THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604100115
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY DAN COOLEY, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
With 16 weight classes at the Chesapeake Middle School wrestling tournament, there were plenty of choices for the most valuable wrestler. But the one who made the greatest impact was the 108-pound third-place finisher, Crestwood's Brandy Golt.
Golt and 129-pound teammate Kelly Deane became the first female wrestlers to compete in the city tournament. While Deane lost her first-round match and was eliminated, Golt, a 13-year-old seventh grader, surprised the field by dominating top-seeded James Seed of Western Branch in the consolation finals. She became the first girl to place in the Chesapeake Middle School League.
After a win by forfeit in the opening round, she moved into the semifinals, which assured her at least a place in the top four. Golt was then pinned by eventual champion Jamaal Howard of Deep Creek in her next match, moving her into the consolation finals.
But then she proved her placement was not tainted.
After a quick takedown and three back points, she was well on her way to the monumental third-place finish. Golt, however, shrugs at the attention the win has brought her way.
``My goal was to place and try my best,'' she said. ``My goal is always to win and go my hardest.''
That determination is a part of Golt's lifestyle. Crestwood Middle School coach Todd Revell said Golt is one of the hardest working and most dedicated middle schoolers he has ever coached.
Again, Golt would shrug at such high praise from her coach. After all, she's just doing what her athletic family of 10 expects her to do.
Three older sisters, Sabrina, 19, Diana, 17, and Wendy, 15, have all competed in at least three sports at Oscar Smith and have earned ``Eye of the Tiger'' awards, awarded to athletes who display characteristics of hard work. Sabrina, who graduated in 1995, was also named the Tigers' athlete of the year.
``All the kids are hard workers and we teach them to be that way,'' Brandy's mother, Devora Golt, said.
Golt's interest in wrestling began in the summer when younger brothers, David, 10, and Freddy, 8, joined the Oscar Smith wrestling club.
But Freddy ran into a snag: He needed a partner to practice with and couldn't find anyone his size. Brandy, nearly the same size as her younger brother at the time, was coaxed into being his partner. Brandy accepted Freddy's plea and never seemed to have a problem wrestling against boys.
``I never thought about it,'' she said. ``I just get nervous going against somebody I've never wrestled before.''
Once Brandy enrolled in the program and got a couple of matches under her belt, she quickly excelled. Wrestling at 98 pounds then, she placed first in the state freestyle tournament in the 11-12 age group. She also placed third in folkstyle.
With her quick success, Golt knew she wanted to wrestle for Crestwood. What would be difficult, she thought, would be convincing her parents and Revell to allow her to compete.
Overcoming her first obstacle was easy. Her parents said they would support her, as long as the coach agreed. Next, she set out to convince Revell, who then had to convince several others that a girl wrestler on a boys team was okay.
``The thought of a girl wrestling was intimidating at first,'' Revell said. ``I was not concerned with preventing it. My only concern was getting the guys on the team to support it. As it turned out, they never seemed to have a problem with it. They are much more open now. . . when they saw how good she is.''
There's another female wrestler in the Golt family, too. Brandy's 9-year-old sister, Tiffany, has taken up the sport and could be in the mix in a few years.
Thanks to what Brandy has done now. ILLUSTRATION: Brandy Golt
by CNB