‘Great experience’ for St. Marys wrestlers
Pat Payton, Sports editor COLLINGWOOD - No medals, but a “great experience” for a couple of young St. Marys wrestlers.
Seth Coddington finished fourth, and fellow St. Marys Wrestling Club member Neil Barr placed fifth in the Cadet Division (Grades 9 and 10) at the Ontario Winter Games, here March 6-9.
Both wrestlers enjoyed the four-day event in Collingwood. The wrestling competitions were held at a Collingwood high school.
“There was a big opening ceremonies,” Coddington said. “There were 23 different sports there, and over 3,000 athletes. It was pretty neat.”
Barr also enjoyed the opening ceremonies. “They had a really good band, and there were a lot of fireworks,” he said.
It was Coddington’s second time competing at the provincial Winter Games; he also qualified for wrestling when he was in Grade 8.
This year, Coddington competed in the 76 kilogram weight division, and Barr in the 80 kg. division.
Coddington, 16, competed in four matches—winning two and losing two. Two of
his matches were against the same Timmins opponent, who beat Coddington the
second time and finished with a medal. He also fought wrestlers from
Mississauga and Thunder Bay.
Barr, 14, also had four matches—winning two and losing two. His opponents
were from Rayside, Ottawa, Barrie and Mississauga.
It was Barr’s first time competing at the Ontario Winter Games.
10th year of wrestling
Coddington, a Grade 10 student at St. Marys DCVI, also wrestles for his high
school team. He is currently in his 10th year of wrestling, having started
when he was just six years old in Grade 1.
Barr, a Grade 9 student at Medway high school in Arva, lives near Wellburn.
He’s been wrestling for five years, since he was in Grade 4.
Wrestling Club coach Allan Stewart describes both Coddington and Barr as
“dedicated” wrestlers.
“Seth is extremely dedicated to learning wrestling moves,” Stewart notes.
“Every chance he gets, he goes to camps—a Winter wrestling camp and a fall
camp every year.
“He usually comes back with two or three different moves, and he tries them
all. He’s very dedicated to wrestling, and that’s what makes him successful.
“Neil is a little more dedicated to working out at home,” the coach says.
“He’s got weights down in the basement, and he does chores at the farm. He’s
quite a strong lad for his age.”
Notes:
•In the various weight divisions, 179 wrestlers competed in Collingwood.
•Neil’s parents are Steve and Marylynn Barr, and Seth’s parents are Rick and
Karen.