With George Laase
Culver City High school applied the finishing touch to a very successful athletic year when they named Michelle Curry, Ryan Armstrong and Kevin Beacham the best female and male athletes of the year at this week’s annual banquet at the high school cafeteria.
Curry led the Centaurs to a CIF basketball championship and was named CIF Player of the Year in her division. The spectacular transfer from St. Bernard dominated her opponents in every phase of the game.
For the male player of the year, voters decided Armstrong and Beacham should share it.
Armstrong starred in soccer and volleyball. He helped lead the volleyball team to an unbeaten Ocean League season, Culver City’s first Ocean championship in 15 years.
Beacham, who still is competing this afternoon in the State Meet long jump competition, was a defensive back and receiver on the Ocean championship football team.
He played guard on the basketball team that made it to the playoffs.
He is trying to win the state long jump this weekend in Clovis.
Uniquely Wrestling
On Saturday, Culver City resident Raul Ramirez is producing a once in lifetime event at UCLA’s John Wooden Center. The Catch Wrestling Alliance International Invitational will feature the USA vs. the World format. There will be 14 men and women wrestlers from all over the world.
Catch-as-you-can, or Catch wrestling was the foundation of modern freestyle, pro wrestling and mixed martial arts. Catch wrestling is a classical, hybrid grappling type of wrestling developed in 1870.
This one-day event starts at 12 noon and also features a special exhibition of rare Catch Wrestling Memorabilia that includes photos of President Lincoln wrestling as a young man. Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster.
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
