Jenina Pascua wrestled her way to the top after capturing the crown in the Cadet division of this year’s National Cadet-Juvenile Wrestling Championship held last month in Frederick, New Brunswick.
The 15-year-old lass needed to overcome a sluggish start to register an impressive win over Olivia Menard of L ‘Essor WC team.
Perseverance did wonders for Pascua, who was pushed on the brink of losing an all-important match by allowing the much-taller Menard to scored quick nine points, one point shy of winning the battle in the first round.
But the eldest among the three siblings pounced Menard in the last round by pinning down the latter to emerge victorious in the 40-kg weight class of Women’s Freestyle event.
“I was actually a point from losing it, if she score one more point I would have lost it , but I guess I had a mental game I don’t want to lose so when she tried to grab me I reverse it and pinned her down,” narrates Pascua, a product of John Oliver Secondary School.
It was a Cinderella finish of sort of for the Grade 10 student, who was chosen to represent her school for the first time this year.
“I’m very content with my placing in this tournament and I’m really happy my hard work paid off,” she added.
The diminutive Pascua has been into wrestling since Grade 8 but this is the biggest win so far for her in the nationals.
Pascua will be going to Ontario on July 11-19 for some camps and tournament which will fully hone her skills and prepare her for upcoming future tourney.
She’s also planning to travel to Italy if circumstances permits for some camps, but will rely on the funding and depending on her performance before the May 29 deadline. Incidentally on this day, she’ll have a try out for Western Summer Games.
“I’m not sure if I’m going to Italy, I need to fight one more time before that date to determine If I will go there, normally they select the alternates and the first team,” she says.
Both her parents are very supportive in her campaign for this tournament and expressed elation after she won this championship.
