Timeout … with Jenny LaDeau, senior, Lynnwood wrestling

Published 9:00 pm Monday, January 23, 2006

Jenny LaDeau stands out because of her crimson locks but she also turns heads as a female in a male-dominated sport. “Most people are pretty cool about it,” LaDeau said of how people react when they see her compete. “They’re very curious because they don’t hear about a lot of women wrestlers.” Here’s their chance.

Coach’s corner: LaDeau, who wrestles at 119 or 125 pounds, is one of two female wrestlers on the Lynnwood team. Royals coach Carl Wilkins said the outgoing LaDeau is somewhat of a big sister to teammates, but in the big picture she’s just one of the gang. “To me, wrestlers are wrestlers,” he said. “I coach them all the same.”

Michael V. Martina / The Herald Senior Jenny LaDeau wrestles at 119 and 125 pounds for Lynnwood High School. She has been wrestling for four years and is also involved in drama.

Beginnings: LaDeau turned out for wrestling in eighth grade after she didn’t make the volleyball team at Alderwood Middle School. She called her earliest grappling experiences overwhelming but fun. LaDeau briefly left the mats to become Lynnwood’s team manager as a freshman, but former Royals coach Gustavo Anaya, now at Jackson, convinced her to compete again. She’s been at it ever since.

Pinning doubt: Wrestling is physically demanding, LaDeau said, because she has limited upper-body strength, but the hardest part is “overcoming doubt and frustration. Sometimes I think ‘I can’t do this. Why am I here?’” But coaches, family and LaDeau’s passion for competition always get her back on track. Sticking with wrestling has helped her realize, “I can get through anything if I need to. It gets pretty tough sometimes, but I love it.”

Girl power: LaDeau has been mainly a junior-varsity competitor at Lynnwood – she’s appeared in just a handful of varsity bouts – but she competed in the first two girls invitational tournaments at Tacoma Dome, held in February during Mat Classic. One of 68 girls from 48 schools who competed in the inaugural event in 2004, LaDeau had a pin en route to placing third in her division. “I was amazed,” she said. “I almost started to cry (because) I was so proud. … I kind of felt like Superman a little bit.” More like Wonder Woman.

Animal instincts: LaDeau plans to pursue a career in marine biology or zoology and wants to work with sharks or gorillas.

I wish I knew how to: “Skydive, and also control my emotions better.”

I can’t stand: “Hypocrites.”

Action!: “Ever since I was younger, I’ve liked attention,” said LaDeau, who has fulfilled her craving by performing in several plays at Lynnwood. She appeared in “Rumors” by Neil Simon in December and “Months on End” last year. “I really just like being on stage,” she said. “It’s interesting to see how different people act.” LaDeau’s favorite role was playing Cookie in “Rumors.” “She was kind of ditzy and dumb,” LaDeau said. ” … I got to be weird on stage.”