Still competitive
Taylor earns silver medal at U Sports nationals, two rookie- of- the- year awards
In her first season of university level wrestling, Hannah Taylor has won a silver medal at U Sports nationals.
It has been a rewarding season for Hannah Taylor of Summerside that is not over yet. The graduate of Three Oaks Senior High School recently completed a very successful first season of university wrestling.
“I’ve been placing at each tournament, which is a big step because the jump from high school competition is really steep,” said Taylor, a member of the powerful Brock Badgers’ wrestling program in St. Catharines, Ont.
Although wrestling is an individual sport, Taylor really enjoyed being part of the Badgers as they pursued and won the team titles at both the recent Ontario University Athletics ( OUA) and U Sports national championships.
Taylor, who is still junioraged but wrestled mostly senior competitors during the season was the only P. E. I. athlete at the recent U Sports national wrestling championships in Winnipeg, Man., and claimed silver in 55 kilograms.
Taylor, who turns 19 in April, won her first two matches to advance directly to the final, where she lost a close decision to experienced senior wrestler Cara Narnia of the Calgary Dinos.
“I am pretty happy with it, but I feel sometimes I go into my matches in the final and give the other opponent respect thinking that because they are older than me and more experienced that I don’t really have a chance,” said Taylor. “I was up against the top girl in the country, Cara, who is a lot older than I and she is a very good experienced senior wrestler, and I am right up there with those girls.
“It was a good feeling to be competitive at a real competitive level.”
Taylor, an alumni of the Wolfpack Wrestling Club in Summerside, qualified for the nationals by going a perfect 3- 0 ( won- lost) en route to winning gold in the 55 kilograms at the OUA championships in Hamilton, Ont. She also earned OUA and U Sports female rookie- ofthe- year honours.
“That was a really cool feeling,” said Taylor. “It was a really good accomplishment, and gives me a confidence boost moving into my junior season.” Taylor has no time to rest on her accomplishments as she is focusing on the upcoming junior nationals March 25 and 26. If she wins her weight class she will represent Canada at the world championship.
A second- place finish will result in Taylor being an alternate for Canada.
“This, for me, is the biggest tournament of the year,” said
Taylor. “U Sports was a huge deal, but if I win ( junior nationals) it will be great for my development.
“That’s why I am putting a little more importance on this because it is people my age.”