Grappling for greatness in high school championships

BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW

Sudbury's high school wrestlers are taking the province by force, and for some, the rest of the country is in their sights.

Recently, a rash of Sudbury grapplers have been asserting their dominance in the provincial and local scenes, and some will shortly challenge the best young wrestlers in Canada.

Last week, MacDonald Cartier's Lee-Anna Taillefer, 75-kilogram category, and Chelmsford's Jenna Howard, 40-kilograms, won gold medals at the

Ontario Wrestling Championships in the cadet level.

Their golden performances stamped the wrestler's tickets to the Canadian Cadet and Juvenile National Wrestling Championships, to be held from April 1-3 in St. John's, Newfoundland.

"I am really glad I won, and I am confident I will do well at nationals," said Taillefer. "It's my year. Winning gold at provincials is a confidence booster because it shows that I am one of the best."

Howard, despite her four-foot-nine frame, has displayed her pound-for-pound toughness on the mat in her first year of wrestling. She was awarded the gold medal by default since no other competitor in her weight division participated. Howard wrestled a series of exhibition matches at a higher level and came in fourth.

"It feels good to win a provincial gold," said Howard. "It's a big accomplishment, and I am hoping to medal at the nationals. I am going to work on my

upper body strength and leg work for the nationals."

Howard's coach, Paul Berthiaume, is proud of her accomplishments.

"She's absolutely deserving," said Berthiaume. "She's very tough and quick. She's beaten most of the girls in the province in her weight, and that's

the reason none of them were at provincials because they knew Jenna was going to be there, and they weren't worthy of beating her."

The city wrestling championships were decided this week.

Lockerby was a force to be reckoned with as they claimed the overall school title and the boys team crown, as well as individual awards for male

rookie of the year (Sheldon Burton) and male MVP for the season (Jason Cecchini).

"The team surpassed my expectations," said Lockerby head coach Geoff Richer. "I had a lot of young wrestlers that stepped up and won matches. The team impressed me and I am proud of all of them."

Richer was beaming over Burton and Cecchini's results.

"Jason established himself as a leader early on this season," said Richer. "He can compete with the best in the province. I knew right away Sheldon was something special. He picked up wrestling right away. They are both the strong and silent type."

Cecchini rolled over everyone en route to the 95-kilogram crown. Being MVP was special, since he was also the high school football defensive MVP of the year.

"It's fantastic and it's a nice feeling to have," said Cecchini. "Geoff Richer has been my coach the whole way, and part of this MVP is his."

Burton, in his first year of wrestling, won the city 54-kg category. Being rookie of the year blew him away.

"It was a big day for me," said Burton. "It's one of the first steps I wanted to take in wrestling. I was so surprised I won rookie of the year. My parents are so proud of me. It feels really good."

The overall girls' title went to Chelmsford. Howard was named female rookie of the year.

Other winners at cities included MacDonald Cartier's Teena Lalonde (44-kg), Andree-Michelle Comeau (54-kg) and Pat Queneville (67-kg);

Chelmsford's Shawna Sookram (47-kg), Alyssa Unwin (48-kg), Jenna Schroeder (84-kg), Andrea Mizuik (heavyweight) and Cody Demeau (72-kg); Lockerby's Emily Alatalo (57-kg), Chelsey Kirkness (72-kg), A. Kirkamacki (47-kg), Jesse Hellberg (64-kg), John Gregoris (84-kg) and Ben Hotson (heavyweight); Champlain's Julie Vincent (61-kg); Sudbury Secondary's Colleen Kirkness (64-kg) and Marissa Brown (77-kg); Confederation's Jason Schilling (57-kg); Lo-Ellen's Zack Mullin (61-kg); and Notre Dame's Jean Marc Lalonde (77-kg).

All city winners will compete in the Northern Ontario Secondary School's Athletics (NOSSA) Championships, Friday, Feb. 18 at MacDonald Cartier.