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To say that Agassiz’s only wrestler in high school, Mark Schwichtenberg, had a phenomenal performance last weekend is an understatement.
While finishing the high school chapter of his wrestling career, the Agassiz Elementary High School Grade 12 student won the gold medal at the British Columbia High School Wrestling Championships in Vancouver. Not only did he win gold, but Schwichtenberg was awarded Most Outstanding Match and Most Outstanding Wrestler.
“It was fantastic,” Schwichtenberg said of the win. “My coaches have worked very hard and we are very happy. He came with a lot more than just a title this year.
He added that he didn’t really expect to be named the Most Outstanding Wrestler or to be in the Most Outstanding Match, but he’s thrilled with both honors.
“It was a big game,” he said. “It was both my last high school game and my opponent’s.”
As Agassiz does not have a full wrestling team, Schwichtenberg trained with the team at WJ Mouat Secondary in Abbotsford.
After graduating, Schwichtenberg plans to go to the University of Calgary and wrestle for the Dinos.
“I visited there; the coach wants me, so I’m going to go,” he added. “I love it there. I have a few friends there and the coach is fantastic. It’s a really nice environment.
Schwichtenberg has participated in a few college tournaments so far.
For anyone looking to follow in Schwichtenberg’s footsteps and become a high school wrestler, he said it’s all about relationships, starting with finding a smaller club where coaches can really hang out with athletes.
“Make yourself a known face,” he advised. “Just be a nice person. Wrestling is a competitive sport; it’s face to face and you don’t want people to be mad at you. Don’t be hateful, don’t rejoice when you win. Go shake hands with the other coach. I always found that if I ever fought someone that I was better than me and it was a good match, I would (say to the coach): ‘Hey, you did that right, maybe be that you should work on it with them.’ Just be a friendly face.
Schwichtenberg said he will compete at the Canadian Wrestling Championships in Calgary later this year. As the national championships approach, he says he likes his chances.
“British Columbia is known as one of the best places (for wrestling),” he said. “I fought a few people from Alberta and did pretty well against them. I think I’m going to do just fine; I’m really looking forward to it.”
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