By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
Rim of the World High School played host to two wrestling tournaments last weekend, beginning with the second annual Marcy Van Dusen women’s tournament on Friday, Dec. 2.
After graduating from Rim High School, where she distinguished herself as a CIF Southern Section champion in 1998, Van Dusen moved to Colorado Springs where she trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and became a member of the U.S. national wrestling team, winning three championship titles at the U.S world team trials. She made her international debut at the 2006 world wrestling championships in Guangzhou, China, where she placed 10th in the women’s 55-k category. She also captured a silver medal in the 2008 Tokyo Olympics.
According to head wrestling coach Joey Dorsey, who is a Rim wrestling alum from the class of 2016, more than 200 female wrestlers from 33 Southland high schools showed up for last Friday’s event, which began at 9 a.m. Participants wrestled in 14 weight categories, ranging from 103 to 237 pounds.
“It’s great to see these girls wrestling,” Dorsey said. “This is the fastest growing sport in the nation.”
The team from El Toro High School took top honors last Friday, with four first-place, two second-place, three third-place and four fourth-place winners, while Yucaipa High School won second place and Redlands East Valley High School captured third place.
Saturday’s 57th annual Beresford invitational wrestling tournament, named for Coach John Beresford, who started the school’s wrestling program in 1965, drew 20 teams from high schools as far away as Ridgecrest, Calif.
Coach Dorsey told The Alpine Mountaineer, “Today, we have many masters and CIF placers. This is one of the toughest tournaments in Southern California.” Again, there were 14 weight categories, this time ranging from 106 to 285 pounds.
Early on, 14-year-old Rim High freshman Jack Espinoza captured first place in the 113-pound category by defeating his opponent from Burroughs High School in Ridgecrest. Jed Jackson, who captured a first-place trophy for Rim in the 103-pound category last year, placed second this year. Another Rim victory went to 138-pound junior Justice Stewart, who defeated his opponent from Brea High School’s Wildcats team.
When asked how it feels to be a champion, Justice, noting that he had been a league champion last year, said, “I feel really good, but tired.”
El Toro High School captured first-place honors in the women’s tournament. (Photos by Douglas W. Motley)
Redlands East Valley High School finished in second place.
Rim High’s Millie Thompson took home a fourth-place ribbon.
In Saturday’s Beresford invitational tournament, Rim High freshman Jack Espinoza won first place against his opponent from Burroughs High School in Ridgecrest.
Rim’s Jed Jackson, who won a first-place trophy last year, placed second.
Retired Rim wrestling coach John Beresford watches from the sidelines with his wife and grand-niece Carley.
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