By Lisa Parent

NEW

New Medicine Hat wrestling club ignites athletes’ competitive fire

Feb 15, 2024 | 5:23 PM

A brand new Medicine Hat wrestling club in its first season of operation aims to bring more kids into the sport and encourage current wrestlers to become more competitive.

Kade Linford, one of the wrestlers with the Medicine Hat Wrestling Club, the sport has become a family affair, sharing the mat with his sister Dani.

“I feel like we can connect because it’s something we both actually do like,” Dani said.

Dani has only been wrestling for a year, but sometimes the siblings go head-to-head.

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“It used to be a lot better, because I would win. But now that she’s gone to wrestling, it’s a lot harder,” explained Kade, when asked who wins more wrestling matches between the siblings.

Dani will be competing in rurals soon, which is a high-school provincial qualifier event. Meanwhile, her brother is preparing for the Canadian Wrestling Championship alongside grade 11 student William Kozakewich.

Kozakewich won a U17 National Championship a couple years ago. This year, he’s ramping up his training even more.

“This is probably the most competitions I’ve been in because of this club and then along with the school ones,” Kozakewich told CHAT News.

“I’m traveling all around Canada now, so it’s cool.”

The wrestling club, started by Dallin Kay in 2023, was a way to take high school wrestlers to the next level.

“Unlike basketball or football, there’s no cuts. If you’re willing to come, put in the work, I can help you have the skills to be successful,” Kay said.

Kay will be accompanying both Kozakewich and Linford to nationals in Mississauga, Ont., in April.

It’s through this coaching, he gets to stay involved in the sport he loves on the daily.

“I’ve played a lot of competitive sports growing up and I always I always tell everyone that football was my first love, but wrestling was like my true love,” he said.

But now, he’s also passing that love to the younger generation.

The 2024 Canadian Wrestling Championships start April 5.