BUCHAREST, Romania – It was a long way to travel but for four Guelph Gryphon wrestlers, the Senior U23 World Championships will prove to be a formative experience. Gryphons Gracelynn Doogan, Natassya Lu, Chelsey Sicard, and Alexander Chaves all earned the opportunity represent Canada at last week's event in Bucharest among the best young wrestlers from around the globe.
 
While the competition was difficult, Guelph head coach Doug Cox knows that the experience will pay dividends for all four of his athletes.
 
"You can try to duplicate the experience by visualization but nothing will work the same as being there," said Cox, who recalled the overwhelming aspect of his first junior worlds event.

"Even if you lose, you realize that you're closer than you think."
 
"It's a really high level and for us to have four people at an event like that, it's great. All of a sudden, your confidence level is much higher than it used to be."
 
Doogan, the defending OUA gold medal winner and silver medalist at last year's U23 Worlds, won her first two matches and had the opportunity wrestle for a bronze medal in the 76kg class, though she came up short in a match with Aysegul Ozbege from Turkey.
 
Lu, Sicard, and Chaves were all wrestling in their first U23 Worlds. Lu lost to German Lisa Ursel in her first 50kg match, while Chaves (70kg) had an unlucky draw facing elite American wrestler Hayden Hidlay.

Sicard advanced to the quarter-final of the 55kg class, losing to Elena Brugger from Germany.
 
While the Gryphons were looking for better results, each wrestled well and were thankful for the opportunity to represent Canada.
 
"It was pretty cool," said Lu, a fifth-year wrestler who returns to the Gryphons after taking a year off. "We received so much support from our teammates.
 
"At Worlds, you hope to get a good draw. It's unfortunate that it's a single elimination tournament but it was an incredible experience. The fact that you can make it to a World Championships and represent Canada, it's just great to be there."
 
Lu said that for first-time participants like herself, Sicard, who is also her training partner, and Chaves, there was a lot to take in.

On the OUA and U SPORTS circuit, there is a familiarity with the venues and the wrestlers, whereas at World, everything is new. Lu heard her name called over the loudspeaker and walked out to the mat with lights on her.
 
"You have to take it for a second before you dial in," she said. "You don't normally see an atmosphere like that. But you have to focus on what you're good at."
 
The Gryphon foursome will now take that experience and apply it to their performances in the OUA season. Cox believes it will be a big benefit for a group with high aspirations.
 
"Those four athletes will all have a really good shot at winning U SPORTS this year and the experience at the U23 will be one of the things that could make a difference," the coach said.

The Gryphon varsity wrestling teams, ranked No. 7 in the latest U SPORTS polls on both the men's and women's sides, will host the 2019 OUA Wrestling Championships (Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 - Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre).