Not all true champions get a newspaper article and picture to announce their exalted status. Fewer still have a hugely gaudy belt as a symbol of their championship. But Penny did, and she wore it with pride.
Mary Ann Kostecki "Penny" Weaver of Charlotte died May 13, 2008. She was 73. She might be better known as Penny Banner, holder of the first American Wrestling Association Women's Championship, which she won in 1961 after a seven-girl battle royal in Angola, Ind.
Even in her rough and tumble occupation, she was incredibly lady-like. She was as at home in any social situation or Hall of Fame induction as she was singing karaoke.
Although a champion, she freely acknowledged the only other wrestler she considered to be better. She always gave that accolade to June Byers, whom she called her "nemesis."
Penny wrestled west to Los Angeles, north to Saskatoon, Canada, east to New Jersey and south to Mexico. She held tag team titles with an array of partners and almost always won the match. Not bad for a girl who didn't believe women wrestled.
Mary Ann was a live-in governess for "Mag" Magnuson, a St. Louis widower with three children -- and a room full of exercise equipment. She worked at the equipment until she could do 200 sit-ups with ease. She also worked part-time at a restaurant, where a wrestling promoter heard of the pretty girl who could do 200 sit-ups. He bet her $20 she couldn't. She could.
He offered her a job as a lady wrestler, and sent her to a training camp with the promise that if she didn't like it, she could come home after two weeks. She liked it.
Referees had a problem pronouncing "Kostecki" and suggested she change it. She chose "Penny" because she felt insignificant, she said, and "Banner" after one of Charleton Heston's movie roles.
Elvis and Penny
She won her first match, which was in 1954. Her last was in 1977, and she won that one, too. The years in between were filled with adventure, good friends and good times. They are also filled with the stuff of which yarns are made -- only her stories are true.She was traveling alone one night between matches when two guys with unknown intentions tried to run her off the road. That failed, so they raced ahead and blocked her path with their car. Penny barreled down the road at full speed. She knew she'd have room to run around them; they didn't and backed out of her way.
At a Memphis match, her Hollywood-good looks and wrestling prowess attracted a rising star who took a liking to her. He would later invite her to Graceland.
Yes. That young star was Elvis Presley and they dated whenever their busy paths crossed. Noted columnist of the day Walter Winchell reported on their dates, as did the Associated Press.
Penny, who had more than 3,000 matches, told the Observer in 1972, "My nose has been broken three times; I've had almost everything else broken or dislocated."
In 1970 she told sports writer Frank Barrows, "I'm just like any other woman. I cook. I sew. I iron." But, she added, "I don't think there's anybody who can lie across my shoulders and pin me to a mat." And at 5 feet 8 inches and 154 pounds, not many did.
You should write a book
I met Penny in the late 1950s and we reconnected in 2000 after I wrote about a wrestler's death. She shared some stories over lunch one day and I told her, "You should write a book." She didn't know anybody who could help her, she said.
I looked her in the eyes and raised my hand. It was not an easy job. She had her own ideas and I had to explain every change, every move, every addition or deletion. It was finally published in 2004 and is full of her stories.
Penny married wrestler Johnny Weaver in 1959 and daughter Wendi was born. After 35 years, the marriage turned stormy and they separated in 1994, but Penny was a devout Catholic, so they never divorced. Johnny died in February.
Always the athlete, Penny took up horses and barrel racing when her career slowed. After retirement, she joined the Senior Olympics and won titles for discus, shot put and swimming. Until recently, she swam three times a week at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center.
Determined, inspirational
Millie Snyder, a swim buddy of 15 years, said, "She was an inspiration for me. I have never met a woman who was such a self-starter. She tackled things that most women back then wouldn't touch. She was an absolute lady who could walk into any arena and hold her own -- nothing got in her way."Penny formed Penny Realty and specialized in condo sales for the past several years. She also marketed her wrestling memorabilia on her Web site, www.bannerdays.com.
About five years ago, Penny reconnected with her high school sweetheart Pat, who lives in Las Vegas. They shared many happy adventures together and, until this April, Penny always attended the Cauliflower Alley Club gathering of mostly old-school wrestlers held in Las Vegas.
In the beginning of her career when Penny left her governess job, she asked her mom, Clara Kostecki, to take over. She did and eventually became Clara Magnuson.
"Mag" Magnuson had always encouraged Penny in her body-building and in her career. When she got the wrestling offer he told her, "You go. You will be good."
And she was.
of life... Gerry
Hostetler
