THUNDER BAY – Haley Florell and Adam LaFroy both had up-and-down seasons.
But it’s not where one starts, it’s where one finishes.
For the two Lakehead University wrestlers, it was the top of the podium.
Florell beat Brock’s Cassie Corbett on Saturday to capture gold in the 76-kilogram weight class at the USport national wrestling championships, while LaFroy knocked off Guelph’s Brennan Laplante-Brady, the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the category, to win the men’s 72-kilogram title.
Forell, who hails from Mackenzie, B.C., a rookie with the Thunderwolves, said it was an incredible way to cap off a fantastic freshman season.
“It’s definitely been a little bit of an inconsistent year, figuring out more on the mental side of things. This tournament I just focused on really being present and found the joy within the sport and just lived through it,” Florell said.
At the OUA championship, Florell finished fourth, Corbett winning by fall in the bronze-medal match, but it was a good enough result to earn the LU wrestler a spot at nationals.
At that point, Florell looked inward, and took on the challenge of stepping up her game with a national title on the line.
“It was really just the realization that wrestling is the last thing I can control,” she said on Tuesday, after being named Lakehead’s female wrestler of the month for February.
“Like whatever happens. Wrestling is such a heartbreaking sport. You really have to bring your most authentic self to it. That’s something I’ve been learning throughout the year.”
The win was exciting, but it’s the growth in the program, in the past a national contender, that’s got her most pumped up.
“We went from three people last year to what it is now. We don’t even have a full bracket, but it’s growing. I’m glad I could lead a positive step in that direction,” said Florell, a three-time national silver medallist in high school, finally winning gold in her final season.
LaFroy, a St. Ignatius High School grad who suffered neck injuries three separate times, including in his bronze-medal match at OUAs against McMaster’s Armaan Jawandha, said there were points when he wasn’t sure he would be able to compete again this season.
He toughed it out and peaked at just the right time. He beat Alberta’s Devan Larkin in his first match, then took out Brock’s Hamzah Al-Qayse in his second. Wins over Saskatchewan’s Jared Steinley and Toronto’s Jacob Fritz landed him the gold-medal final against Laplante-Brady, a match he took by a 17-15 count.
“I just battled back and made it to nationals and after my first match I beat the No. 1 seed in Canada and I knew the next four I was going to take down. I knew I had it. I had the confidence going in,” LaFroy said on Tuesday, named LU’s male wrestler of the month for February.
“It felt great.”
LaFroy said it was his throwing ability that landed him on top of the podium.
“I’m a big thrower in wrestling and everything was clicking at this tournament. I’ve never wrestled that good in my life. Everything was working. My throws were going big,” LaFroy said.
Both athletes hope to compete at Canadian nationals.
“I’m going to start training this week, so not too much of a break,” LaFroy said.
The 2025 Canadian Wrestling Championships are scheduled to begin May 29 in Edmonton.
