Three members of the Prince Albert Wrestling Club gaining valuable experience in Ontario
The passion that head coach of the Prince Albert Wrestling Club Brook Smith has for his sport can be seen from a simple conversation. A graduate from McMaster University, Smith started the PAWC in 2008 and continuously delivers on developing his students each season.
This weekend, wrestlers Kalin Langford, Cole Sanderson and Rory Iron have travelled east to take part in the Bishop Ryan Invitational in Hamilton and the Matmen Classic in Brampton. This is all part of the bigger picture – to gain experience for the national championships.
“My number one goal is to go there, compete, stay healthy, come back and work back into the learning process,” Smith said.
“Once they see how they do against the boys from eastern Canada, they are going to start setting really challenging, really performance specific goals … the experience we have will help make our goals a little more concrete. To start the conversation right now we are saying top six at national championships, but we’ll see.”
For the three wrestlers, it’s all about getting their reps; wrestling in as many matches as possible during the winter. Previously, Langford, Sanderson and Iron had travelled to North Dakota to work with some of the best wrestlers in North America for their age group. The trio not only studied how they trained, but also took away different styles of wrestling (folkstyle).
Prior to their flight to Ontario, Smith was able to break down what each wrestler brings to the table.
“Kalin brings experience, he brings talent, he brings group cohesiveness,” he said.
“He’s actually really enjoyed being a part of wrestling since before he got to high school. He started in grade 9, he had a bad injury in grade 10 (broken ankle) and it’s been a long road of recovery for him. He did well last year, he made it to his final match at the high school provincial championships … he brings all of that (experience) plus the talent, plus the commitment, plus the motivation. Right now, honestly, he’s the team leader probably for any team he’s a part of.”
Langford took silver at the Saskatchewan Provincial Championships, losing just one match on the mat last season. Langford will be wrestling in the 130 kgs division. He is the more seasoned wrestler of the three, as Sanderson and Iron are in grade 10.
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