On their way
Two locals hit the national stage in wrestling
Ben Tanton and Clay Campbell have packed their bags and are travelling to Windsor, Ontario Wednesday for the Canadian cadet/juvenile wrestling championships.
The two Summerside teens train 10 hours a week, twice a week at the Wolfpack Wrestling Club at Summerside Intermediate School, and three times at the Island Wrestling Academy in Charlottetown.
Campbell, 16, will be competing in the cadet 69-kilogram division at nationals and Tanton, 17, will compete in the 63-kilogram division. Tanton has been wrestling for seven years, said his mother, Susan.
She is a trip organizer and manager for the Island wrestlers going to nationals.
“They train together, support each other, and fight against each other.”
Susan hopes the two boys take a page out of the book of local wrestlers, Hannah Taylor and Ligrit Sadiku, who are making big moves on the national stage.
Taylor is a recent national champion and has mentored the boys in the past, while both are inspirations to Tanton. Susan said her son and Campbell are looking to wrestle their way onto the Canada Games team to compete in Winnipeg this summer.
With only one spot for each weight class, they won’t need to compete against each other, thankfully, she said. Tanton is confident in making the Canada Games team, and in how he needs to perform at nationals.
“I have to be smart.” Unsure who he will face, Tanton is keeping an eye on Connor McNeice. The Alberta wrestler is one of the best in Canada in Tanton’s division.
The boys are set to compete Friday after Thursday’s weighins.