Tamyra Mensah-Stock named 2017 USA Wrestling Women’s Wrestler of the Year

USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender, Tamyra Mensah-Stock and National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner pose as Mensah-Stock received her award in Lincoln, Neb. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors

Tamyra Mensah-Stock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury) was named 2017 Women’s Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time that Mensah-Stock has received this prestigious award.

Mensah-Stock, who previously competed under her maiden name Tamyra Mensah, won a number of international competitions during the 2017 season.

She opened the year with a victory at the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix in Russia in January, one of the most prestigious Open tournaments in the world, winning bouts against four top foreign opponents. She becames only the sixth U.S. woman to have ever won this event. The previous U.S. woman winner was Kelsey Campbell in 2010.

Mensah-Stock was also a champion at the Grand Prix of Spain in July, winning four bouts, including a 10-0 technical fall over Russia’s Galina Bulitova in the finals.

She added a pair of international silver medals, taking a silver at the Dave Schultz Memorial International in November and the Russia Cup in December. She also competed on the U.S. Women’s World Cup team in Russia in December, earning a 3-1 record in her dual meets.

Mensah-Stock also won her match at the Beat the Streets Benefit “East Meets West” in May in New York City, stopping Japan’s Miwa Morikawa, 5-1.

Domestically, she won the World Team Trials in Las Vegas in April, where she beat two-time Olympian and four-time World medalist Elena Pirozhkova in the finals in two straight matches, 4-3 and 6-2.

Competing in her first Senior World Championships in Paris, France in August, Mensah-Stock finished with a 1-1 record at 69 kg. She opened with a 12-2 technical fall over Alla Belinska of Ukraine, then was beaten by China’s Yue Han, 5-2. Han did not reach the finals, so Stock was not eligible for repechage.

She also completed her college career with a WCWA national title for Wayland Baptist in February, defeating Niauni Hill of Lindenwood-Belleville in the finals at 155 pounds. It was her second career WCWA title. She finished as a four-time All-American.

Among her big achievements earlier in her career was a silver medal at the 2014 University World Championships. She won the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials but did not compete at the Rio Olympics because she was not able to qualify her weight class for the Olympic Games.

Mensah-Stock is a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete. She is a native of Katy, Texas, where she was a two-time Texas state high school champion for Morton Ranch High School.

PAST WOMEN’S WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
2017 – Tamyra Mensah-Stock, Colorado Springs, Colo., Titan Mercury WC
2016 – Helen Maroulis, New York, N.Y., Sunkist Kids
2015 – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
2014 – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
2013 – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids
2012 – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids
2011 – Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn., Gator WC
2010 – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC
2009 – Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
2008 – Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC
2007 – Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
2006 – Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
2005 – Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. U.S. Army
2004 – Sara McMann, Lock Haven, Pa., Sunkist Kids
2003 – Patricia Miranda, Colorado Springs, Colo., Dave Schultz WC
2002 – Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y., ATWA
2001 – Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio, Sunkist Kids
2000 – Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y., ATWA
1999 – Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1998 – Kristie Stenglein, Albany, N.Y., ATWA
1997 – Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif., Dave Schultz WC
1996 – Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1995 – Vickie Zummo, Hamburg, N.J., New York AC
1994 – Shannon Williams, Ontario, Calif., Sunkist Kids
1993 – Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids

Courtesy of Teamusa.org

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JUDGE DROPS LAWSUIT AGAINST UIL: TRANSGENDER WRESTLER, MACK BEGG, STILL REQUIRED TO WRESTLE GIRLS

After two challenges, the UIL’s current steroid policy remained intact Tuesday.

The policy came into public light in relation to the case of Mack Beggs, the Euless Trinity transgender wrestler who went on to win a girls wrestling state championship while taking testosterone under a “safe harbor” provision in the education code.

On Tuesday, a Travis County judge dismissed a lawsuit asking the UIL to not allow Beggs to compete. Around the same time, the Senate Education Committee left pending a bill that would have changed the organization’s safe harbor provision.

The lawsuit, originally filed just before the wrestling regional championships in February, was brought by Coppell lawyer Jim Baudhuin and alleged the risk of injury to other wrestlers and an

unfair advantage to Beggs. Baudhuin amended the lawsuit several times leading up to the hearing and argued that the UIL was not following its rules related to steroid use.

The UIL filed for a “Plea of Jurisdiction,” which asked for the case to be dismissed for several reasons before it went on to a trial, leading to the hearing Tuesday.

In her explanation for dismissing the claims, the judge said Baudhuin’s case was more of a question of what the UIL did with its discretionary powers than a question of the UIL not following the law or its constitution.

Both UIL Deputy Director Jamey Harrison and the Beggs camp were pleased with the result.

“It was kind of expected,” said Damon McNew, Beggs’ stepfather. “It’s what the UIL stated a little bit after the competition.”

McNew said there was “absolutely” relief the lawsuit is over.

Baudhuin also said the ruling “wasn’t unexpected.”

“This was a very difficult, frustrating case,” Baudhuin said.

Baudhuin attempted, in part, to argue that the UIL had failed to prove Beggs fell under the “safe harbor” provision outlined in the state’s education code. The UIL cited FERPA privacy law.

Baudhuin subpoenaed Harrison to testify on UIL rules but the judge cut off the testimony, saying this hearing was not the time to fish for information.

Baudhuin said he’d talk with an appellate lawyer and discuss if they’ll choose to appeal.

“As I’m standing here 15 minutes after the hearing is done, I don’t think we’re going to pursue it any further,” Baudhuin said.

Part of the UIL’s argument was the law could change in the coming months. That chance got smaller Tuesday as Senate Bill 2095 was left pending.

Leo Barnes, the UIL’s directory of policy and compliance, told the committee that as of now, the organization can only conduct randomized drug testing, and that program is not currently funded.

It also would require any person seeking protection under the safe harbor provision to release medical records to the UIL and allow communication between the organization and the student’s healthcare professionals.

The UIL could also declare the student ineligible despite the safe harbor provision if it determines the safety of other students or fairness of competition would be affected by the student’s steroid use.

With the bill pending, it could be voted out of committee, but the chances of that are small. Thus, the UIL’s current steroid policy remains.

At least until June, when the UIL legislative council meets.

Courtesy of Sports Day

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TRANSGENDER WRESTLER, MACK BEGGS, WINS STATE FOR SECOND TIME!

Courtesy of US Today HSS

American Wrestler — Mack Beggs Transgender Wrestler

Euless Trinity (Texas) transgender wrestler Mack Beggs won his second straight state title Saturday evening to a chorus of boos.

Beggs (36-0), who won last year’s Class 6A girls championship in the 110-pound division, won by decision 15-3 against Chelsea Sanchez of Katy Morton Ranch.

Last year, the 18-year-old beat Sanchez for the championship.

Texas transgender teen Mack Beggs wins regional wrestling title amid firestorm of opposition

Beggs was the center of both praise and criticism in 2017 when a parent filed a lawsuit to try to keep him from wrestling in the female division.

A few years ago, Beggs began transitioning from female to male. The lawsuit’s argument centered around Beggs’ use of testosterone to help with that transition.

But, according to the UIL, it’s not a banned substance since it comes from a physician.

A UIL policy also says that student-athletes in high school must compete as the gender that’s on their birth certificate.

Beggs wants to wrestle boys and said he would if that law didn’t exist. Though the UIL has said publicly that it has never received an official request from Beggs or his school asking to wrestle boys.

Marco Karem, Beggs’ father, said that his son’s story should bring encouragement to others.

“He inspires a lot of people, and if he can help just one person—then it’s worth it to Mack,” Karem said.

WFAA spoke with a number of parents, and all seem to support Beggs’ choice to be transgender. However, many voiced that he should be wrestling boys or not wrestling at all.

Beggs shrugged off the jeers and told WFAA, “I don’t care, I gave my all in that match.”

“You put me in front of anybody and I’ll wrestle them,” he said. “Each time I read comments, they all say the same thing about steroids. It all comes down to technique and who has the most heart.”

Beggs wants to wrestle in the NCAA and is entertaining a scholarship offer from an out-of-state school.

He also wants to train for the Olympics.

Both the NCAA and the Olympics have rules in place that allow athletes to compete as the gender they identify with.

Beggs is also working towards a gender reassignment surgery.

At the end of the day, the teen said he’s glad to close this chapter of his life–and hopes the state reconsiders many of the rules that brought him to the center of controversy.

“I wanted to come out on top, and in my heart–I feel like a champion,” Beggs said.

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