It’s been quite the season for the Central Elgin Wrestling team who are now preparing to take on the Ontario Championships next week.
As myFM first shared, the local high school took on a huge undertaking last year when they hosted a fundraiser to purchase new wrestling mats, which came with a price tag of roughly $18,000.
The mats are now in house and have been making a significant impact on not only the Central Elgin wrestlers, but wrestling as a whole across TVRA.
That was head coach Jayden Murray, who along with wrestler Ivey Ludwig, spearheaded the fundraiser to set the 2024 wrestling team up for success.
It’s “really been a game changer” added Ludwig. The now 5th year student took on this project in what she thought would be her last year at Central, but made the choice to take a victory lap and see all their hard work come to fruition.
Ludwig, who has seen success as a first time wrestler, encourages anyone looking to find a sport to call their own in high school to think about making the move!
Coach Murray echoed her remarks by noting you don’t have to start in grade 9 to do great things.
And while Ludwig notes that you do compete individually in wrestling, it ultimately feels like a team sport.
Ludwig adds that they are so grateful to the community who made getting the mats possible and in hand helped the Central Elgin Wrestling team reach record numbers.
With hopes of utilizing the mats even more, plans are already in place to host their own tournament at Central next year.
OFSAA wrestling begins Tuesday in Hannon, Ontario and we wish the best of luck to all those competing across St. Thomas-Elgin!
Written by: K. Freeman
