BY SCOTT
HADDOW
No one can tell Diana Ford she isn't doing enough to pursue her
wrestling dreams.
The 17-year-old grappler and her mother, Joan, moved to Greater
Sudbury from Kentville, Nova Scotia in order for Ford to get
more competition to further her intriguing mat skills.
The move has more than paid off.
In the 10 short months she's been with the Chelmsford
Wrestling Club, Ford has climbed up the wresting ranks. She
became the Ontario juvenile and junior champion (52-kilograms)
and took fourth place at the 2006 OFSAA high school
championships.
What's even more remarkable is the fact Ford went to the
national championships and earned fourth place in the juvenile
division and sixth in the junior category.
When she went to nationals last year,  she didn't even
win a match.
Because of her meteoric rise through the ranks, Ford is glad
she made the move to Sudbury.
"Of course it was the right move," said the Grade 11 Sudbury Secondary School student. "I have done exceptionally well here. It's no Nova Scotia, but there's great wrestling here. We moved here because my mom grew up here for about 15 years and we still knew some people here."
Ford's impressive results landed her on Team Ontario for the
Canada Cup, taking place this weekend, and for the Under-18
Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in Scotland next weekend
as well as the Scottish Open wrestling event.
Ford can hardly wait to soak up the atmosphere of Scotland.
"Oh my gosh...it's going to be a big learning experience for
me," said the six-year wrestling veteran. "It's another step
towards my big goal...I want to make the Canadian Olympic team
and go to a future Olympic event. I also get to see what some
of my future competition looks like."
Like a champion race horse, Ford likes to set the pace of
her matches.
"Diana has great cardio," said head coach Paul Berthiaume.
"She simply outworks her opponents and keeps a very high pace
in her matches. A lot of people can't handle a high pace for
six minutes. She also has a strong work ethic and is very
motivated."
Ford's development is off the hook.
"It's been a bit of a shock," said Berthiaume. "There's a big improvement from when she first came here to now. She went from not winning a single match at nationals last year to being fourth overall. In Nova Scotia...Diana had to wrestle boys. Now she's wrestling girls her own weight and is getting better everyday. She has the right attitude and the tools to go far."
Ford believes in her own ability to reach the pinnacle of the
sport.
"If I've had it in me to go this far...Then I have it in me
to continue to the top," said the grappler. "It's in my heart
and I want it. I was sixth in Canada in an age category one
year older than me...so I am on the right track. I have learned
a lot in my time here...I learned how to prepare mentally and
improve my technique. I came with a mindset I wasn't good and
worked as hard as I could to get better. I have."
Ford relishes the feeling she gets when she slams an
opponent to the mat and locks down the victory.
"I thrive on the feeling to win," said the 17-year-old.
"It's an amazing feeling to be better than someone else and to
know you worked harder than that person to beat them and you
deserved it more. It all comes from within. I just want to win
and be better than I was the day before."
Ford plans on cutting her teeth for one more season in
Sudbury.
"I will wrestle another season here and then go back to Nova
Scotia...and hopefully go to university and continue wrestling
at that level," said the wrestler.
Ford has gone through a bit of culture and academic shock
while in Sudbury, but her bona fide wrestling experience more
than makes up for any short comings.
"Nova Scotia is just a lot more relaxed compared to Sudbury," said Ford. "The academics are different...my marks dropped a bit here. I was an honour student in Nova Scotia, but not here. I still passed though."
