Jenn Whitney

stories: gaining strength

Missouri Valley College created the second women's wrestling program among American institutions of higher learning in 2000, and women's wrestling became an Olympic sport in 2004. This project follows the Missouri Valley team through the entire 2008 season and attempts to show the challenges and triumphs of women's wrestling as a whole through the experiences of this team. Read the whole story in four parts by reporter Drew Schmenner here.

The Missouri Valley College women's wrestling team circles after losing its semifinal match against Oklahoma City University at the National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals on Jan. 13, 2008, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Emily Rinehart, sitting inside the circle spoke up to her teammates. "Don't be nice," she said. "There should be a lot more bloody noses and black eyes on this team than there are."
   
Missouri Valley College wrestler Samantha Fee somersaults over coach Carl Murphree during practice at Missouri Valley College. Fee does not stop moving during practice or before matches.
   
Missouri Valley College's Samantha Fee tries to take down Oklahoma City University's Samantha Phillips during their match at the National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen National Duals on Jan. 13, 2008, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Fee lost the match in the final seconds, getting driven out-of-bounds by Phillips.
     
  
Missouri Valley College's Samantha Fee weighs in the Valley locker room before the team's dual against Oklahoma City University on Jan. 28, 2008. Assistant coach Clarissa Calibuso notes her weight on the clipboard.
   
Missouri Valley College wrestler Angelee Homma rips off her sweatshirt and T-shirt after a grueling workout before the weigh-in at the Women's College Freestyle Nationals on March 14, 2008, at Oklahoma City University. Needing to lose weight before stepping on the scale, Homma is wearing plastic pants to tease out her body's fluids.
   
After weighing in at the Women's College Freestyle Nationals on March 14, 2008, at Oklahoma City University, Missouri Valley College wrestlers (from left) Britney Sevy, Shamaine Danner, Norine Cruz, Rachel Pike, Samantha Fee and Jennifer Germany finally get to indulge themselves with snacks and fluids.
     
  
Missouri Valley College wrestler Amberlee Ebert is upset after losing her match to Oklahoma City University's Ashley Sword at Oklahoma City University on Feb. 16, 2008. Tanya Miyasaki, Ebert's teammate and roommate, consoles her.
   
On break from wrestling at the national qualifiers at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Missouri Valley College wrestler Amberlee Ebert signs posters for young fans.
   
Exhausted from the long bus ride from Marshall, Missouri Valley College's Samantha Fee (far right) leans against the window while the team travels to Oklahoma City University for a dual on Feb. 16, 2008.
     
  
Proud and teary-eyed, Bob Ebert hugs his daughter, Missouri Valley College's Amberlee Ebert, after she defeated Oklahoma City University's Ashley Sword in the 67-kilogram final at the Women's College Freestyle Nationals on March 15, 2008, at Oklahoma City University.