Mission’s Alexia Seal didn’t return home with a shiny new medal, but said the experience with Wrestling Canada at the World Cadet Championships has only inspired further determination to become one of the world’s best.
The 43-kilogram freestyle wrestler placed 11th at the world championships held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina this past weekend.
Seal fought and lost one match, suffering a defeat against Russian opponent, Alexandra Skirenko, a result Seal said had nothing to do with a lack of preparation.
“I felt like I was ready and mentally prepared enough for the match. I just got caught and didn’t react fast enough.”
Skirenko managed to pin the Mission Senior Secondary student –the first opponent to do so against Seal this season — in the opening round.
Seal explains she was brought to the mat after a succesful outside single, which, fo wrestling laymen, means the wrestler’s front leg was grabbed and trapped, which led to a takedown.
“She got between my legs and I couldn’t break out,” said Seal.
Skirenko finished third at the championships.
Now back home, the Mission native is on a short break for about a month, then she plans to return to Coast Wrestling to begin work for next season.
Frank Mensah, head coach at Coast Wrestling and one of three assistant coaches of the Canadian world cadet wrestling team, said better selection of competitions will be key to Seal’s development as a world-class wrestler.
“She needs to compete with the top world competitors,” said Mensah.
This was a breakout year for the 16-year-old wrestler.
