To say Agassiz鈥檚 lone high school wrestler Mark Schwichtenberg had a phenomenal showing this past weekend is an understatement.

As he wrapped up the high school chapter of his wrestling career the Grade 12 Agassiz Elementary Secondary School student took home the gold at the B.C. High School Wrestling Championships in Vancouver. Not only did he take home the gold, but Schwichtenberg was awarded with most outstanding match and most outstanding wrestler.

鈥淚t was fantastic,鈥� Schwichtenberg said of the victory. 鈥淢y coaches worked really hard and we鈥檙e really happy. It came with a lot more than just a title this year.鈥�

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He added he wasn鈥檛 fully expecting to be named most outstanding wrestler or be part of the most outstanding match, but he鈥檚 thrilled with both honours.

鈥淚t was a big match,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was both my and my opponent鈥檚 last high school match.鈥�

Since Agassiz does not have a full wrestling team, Schwichtenberg trained with the team at W.J. Mouat Secondary in Abbotsford.

After graduation, Schwichtenberg plans to go to the University of Calgary and wrestle for the Dinos.

鈥淚 have visited there; the coach does want me, so I鈥檒l be headed there,鈥� he added. 鈥淚 love it there. I have a few friends there and the coach is fantastic. It鈥檚 a really nice environment.鈥�

Schwichtenberg has competed in a few university tournaments so far.

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For anyone looking to follow in Schwichtenberg鈥檚 footsteps and become a high school wrestler, he said it鈥檚 all about connections, starting with finding a smaller club where coaches can really spend time with the athletes.

鈥淢ake yourself a known face,鈥� he advised. 鈥淛ust be a nice person. Wrestling is a competitive sport; it鈥檚 head to head and you don鈥檛 want people being mad at you. Don鈥檛 be obnoxious, don鈥檛 gloat when you win. Go shake the other coach鈥檚 hand. I always found that if I ever wrestled someone who I was better than and it was a good match, I would (tell the coach), 鈥楬ey, you did this well, maybe you should work on this with them.鈥� Just be a friendly face.鈥�

Schwichtenberg said he would be competing at The Canadian Wrestling Championships in Calgary later this year. As nationals approach, he said likes his chances.

鈥淏ritish Columbia is known as one of the better places (for wrestling),鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have wrestled a few people from Alberta and I did do quite well against them. I think I鈥檒l do quite well; I鈥檓 really looking forward to it.鈥�

adam.louis@ ahobserver.com
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