#WomensWednesday: SEM Ladies Open offers new Junior/Cadet international event on U.S. soil, March 16
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
The Wyoming Seminary girls wrestling team will host a new competition in freestyle wrestling for Cadet and Junior level female athletes right on their Kingston, Pa. campus, the 2019 SEM Ladies Open on Saturday, March 16.
Athletes can still register to compete in this unique event, which will feature not only as many as 14 Wyoming Seminary team members, but also top talent from around the United States, as well as international athletes who are traveling to the USA for competition and training.
“We think the focus should be to provide more high school girls the opportunities on the Cadet and Junior levels to wrestle in freestyle. There are not a lot of international competitions available for these athletes, especially here on U.S. soil. This event is designed to help grow the sport, and provide competition and training with foreign competitors,” said Erin Vandiver, head women’s coach at Wyoming Seminary.
Among the expected international participants are members of the Mongolian National Team, plus athletes from Canada and Brazil.
Female wrestlers with birth years of 1999-2005 are eligible to enter this tournament. Any athlete who has been on a WCWA roster or has competed in a WCWA competition can not participate.
“This year, the tournament will be with Cadets and Juniors combined, but as it grows, we hope to be able to separate it into two separate age divisions,” said Erin Vandiver.
The weight classes are 46 kg (101.2 lbs.), 50 kg (110.2), 53 kg (116.8), 55 kg (121.25), 57 kg (125.7), 59 kg (130), 62 kg (136.7), 65 kg (143.3), 68 kg (149.9), 72 kg (158.7) and 76 kg (167.6), with a 1-kilogram allowance.
Athletes can register through FloArena by clicking here
A live stream of this tournament will be on FloWrestling.
There will be an international training camp during the week following the tournament. Athletes who are interested in participating in the training camp should contact Chad Vandiver at cvandiver@wyomingseminary.org or call him at 719.641.7591.
“We want to raise the level of girls wrestling in the USA. Iron sharpens iron,” said Erin Vandiver.
Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School is located in Kingston, Pa. The young women train and compete in freestyle, the international style. The program is supported by USA Wrestling as an accelerated elite girl’s developmental program.
The SEM Ladies Open is part of an active and challenging schedule for the Wyoming Seminary team, which has included travelling to international competitions in the USA (the Dave Schultz Memorial) as well as Japan, Austria, Sweden and Estonia, plus training camps in a number of locations.
Coach Vandiver is pleased with the progress of the Wyoming Seminary athletes, all who have been in the National Girls High School Rankings this year.
“This team is handling the structure and the process of this program very well. They are fired up about the opportunity. They are hard workers and are ‘all-in’ athletes. I am excited for them, and the passion and energy they bring to their wrestling. They have all become friends, and are turning into each other’s life-long friends. We are proud of this team,” said Vandiver.
Wyoming Seminary Girls Varsity Wrestling website
SEM IN THE NATIONAL GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS
February 6, 2019
100 pounds
14. Ava Bayless, freshman, Greenville, Pa. Wyoming Seminary (PA) (14)
17. Abbygale Duke, freshman, Patterson, N.Y., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (18)
106 pounds
2. Caitlyn Walker, junior, Hatboro, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (2)
117 pounds
2. Vayle Baker, senior, Benton, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (2)
122 pounds
2. Amanda Walker, senior, Hatboro, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (2)
8. Korina Blades, freshman, Broadview, Ill., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (7)
12. Sophia Smith, junior, Bismarck, N.D., Wyoming Seminary (PA), (13)
132 pounds
6. Shaina Murray, senior, Watchung, N.J., Wyoming Seminary, PA (5)
138 pounds
14. Reese Larramendy, freshman, Reno, Nev., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (13)
144 pounds
14. Tiffani Baublitz, sophomore, Stewartstown, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (14)
152 pounds
2. Kennedy Blades, freshman, Broadview, Ill., Wyoming Seminary (1)
Athletes can still register to compete in this unique event, which will feature not only as many as 14 Wyoming Seminary team members, but also top talent from around the United States, as well as international athletes who are traveling to the USA for competition and training.
“We think the focus should be to provide more high school girls the opportunities on the Cadet and Junior levels to wrestle in freestyle. There are not a lot of international competitions available for these athletes, especially here on U.S. soil. This event is designed to help grow the sport, and provide competition and training with foreign competitors,” said Erin Vandiver, head women’s coach at Wyoming Seminary.
Among the expected international participants are members of the Mongolian National Team, plus athletes from Canada and Brazil.
Female wrestlers with birth years of 1999-2005 are eligible to enter this tournament. Any athlete who has been on a WCWA roster or has competed in a WCWA competition can not participate.
“This year, the tournament will be with Cadets and Juniors combined, but as it grows, we hope to be able to separate it into two separate age divisions,” said Erin Vandiver.
The weight classes are 46 kg (101.2 lbs.), 50 kg (110.2), 53 kg (116.8), 55 kg (121.25), 57 kg (125.7), 59 kg (130), 62 kg (136.7), 65 kg (143.3), 68 kg (149.9), 72 kg (158.7) and 76 kg (167.6), with a 1-kilogram allowance.
Athletes can register through FloArena by clicking here
A live stream of this tournament will be on FloWrestling.
There will be an international training camp during the week following the tournament. Athletes who are interested in participating in the training camp should contact Chad Vandiver at cvandiver@wyomingseminary.org or call him at 719.641.7591.
“We want to raise the level of girls wrestling in the USA. Iron sharpens iron,” said Erin Vandiver.
Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School is located in Kingston, Pa. The young women train and compete in freestyle, the international style. The program is supported by USA Wrestling as an accelerated elite girl’s developmental program.
The SEM Ladies Open is part of an active and challenging schedule for the Wyoming Seminary team, which has included travelling to international competitions in the USA (the Dave Schultz Memorial) as well as Japan, Austria, Sweden and Estonia, plus training camps in a number of locations.
Coach Vandiver is pleased with the progress of the Wyoming Seminary athletes, all who have been in the National Girls High School Rankings this year.
“This team is handling the structure and the process of this program very well. They are fired up about the opportunity. They are hard workers and are ‘all-in’ athletes. I am excited for them, and the passion and energy they bring to their wrestling. They have all become friends, and are turning into each other’s life-long friends. We are proud of this team,” said Vandiver.
Wyoming Seminary Girls Varsity Wrestling website
SEM IN THE NATIONAL GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS
February 6, 2019
100 pounds
14. Ava Bayless, freshman, Greenville, Pa. Wyoming Seminary (PA) (14)
17. Abbygale Duke, freshman, Patterson, N.Y., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (18)
106 pounds
2. Caitlyn Walker, junior, Hatboro, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (2)
117 pounds
2. Vayle Baker, senior, Benton, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (2)
122 pounds
2. Amanda Walker, senior, Hatboro, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (2)
8. Korina Blades, freshman, Broadview, Ill., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (7)
12. Sophia Smith, junior, Bismarck, N.D., Wyoming Seminary (PA), (13)
132 pounds
6. Shaina Murray, senior, Watchung, N.J., Wyoming Seminary, PA (5)
138 pounds
14. Reese Larramendy, freshman, Reno, Nev., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (13)
144 pounds
14. Tiffani Baublitz, sophomore, Stewartstown, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA) (14)
152 pounds
2. Kennedy Blades, freshman, Broadview, Ill., Wyoming Seminary (1)
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