It’s war on the floor

By Harpreet Sidhu
Free Press
Mar 03 2006

Alex Keehn is up for the challenge. The 17-year-old Grade 11 student at Prince George Senior Secondary School will hit the mat at the 2006 BC High School Wrestling Provincials at the Civic Centre.
Keehn will be competing in the +70-kilogram female division. After missing most of last season with a broken leg, she is anxious to compete at home.
Already this season Keehn has finished first at the War on the Floor, in Coquitlam, and the Port Alberni Invitational.
“The provincials are a really big deal because it’s here. I know I’m a good wrestler and my teammates know it. It’s a chance for us to showcase ourselves,” said Keehn. “I have to be mentally ready for these things.”
There will be over 20 girls in Keehn’s division, wrestling in a modified double knockout. Wrestlers will need to win at least five fights to make it to the medal round, with each match being three two-minute rounds.
Keehn began wrestling when she was in Grade 8 at PGSS, but suffered a broken elbow days before provincials. Her only trip to the provincials came two years ago when she just missed the top eight.
Heading into her second provincials Keehn knows what to expect. She’s wrestled with many of her competitors who have medaled and knows what to expect.
“I know I can compete with them. There are few girls who I do good against and some that I don’t. Amanda Klassen, from the Lower Mainland, is usually number one. We don’t know if she’s coming up because she was injured for the last meet,” said Keehn.
After provincials Keehn will set her sights on the Canadian Wrestling Nationals in Edmonton.
The wrestling provincials get underway this morning at 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. On Saturday competition gets underway at 9 a.m. to noon. The Civic Centre will close until 2 p.m. when the finals begin. Cost is $5 per person for the finals. The rest of the weekend is free for the public.
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