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By Sandy Ringer 4/18/06

Seattle Times staff reporter

Girls could have their own WIAA-sanctioned state wrestling tournament as early as next season. The WIAA Executive Board recently passed the first reading of a proposal to have an all-classification championship as part of Mat Classic in 2007 and 2008. Two more readings are required.

The past three seasons, a girls invitational tournament has run in conjunction with Mat Classic and the number of participants more than doubled from 2004 (68 girls from 47 schools) to 2006 (156 girls from 77 schools).

The proposal involves an eight-entry (per weight class) tournament with regional qualifying tournaments.

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Kirchner National Wrestling Champion

By RYAN VANDER WAL / News Staff
Apr 18 2006

RYAN VANDER WAL/Ponoka News
Katie Ann Kirchner and her proud coach Sean Lougheed show off the golden reward. Kirchner took the national title for high school wrestlers in the female cadet class.

Quite a few people can tell you the back-in-the-day type stories about wrestling their brother or sister back when they were young. A push here, a tickle there, and eventually Mom had to be called in by the tormented. There is one local Grade 9 student here in Ponoka that probably gets left alone by her three older brothers. Ponoka Composite High School wrestler, Katie Ann Kirchner is the new National Champion in freestyle wrestling for the Female Cadet class.

There were more than 700 wrestlers from across Canada in Edmonton taking part in matches between wrestlers ranging from Grade 9 to Grade 12. Kirchner is adept at competing against competition that is older than she is, as it has been going on for all five years she has been wrestling.

Ponoka Broncs Wrestling Team Head Coach, Sean Lougheed talked about the domination displayed by Kirchner during the event in Edmonton.

“She went through four matches to win, she went through the entire weekend without having even a single point scored against her in the tournament,” said Lougheed. “We had a game plan, and Katie executed it flawlessly.”

Momentum and intimidation can both be very important tools when competing in tournaments at this level, Coach Lougheed thinks Kirchner may have found both at exactly the same time.

“During her second round match, she picked the girl up and slammed her hard into the mat right at the feet of the girl she was going to face in round three,” said Lougheed. “I think it probably sent a bit of a message.”

Kirchner went undefeated through her set of matches on the way to the title. The champion says while she was confident, an illness prior to the weekend had her a little concerned.

“It felt so good to win, especially when I had strep-throat just before,” said Kirchner. “I was expecting to win, you have to think positive, but my cardio was really bad compared to where it normally is.”

One of the highlights of the win for Kirchner was the phone call home to tell Mom the good news.

“When she found out, she was crying,” said Kirchner.

To the victor go the spoils, and this win for Kirchner is no different. She has now qualified to represent Canada on the world stage, and is going to be competing on the World Cup Circuit.

Kirchner has her pick from any number of international tournaments to compete this summer. Coach Lougheed says there are some interesting options.

“There are some international meets this summer. Austria, Sweden and France are all possibilities,” said Lougheed. “Next year, we would like to have Katie Ann make the Canadian International Team, and she is definitely the favourite in the cadet class.

Kirchner is excited about the prospect of travelling abroad, while competing in the sport she loves.

“It would be really fun. I would get the chance to wrestle girls I haven’t seen before,” said Kirchner. “Basically all of the people there would have also won nationally in their countries.”

When asked how she plans to make the jump to the next level, Kirchner says it’s all about the hard work.

“I’m going to have to start training even harder, I am ready to start training for the next one,” said Kirchner.

Training and practice is the backbone for anyone who competes at a high level and it’s the same for Kirchner. Her coach says they mix up running and on the mat training, but as long as she continues to work hard she will progress.

“She’s running around 20 km per week. We have another six to ten hours a week on the mat, and she puts in another 10 – 15 hours a week with running and weights.”

Kirchner says she enjoys the majority of her training, but one aspect isn’t her favourite.

“It’s definitely not the running.”

Hard work and going the extra mile is part of the game for Kirchner’s idol, Canadian Olympian, and six-time World Champion Christine Nordhagen from Valhalla Centre, Alberta. Katie-Ann has had the chance to meet with Nordhagen a few times and says it means a lot to her and other wrestlers to have someone to look up to.
Kirchner says Nordhagen provides her with inspiration.

“Christine Nordhagen is the reason I’m competing in wrestling. I know a lot of the girls who look up to her.”

Coach Lougheed, also believes Nordhagen is a positive force for female wrestling in Canada.

“Christine is exactly what we need in wrestling. She’s good with the girls who look up to her, and she’s a great ambassador for the sport.”

Kirchner winning her class was not the only good news for Ponoka Broncs Wrestling. Brittany Hehr brought home the silver medal for the 80-90 kilo female class. Coach Lougheed says he was proud of how well his team competed.

“Ponoka Composite High School was the only school to place in the team rankings, the rest of them are all wrestling clubs,” said Lougheed.

The future looks bright for both Kirchner and the Broncs Wrestling Team. Coach Lougheed says he has a simple philosophy for wrestling.
“It’s not about whether you win or lose, it’s about being able to mentally and physically challenge yourself to keep it together,” said Lougheed. “That can be tough on your body and mind.”

For Kirchner her love of the sport is what supercedes all else.

“I love wrestling, I love the passion, it keeps me motivated, it keeps me going,” said Kirchner.

With that combination of dedication, attitude, and ability, it is only a matter of time before (just like her idol) young wrestlers are looking up to Kirchner for motivation.