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Hans wrestles way to Jr. Pan-Arn bronze Di uîy gîad ovecwînes îuyuîy, n.eî-ves Wo win inedal in national teaf n debut By Steve LeBlanc CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Just a couple of years ago Ranbir Hans would have been considered a long-sbot - at best - for the national wrestling program. Now it's hardly a stretch to think he may have a long future »On the international stage. And recent efforts have certainly strength- ened that notion. Making his Team Canada debut late last month in Guadalajara, Mexico, the 19-year- old E.C. Drury graduate wasn't really expect- ed to do much more than deliver a respectable showing at the junior Pan- American Championships. But more he did. Persevering through pre-tournament jit- ters and a late injury, Hans came away with 50-kilogram bronze - giving Milton its first- ever medal at the event and helping the national mens contingent secure team silver. Follows own advice "was more nervous than usutal," admiit- ted the traditionally-poised wrestlcr, wlho capped a breakthrough senior seasoni at Drury with a gold-medal run at OFSAA and being named the school's maie athlete of the year. "But 1 kept telling myseif Just take it one point at a time and stay relaxed and the rest will faîl into place."' Able to put bis own advice into practice, Hans went 2-2 and closed out the Jr. Pan- Ams with a 6-0, 6-2 decision over a Guatemalan opponent in the battie for third place. Solidified with a double-leg takedown, his bronze-medal triumph faced serious jeop- ardy midway through the opening round, though not because of any shortcomings on his part. "I was doing the fireman's and 1 cranked it SO hard that the side of my head bit the mat hard after 1 finished it," recalled Hans, who maintained a high level of training through- out the summer and is one of Drurys most improved grapplers in recent memory I started to black out a bit and took a couple of seconds to get back on my feet. Fortunately 1 was good to go after that. 1 had a burning feeling, but 1 was just so hyped up in the moment that 1 just blocked it out and re- focused on wrestling." Nearly as memorable as bis medal victory was a match he didn't even win. But given how he'd been thoroughly dom- inated by this same Puerto Rican rival - who went on to capture gold - when îthcv'd S(it~rcl off two alsago ati t Ne )parta ( u any progress would be a major source of optimism. Improvement evident And Hans certainly made senious head- way against the tournament standout before getting caught in a bad position on a high- risk scoring attempt and pinned in the dying seconds of round one. Up until then the eventual gold medalist had just a 1-0 lcad, thanks to somc effectiw defence by the Team Canada newcomer. "The improvement 1 made since tbe last time 1 wrestled bim was big," noted Hans. I1 felt a lot tougber, hoth mentally and physi- cally And even though 1 lost it made me realize how far Vve come in just two years and bow much dloser I've come to really challenging those type of guys." Hans opened the tournament witb a 6-O, 3-O win over an opponent from Brazil and from there dropped a narrow decision to a Mexican wrestler - losing round one on a tie-hreaking clinch before getting edged 1-O in the second round. 'Overal1 was bappy with my perform- ance. 1 wasn't expecting to do as well as 1 did.' Echoing those sentiments was Drurys long-time wrestling coach Larry J arosla\vski, who served as manager for the Canadian squad. I %vas very pleased and impressed wiàtb Ranhir. cspccially uîncidening ibis \vas his ltttttonitîtut aittis luvl I is eXIperti ence should go a long wvay in bis develop- ment as he moves heyond îgh sehool com- petition.' GRAHAM PAINE / CANADIAN CHAMPION 1 MILTON HEUGHIS RACING CLUB NOVEMBUI G, 7 &8 Fn eo-1o, Sat 0-5, SUn 0-3 Location: Country Heritage Parkc (Ganibrel Barn) off of Tremnaine Rd., Milton.. just north of Glen Eden FREE ADMISSION IL PARKING ~ IHOUSANDS 0F ITEMS! Check out www.miltonheights.com for more details 905-690-1202 LF 1