Brandon Kostinuk
Abbotsford News
Alexia Seal has only been wrestling competitively for two-and-a-half years, yet the 16-year-old Mission Secondary student continues to secure podium finishes in and outside the country.
Seal recently returned from the Cadet Pan-American Wrestling Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico as part of Wrestling Canada, where she scooped up the bronze in a class of seven wrestlers from around North and South America.
“Coming in first would have been better… [but] I’m really happy to have made it to the podium,” said Seal, who competes in the 43-kg freestyle division.
In May, she also medaled in two European tournaments held in Romania and Spain, locking up silver and gold finishes, respectively.
In April, at the national championships in Fredericton, N.B., Seal was the best of her class, securing first place fighting out of Burnaby club, Coast Wrestling.
Frank Mensah, head coach and director of athletic development at Coast Wrestling, said Seal joined the team this year after some struggles last season.
“She trains extremely hard, about five to six times a week,” said Mensah.
Seal is currently preparing for the 2015 Ontario Cup in Guelph on July 11.
“I’m not really nervous for it,” said Seal. “I am practicing — not learning anything new — just perfecting everything.”
Seal said she took up wrestling because of her older sibling, Nick, 17.
“My brother first started. I wanted to see if I could do it too.”
Ever since Grade 8, Seal has medaled at the provincials each year, taking gold in 2015.
And though the World Cadet Wrestling Championship in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina isn’t until August 25-30, the Mission resident said she already has her eyes set on it.
She’ll also be competing in the western Summer Games in Wood Buffalo, Alta. August 7-16.