Gemini wrestlers learning on the mats
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Twenty schools competed in Friday's all-day wrestling meet at Glendale High School.
The Tillsonburg hosts had 11 wrestlers competing, and some good results according to Gemini coach and meet organizer Lloyd Renken, who was coordinating the re-assembly of mats in the mezzanine prior to Monday's practice.
Mariana Carson had two matches, finishing 1-1 on the day in the 44 kg girls division for second place.
Carson took control in her first match winning by a 10-point 'mercy' margin.
"In my second one I didn't score any points – I got pinned. She hip-tossed me, we got back up, then she cradled me, then pinned me."
Familiar with the wrestling move, she just wasn't used to people using a cradle on her.
"The cradle's when you're on the ground, they fold you in half and just pin you down."
In two other meets this year, including a tri-school meet (1-0), she was undefeated.
"My older brother wrestles, but this was something new for me, something I've never done before. My height and weight kind of gives me an advantage because there's not as many in my weight category. I'm pretty strong from my former (Woodstock) gymnastics training, so I just gave it a try and I've been liking it.
"It's painful, but it's good," she smiled. "It's fun."
Looking ahead to the second half of the season, WOSSAA and OFSAA are potentially in her sights.
"That would definitely be a privilege to go, but since I'm only in Grade 9... I have to work up to it."
Tanner Gaitens won a gold medal in his 77 kg Grade 9 (rookie) division, pinning all three of his opponents.
"A lot of hard work, but I've been trying my hardest and I've been improving," said Gaitens. "I feel like I'm getting better."
Gaitens was introduced to wrestling in Woodstock before joining the Gemini team, and enjoyed the sport, but he came in with no tournament experience. As the season progresses, he will be facing older, more experienced wrestlers in the open category. At that point, it's game on.
"I'm looking forward to it – it will be a good challenge for me," he nodded.
"I've wrestled some guys from a club that's known to have good wrestlers and it was a decent challenge. I still came out with a win."
WOSSAA, with a shot at OFSAA, is a goal.
"But I don't know if I'm going to get there," he smiled. "I'm going to try my best and see what happens."
Christian Leliveld, also in Grade 9, wrestled in the 64 kg rookie division, winning two of three matches on the day.
"Lost in the final," said Leliveld, younger brother to Andrew, who wrestled his way to OFSAA last year.
His second match, after an easy win in the opener, went down to the last second.
"I won with one second left. The ref blew the whistle, I looked at the clock and there was eight seconds left. He was beating me by two points and I shot for two. I shot for a double-leg and got him to his stomach for two points. It was the second round, we were both tired – we had been wrestling a four full minutes."
Leliveld was pinned by a Parkside wrestler 50 seconds into the final.
"Not close, it was a fast round," said Leliveld, figuring his opponent must had pre-high school wrestling experience. "He was pretty skilled.
"I kind of put myself into a bad position. He was standing pretty well, I snapped his head down and he was on both knees. After he was standing up I thought it was a good opportunity to shoot for double-legs, which I did, but he was pretty fast. He sprawled on me and put me in a pin I hadn't seen before."
Carlee Martin, a Grade 12 rookie, missed Friday's meet due to ringette (London Lynx) tournament commitments, but did wrestle in Tuesday's tri-meet in St. Thomas.
"I lost both my matches, but I only had one practice before that – it was my first time ever wrestling. I was winning 8-0 against the one girl, then I changed my technique and ended up losing."
So far it's been fun for the multi-sport athlete.
"I'm enjoy it, I really like the technique kind of thing. It's different. I find it challenging because everyone's different in the way they wrestle."