Shirley Cieslik says wrestling has taught her more than just how to grapple.
A Grade 8 student at Algonquin Avenue Public School, she’s been wrestling for more than two years, and had no idea what she’d get out of it when she took up the sport.
She can’t imagine life without it playing a major role, now.
“I want to continue with it, not only because it’s fun, but it really teaches you some skills that you can use, like reaction time,” she said.
The 13-year-old was one of 600 students who burst into Fort William Gardens on Thursday to take part in the annual elementary school wrestling competition.
It was a mixture of nerves and excitement Shirley was feeling before her first match of the day, she said.
“You don’t know who you’re going to be wrestling. It’s always a surprise and ends up being a really fun time,” she said.
“I usually try to mentally prepare myself for what’s about to happen. I’m usually really nervous and I run through my head all the possible moves I could do if they do a certain move and I just try to retrace everything I learned and use the best skills I’ve learned to use on the mat.”
Darian Fuchs, a 12-year-old Grade 7 student at Norwester’View School, said he got involved for the sports physical nature – and it’s fun, he added.
“You can pin people and it’s fun to wrestle people if they’re good and be competitive,” he said.
“It’s taught me to have a good attitude and don’t lay back and relax. You’ve got to go and do it right away and not procrastinate.”
Those are lessons he can take with him anywhere he goes in life, which is one of the reasons Thunder Bay’s elementary schools have gladly sent their students to the competition for the past four decades.
Scott Gordon, the event convener and a teacher at Algonquin Avenue, said wrestling in the city has a rich history.
It’s no wonder then, that the tournament keeps growing, he said.
“It’s big enough now that the Gardens is the only place that will host an event this large. We have 600 kids wrestling today and it’s just a fantastic event for the kids. They just love it,” Gordon said.
While the fun nature of the event is evident, the students making friends as they grapple on the mats, Gordon said there is a serious side.
Lakehead coach Brock Curtis, for example, was in the stands taking in the action, perhaps looking a few years down the road for potential university recruits.
“The kids that are serious about it have an opportunity, through the Lakehead Wrestling Club, to continue wrestling year-round and to further develop their skills at the high school level,” Gordon said.
“There really is a lot of opportunity at all levels for kids to compete.’
There’s also plenty of teambuilding associated with the sport, a trait that’s welcome just about anywhere.
“Although you’re wrestling one-on-one in the match, you are a real integral part of your team and so therefore every single match counts toward team points. It’s a really awesome feeling to know that you are part of a team,” Gordon said.
“And wrestling takes everyone – all aspects, all fitness levels, all shapes and sizes come out to wrestling and everyone is accepted. That’s one of the things that makes wrestling such a beautiful sport.”
