by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
FORESTERS FALLS — A Foresters Falls teenager is heading to Calgary, Alberta to compete at the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Championship.
This is Teegan Tabbert’s second time competing in the nationals, returning home last year with a fifth-place finish.
A member of the Renfrew Amateur Wrestling Club (RAWC) for the past five years, Teegan, 16, enjoys the sport. When her older brother Devin began wrestling, she would go with him to practises and tournaments, as she couldn’t stay home alone. She enjoyed watching the teamwork and camaraderie of everyone, so decided to try the sport herself.
She said this is the first time she has continued with a sport for this long, having tried hockey, gymnastics, curling and dance.
Teegan will be competing in the 49.1 to 52 kilogram cadet girls division for Team Ontario. She admits she’s just over the 52 kilo weight, which puts her up another level, so she’s being very careful with what she’s eating and ensuring she’s exercising.
“It’s difficult to maintain,” she said. “I weigh 53 kilos most of the time so I’m now working to get down to 52.”
The championships are April 15 and 16 in Calgary. She noted if she places first or second in her division, she has the opportunity to compete at the Federation of International Wrestling Association, which is a qualifier for the Pan-Am Games and other international competitions. The daughter of Lynda and Danny Tabbert, her mother will be travelling to Calgary with her, as she has taken Teegan to almost all of her tournaments and practices.
The practices are at Renfrew Collegiate Institute, but when the school is closed, they’re held at The Wing. Tournaments are throughout eastern Ontario, including Kingston, Ottawa, Sudbury, as well as at home in Renfrew. She has also travelled to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island for competitions.
Teegan practices at least three times a week in Renfrew and competes in several tournaments throughout the season, which is about from February to April, although training begins in October. She recently placed second at the provincial tournament, which earned her a berth at the nationals. And, because of her diligence to attending practice and her good behaviour, she received funding to help with her expenses while in Calgary.
At the provincial championship, Teegan had to wrestle with three other opponents. She defeated two and noted her final match was against Megan Muller from Mariposa, who defeated her. The two met at a wrestling camp.
Teegan doesn’t yet know how many competitors will be at the nationals, but noted last year there were about 700.
Teegan also competes in wrestling for Opeongo High School, where she is a Grade 10 student. This year she won gold at the Eastern Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association (EOSSAA), which allowed her to compete at Ontario Federation Secondary School Athletic Association (OFSSAA).
She returned home with a seventh-place finish. At EOSSAA she was also presented with the Official’s Cup. This award is presented to the athlete who best demonstrates the true spirit of overall wrestling.
“I was surprised,” she said. “I’m not sure why I was chosen.
“I go to the mats with a good attitude.”
Teegan is also encouraging younger people to enjoy the sport as much as she does, as she coaches students once a week at Cobden District Public School.
“The (club) likes to get kids onto the Mat Rats team,” she said. “This is a way of getting areas schools involved in wrestling.”
She began with 18 students and that was whittled down to four, and two of them have joined the Renfrew wrestling club. Her students attended a few tournaments and won silver and gold placings. The season for the Cobden students has now ended.
“I’m proud of them,” Teegan said.
In RAWC, there are seven members on the senior team, five on the bantam and “lots on the Mat Rats team,” she said. The Mat Rats team is for those who are being introduced to the sport, she explained.
Like any sport, there are expenses, Teegan said. She has to wear a singlet and have proper shoes. Other than that, it’s up to the person if they want other equipment, such as knee pads or a helmet.
“A singlet is a spandex unitard that goes from mid-thigh and upwards,” Teegan said, adding, “It’s not very flattering.”
While technique is important, good cardiovascular strength is as well, she said. Practice includes a lot of running, stair climbing and sprints, as well as acrobatics and scrimmages, which is fun matches between teammates.
“There is a lot of technique,” Teegan said, adding, “If you don’t do the moves right, you could injure yourself.”
Her main coaches are Harry and Shohannah Smith, who will be the three members of RAWC in Calgary. The other two members who are competing at the nationals are Jolie Brisco, who lives near Renfrew and Cole Hebert out of Arnprior. Grant Lavallee is the head coach of the club.
Teegan said it’s not just brute strength that wins a match.
“You are constantly thinking of what to do,” she said.
Each match is two two-minute rounds, Teegan said, and the referee is judging the two competitors on various things, such as holds, throws and shots.
“You gain points for different (wrestling) moves,” she said. “You can win by points or pinning.”
If Teegan has wrestled an opponent before, she’s aware of their weaknesses and strengths. If she hasn’t, she feels them out the first few moves and goes from there. She tries not to use the same moves over and over, because then her opponents become familiar with how she wrestles.
Teegan likes the physical and mental challenges of the sport.
“You have to think fast, there’s action and reaction,” she said.
Teegan doesn’t know how a referee keeps track of how to determine the winner, but she’s going to find out. She’s hoping to take courses to become a wrestling referee. She was going to start this year, but was too young to take a course, she admitted.
“It’ll give me a different perspective of wrestling,” Teegan said.
And while Teegan admits she got into the sport because of her older brother Devin, she’s not yet capable of bringing him down.
“Sometimes brawn works over speed and technique,” she said, adding, “His arms are the size of my legs.”
