Lily claims silver medal at nationals
Lily takes home silver at nationals
MARTIAL ARTS: What started as a way to take down her brothers has turned into national championship success.
TACAPS student Lily Baguley recently claimed a silver medal at the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Australian Championships in Melbourne, a feat made all the more extraordinary by her experience in the sport.
Having been training for just seven months, Lily came up against competitors with up to three years experience.
Despite the disadvantage, she fought tenaciously, picking up a win and earning her place in the gold medal contest of the girls 12 years 38-40.3kg division.
Lily said the entire experience was one she won’t forget.
“It was pretty exciting being in Melbourne but scary at the same time. I honestly thought I was going to come last,” Lily said.
“I was in the semi finals and two people fought to see who was going to fight me.
“I won that fight by points, which includes getting dominant position and in the final I was put into a submission.”
It continues a staggering rise for the young talent who began her training earlier this year at Galeb Brothers BJJ Toowoomba.
Lily jokingly said she took up BJJ after her brothers playfully “choked her out”, and has since been able to get her revenge.
“My brothers started doing it and then I wanted to roll with them in the living room,” she said.
“(Since starting classes) it has taught me to be more resilient and to stand up for myself a bit more.”
Her incredible showing at the nationals has helped her earn a place at the Pan Pacific Games in October, where her family and gym will be on hand to offer their support.
One of her biggest supporters is mother Clare, who said she is pleased with how Lily has been able to come out of her shell and perform so admirably in a short period of time.
“I’m immensely proud. She didn’t want to do it at first,” Clare said.
“She’d sit and watch the boys for about a month and they kept saying come and have a go.
“She eventually did and it was great. She has just blitzed through them.
“It’s not what we expected her to excel at because she’s a little smiley girl, but she does really well.”