Amanda Hendey’s wrestling career is about to take on international appeal.
The Beaumont High School grappler – up to now a well-known high school standout – won a roster spot on the United States Women’s Freestyle team and will compete in this weekend's 2011 Pan Am Games in Rionegro, Colombia.
But the chance to wrestle internationally wasn't the big news in Hendey's life.
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The real story was whether Hendey got married this weekend.
She didn't.
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"No, no, no…I didn't get married," Hendey laughed. "That was a joke."
The rumor spread quickly after a note about her being married appeared on her Facebook page.
"No, that didn’t happen," said Hendey, who was amused at the question. "One day maybe."
Hendey, one of 24 American wrestlers named to the U.S. Pan Am team and the only wrestler from California, qualified for the international event by placing second at the U.S. National Open Championships last month in Cleveland.
"It's pretty big," said Hendey, who departs for Colombia on Wednesday in what will be her first trip outside the United States. "It's a whole new level of competition for me. This is the real deal."
The 7-member women's team is one of three U.S. teams scheduled to compete May 6-8. Also competing will be U.S. Men's Greco-Roman and Men’s Freestyle teams. The U.S. Women's Freestyle team is scheduled to compete on Saturday, May 7.
Competing in the Pan Am Games is considered a big step toward competing in the Olympics. Hendey said she is hoping to compete in the 2016 Games in Rio de Janiero.
The Pan Am Games, similar to the Olympics in format, features national teams from Central, North and South American nations.
Hendey is scheduled to compete in the Junior Nationals next weekend. That event serves as a qualifier for the Junior Worlds. A second place finish at the Junior Worlds will win Hendey a spot for the Junior Pan Am Games.
Hendey, who won a CIF Regional title on her home court at BHS in February, has competed in 17 amateur events the last two years. Of those 17 events Hendey has 13 Top 5 finishes – including 7 first place efforts, according to Trackwrestling.com.
At the high school level Hendey is Beaumont High's first State Champion, a 3-time State Finalist, and a 3-time CIF Champion.
