The Marauders wrestling team have their sights set on knocking out big name teams and capturing a prized gold again in the season to come
Last year’s wrestling season saw the McMaster University wrestling team compete at the highest level, as they took themselves to the USports championships in Edmonton. They dominated the Ontario University Athletics championship, with both the men’s and women’ teams finishing second on the podium, giving them the opportunity to compete at the national level.
The U Sports competition last year saw the team take big strides, with the men’s team earning themselves a silver medal and the women’s team picking up a bronze. Across the two teams, Karanveer Mahil won himself an individual gold medal on the men’s side. While rookie of the Year Serena Di Benedetto picked up a silver medal on the women’s side.
With these two wrestlers entering their second season of competition, the team looks to improve even further and win more this upcoming season.
“A really big goal for me this year is to return to winning OUAs and also to finally take the U Sports gold home,” said Di Benedetto.
A really big goal for me this year is to return to winning OUAs and also to finally take the U Sports gold home.
Serena Di Benedetto, athlete on women's wrestling team
The addition of strong first-year wrestlers to the roster, including Mayumi King who was previously an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations champion, adds great depth to the team. This seems to increase the team's confidence in their ability to succeed and claim a gold medal at this year’s OUA championship.
“I think we have a really good team this year. . .We have a lot of really good rookies coming in and they’re super technical and fit in well,” said Di Benedetto.
After securing the Rookie of the Year award in her last season, it may seem that Di Benedetto would struggle to continue such a dominant run of form; as other teams may have learned her weaknesses and put a target on her back. However, she finds that a strong mentality and her enjoyment of continuously improving will help this coming season.
“I find that I have to maintain what I did last year, but at the same time, I’m here to have fun and enjoy wrestling for McMaster. I don’t get too caught up in the placings, because at the end of the day, I’m just trying to get better,” said Di Benedetto.
I find that I have to maintain what I did last year, but at the same time, I’m here to have fun and enjoy wrestling for McMaster. I don’t get too caught up in the placings, because at the end of the day, I’m just trying to get better.
Serena Di Benedetto, athlete on women's wrestling team
She will hope to help lead the women’s side to greater heights this year, specifically in the OUA championship hosted in February. The team will look to knock out Brock University Badgers, who were last year’s gold medalists at the competition.
“Team wise, I really want us to knock Brock off of first place. We were really close last year... The girls’ team came second by one point and Brock has been the remaining OUA champion for a while,” said Di Benedetto.
On the men’s side, Mahil returns along with senior Howard Moffatt. Both wrestlers had great seasons, with Moffatt placing first in the OUA championships. They will return with the addition of five first-year wrestlers on the men’s roster.
The Marauders will compete in seven competitions before this year’s OUA Championship. Led by the head coach Ahmed Shamiya, both teams will hope for an even better season than the last.
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The minutes after a wrestler steps onto the mat matter more than anything else. The physical and mental preparation of a wrestler is evident through their meticulous and well thought out moves.
Though wrestling might not have a big fan base compared to other sports and some may call it unconventional, fourth-year wrestler Ahmed Shamiya learned to love it. Shamiya started wrestling in the ninth grade, but he didn’t know how far this love would lead him.
“I was trying to convince myself that I didn’t like it, but secretly I liked it. I kept with it, kept working hard and things worked out,” said Shamiya.
McMaster is home to many talented wrestlers. Year after year, Marauders compete in Maroon with their sights set on racking up medals and proudly wearing them around their necks. For most, they work all year for the chance at gold.
For fourth-year wrestler Ahmed Shamiya, his dream turned into reality last year as he won national gold in the 72kg weight class.
After losing to Brock’s Tyler Rowe in the OUA Championships two weeks before his victory, something changed for the veteran wrestler. With everything on the line at the CIS Champhionships, his final score was 6-5. That huge win for Shamiya is his greatest accomplishment to date.
“It was a big breakthrough for me. Mentally, I overcame so many barriers. He beat me pretty good two week earlier and nobody thought I was going to win. It was one of the best memories of my life,” said Shamiya.
For people that are not too familiar with the sport, they may not understand that the mental aspect of the game is just as important as the physical. Unlike sports that have timeouts and substitutions, a wrestler barely has any breaks. When they do have that break for water and to get a pep talk from their coaching team, they are still thinking about the next move and how they can get their opponent to the ground.
Shamiya admits that the mental game is a challenge and something that he has been working to master.
“When I first came to university, my coach described me as being afraid of my own shadow. Now, I’m very confident when it comes to stepping on the mat,” said Shamiya.
The mat is a hostile environment and matches are anything but friendly. Having the competitive edge over your opponent is crucial and a good warm-up is critical for a solid performance.
“You have to prepare yourself before it. I like to get a really good warm-up in,” said Shamiya.
With provincial and national championships nearing in the next few weeks, Shamiya will work to defend a national championship title.
Shamiya looks to inspirations like Conor McGregor and Muhammad Ali to prepare himself for the challenge.
“They are two guys that are perceived as arrogant, but they simply vocalize what they truly believe,” said Shamiya.
Shamiya will focus on the next two meets but his eyes are still set on the future. He hopes to play in the Olympics one day and there is no doubt that the passion Shamiya has for wrestling will only grow stronger.
“I’m looking to go as long as I can.”
Photo Credit: Nicole Roach
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