!!

Even next year when she will be a first year Cadet she can only compete as
that and not move up to the Junior tournament.

She has exhibitioned two Canadian National Team Members last January at the
Oreogn Classic and pinned one and lost 14-4 to the other. She is ready to
compete against our top women and I'm sure she is not alone in the US. Our
up and coming great wrestlers need competition to become better! How can we
provide them it? I would love to dicuss this and if anyone has any ideas on
how to solve this dilema it is much appreicated!!!!

Juli Lang.....U



Juli Lang
Northwest Analytical, Inc.
519 S.W. Park Ave.
Portland, Oregon USA 97205-3207
Phone: (503) 224-7727 / Fax: (503) 224-5236