Submitted by Cari McDonnell Wetaskiwin Wrestling
All three members of the WCHS wrestling team will advance to the ASAA Provincial Championships after qualifying at the rural provincials in Edson, Feb. 24 and 25.
Kjel Gödel and Jakob Dormer, both Grade 11, were both in the 72 kg. weight class. Their toughest match of the weekend was against each other, where Gödel edged out Dormer for the gold, leaving many spectators on the edge of their seat.
Dormer and Gödel swept their weight class, yet their sportsmanship towards their opponents and each other was above commendable.
Allen Paquette’s first day of matches ended with strained back and neck muscles, yet he pushed through day two to claim the last qualifying spot in his 62 kg. weight class to advance. Only in his second year of wrestling, Paquette has worked hard to incorporate much of the technical knowledge needed to be competitive at this stage in his high school wrestling career.
Even Coach Shamus McDonnell received sportsmanship recognition after supplying an opposing team with blood stop supplies for a bleeding nose during one of the team’s matches.
“I don’t need the recognition,” McDonnell says, “it’s just a great experience to be volunteering with these young men. They are not just good athletes, they’re good people, and Wetaskiwin should know they have good ambassadors for their community in the sport of wrestling.”
Both coaches, McDonnell and Shane Rybak, looked forward to preparing the team for the ASAA Provincial Championships March 10 and 11 in Calgary.