The W.R. Myers wrestling team is off and running again in grappling for another season.
The team was off to a tournament last month in Calgary at Bowness High School, where three wrestlers earned medals.
“We brought 10 people up out of the 13 we have. The guys that didn’t medal, they were in some tough divisions where they didn’t make it getting that second loss. Some of the boys divisions are really big compared to the girls, so it’s tougher to get through to the medal rounds,” said Duncan Campbell, manager/coach with the W.R. Myers wrestling team.
“But everybody had a good time at the tournament and everybody did good.”
Emmitt Campbell won a bronze in his 120-kilogram weight category. Emily Burk earned a silver for 90-kilogram and Mataya Gillespie earned silver in 80-kilogram.
Campbell has seen a big progression in each of the Myers grappler’s skills, with the team itching to get into a tournament, having been practising since Nov. 1.
With three girls joining the fold with the 10 boys this year for the wrestling team, it’s encouraging for Campbell to see there is some interest there as sports opportunities expand.
“It’s quite big. They started that rugby team a couple of years ago and wrestling, football and rugby sort of all go together,” said Campbell. “A couple of years ago a couple of gym teachers brought wrestling back into the phys. ed curriculum and it started to create some interest where it’s hey, ‘If you like this, come on out, this is when we practise.’ ”
The three female wrestlers have taken to the sport like a fish to water in their interest.
“They are like spark plugs with no fear,” said Campbell.
Next official action for the W.R. Myers wrestling team is Jan. 21 with an exhibition at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.
The team wrestles at both Taber Christian School and W.R. Myers when time and space permits three days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.