Experts grapple with students in Sudbury

BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW

It was the chance of a lifetime for Sudbury wrestlers.

Recently, an assistant coach and top female wrestler with the famed Brock University program visited Sudbury to share their expertise and winning attitude with local grapplers.

Brock's assistant coach, and alternate for the Canadian men's Olympic wrestling team, Saeed Azarbayjani and top female wrestler Heather

Sweezey, took time out of their hectic schedules to visit Chelmsford Valley District Composite School.

Brock is one of the top universities in Canada for producing elite wrestlers. The school has won eight Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS)

championships, and has produced five Olympic wrestlers, including 2004 silver medallist Tonya Verbeek.

Local wrestlers could hardly believe the experience they were receiving, and soaked up as much knowledge as they could.

"This has helped improve my skills because I am still in high school and these wrestlers are at the university level," said Cale Predon. "They have

competed at higher level events and it shows me the calibre of wrestlers that are at the university level once I get there, and what I have to aspire to. Every time you go to a camp like this, you leave with one or two more moves and you have better mat prowess."

Lockerby wrestler Emily Alatalo can hardly wait to try out her new-found knowledge on her opponents.

"I learned how to do a proper leg shot," said Alatalo. "I learned how to keep it tight to your body and not let go. This experience will definitely help me down the road."

Even some of Sudbury's top wrestlers took full advantage of the tremendous mat masters at Chelmsford.

Alyssa Unwin, a 2004 Ontario Federation of School Athletics Association (OFSAA) gold-medal winning wrestler, believes the experience will raise the level of competition in Sudbury.

"This is the third time I have trained with Saeed," said Unwin. "He will not just show you the move and then run away. He sticks with you until you have it down pat, and then puts you in a situation where you have to use it. He makes sure that you not only know how to use a move, but when to use it. You never stop learning in this sport. With wrestlers like Saeed and Heather, it can only make the wrestlers here better, making us all better in the long run."

Even the Brock wrestlers were impressed with Sudbury grapplers. Sweezy, who hails from Sault Ste. Marie, was overwhelmed at the number of kids who showed up to polish their mat skills.

"I did a clinic in the Soo at Christmas and we didn't have this many wrestlers," said Sweezey. "It's great, and looks good on Sudbury. Considering there's no university-wrestling program around, the talent base here is extremely good. We are just here teaching them the refined basics."

Sweezey, who's one of the best university wrestlers in Ontario, knows every wrestler needs to have a great desire to compete and win.

"You need heart and training," said Sweezey. "Technique can only go so far, and if you have the heart, you can go far."

Azarbayjani couldn't help but acknowledge the powerful skills Sudbury wrestlers already possess.

"There's a lot of young kids here, and that's good to see," said Azarbayjani. "They are starting young, and that is good. You have to train a lot and sacrifice, but in the end, when you get to a high level, it's an enjoyable life."

Even local coaches gained valuable experience from the session.

Lockerby wrestling head coach Geoff Richer was pleased his squad could train with some of the best wrestlers in Canada.

"Up north, we don't get a lot of experiences like this," said Richer. "For wrestlers of this calibre to come up here and show our kids what they know is just great and helpful. You can't beat this kind of teaching."