Originally published Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Girls Wrestling | Highline's Siri Berg has traveled far
Siri Berg took up wrestling as a freshman at Highline with a simple goal — trying to prove to her sister she could survive the sport...
Special to The Seattle Times
Scores & stats
Schedule/results
Standings
Leaders
Teams
Rankings
More sports: Golf | Tennis | Swimming | Cross-country
TACOMA — Siri Berg took up wrestling as a freshman at Highline with a simple goal — trying to prove to her sister she could survive the sport.
Now a senior, Berg has done more than just survive. She will wrestle for the 160-pound title today at the second girls state wrestling tournament at the Tacoma Dome.
On Friday, Berg won three matches, her last a 9-0 major decision over Alyssa Calhoon from West Valley of Yakima that sent her to a championship date with Kylee Bishop from Washington of Tacoma, the defending state champ.
"My sister and her friends told me it was a guy's sport, and I would never be able to do it," said Berg, who made it to state last year at 145 pounds but did not place. "My first year I was clueless out there, but I just progressively got better."
Bishop will be a familiar opponent to Berg; she lost to her at the subregional and regional championships. Berg sprained her knee wrestling Bishop at the subregional and lost by injury default at regional last weekend. Berg said she feared spraining her knee again, so she pulled out in the regional championship match. Despite losing twice to Bishop, Berg won't be backing down.
"Having started from the bottom and not having any idea what I was doing when I first tried out, showed me that anyone who puts their mind to something they want to accomplish can do it," Berg said.
Berg is one of four unbeaten locals — joining Alexis Willcher from Skyline of Sammamish and Kentwood duo Antonia Navejas and Jolene Crook-Meyers.
Kentwood enters today's matches third in the team standings with 43 points. Mount Baker of Deming has 71 and defending state champ Hoquiam 64.
Willcher won three matches Friday and will try to knock off defending state champion Ashlee Phy of Mount Baker at 145.
Navejas — the defending state champion at 112 now competing at 119 — will have a chance to avenge a loss in the regional final when she faces Megan Martin of Willapa Valley in the final. Navejas won by a pin in 1:56, won by technical fall 16-0 and earned an 11-8 decision.
"It feels really, really good to be going back to the finals," Navejas said.
Crook-Meyers, who placed second last year at 130 pounds and is competing at 135 this year, earned a 16-0 technical fall over Kelsey Segawa of Olympia to advance to the finals.
"I went out there thinking I want to be in the championship — I want to dominate," Crook-Meyers said. "I just went after it."
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 12:26 AM
3A football: Liberty stuns O'Dea 38-35
UPDATE - 12:27 AM
3A football: Lindbergh blows out Ferndale, 52-21
UPDATE - 12:26 AM
3A, 2A volleyball: Seattle Prep tripped in quarterfinals
UPDATE - 12:24 AM
1A volleyball: King's repeats as state champion
UPDATE - 11:48 PM
4A volleyball: Mead holds off Curtis for state title

Opening day at Crystal Mountain
Skiers crowded the slopes at Crystal Mountain for one of the resort's earliest openings.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks
- Razor found in muffin an accident, 'mortified' baker says
- Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
- Suspect's family shaken by slaying of police officer
- Mountlake Terrace woman reports razor in muffin
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
631 - Seattle man to pack a pistol into community center to protest mayor's ban
218 - Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
177 - GOP clueless as families struggle with health care
167 - KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
137 - Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
126 - Wright State game thread
97 - Person of interest in custody in connection with Greenwood arsons
95 - Rang says Locker not ready for NFL
85 - Wilson "really, really excited to be back in Seattle"
68
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Washington in race for federal education funds
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Goodwill's Glitter Sale is Nov. 14-15
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- An 802.11n upgrade could make a big difference





