By Gaven Crites
“I never really give up…. I try my best and try to succeed with what I have.”
That’s the attitude Tiana Dykstra credits for her success among Canada’s best young wrestlers.
The 15-year-old from 100 Mile House captured a bronze medal in the up to 43-kilogram division recently at the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Although she’s no stranger to earning hardware at the national and provincial levels – capturing multiple silver medals – Dykstra cherished her experience at this month’s Games.
Dykstra says she felt really excited and happy after beating out Alberta’s Jennifer Dang on Aug. 8 and winning bronze.
“The Canada Summer Games was so much fun. I got to meet a lot of new people and see what other people got to do, too.”
Representing Team BC, Dykstra wrestled a total of five times throughout the Games, winning three matches and losing two. One loss came at the hands of Jade Marie Dufour, the gold medal winner from Ontario; her other loss came in the semifinals in a rematch versus Aurilla Wilson of Saskatchewan, who Dykstra beat in their first meeting.
“She blocked all my moves. I wasn’t really sure what to do with her,” Dykstra says about their second match.
“She was blocking the inside and had more control. So, it went to a clinch and she got the luck of the draw.
“They pull out a ball from a bag and whatever colour the ball is, that person gets the leg. I ended up losing the clinch and she won the match.”
Dykstra defeated Dang the same way in the second round after winning the first round of their match.
“In the second round, after no one scored, I ended up getting the clinch and winning the bronze medal.”
Dykstra’s older sister, Marina, is also an accomplished wrestler and national champion. 100 Mile Wrestling Club coach Phil Johnston got a look at Dykstra’s new bronze medal on Sunday. He says the Dykstra sisters share similar attributes that make them competitors at the highest level of the sport.
“It’s her work ethic. She’s one of these dedicated kids,” Johnston says of Tiana.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to coach both sisters and help them get to a national level. Whatever they put their mind to, they’ll do. And they work their butt of to do it.
“If they don’t make it, they’ll train all summer for next year. That’s how they are.”
Johnston adds family support is as important as individual commitment when it comes to the sport of wrestling.
“Parents are willing to drive in and spend the extra hours … that’s what I think helps. “It’s the family being involved. (The Dykstra) family has always been involved with wrestling and helped me out.”
Dykstra now has a few weeks off before she starts training again for next season sometime when her Grade 10 school year begins. The 100 Mile Wrestling Club opens up again in mid-September.
The Canada Games are a national multi-sport competition with participation from every province and territory in the country. They are held every two years, alternating between winter and summer and bring together approximately 4,500 athletes who compete in 20 disciplines. The 2013 Games started Aug. 2 and end Aug. 17.
