Wins were worth more than gold

by Murray McCormick of The Regina Leader-Post

March 21, 2005

The gold-medal matches didn't signal the end of the freestyle competition at the Canadian junior wrestling championships.

They were just the beginning of an incredible opportunity for the winners of Saturday's finals at the Regina SportPlex. The national champions will represent Canada at the world junior championships, July 5-10 in Lithuania. It's a rare opportunity because the world junior championships are staged every two years -- junior wrestlers only have two years of eligibility.

"Going to the world championships is huge for my training and my progression in the sport,'' said Ryley Walker , a member of the Saskatoon Wrestling Club, who was named the most outstanding male wrestler after beating Bo Gregson of Burnaby, B.C., in the 60-kilogram final. "I haven't had much international experience, so we'll have to see what happens when I get there.''

Jeff Adamson, another member of the SWC, captured his second straight junior men's title. He won the 68kg title last year and earned a gold medal at the Pan-American junior championships in Venezuela. Adamson moved up to 74kg this year and earned a spot on the team going to the world championships.

"It's a long haul,'' said Adamson, who beat Edmonton's Roger Alves in the 74kg final. "It feels good to come through at the end and remove all of that pressure. It will be exciting to go to the world championships.''

The members of the SWC enjoyed a strong showing on the weekend. The men's squad finished first in the team standings with 39 points and helped Saskatchewan to a second-place finish in the interprovincial competition. The SWC was second in the women's team standings with 25 points. The Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club was first with 30.

B.C. topped the women's interprovincial standings with 40 points followed by Saskatchewan with 36. Beth Thompson (gold, 78kg), Dani Gurski (silver, 78kg) and Amy Dyck (bronze, 63kg) helped the SWC's medal haul in the women's division. Tim Kent (silver, 96kg), Chris Kulbida (silver, 120kg), Daniel Olver (bronze, 74kg) and Keith Folkerson (bronze, 84g) rounded out the medal wins for SWC.

Teresa Bakker of the Cat Town Wrestling Club finished second in the women's 67kg division. Bakker was beaten by Rachelle Pinet of Bathurst, N.B., who was named the women's outstanding wrestler. Adrienne Zuck, also of Cat Town, was third in the 51kg.

Bakker, who completed her first season of wrestling with the University of Regina Cougars women's team, made progress in the junior ranks. She was fifth as a juvenile and earned a bronze medal last year.

"I guess I'm improving'' said Bakker, a native of East Selkirk, Man. "Silver is not what I wanted.''

Bakker, who finished sixth in her division at the CIS championships, felt she earned more than a silver medal Saturday.

"You have to keep learning from your mistakes,'' Bakker said. "Whether you win or lose, you're always going to learn something.''

© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2005