A Miss Match : Female Wrestlers From San Fernando and Birmingham Square Off in a Reversal Unheard of in City History

Pat Mobilia, 50, had never seen a wrestling match before and was not quite sure what to expect. She had, however, heard murmurings around San Fernando High, where she works in the dean’s office, that Thursday night’s match might be one to take in.

The word was two girls were going to wrestle each other as members of the San Fernando and Birmingham junior varsity teams. History was going to be made.

“I think this is why a lot of the kids came, although I don’t know how many they usually get out here,” Mobilia said. “There was a lot of talk today about going to see the girls.”

Hoots and cat-calls emanated from the crowd of about 400 in the San Fernando gym when the participants were introduced.

The public-address announcer advised there would be a “special treat” for those in attendance. “Two young ladies,” he said, would wrestle in the 140-pound weight class.

The gym lights dimmed, save for the one suspended eight feet above center mat.

When the whistle sounded, San Fernando senior Catherynne Morgan and Birmingham sophomore Katherine Celli began the first match between two girls in the history of the City Section, although it is an unofficial first.

“There are no records,” City Section Commissioner Hal Harkness said. “But I’m not aware of any circumstances where girls have met. This, as far as I know, may be a first.

“It’s a very unique happening in the annals of wrestling.”

Bill Clark, the Southern Section’s administrator in charge of wrestling, could not recall such an occurrence in the Southern Section, either.

The annals of wrestling were the furthest thing from Celli’s mind before the match. She was far more interested in her own history, which included two losses in an October tournament, her only two previous matches.

“I don’t want to make history,” said Celli, who started wrestling in September. “I just want to wrestle.”

And she did, defeating Morgan, 6-3. The crowd applauded politely when Celli’s arm was raised by the official, even though the home wrestler had lost.

Afterward, beneath the stands, Celli and Morgan shared a laugh while posing for a photographer.

“It was real exciting,” said Morgan, whose wrestling career began with her first practice nine days ago. “I hope that I can train some more and go against her again.”

For now, the two may be each other’s only real competition. Both would like to see girls’ wrestling teams formed, but the prospect is unlikely.

“I hope more girls go out and there will be a girls’ team,” Celli said. “As long as we get a girls’ team I think there’d be more interest.

“I don’t want to wrestle with guys any more. I’m sick of it.”

Celli had apparently seen enough of what she called “Herculean” 140-pounders at the tournament in October. Morgan, on the other hand, seems to be just warming up.

“It was really more of a sexist thing,” she said of her introduction to the sport. “The guys didn’t think girls could hang on the mat. I proved they could.”

Even Pat Mobilia was impressed--sort of.

“It was fine,” she said.