Commitment shared by friends

by Murray McCormick of The Regina Leader-Post

March 19, 2005

Jeff Adamson and Ryley Walker are good friends with a shared goal.

The members of the Saskatoon Wrestling Club would love to win a national title at the Canadian junior men's and women's wrestling championships, which are being held this weekend at the SportPlex. Adamson and Walker took huge strides towards that goal by qualifying for today's semifinals in their respective weight classes.
"Having friends on the team makes it more than a sport,'' said Adamson, 19. "It makes it a social event.''

Adamson, who won a 2004 Canadian junior title at 68 kilograms, has moved up to 74kg this year. He's scheduled to wrestle Saskatoon's Daniel Olver in this morning's semifinal. Walker, who was fifth last year, takes on Jack Bond of Edmonton in a 60kg semifinal. The semifinal winners advance to today's medal matches, which start at 5 p.m.

"Wrestling is different from a team sport,'' said Walker, 19, who hails from Eston but moved to Saskatoon three years ago to wrestle. "We have good chemistry and work ethic in our room because of their experiences from wrestling so long. We're all really good friends on our team.''

The team extends beyond the club. Walker and Adamson are also second-year members of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies wrestling team. Adamson placed second at the 2005 CIS championships (82kg) and Walker (65kg) was fifth.

Adamson and Walker have wrestled since an early age. Adamson started in Grade 1 while Walker hit the mat for the first time in Grade 2. They have stayed with the sport despite its many training demands and sacrifices.

"My cousin (Mike Adamson) got me into it,'' Adamson said. "My parents kept me in and I just kept going. Saskatoon is a hotbed for young wrestlers that keep going and stay focused.''

Walker learned quickly about the sacrifices. He made the two-hour drive from Eston to Saskatoon to train in Grades 10 and 11. Walker moved to Saskatoon for his Grade 12 year.

"They were long hours,'' said Walker, one of only nine wrestlers to win Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association wrestling championships in each of his four years. "I moved in for the wrestling season and I graduated with my high school in Eston.''

Adamson and Walker were also teammates with Saskatchewan at the 2001 Canada Summer Games in London, Ont. Walker, who was just 15, is envious of the wrestlers who will be part of Saskatchewan's team at the 2005 Canada Summer Games in Regina.

"It was incredible being with all of the athletes in the different sports,'' Walker said. "I was pretty young and there are quite a few older athletes. It's the experience of a lifetime and I would go back in a heartbeat.''

Adamson, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Pan-American junior championships in Venezuela, also enjoyed the experience of being involved in a multi-sport event.

"It changes everyone's perspective on sport,'' Adamson said. "It helps you learn about all of the opportunities that there are in sport. It was really exciting to be part of that scene.''

There is also some excitement ahead for Canadian junior champions. The winners will earn a berth on the national junior team that will represent Canada at the world junior championships, July 5-10 in Lithuania.

"My goal is always to make the national team and then work my way up,'' Adamson said. "It's a long road but as long as you're enjoying every step it's worth it.''

© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2005