Taras building memories
Daniel Taras is leaving it all on the mat this season.
“It is my last year and I am hoping to finish it off, do as well as I can and give it my all,” he said during a break Wednesday at the West Niagara Wolfpack Wrestling Tournament. “I want to have some memories when I am older.”
The Grade 12 student at Lakeshore Catholic has a totally different approach to the sport of wrestling.
“I don’t think I was giving it my all and I approached it easily. I was only going once a week.
All that has changed in the 2023-24 season.
“Coming into the season I was doing a lot more practices than I usually would. I have been going every day and I have also been working out just hoping to do a lot better this year.”
Last year, he placed fourth in the 54-kilogram division at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships and he is aiming much higher this year. He has had success this season at the high school level, including winning gold in the 57-kilogram division at the West Niagara meet, and he recently won a silver medal at the Ontario juvenile championships.
“He is one of the toughest kids out there. Physically and mentally he is super tough,” said Ryan Weicker, who coaches Taras with the Brock Junior Badgers. “His technique has come a long way and I am looking forward to great things for him. He is always in a match whether he’s up or down 5-0. He always has that explosive intent to come out and win.”
The 17-year-old started wrestling in Grade 7.
“My dad kind of wanted me to sign up for it. He wrestled in high school in Toronto for St. Mike’s. He really liked it and he wanted me to do it.”
He lost his Grade 9 and 10 high schools seasons to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID messed me up and then I did pretty well in Grade 11. Now this year I am hoping to do better.”
He played cornerback with the Lakeshore Catholic football team and badminton as well.
“We didn’t do the best this year in football but the intensity was great. The sprints and stuff pushed me to my limits and helped me to become more intense in sports.”
Taras is planning to head to college in the fall to study electrical techniques but is hoping to keep his wrestling going as a member of the Brock Wrestling Club.
“I like the intensity and the mindset.”
Following are top three results from the West Niagara Wolfpack Wrestling Tournament:
Boys 47.5-51 kilograms: 1. Kiran Ramburn, West Niagara; 2. Sam Hamilton, Myer; 3. Noah Immeres, Thorold.
Boys 54 kilograms: 1. Ayden Cook, St. Michael; 2. Ezekiel Ivri, Myer; 3. Lee Palmquist, Churchill.
Boys 57.5 kilograms: 1. Daniel Taras, Lakeshore; 2. Keaden Phan, Simcoe; 3. Gavin Guinto, Bishop Ryan.
Boys 61 kilograms: 1. Zander Falkner, PET Wrestling; 2. Josh Fabina, Blessed Trinity; 3. Bandon Cisneros, Bishop Ryan.
Boys 64 kilograms: 1. Tyler Schaeffer, West Niagara; 2. Pedran Jenkins, Robert Land Academy; 3. Cash Lacombe, Blessed Trinity.
Boys 67.5 kilograms: 1. Max Hildreth, West Niagara; 2. Brandon Hall, Ancaster; 3. Andrew DeBoer, Blessed Trinity.
Boys 72 kilograms: 1. Heath Ozog, Crossley; 2. Caleb Harper, Cardinal Newman; 3. Darius Dodon, Ancaster.
Boys 77 kilograms: 1. Ethan Dobbie, Orchard Park; 2. Reed Ozog, Crossley; 3. Braden Dunbar, PET Wrestling.
Boys 83 kilograms: 1. Joshua Ramon, Bishop Ryan; 2. Seth Ozog, Crossley; 3. Macguire Baker, Blessed Trinity.
Boys 89 kilograms: 1. Muna Assama, Robert Land Academy; 2. Daniel Benvenga, Bishop Ryan; 3. Graydon Simpson, Smithville Christian.
Boys 95 kilograms: 1. Ryan Custers, Thorold; 2. Sterling Bateman, Ancaster; 3. Jacob Grajales, Bishop Ryan.
Boys 130 kilograms: 1. Aiden Nedelko-Payne, Bishop Ryan; 2. Ayden Stockman, West Niagara; 3. Ali Ghasemi, Eden.
