MONTREAL – Veronica Keefe is heading to the world team trials on a high.
The 26-year-old Oyster Bed Bridge native won the 72-kilogram division at the Canadian senior wrestling championship recently in Montreal. The trials will take place in Toronto on June 9 while the worlds are in Budapest, Hungary, Oct. 17-23.
“I didn't have the season I wanted to, but this national title has definitely given me a boost in confidence going into the world team trials,” Keefe said.
Keefe, who won a national junior title in 2010, went 3-0 at this year’s senior competition, winning the first two matches by 10-0 scores before claiming the gold medal by pin after a four-point throw early in the match.
“It was nice to get the championship title and our team actually won the women’s (title, too),” said the Montreal Wrestling Club member. “It was really fun. We’ve been working to build up the women’s team for a few years now.”
Keefe wasn’t the only Islander to achieve success at the nationals.
Hannah Taylor won silver in the 57-kilogram senior division and defended her junior title while also earning outstanding junior female wrestler honours.
Ligrit Sadiku won bronze in the senior men's 61-kilogram division while his brother, Gentrit, placed fourth out of seven athletes in the junior category’s in the 86-kilogram male freestyle event.
Trevor Banks placed fourth in 57-kilogram senior men's category.
