Nunavut wrestlers train for southern competition

Coach lauds ‘tremendous effort’ to build sport in communities

Curtis John Taleriktok, in yellow, wrestles in Toronto as coaches Casey Hapanak, Eekeeluak Avalak and Chris Crooks look on, during the Matmen Tournament on Dec. 14. (Photo courtesy of Chris Crooks)

By Daron Letts

Wrestling Nunavut is entering the new year with optimism and momentum as dozens of Nunavut athletes come off fall training trips to Edmonton and southern Ontario, organizers say.

“We put a tremendous amount of effort in the last four years to build up our wrestling and visiting the communities has been positive,” said coach Chris Crooks, who is based in Cambridge Bay.

Wrestling Nunavut visited seven Nunavut communities to run coaching and wrestling clinics last fall, drawing together more than 400 youth and dozens of coaches in recent months.

Rosa Hogaluk is coached Nov. 15 by her grandfather Chris Crooks during the Edmonton Takedown tournament. (Photo courtesy of Chris Crooks)

In November, 72 Nunavut wrestlers and coaches attended a week of training and competition in Edmonton, and in early December the organization sent 31 coaches and wrestlers to southern Ontario for training and competitions. Wrestlers ranged in age from eight to adult.

The athletes trained at the University of Alberta in mid-November, then visited clubs in Hamilton, Niagara and Toronto. 

William Nakoolak, 29, who coaches out of Rankin Inlet, grew up wrestling in Coral Harbour. He recalls travelling throughout Canada for competitions and wants to provide those experiences and opportunities for today’s youth.

“As an individual sport, wrestling boosts your confidence a lot physically and mentally,” he said.

“The trips create bonds — it creates friendship.”

Close to two dozen wrestlers train regularly in Rankin Inlet, Nakoolak said.

“Sometimes we can get up to 15 or 20 people in a practice,” he added.

The next round of training camps are being discussed for the spring, Nakoolak said, after which teams will be chosen for the Canada Summer Games, scheduled from Aug. 8 to 25 in St. John’s, N.L.

Fundraising for the spring camps will begin soon, said Crooks.

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