BY SCOTT
HADDOW
It hasn't taken Macdonald-Cartier wrestler Maxime Comeau long
to make her presence felt on the local and provincial
scene.
In fact, it just took days.
A gymnast all her sporting life, Comeau, 14, decided to give
wrestling a shot this season, her first in the high school
loop.
The move paid off as Comeau has already won a gold and silver
medal at tournaments held in Sault Ste. Marie and Mississauga
earlier this season. And the season has only just begun.
It was easy for Comeau to leap into wrestling, but it took some
prying.
"My older sister is in wrestling," said the Grade Nine student.
"I would watch her practices…and I really got interested in the
sport. The coaches said I would be good at it because of my
gymnastics background, so I joined for the fun of it. I love
sports and competing. It was definitely the right move. If I
have fun, that's what really counts."
Wrestling allows Comeau a chance to expand her talents
daily.
"I learn new skills every practice…every match," said Comeau.
"I picked up the leg shot the easiest. I also like that I'm
just going to try my best this year. Winning is fun, but if it
doesn't happen, it doesn't happen…I'm still learning."
Comeau is like a sponge and absorbs knowledge quickly.
"Obviously, she has great balance and power from gymnastics,"
said her club coach Paul Berthiaume of the Rayside Wrestling
Club. "She learns really fast. I show her a move and the next
thing I know she's in a tournament and using the move exactly
how it was shown to her. Learning at such a quick pace is
important and only helps her."
Not only is Comeau a natural, but she's also a student of the
game.
"I see improvement in her everyday," said the coach. "Max
listens attentively. She's not stubborn and thinks she knows it
all, so that has also helped her have success."
Gymnastics laid a strong foundation for grappling.
"Being in gymnastics really helped me with wrestling," said
Comeau. "I had a lot of flexibility and strength from
gymnastics. In wrestling, with some holds…people would be hurt,
but for me it doesn't because I am flexible.
Gymnastics really builds your body to be strong. Gymnastics can be painful too…it toughens you up, if you fall upside down on your head or off a beam, it hurts."
Wrestling has also brought Comeau closer to her sister,
Andree-Michele, sometimes a little too close.
"Watching my sister and observing her moves has helped me,"
said the rookie grappler. "She's my training partner…she beats
me, but that's how I keep learning and getting better."
Already winning a gold and silver medal has Comeau thrilled to
compete for more glory. "It meant a lot to win…It felt good
knowing I have potential in this sport."
The wrestling world is hers for the taking.
"Max is going to do well," said Berthiaume. "She has the
perfect base to make a great wrestler. She has to keep working
and attending big tournaments like provincials, NOSSA and
nationals. Max will have to do a lot of travelling…taking on
the best competition all the time will make her a better
wrestler."
