SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Hannah Taylor is headed back to wrestling’s international stage.
The graduate of Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside and a member of the Brock Wrestling Club defeated Alexandria Town in a wrestle-off in Toronto on Wednesday to earn the 57-kilogram position on Team Canada for the Pan American Games in Peru, from Aug. 7 to 10 and the world senior wrestling championships in Kazakhstan from Sept. 14 to 22.
“It was really an emotional day because with five seconds left I could see my coaches hugging each other and jumping up and down excited,” Taylor told the Journal Pioneer in a phone interview. “Then I ran and jumped into my coaches’ arms and the arms of Ligrit (Sadiku), my training partner and boyfriend.
“It’s amazing to have all the support. I had my family call me right after and by the time I got home I had hundreds of comments, likes and shares on all the different (social media) posts people were posting about me. It’s really nice knowing that all my hard work, and the work of my coaches and teammates, paid off.
“I spent months preparing for this one match, and it all came together.”
Taylor won the 57-kilogram class at the Canadian senior championships in March, but Town was unable to compete there due to an injury. When Town won the world championship in the under-23 57-kilogram weight class in November, she earned the right to compete for a spot on Team Canada.
The score of the match was 6-6, but Taylor, a member of the Brock Badgers, won on criteria.
“It was a great match and obviously both of us were very even,” said Taylor, who previously competed at two world cadet and two world junior championships. “It was pretty nerve-racking, but it was good nerves.
“I knew if I won I get the chance to compete for Canada at the senior level and I looked at it as more of an opportunity rather than a burden. I was very excited to compete. I felt super ready and had great preparation.”
Dave Collie, an assistant with the Brock Wrestling Club, said Taylor’s achievement is a significant accomplishment.
“For someone her age at 21, to have a major breakthrough, and get to represent Canada at the senior world championship, is amazing,” said Collie.
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No rest
Taylor had no time to rest on her recent accomplishment. She returned to practice Thursday preparing for a very busy summer ahead. She leaves Monday for Italy, where she will take part in an Olympic ranking tournament next week. After that, she returns home to P.E.I. for about seven days.
Also on her summer schedule are the Spanish Grand Prix in Spain and the Canada Cup international tournament in Calgary, in addition to the Pan American Games and world championships.
“I have a very busy summer ahead,” laughed Taylor. “There is a lot of travel opportunities, which is awesome.”
Taylor is “super excited” to compete at the senior level as a senior-aged competitor.
“I got the opportunity to compete last year at the Spanish Grand Prix as a junior in the senior category,” said Taylor. “Now that I am a senior, instead of looking at it as being an underdog, I just want to be out there with the top girls.
“It’s going to be a great experience and will be the highest level I have ever competed at.”
Collie said Taylor’s development has been on an “upward curve” since she arrived at Brock University to study sport management three years ago.
“She came in very gifted, a good work ethic and mentally very, very tough,” said Collie. “We’ve been working on her tactical and technical abilities since she’s been with us. We are happy with the progress. She buys into the ideas we give her, works hard and it’s paid off for her.”
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