The latest wrestling Romano
Katelyn Romano has big footsteps to follow.
Her older sister Sam is the reigning Canadian junior wrestling champion and this year has already won another junior provincial title and placed third at the senior provincials.
All three of the Grade 10 student at Centennial’s younger siblings, Matteo, Bianca and Arianna, also wrestle and the family moved from Durham two years ago to take advantage of the wrestling culture and coaching in Niagara.
“Our old area wasn’t necessarily the best area and there’s not many universities near Ajax,” Katelyn said. “We moved down here to have the university close and to have better opportunities for wrestling.”
She agrees it was a big commitment on behalf of her parents, Anthony and Melanie.
“That is crazy,” Katelyn said. “I think they love the discipline it gives us; not in a bad way.”
Sam helps Katelyn out with wrestling all the time and the sport is obviously a family tradition.
“She picked in up in Grade 3 and now she goes to Brock,” Katelyn said. “And now I go to Brock two times a week and she helps me out with it.”
Katelyn is enjoying a strong season, including an excellent performance at Thursday’s Zone 3/4 championships at Thorold Secondary School
“I’ve been doing good so far,” she said. “It’s a smaller weight class because it’s a lighter weight class, but I won my only match today so I get to go to SOSSA (Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association championships).”
The 47.5-kilogram Zone 3/4 champion will be looking to make her second straight trip to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships. Last year, she placed fifth, but feels she is a better wrestler now.
“I started to take shots more this year because usually girls aren’t too big on shooting,” Katelyn said. “I decided to start shooting myself because they are not going to expect it.”
The biggest difference is she is more aggressive.
“I liked to sit back last year but this year I’m in more action on offence.”
Her OFSAA goals are straight forward.
”I want to get better than last year,” she said. “Fourth or even the podium would be nice.”
Coach Heather Sweezey loves what Katelyn brings to the wrestling mats.
“She has been wrestling for a long time and has the full package,” she said. “She’s athletic and she’s explosive and the only thing she really needs to work on is her aggressiveness.”
The SOSSA championships will be held Wednesday at Orchard Park.
Following are the complete girls results from Thursday’s Zone 3/4 meet.
INDIVIDUAL
44 kilograms: 1. Sarah Guenther, A.N. Myer; 2. Dana Warren, Blessed Trinity.
47.5 kilograms: 1. Katelyn Romano, Centennial; 2. Mackenzie Davis, A.N. Myer.
51 kilograms: 1. Samantha Adams, Beamsville; 2. Brooklyn Brown, Thorold; 3. Mekayla Raimondi, Blessed Trinity; 4. Olympia Myers, Blessed Trinity; 5. Julliet Ma, Stamford; 6. Sinisa Golden, Denis Morris.
54 kilograms: 1. Margaret Taras, Lakeshore; 2. Abby Wiebe, A.N. Myer; 3. Ella Muraca, Blessed Trinity; 4. Brooke Ticchiarelli, Blessed Trinity.
57.5 kilograms: 1. Jessica York, DSBN Academy; 2. Victoria Wass, Blessed Trinity.
61 kilograms: 1. Mia Friesen, Governor Simcoe; 2. McKenzie Grieve, Eden; 3. Taylor NcNeil, Blessed Trinity; 4. Katelyn Saunders, Thorold.
64 kilograms: 1. Faith Mogridge, Collegiate; 2. Sophia Schweinbenz, Blessed Trinity; 3. Alysaa Breen, Blessed Trinity.
67.5 kilograms: 1. Olivia Hendriks, Blessed Trinity; 2. Stephanie Fanciosa, Blessed Trinity; 3. Sara D’Amico, Governor Simcoe.
72 kilograms: 1. Colby Patterson, Blessed Trinity; 2. Logan Ciancio, Denis Morris; 3. Kaitlyn Dillella, Thorold.
77 kilograms: 1. Stephanie Evtodi, St. Mike’s.
83 kilograms: 1. Lily Carter, St. Mike’s; 2. Kayla Litschko, Blessed Trinity; 3. Teanna Scott, A.N. Myer.
115 kilograms: 1. Leela Benjamin, Denis Morris; 2. Cassandra Nyimbili, Blessed Trinity; 3. Katie Abbey, A.N. Myer; 4. Sage Atikinson, A.N. Myer.
TEAMS
Girls: 1. Blessed Trinity 264; 2. A.N. Myer 106; 3. Denis Morris 58; 4. St. Mike’s 54; 5. Governor Simcoe 46.
Overall: 1. Blessed Trinity 575; 2. Denis Morris 284; 3. St. Mike’s 238; 4. A.N. Myer 155; 5. Governor Simcoe 89.
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