Wrestling towards second national title
Emilie Guitard won a cadet wrestling title in 2006
Emilie Guitard already knows what it's like to win a Canadian championship.
The 18-year-old wrestler won a national cadet title two years ago in just her second year in the sport. Now, in 2008,she wants to add a Canadian juvenile title to her list of wrestling accomplishments.
"I hope I can finish top three at the nationals, but first would be great," she smiled during a break from practice at Ecole Secondaire Nepisiguit. "It is going to be hard, but I think I can do well."
The Grade 12 student at ESN is one of a handful of wrestlers from the school flying to Saskatoon, Sask. this week for the Canadian cadet and juvenile championships. That list includes defending cadet champion Jean-Francois Godin, who won his title in the 42-kilogram event last year in Whitby, Ont. Others scheduled to make the trip include Pierre-Philippe Ouellette, Shawn Guignard and Katrina Cormier.
Guitard, the daughter of Remi and Madelaine Guitard of Madran, first took up wrestling when she started high school. Now in her fourth year with the team, she has upped her practice schedule from three to four times a week in preparation for the nationals.
"It takes lots of motivation for one thing," said Guitard, who will compete in the 49-kilogram weight class at the nationals. "You have to train a lot and visualize your matches all the time. (That and) do lots of weights, push ups and cardio."
Guitard has continued to dominate on the mat this year, including winning gold at the New Brunswick high school wrestling championships last February at ESN. She said it is important for a wrestler to always maintain their focus.
"You need to have really good focus," she pointed out. "I'm more of a defensive wrestler. I usually have a plan before going on the mat, but it depends on the other wrestler."
Growing up, Guitard played sports like volleyball and competed in track and field. While she still plays soccer, she said once she discovered wrestling every other sport paled in comparison.
"When I started wrestling, I found my real sport. The passion was there," she said. "The thing with wrestling is the team is like a little family. It is a very hard sport, so to make it easier we get close (to each other) to make it easier because you are not alone. That is one thing I really like about wrestling.
"The other thing is you give everything you have. When you are on the mat, you are alone, there is nobody else. If you train a lot, then you have a chance to win, and if you don't you can't hide. In soccer, if you are tired you can jog around a bit, but in wrestling there is just two, there is no break at all and that is one thing I like."
Guitard said she plans to go to the University of New Brunswick this fall to study kinesiology.
"It is the only university in New Brunswick where I can wrestle," she said. "But I have to go in English and my English isn't that good, but I am going to try."
The Canadian cadet and juvenile championships are scheduled to begin on Friday.
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