Olympic wrestling trials preview
Richard DesChatelets, Jr. is among 20 Brock Wrestling Club members competing in this weekend’s Olympic wrestling trials in Niagara Falls.
Years of hard work have gone into the Brock Wrestling Club’s preparations for this weekend’s Olympic wrestling trials in Niagara Falls.
“If you look at the hours we are putting in, 99 per cent of the time is in our training room and it comes downs to moments sometimes,” Brock head coach Marty Calder said. “That is the thrill of competing.”
Brock has 20 wrestlers competing in the trials that begin Friday at the Scotiabank Convention Centre. Those 20 are at all different spectrums in their development.
“We have some club wrestlers where this is their last crack, we have athletes who have just graduated (university) and are transitioning into careers and we have some student athletes who are exceptional and are competing,” he said.
Brock wrestlers have been taught to focus on the moment.
“They have to be as accurate as they can in that moment and be the best version of themselves in the moment,” Calder said. “It is all cliche stuff but it does translate to the best performance.”
He is confident is his athletes.
“We have always performed well under pressure in the big circumstances and I don’t expect anything less.”
The winners of the Olympic trials advance to the 2020 Pan-American Olympic Qualification Tournament March 13-15 In Ottawa. The top two wrestlers at that event qualify for the Olympics.
“These (trials) are crucial and you have to win them,” Calder said.
Below are brief looks at all the weight classes. Information for the preview was taken directly from the Wrestling Canada website.
MEN’S DIVISIONS
57 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “Darthe Capellan has held the top spot at 57 kilograms for the past two years. At the 2019 Canadian championships, he defeated Samuel Jagas by a 6-5 decision. Aso Palani, two-time senior world Championship team member, will be looking to make his return to the national team. Scott Schiller has represented Canada at 61 kilograms at the past two worlds and will be looking for success at the lower Olympic weight class.”
Brock Wrestling Club members: Sam Jagas, Alex Moher, Ligrit Sadiku.
65 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “At the past three national team selection events, there have been three different winners at 65 kilograms. Dillon Williams, Michael Asselstine and Vince De Marinis have represented Canada internationally at 65 kilograms since 2018.
Brock Wrestling Club members: Cruiz Manning, Chris McIsaac.
74 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “The most crowded weight class will feature 20 different wrestlers. Jevon Balfour has consistently been the top Canadian at 74 kilograms. He defeated Jasmit Phulka in a 3-2 decision at the 2019 Canadian championships. Veteran Cleopas Ncube will be returning to competition after not having competed in Canada since 2016.”
Brock Wrestling Club members: Balfour, Ty Bridgwater and Tyler Rowe.
86 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “At the past two Canadian championships, Alex Moore hasn’t had a point scored against him. Ahmed Shamiya and Hunter Lee will be looking to change that and take the top spot.”
Brock Wrestling Club members: Max Budgey, Ignatius Pitt and Clayton Pye.
97 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “Jordie Steen has been the top Canadian at 97 kilograms for two years and captured Commonwealth Games bronze in 2018. Nishan Randhawa has been the runner-up both at the Canadian championships in 2018 and 2019.”
Brock Wrestling Club member: Richards DesChatelets Jr.
125 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “Olympian Korey Jarvis hasn’t lost a match to a Canadian in over six years. He’s defeated Sean Molle and Bradley Hildenbrandt in the finals in recent years. Amar Dhesi has seen success wrestling in the NCAA and will challenge for the heavyweight spot.”
Brock Wrestling Club members: None.
WOMEN’S DIVISIONS
50 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “Jessie MacDonald has been the top 50-kilogram wrestler at the past two Canadian championships. The 34-year-old is a three-time world championship medallist. She’ll be looking to fend-off recent under-23 world championship bronze medallist Jade Dufour and internationally experienced Natasha Fox to qualify for her first Olympics.
Brock Wrestling Club member: MacDonald.
53 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “2018 senior world championship bronze medallist Diana Weicker will be looking to maintain her spot on the national team. Her Brock teammate Jade Parsons and Black Bears wrestler Samantha Stewart will be wrestling to unseat the 30-year-old Weicker.”
Brock Wrestling Club members: Weicker and Parsons.
57 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “The 57-kilogram weight class is crowded with world championship medallists. Linda Morais, 2019 senior world champion at 59 kilograms, appears to be moving down to compete at 57 kilograms. She’ll have to take on 2018 under-23 world champion Alexandria Town and 2019 under-23 world championship bronze medallist Hannah Taylor. Tianna Kennett is also coming off a bronze medal at the under-23 World Championships at 59 kilograms.
Brock Wrestling Club members: Taylor, Emily Schaefer and Julie Steffler.
62 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “Olympian and 2017 World championship bronze medallist Michelle Fazzari will be looking to make her return to the national team after getting injured at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Twenty-year-old Ana Godinez was the top finisher at the 2019 Canadian championships, ahead of Jessica Brouillette and Braxton Stone-Papadopoulos.”
Brock Wrestling Club members: Fazzari and Brouillette.
68 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “Only four athletes have entered the weight-class. Olympian and 2018 world championship bronze medallist Danielle Lappage is expected to take on Olivia Di Bacco. The two have gone head to head for the 68-kilogram national team spot for the past two years. Di Bacco won the 2018 women’s team Trials to take the spot but in 2019, Lappage won two straight matches in their senior worlds wrestle-off.
Brock Wrestling Club member: Di Bacco.
76 kilograms
Wrestling Canada preview: “Olympic champion Erica Wiebe will likely have to faceoff against 72-kilogram 2018 world champion Justina Di Stasio. Wiebe has gotten the better of Di Stasio in their recent matches. The two most recently wrestled in June at the 2019 Canada Cup, where Wiebe won 7-5.”
Brock Wrestling Club member: Shauna Kuebeck.
