Local wrestler Amber Maschke won two of three matches that she competed in at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile from July 10 to 15, taking bronze in the 55-kilogram women's junior freestyle competition.
“I thought that I wrestled really well. It was a tougher competition,” she said, adding that unlike provincial or national competitions, she didn't know who she was wrestling.
Maschke, 18, won her first match against a woman from Peru, putting her in the semifinal of the women's junior freestyle competition. She then lost her next match against a Mexican wrestler, putting her on the consolation side of the draw. She beat a wrestler from Brazil in her last match.
Maschke said because of a rule change that encourages wrestlers to be more active both on offence and defence, she found the competition different from other matches she has competed in.
“Before, they would allow you to be a little more passive. They're trying to make it more interesting,” she said.
Because the tournament was more formal than what she had competed in before, Maschke said as it went on she became more nervous than usual. The wrestlers were competing on a stage above the crowd and there was a lot more ceremony involved than what she was used to. She said nerves set in during her second match.
“After I kind of realized where I was, then everything kind of hit me at once, and it was a little bit overwhelming,” she said.
Maschke said overall, she was pleased with her experience.
“I didn't really think I'd make Team Canada because of where my birthday sits. I'm actually wrestling (in) an age category higher than what most (wrestlers) would be my age,” she said.
The experience was also good because Maschke now knows the type of strength, speed and endurance she will need as she enters first year university matches starting in September at the University of Alberta.
