news

News Page

Jacob Hespeler's Jessica Knight has high hopes for provincial championships

JOSH BROWN

BADEN (Jan 13, 2007)

DAVID BEBEE, RECORD STAFF
Jessica Knight of Jacob Hespeler Secondary School gets a leg up on a Sara Lafrance of St. Mary's during a match at Waterloo-Oxford in Baden yesterday.

Ask Jessica Knight where she's from and you'll get a mouthful.

Kingston. Montego Bay. Boscobel Beach. Guyana. Quebec. And now, Cambridge.

"I've moved around a lot," said the Quebec-born but Jamaican-raised Jacob Hespeler student. "They pushed me back a grade when I came here. I had a temper in Grade 8 because I had to deal with the climate change and the culture shock.

"I needed to get some of the confusion and aggression out."

Taking ballet lessons didn't quite cut the mustard. Although talented, she just didn't fit in.

"Being a slightly larger girl than everyone else . . . the girls didn't really accept me," she said. "It's kind of odd when you see a bunch of small twigs and then a big elephant run across the stage."

So Knight joined her school wrestling team. And the world traveller finally found a home.

"I know it sounds corny but a sheer love of the sport will get you anywhere," the 19-year-old said.

Knight has certainly been places on the mat. From Waterloo County champ to fifth at last year's all-Ontario final. She seems primed for a return to the provincials this year and has gone undefeated against local competition. Yesterday, she won the girls heavyweight event at the Waterloo-Oxford wrestling tournament. Fifteen schools and several hundred wrestlers participated in the day-long meet.

Knight's matches were over fast. Her first victim was Sara Lafrance of St. Mary's. In the final, she bested Anita Cozier of St. Benedict on points, 2-0.

Knight likes to chat up her opponents before a match, since many are also her friends. Then, minutes before her bout, she finds a secluded spot to focus. Or, if the mood strikes, she slips on her headphones and listens to Christian rock music for motivation.

"When people think Christian rock they think 'hallelujah' but there is some hardcore Christian rock."

On the mat, Knight gets her game face on and uses her speed and strength to devour opponents.

"Off the mat we're good friends," she said of her fellow wrestlers. "On the mat we're enemies. That's the mind set we put ourselves in."

Believe it or not, all that ballet pays off. Balance. Core strength. Flexibility. They all come into play in grappling.

It's Knight's last year of high school and she's aiming high -- a top-six finish at the provincial championship.

Count Jacob Hespeler assistant wrestling coach Tim Blackshaw as a believer.

"She's just technically above and beyond most of the girls right now," he said. "She has a mean streak in her. When she's on the mat she gets down to business."

Other winners from yesterday's tournament included: Patrick Moher (SMHS) 38 kg; Wade Leaman (SDCSS) 41 kg; Simran Sangha (SDCSS) 44 kg; Doug Wallbank (FHCI) 47.5 kg; Connor Tannahill (Stratford) 51 kg; Steve Gross (MDCSS) 54 kg; Tyler Beedham (Paris) 57.5 kg; Jon Moyer (RMC) 61 kg; Tyler Domenico (FHCI) 64 kg; Cian Howitt (SMHS) 67.5 kg; Cian Coughlan (MDCSS) 72 kg; Gord Schwurtman (Delhi) 77 kg; David Blasman (SMHS) 83 kg; Nathan Corbin (SMHS) 95 kg; and John Fitzgerald (MDCSS) heavyweight.

Girls winners were: Cortney Ringel (FHCI) 41 kg; Hannah Burleigh (Paris) 47.5 kg; Hilda Ulloa (SMHS) 51 kg; Amber Williams (Brantford) 54 kg; Sarah Runsteadler (SDCSS) 57.5 kg; Karoline Madsen (SMHS) 61 kg; Bryanne Henry (Paris) 64 kg; Monica Sheldon (SDCSS) 67.5 kg; Elora Shadd (SMHS) 72 kg; Shana Baur (FHCI) 77 kg; and Andrea Davidson (SDCSS) 84 kg.

Monsignor Doyle won the boys team title; St. Mary's, the girls crown.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Local wrestlers looking to earn way to state

Published 1/12/07 in The Times-Herald

By TONY JONES
tony@newnan.com

A potential state berth is on the line as the two-day region duals get underway this evening at Newnan and McIntosh.

Newnan and East Coweta will be in action at Newnan while Northgate will attempt to make state at McIntosh.

All three will also have an opportunity later this year to qualify for the state "open" traditional tournament at the Gwinnett Civic Center.

East Coweta is the only local team that is likely to have a chance to advance to the state duals. The Indians figure to battle Hiram and Paulding County for the two qualifying positions.

Hiram is traditionally strong and East Coweta battled Paulding to a one-point loss earlier this season. East Coweta wasn't at full speed then.

"And we still aren't," warned head coach Jeff Flavin.

The Indian leader is right but no one is getting more out of their kids than Flavin and assistant Buck Roetman. East Coweta will go into these duals battled tested, but carrying a makeshift lineup in many classes.

"It won't be easy to make it but we are going to give it everything we have," noted 189-pound star Christian Flavin.

Although reserves are inserted at 112, 119 and 215, the Indians are still clicking. The team took the LaGrange Granger Invitational last week and was a single decision away from the biggest win in school history on Tuesday, just falling to Starr's Mill, 40-33.

The best thing Newnan has going for them is the ability to host the event. The Cougar program is in turmoil with two kids lost to academics, a couple of more injured, and an additional two who failed to show up at practice.

A coaching change appears eminent as head coach Clint McCall is expected to step down after being informed this week that he will now have to allow his kids to wrestle females.

McCall beieves it is inappropriate and can potentially create psycholigical problems down the line. "It is not right and my kids will not wrestle females. In the past, I have seen kids wrestle females and although they thought at the time it was no big deal, later they told me they had rather not been in that position," explained the Cougar leader last weekend in LaGrange.

The overwhelming majority of the Newnan wrestling supporters disagree. Newnan kids have repeatedly been forced to forfeit matches to females and this past weekend seemed to push matters over the top.

Two-time county champion Caleb Forbus (112) won every match he competed in but was forced to forfeit twice to female competition. This incident came only two weeks after Zack Thompson (119) was forced to forfeit his first match of a tournament where he eventually placed third.

Thompson would have probably won his class since a third-place finish was as good as Thompson could pull off after being forced to forfeit his opening round match.

McCall held to his belief and Newnan supporters went to the administration. McCall may be gone but his integrity nor his ability to stand up for what he believes can never be questioned.

In past years, community coach Jim Morgan did a tremendous job until a permanent head wrestling coach could be hired. Newnan faithful complained and complained for years that they didn't have a "full time" wrestling coach. The school brought in McCall last year and he and his staff were beginning to make strides.

Newnan and East Coweta can at least be thankful they compete in a weak wrestling region. The same can't be said for Northgate.

"For once I'd like to be placed in an easy region," said Viking head coach Adrian Anderson.

Northgate may compete in the most difficult region in AAAA. The Vikings will have to tangle with Starr's Mill, Whitewater, Woodward Academy, McIntosh and Fayette County.

Northgate, like Newnan, virtually has no chance of advancing to the state duals. Most believe it will be Starr's Mill and Whitewater who advance out of McIntosh this weekend. Woodward looked the best coming into the season but the War Eagles have been slowed mightily due to injuries.

"We certainly like our chances but we are concerned about whether Woodward is now healthy," admitted Starr's Mill assistant coach Brandon Veasey.

Few are talking about Fayette County but the Tigers seem to have a squad that would do very well in a duals tournament. Anderson was asked about the Tigers.

"It wouldn't shock me at all if they advanced," Anderson said. "They don't really have holes in the lineup, they are well coached and they are excellent in some of the middle-to higher weights."

--------------------------------------------------------------------