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2004 Canada Cup

Highlights Three

July 10, 2004

University of Guelph Athletic Center, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Article by: Tim MaGarrey, Photos by: Al

Includes:

Introduction,

FILA Cadet, Highlights One & Two, Canadians

Looking up to 2005

• Tonya Verbeek , 2003 Pan American Silver medallist and fresh off a victory at the Titan Games in the U.S., of the Brock Wrestling Club. She has showed improvement every time she steps on the mat. She dominated her weight class, including blowing her opponent from Japan off the mat in the final. Make no mistake, she’s a serious contender going into Athens.
• Speaking of contenders, Calgary’s Christine Nordhagen showed she is in prime pre-Olympic form. She destroyed all competitors, including (unfortunately for the hometown crowd!) Ohenewa Akuffo of the host Guelph W.C. 10-0 in the final.

• The 74 kg. Men’s weight class was awesome. Canada’s Daniel Igali tried to carry the Men’s National Team hopes into the finals as the only Canadian Man to make the finals, but came up flat losing to a pretty darn impressive Cuban (Ivan Fundora) 3 – 0. Igali competed in the event in spite of still being on the mend and having only recently returned from Europe with the National Team. Fundora captured the Outstanding International Male competitor honour for defeating the 2000 Olympic Champion in the final.

• The 63 kg. Womens’ weight class was no less impressive. Consider that Canada’s Olympian and 2003 World Bronze medallist Viola Yanik only managed a bronze, and five-time World Champion Nikola Hartman of Austria a fourth! Japan’s Ayako Shoda won the weight class and was selected top International Competitor in the Women’s division and justifiably so. Phew!

Introduction,

FILA Cadet, Highlights One & Two, Canadians

Looking up to 2005