Grapplers compete at rural provincials

By Greg Price
Taber Times
gprice@tabertimes.com

All four Taber wrestlers that made their way to rural provincials in Grande Prairie this past weekend have qualified for provincials with their strong showings.

Kathrin Waeckerlin won gold in her weight category in a dominating performance.

“There was a lot of skilled girls there who have wrestled for a few years and have a lot of experience. Kathrin managed a really strong showing and I’m not sure she could have even been beat at that tournament,” said Emmitt Campbell, co-coach of the W.R. Myers wrestling team.

“She has really strong strategy and she has a couple of moves in her weight category that they had seen before and she changed things up and it worked for her.”

Helena Froese came in fourth in her weight division and made it hard on all her opponents as she would be leading in points at times in her matches. “

“She lost some matches, but not due to lack of trying or athletic ability, just inexperience being a first-year wrestler,” said Campbell.

“She was up in one match 11-5 and completely dominating this girl and then she got her on a roll. Helena’s weight was a little out of position where she was a little high, where she got her over and pinned her. Another year of experience, and I don’t think that would happen. She still had a very strong showing, she is a quick learner and I don’t think she will get caught on something like that at provincials.”

Kade Phillips also came in fourth in his weight category and earned enough points to qualify for provincials.

“He had some really strong matches. All the guys that were in his weight category were in Grade 12 I’m fairly certain,” said Campbell. “Being a Grade 10 guy, he had strength and experience working against him. But he gutted it out on the mat and made all those guys work hard. From where he is now to where he was at the start of the season, you wouldn’t be able to recognize him. He’s improved that much.”

Dylan McMurdo will also be going to provincials, working his way back slowly from injury suffered earlier this wrestling season in Calgary a few weeks back.

“He separated his elbow, but fortunately there was a pretty shallow pool in his weight category and he managed to qualify for provincials anyway,” said Campbell.

McMurdo and the rest of his wrestling teammates will be able to rest their bumps and bruises for a couple of weeks leading up to wrestling provincials in High River March 13-14.

“I’m proud of how all these kids are coming along. They have all worked really hard and it’s paying off for them,” said Campbell.