Erskine wrestler Carlie Gendre, 15, is on the map.
Gendre is on her way to the Pan-Am World Games at Medellin, Columbia, in August.
“To wear the maple-leaf singlet for Team Canada will be pretty sweet,” Gendre said.
Two weekends ago, she won gold and silver medals at the nationals in Saskatoon.
She was in the 60-kilogram class in the cadet age group, and wrestled in seven matches at the Pan-Am qualifier.
Gendre, a Grade 10 student at William E. Hay Composite High School, has been wrestling since her Grade 6 year at Erskine School.
Erskine teacher Brian Matchett has been her longtime coach.
“I’m very proud of her.” Matchett said. “The proudest I’ve ever been of an athlete I’ve coached.”
He described Gendre as “gritty, intense and tenacious.”
Gendre’s demeanour earned her a provincial sportsmanship award.
“Win or lose, Carlie gives every competitor a hug after the match,” Matchett said.
Wrestling is a family affair for Gendre, whose older sister and older brother have also wrestled.
“It was my sister who got me started in wrestling,” she said.
“Carlie is the only girl in her weight class on the local wrestling team, so she practises with the boys,” Matchett said. “Wrestling is amazing conditioning for other sports.”
Gendre’s coach at the nationals was George Grant of Olds. He’s the Alberta Schools’ Athletics Association wrestling commissioner.
Grant graduated from William E. Hay in 1988.
Gendre plans to train with the Canadian team for two to three weeks before the August competition.
Gendre said the costs incurred with her training and the travels to Columbia are “all self-funded.”
She’s working on ideas to raise money for the trip.
Gendre said she’s excited about competing in the world games and “looking forward to meeting new people.”
In the long term, she hopes to become a wrestling coach.