Sam can at cadet trials
After winning a 52-kilogram cadet provincial wrestling title and 53-kilogram cadet national title last season, Samantha Adams was a understandably disappointed with her fifth-place finish in the 49-kilogram division at the juvenile (under-19) nationals in Fredericton, N.B.
“It was a little rough, but I knew I had to just bring it at trials the next day,” said the Grade 11 student at Beamsville and District Secondary School.
The 17-year-old did just that, winning four matches to place first in the 49-kilogram division at the trials. Her victory earned her spots as a member of Team Canada at the 2019 Cadet Pan American Championships in Mexico in late June and the Cadet World Championships in Bulgaria in July.
The trials were a round-robin format and Adams finished the event unbeaten. The Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations’ gold (2018) and bronze (2019) medalist was delighted when the competition was over.
“It was almost surreal and I don’t know if it still hasn’t hit me yet, but it is what I was working towards,” said Adams, who trains four times a week at the Discipline Wrestling Club in Stoney Creek.
In her first match at the trials, the silver medalist at the 2019 junior national championships came up against her toughest competitor.
“After I won that match, I knew that I just needed to be careful and still be focused on winning the next three matches,” she said. “The last match was a relief knowing I had actually done it.”
After qualifying to represent Canada, Adams decided not to take a break and resumed training as soon as she returned from nationals.
She is thrilled to wear a red and white singlet and represent Canada for the first time in her short wrestling career. The 16-year-old Vineland resident has been wrestling for three and a half years.
“I am really excited at getting to wear all the gear and travelling to different countries,” she said. “I can’t wait for the chance to explore the different style of wrestling in different countries and pushing myself to adapt around those different styles.”
Adams, who won the 48-kilogram division at the Brock Open, placed second at the York Open and also competed at the Guelph Open this season, hopes to wrestle at Brock or McMaster when she is done high school.
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