Santa Monica High School sophomore wrestler Madison “Maddy” Tung won first place in the Women’s Western Junior Regional Championship wrestling competition in Las Vegas, NV Wednesday, April 17 and with the win she qualifies to go to the Junior and Cadet National Championships.
Santa Monica High School wrestling head coach Mark Black said that Tung is a fierce competitor when wrestling.
“She has a huge competitive spirit and doesn’t like to lose,” said Black. “She takes care of things on the mat.”
Tung is the first 112 lb weight class champion in the Women’s Western Junior Regional Championship tournament’s brand new history.
Tung trains with the wrestling team at Samohi as well as with former 2008 Olympian Marcie Van Dusen who mentors her progress as a wrestler.
Tung qualified to represent Team California in the Junior and Cadet National Championships 2013 which is the premiere youth wrestling event in the United States to be held in Fargo, ND July 12-20.
Black said that he attributes Tung’s success to her strong work ethic.
“She works really hard and is a great student with a 4.0 grade point average,” said Black. “She deserves this opportunity because of her hard work.”
Prior to wrestling in the Junior and Cadet National Championships, Tung is planning on wrestling in the Body Bar Women’s National Championships, in Lakeland, Florida on May 11-13.
The Body Bar Women’s National Championships is different then the Junior and Cadet National Championships in that it features freestyle competition.
Black said that he believes that she will do well in the upcoming Body Bar Women’s National Championships freestyle competition.
“She has a tremendous work ethic and I think that freestyle wrestling matches her own style quite well,” said Black. “She is very strong and it blends well with her own natural style.”
Contact Mark Black by email at MBlack@smmusd.org to inquire about how to get involved with the wrestling program at Samohi.
