Ivatan descendant makes name in USA sports
by Celerina M. Navarro, Bandillo Batanes

		"Vallejo Woman Finishes Second in National Meet." "Julie wrestles with chances." "Vallejo Athletes Win State Wrestling Titles." So screamed in excitement the headlines of American newspapers, heralding the amazing feat of a young lady from Vallejo, California. But to all Ivatans, the headlines referred only to their very own Julie Manzo Gonzales who is the daughter of Agustina "Tinang" Manzo of Itbayat, Batanes. The half Ivatan girl won second place last year at the U.S. Women's National Wrestling Championship held
Julie Manzo Gonzales

in Orlando, Florida. She lost to a two-time world champion when she competed in the 101-pound class in free style wrestling.

The photographs sent by her mother to friends and relatives in Batanes do not give a clue at all that Julie is a champion athlete. She has a very slim figure and long flowing hair framing a gentle face with dreamy eyes. Her sweet smile belies her competitive spirit and the physical strength that so successfully disarmed her opponents.

Interviewed over the phone, Julie says she has gone home to Itbayat only once, in 1991, when she was 12 years old. What she remembers most about that trip were the motorboat rides, plenty of garlic and lots of walking.

"Itbayat is such a quiet place. No TV to watch and I spent most of my time with my cousins. "It was cool" she enthuses.

One of three siblings, Julie is the only one among them who has ever gone home to Batanes. The two other Gonzales children are Roger, who graduated from San Jose State University with a B.S. degree in Criminology and is presently attending the Police Academy, and Gary who is an engineer. The two say they plan to go to Batanes in the near future.

Julie's other interests include Hawaiian dancing, which she took up seriously for four years from the time she was 12 until she was 16 years old. Of course, she can still dance Hawaiian if the occasion calls for it; but right now, she is concentrating on her wrestling training. You see, her sights are focused on qualifying for the Olympics team of the United States.

According to Julie, she likes wrestling because she finds the full body contact challenging. "I am not a champion but I am a good wrestler," she says. Aside from her wrestling training sessions, school take up a major part of Julie's time. She is in third year Junior College, after which she hopes to go into sports Medicine.

At present, her most cherished dream is to take part in the coming Olympics 2000. And it is not at all impossible dream. Tony Ubalde, a Times-Herald columnist, writes that Julie's future in women's wrestling looks good. And her credentials say likewise. In 1996, she won first place at the State Championships. In 1997, she won second. This year, she placed first at 110 lbs.

Ubalde adds that her coach, Michael Minahen, is one of her best cheerleaders. "Both on and off the mat, Julie consistently shows commitment and determination in working to achieve her goals," said Minahen

This young lady looks forward to visiting Batanes again in the next few years. Julie's parents met in Batanes when her father Vic, a Philippine Airlines technician, was sent to Batanes to repair a damaged PAL plane that overshot the runway and needed repairs. Her mother Tinang, was then a midwife at the Batanes General Hospital where the injured passengers were brought for treatment.

Julie's story should inspire the Ivatan youth to work as hard and be world-class. She has proven that Ivatan can be among the best anywhere in the world if they will just put their hearts into it.