The Simcoe County Elementary School Wrestling Championships were being hosted at Orillia's Rotary Place on Thursday.
It’s the first time the event has taken place in the last four years.
Juris Ligers, one of the organizers of the event, and a teacher at Warminster Elementary School, says the athletes are “wired” with excitement today.
“It’s nice because we have teams from Elmvale, Shanty Bay, Barrie, and all over the Orillia area as well,” he said. “It’s a great turnout.”
There were more than 200 participants, from grades 5-8, from 10 schools participating today.
“There are a few kids here today who wrestle outside of school in clubs,” Ligers explained. “For the most part though, I’d say 97 percent of the kids here today are trying something new because there haven’t been a lot of clubs and sports during the last few years.”
Ligers says wrestling is an important sport for local schools to offer as it is inclusive to everyone.
“You don’t have to be tall, you don’t have to be slim, it’s OK if you are short, and it’s OK if you are heavy,” he said. “There is always someone you can find to wrestle.”
As an individual sport, wrestling teaches athletes self-discipline, Ligers says.
“It’s a physical chess match,” he explained. “It’s such a good workout, incredible fitness, and it shows a lot of self-control.”
The event wraps up today at 4 p.m. Ligers encourages community members to attend the event to support the athletes.
“I see grandparents, parents, brothers, and sisters in the crowd today,” he said. “There is a lot of excitement because not a lot of parents or families do know wrestling very well, so it’s fun to come out and see something new.
James Scott, a Grade 6 Warminster Elementary School student, won his first match on Thursday morning.
“This has been a lot of fun today,” he said. “I never wrestled before this year, but it’s really fun and I enjoy learning the different moves and ways you can wrestle.”
Scott says wrestling is a sport he plans on pursuing past elementary school.
“I want to do this in high school,” he said. “I like wrestling against different people that I haven’t before.”
Nora Handy, a Grade 5 Monsignor Lee Catholic School student, is also new to wrestling.
“I think it’s a really fun sport,” she said. “I like that it’s a lot of exercise.”
Handy says sometimes in the heat of a match the intensity fires up her adrenaline, which is an exciting feeling.
“I’ve won some of my matches,” she said. “Sometimes I can feel kind of nervous before I step onto the mat, but in the end, I always have fun.”
