News Page
Live from Madison Square Garden
Coverage of World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling 2003
(LOTS OF PICTURES)
Lori Victoria Braun, New York, New York
September 12-14, 2003
-----------------------------------------------------
women's wrestling: Grappling for gold at worlds
Scott Wright, Sports Editor 9/23/03
Walk down the stairway from the change rooms underneath Chancellor's gymnasium and you enter a very dark, and like much of the SFU campus, very grey hallway. Any sort of natural light is a mere fantasy. Instantly a distinct aroma greets you. Follow it and you happen upon the training facility for one of the most successful programs in SFU athletic history. You have found the home of SFU wrestling. As for that scent, a windowless room where athletes sweat profusely isn't going to remind anyone of a dewy meadow.
Carol Huynh is in training. The 5th year psychology major from Hazelton, B.C., who is also working on a kinesiology minor and a certificate of health and fitness, is set to embark on what promises to be quite a year of wrestling.
As both North American University champion and three-time Canadian senior national champion, Huynh has both a university team season and a trip to the world championships in Greece in November on the agenda.
The SFU women's team is competing in the Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) this season, marking the first time that they will have regular competition and the chance to compete for a national team title.
Huynh is delighted about the opportunity to wrestle in the CIS.
"There is definitely a lot more excitement about this coming year as our first in the CIS," said Huynh. "I believe we have a strong team and that we will definitely be contenders to bring home the banner. I'm glad that our women's wrestling team will finally get some of the recognition it deserves at this school. We work hard and nobody at SFU has really acknowledged that."
Clan coach Mike Jones is optimistic about his team's prospects.
"We should be in the hunt for a team title," said Jones. "Our numbers have increased and we have some very good young wrestlers. We will count on Carol and national team member Emily Richardson to lead the team this year."
Wrestling in the 48 kilogram class, the smallest international women's weight, Huynh is hoping for her best ever finish at the world championships. Having placed third in 2000 and second in 2001, she has her sights set on the top of the medal podium.
"I will definitely be ready for world champs. I have been training hard and I've been wrestling well in the practice room," she said. "A lot of people have high expectations of what I can do at the championships, but I've just got to remember to take each match I wrestle, and each point I score, one at a time. I have to focus on the fact that I'm doing this for me and not for anybody else, so I don't worry myself to death or have an anxiety attack. I think that's the key: to deal with the pressure of the expectations of everyone who cares about me and even of those I don't even know. Having placed third two years ago and then second last year, a lot of pressure is on me to complete the entire set."
Jones is confident in Huynh's abilities at the international level.
"Carol is extremely quick and strong for the weight and possesses a keen sense knowing when to let go," he explained. "I think she is experienced and, if she gets a good start in her initial two rounds, will again challenge for the world title. Canada has only had one other person win the senior world championship, and I am sure that Carol has all the tools to become the second."
Huynh will not be alone at the world's. Richardson will be making her debut with the Canadian world's team and former teammate Shannon Samler will also be competing for Canada.
While the men's program has received little attention other than the achievements of Daniel Igali, the women's team has been off the radar screen. This year will mark their first as a recognised varsity sport with the move to the CIS.
Women's wrestling is a relatively new sport, first introduced to Canada at Simon Fraser University in 1990. The sport has grown rapidly through the high schools and now at the collegiate level. Canada has been one of the top three nations at international competitions over the past few years. The sport will make its debut at the 2004 summer Olympics in Athens.
With the remarkable success of wrestlers like Carol Huynh, it is only a matter of time before wrestling, both men's and women's, garners more attention. And maybe even a partially ventilated place to train.