Women wrestlers 'kill' stereotype

Posing pretty or sweating on the mat, OCU's women wrestlers have more than just matches to duel out. They are "killing" stereotypes, Freshman Marina Piccolotti said.

A recent ad printed in the Nov. 7 issue of The Campus as well as The Oklahoman and a few other media outlets featured the women wrestlers "all dolled up" in semi-formal attire.

Often for group photos, athletes are in uniform or sporting T-shirts, but not the women wrestlers.

"It's pointing out that they're different from the norm," said Patricia Seem, biochemistry sophomore. "That it's unexpected that they could be accepted."

The women wrestlers and their coach are trying to defeat the typecast associated with their sport.

"It's because there is a stereotype, especially in Oklahoma, that female wrestlers are more masculine," Piccolotti said. "My coach wants to get rid of that stigma."

The women and coach are trying to get people to see "pretty" women can wrestle.

"We're ladies off the mat and on the mat we're down to business," Piccolotti said.

Coach Archie Randall said he wants the wrestlers to be seen as they actually are, not what they are portrayed as.

"The concept is that women wrestlers are short, stocky guys with bad ears," he said "Expect the unexpected because these women don't look like the norm.

"The whole idea is that they're women who choose to wrestle."

The women's first home match was Saturday against Cumberlands (Ky.). They lost, 24-19.

Their next match will be Nov. 30 in the West Coast duels in Menlo, Calif.

The next home game isn't scheduled until February 2008.