It might be the off-season in Canada for wrestling, but one of the Cochrane Cowboys Wrestling Club’s own is heading to grapple in Slovakia.
Connor McNiece will be heading to the World Cadet Championships in Humenne, Slovakia from July 15-20 in the 50 kg class for Canada.
McNiece is one of only two males who will compete for Canada in Slovakia, and his coach and father Vern McNiece said it’s exciting to see a number of the Cowboys head overseas, with Cochrane representation in wrestling tournaments as far away as Japan.
“There’s only going to be seven total Canadian team members going to compete, which is really too bad,” said Vern. “That being said, it’s super exciting as a coach and as a member of the community to see a number of our kids doing well. Not many kids get to this stage, they dream of getting here and hopefully this is a first stepping stone for international championships to come.”
It was just a few short years ago that Vern and fellow coach James McKeage came together to bring wrestling to Cochrane.
It’s since grown to include wrestlers of all levels, from young children seven to eight years old to the high level competitors that they have today.
“It’s raised the profile of the sport in our community and that’s great. As coaches, we’re learning too and still growing the program,” said Vern.
The Cowboys initially qualified Connor, Brendan McKeage, and withdrew Callum McNiece, but with recent growth spurts, the pair of Brendan and Callum will not be wrestling because it would be difficult to make a suitable weight class for their age.
Vern said that it’s an exciting time for the club.
“These kids are getting to travel the world and wrestle,” said Vern. “From Brazil, Slovakia, Japan, I mean, that’s an experience on its own and they’re being subjected to a different level of competition.”
