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Crank Gym training 2020 Olympic wrestling hopeful

Eckville’s own Crank Gym is currently training a possible #1 ranked in the world women’s wrestler.
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HEAVY TRAINING - Persson trains 6-7 days a week to one day compete at the 2020 Olympics.

Eckville’s own Crank Gym is currently training a possible #1 ranked in the world women’s wrestler.

Drew Persson, a Crank Gym devotee and Notre Dame High School student is currently training towards her goal of reaching the 2020 Olympics and is currently competing at nationals in the 16- to 17- year-old division.

“She is headed to Windsor, Ontario [On April 5th] to compete in the Canadian Wrestling Championships,” Persson’s Coach Adam Laporte said.

“It is the National Championship for women’s freestyle wrestling, women’s Greco-Roman wrestling and she is also trying out for the Cadet World team for Team Canada.”

With the costs of traveling rising, Crank is looking to help out Persson by fundraising for her travel and registration costs.

“The fundraiser raises funds for her to get to Ontario, her registration fees for the three events - as well as when she makes the Cadet World Team, where she will travel overseas and compete at the World Championships,” Laporte said.

Persson’s journey to be the best women’s wrestler in the world began in earnest almost two years ago.

“She started wrestling with us a year and half ago in her Grade 10 year at Notre Dame High School in Red Deer,” Laporte said. “That year she won the ASAA, which is the rural provincial wrestling championship in her weight class. She also won the team title for high school, which means she put two banners up.”

Persson had high hopes to top her previous year’s performance.

“This year her goal was to repeat rurals, as well as win provincials,” Laporte said. “Last year she finished seventh.

“Obviously she wanted to do better and she did. She repeated the rural championships where she didn’t give up a single point in the tournament. She went on to provincials and won provincials, pinning everyone in her division.”

Her victory at provincials has led her to now, where she is competing at Nationals to be the best in Canada.

“Her commitment level is unbelievable,” Laporte said. “She started off working three days a week with us last year. After about four months, it bumped up five days per week and now she is six or seven days per week.”

He added, “She has no issues with giving up her social life in order to achieve her goal of reaching the 2020 Olympics. She is doing everything she can to get herself ready for that.”

If you would like to support Persson you can contact Crank Gym, or you can log on to her ‘Make a Champ’ page.

“The cost to get to the World Championships is quite a bit and people can donate to help her achieve her goals,” Laporte said, adding, “If anyone wants to meet her, she will be speaking at our last event of the year on May 6th at David Thompson High School 10 a.m. The event is for our younger wrestlers - 12 and under.”

todd.vaughan@sylvanlakenews.com