Bowslaugh seeks redemption
After earning a silver medal at last year’s Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations wrestling championships, Charlotte Bowslaugh had huge goals for the 2023-24 season.
“My goals for this year were to win provincials and then top six at nationals and top six at OFSAA,” the Grade 11 Eden student said Wednesday, during a break at the West Niagara Wolfpack Wrestling Tournament.
The first goal was not met after she lost to the eventual champion at the provincial championships and didn’t medal.
“I didn’t very wrestle well there,” the 16-year-old said. “I let my thoughts get in the way. I was thinking too much, I was freaking out before my matches and I got too anxious and stuff.”
She has put the performance behind her and is looking to earn some redemption on the mats.
“I just have to practice harder, fix some of the mistakes that I made and rewatch the videos and see what I did wrong.”
The lessons she learned at provincials will motivate her moving forward.
“I never want to feel like how I did after I lost and I think that is kind of motivating me today and I hope that it motivates me moving forward.”
She has enjoyed a successful high school season to date, winning 95 per cent of her matches and topping most of the tournaments she entered. She added a silver medal in the 72-kilogram division at the West Niagara tournament.
“Last year was my first year and this year I have a lot more knowledge of what to go in thinking, how to perform and how to cope with my stress before match. I also have a lot of new technique,” she said. “It has been a lot of practice. I have gone to a lot more practices than I did last year and I am training harder. I am making sure I have good, quality partners.”
She also did a lot of weight training that allowed her to move to the 72-kilogram division from the 64-kilogram category.
“Last year I was really skinny.”
Her motivation was simple.
“I saw how well I did last year and I thought if I put a lot more effort into it I could do the same or better this year.”
Ryan Weicker, who coaches Bowslaugh with the Brock Junior Badgers, is a big fan.
“She is physically gifted and has a ton of ability and I really excited to see progress, go to OFSAA and show off what she can do as a wrestler,” he said. “She is one of the strongest females that I have ever seen in the sport.”
Bowslaugh will have to overcome at least one obstacle on her quest to do well at OFSAA. In early December, she landed awkwardly on her hand and dislocated three fingers. She also jammed another finger one day before the West Niagara meet.
“It’s not really getting any better because I keep training with it and you use your fingers for everything so that’s not helping.”
She is just at the start of what she hopes is a long wrestling career.
“I want to go to university and wrestle with Brock eventually.”
Following are top three results from the West Niagara Wolfpack Wrestling Tournament:
Girls 44 kilograms: 1. Lily Taras, Lakeshore; 2. Arianna Romano, Centennial.
Girls 47.5 kilograms: 1. Tommy Mair, Orchard Park; 2 Bianca Romano, Centennial; 3. Isabella Strong, PET Wrestling.
Girls 51 kilograms: 1. Shahreen Gulacha, Hillfield Strathallan; 2. April Crichton, Centennial.
Girls 54 kilograms: 1. Akira Grieve, Eden; 2. Shelby Vanderlip, Bishop Ryan; 3. Veronica Shaheen, Blessed Trinity.
Girls 57.5 kilograms: 1. Myrna Romero, Notre Dame; 2. Klariz Kazzouh, Bishop Ryan; 3. Katarina Schafer, Bishop Ryan.
Girls 61 kilograms: 1. Brynn Sartor, Blessed Trinity; 2. Daria Dumitrescu, Blessed Trinity; 3. Devina Thomas, Myer.
Girls 64 kilograms: 1. Ella De Almeida, Bishop Ryan; 2. Bethany Andrews, West Niagara; 3. Sadie Avram, Hillfield Strathallan.
Girls 67.5 kilograms: 1. Taylor Engelen, Bishop Ryan; 2. Kira Rahmani, PET Wrestling; 3. Tayla Cizek, West Niagara.
Girls 72 kilograms: 1. Hayley Weaver, Blessed Trinity; 2. Charlotte Bowslaugh, Eden; 3. Jaslene Niculita, Bishop Ryan.
Girls 77-83 kilograms: 1. Jorga Lepp, Eden; 2. Avery Barnett, Centennial; 3. Chelsea Haynes, Blessed Trinity.
Girls 115-kilograms: 1. Deanna Rawn, Bishop Ryan; 2. Ella Andrews, Eden; 3. Esther Davy, PET Wrestling.
