More than 200 students were grappling for gold at the Simcoe County Elementary School wrestling championships at Rotary Place in Orillia today.
Juris Ligers, one of the organizers of the event, and a teacher at Warminster Elementary School, says 12 schools from across Simcoe County are being represented.
"It's an all-inclusive sport," he said. "It doesn’t matter how big or small you are. It doesn't matter what gender you are. You can always compete, where in a lot of other sports, you aren't always competing against your size."
He says more physical sports have been taken out of schools over the years, but wrestling remains.
"We show a lot of control in this," he said. "There is a lot of sportsmanship, lots of handshaking. The referees enforce it and the teachers teach it."
Ligers, who has been organizing the event for more than 20 years, says he's never seen participants go "out of control" or become aggressive.
"They are able to keep it together," he said. "There is a hands-on aspect and body control, but there are no points scored by brutality or trying to injure someone. There is no submitting."
Ligers says wrestling is "the best sport in the world." He hopes today's event leads students to join local wrestling clubs and continue with the sport through high school.
"I'm pretty proud of the quality of wrestling clubs in the region," he said. "During the 2020 Olympic tryouts, out of a dozen weight classes, we had four finalists from Simcoe County who wrestled in this tournament."
During the event, he says, there is a fantastic atmosphere.
"You can really feel the electricity here today," he said, noting the event ran until about 3 p.m.
Max Fryer, a Grade 6 Regent Park Public School student, is in his second year of wrestling.
"I really enjoy it," he said. "My cousins did it in school and were really good wrestlers. I want to be like them and win medals."
He likes his chances at the tournament today.
"There are some good wrestlers here today who beat me last year," he said. "I have a good chance at bronze today. My main goal is to have fun."
Fryer's mom and friends are in the stands to watch him wrestle.
"It's really nice," he said. "I'd rather be here than in school."
He says wrestling has taught him lessons about sportsmanship and discipline.
"I really like it," he said. "It's a good learning sport."
Caden Stewart, a Grade 5 Warminster Elementary School student, is in his first year of wrestling.
"It's been a lot of fun," he said. "I've learned a lot, like how to do a takedown."
He says he was nervous about wrestling being potentially dangerous when he joined.
"It's not dangerous, but it can be uncomfortable," he said. "The refs keep it safe and you have to trust that your opponent isn't trying to injure you."
Stewart says wrestling has taught him discipline and to "learn from mistakes." He says today's event is the highlight of his school year.
"It's been really cool," he said.
