Some of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 most passionate wrestlers are heading to the championships starting Feb. 17. The students, who come from various schools in Kelowna, have been working hard with wrestling coach Al McAvena to get ready for the championships.

McAvena said there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of excitement coming from this group of wrestlers.

害羞草研究所淚n this junior group, there害羞草研究所檚 some kids that are in their third year, and they just can害羞草研究所檛 wait to get up here,害羞草研究所� said McAvena.

Wrestling may not be the most popular high school or club group sport in Kelowna, but the Central Okanagan Wrestling Association is still seeing consistent numbers from local students looking to get involved in the sport.

害羞草研究所淲restling害羞草研究所檚 quite a physically demanding sport, and it can be difficult when at times there害羞草研究所檚 no one in my weight class (at practice),害羞草研究所� said Bryson Burgess, who fights in the 45 kilogram weight class (around 100 pounds). 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 pretty excited, but also very nervous at the same time (for the championships). And it害羞草研究所檚 cool we get to travel a lot of places for wrestling.害羞草研究所�

McAvena said the wrestlers in the smaller weight classes, like Burgess,害羞草研究所� are perfect for wrestling and developing as the wrestlers fight in weight class groups, and not in age/grade groups.

Some of the increasing difficulties McAvena has seen for students getting into the sport, as wrestling can be very physically demanding, is that they may not be initially in as good as shape as kids from 20 years ago. With 45 years of coaching and wrestling experience, he credits the copious amount of screen-time for the decline in some levels of fitness, but said it still has affected the amount of young students looking to get involved.

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Jacob Wall, a KSS student and wrestler, appreciates the team aspects of his smaller junior team.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a whole lot of fun. Although wrestling isn害羞草研究所檛 an actual team base sport, our team to me, is one of the most interconnected teams I害羞草研究所檝e ever played on, and I害羞草研究所檝e done basketball, baseball and soccer,害羞草研究所� said Wall. 害羞草研究所淲e go to a bunch of tournaments, have a really good time and try our best, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, and no one gets down on you for it. It害羞草研究所檚 a tough sport, and you need to try your hardest at practice and in matches.害羞草研究所�

While the team trains with one another despite their differences in weight classes, the lone girl in the group, Amanda Epp, doesn害羞草研究所檛 let that stop her.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 lots of fun. It can be difficult to learn what it害羞草研究所檚 like to wrestle with girls at tournaments, but it害羞草研究所檚 a lot of fun to prove that I can still do whatever I set my mind to,害羞草研究所� said Epp. 害羞草研究所淚 never really like the team based sports, so I find wrestling was really fun and I feel really confident after I win a match. We害羞草研究所檙e a small team, but we all have a lot of fun.害羞草研究所�

The tight-knit team of wrestlers head to Langley for the championships, and will no doubt face some stiff competition in all of their weight classes, but they will also, without any doubt, have a lot of fun.

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