Hoisting a championship football trophy is great exercise, but it’s not enough to get you ready for going to the mats.
Foothills Falcon wrestler Rainen Schiffner finished fourth at the Wetaskiwin High School wrestling tournament at 82kg on Saturday – just eight days after he was part of the school’s football team which won the provincial championship on Nov. 27.
“He was gassed by the end of it, but he ended up finishing in fourth place, which is pretty good because there were 11 or 12 kids in his class,” said Okotoks Wrestling Club coach Doug Watkins.
The coach said it was a learning experience for the wrestler. He predicts Schiffner has the talent to qualify for provincials by the end of the wrestling season.
“He was out of shape and impatient, so he got himself in trouble,” Watkins said. “I told him he did very well, but he’s not anywhere close to being in wrestling shape.
“He’s still in football shape.”
Schiffner could have possibly won a bronze, but had to pull out of the third-place match due to a swollen knee. He was 3-2 at the tournament, which includes his default.
He’s also got to learn how to wrestle north of the 49th parallel.
“He wrestled in Arizona where they tie-up more,” Watkins said. “He just has to separate himself from his opponent and make some space so he can shoot.
“He’s got all the skills. I can’t see him not making it to the provincial championships, but it will take some work.”
Someone who knows a few things about being in wrestling shape is Sadie Watkins, who practically was born in a singlet.
The HTA Grade 11 wrestler, who won a high school provincial championship last season, was third in the girls 61kg division.
“She got beat by a girl from Saskatoon (Emma Parker),” coach Watkins said, sounding like a Johnny Cash hit.
The high school wrestlers are at Crescent Heights High School in Calgary this weekend.
Junior high
Wrestling coaches thinking they would be getting a break when Sadie graduates in two years have got another thing coming.
It turns out another Watkins, Cael, may be on his way.
Cael won a gold medal at 65kg to 70kg at a junior high school meet in Lethbridge on Friday.
He had an arm up on his opponent in the final.
“He was down about 10-6 and he did an arm drag and was able to pin his opponent,” coach Watkins said.
Cael, who had considered not wrestling this year due to health reasons, went 4-0 at the tournament.
Colby Young, a wrestler from Okotoks Junior High School, was third at the 65-70 weight class.
“This was his first tournament and he finished third, which is pretty impressive,” he said.
Hargun Singh and Dustin Young were first and second respectively in the 57kg and under division.
Ryker Blankert was second in the 57kg to 65kg division.
The Okotoks Wrestling Club consists of grapplers from throughout the Foothills. They wrestle on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Comp.
For further information call Doug Watkins at 403-899-8671.
