OLDS — Two École Olds High School wrestlers — Avory Redekopp and Tyson Prevost — are getting ready to compete in the 2020 Alberta Winter Games, which will be held Feb. 14-16 in Airdrie.
Both are 14 years old and started wrestling for the first time last fall.
Avory Redekopp
Redekopp qualified in the 52-kilogram (kg) weight class.
She loves wrestling.
“It’s really fun, just learning the moves and stuff and the close contact,” she said.
Redekopp is looking forward to the opportunity to show what she can do and is aware she’ll be facing some pretty tough competition.
“There’s a lot of people with, like, years of experience on me,” she said.
She has a plan to deal with that between now and then.
“Just practising lots and learning as much as I can before it comes.”
Redekopp wants to continue wrestling throughout the rest of her high school career. She’s not yet sure if she’ll continue in the sport beyond that though.
Tyson Prevost
Prevost qualfied in the 83-kg class.
His sister Emily, currently in Grade 12, took up wresting last year. He was impressed.
“I just liked how she had kind of done it so I decided to join,” he said.
Like Redekopp, Prevost likes the physical contact in wrestling.
He also plays football, curling and rides motocross.
Football and wrestling are his favourites because of the physical contact involved.
Like Redekopp, Prevost too is aware the competition in the Winter Games will be strong.
“Just got to step up my game,” he said.
In his case, Prevost said that means working on getting his opponents to the ground.
He’s not yet sure if he wants to continue wrestling beyond high school.
