Silver lining is unacceptable
Mar. 5, 2010 - Regina Leader-Post
By Ian Hamilton
Hajar Ashtiani is looking for a big Finnish.
The 26-year-old product of Jyväskylä, Finland is in her fifth and final season of CIS eligibility with the University of Regina Cougars wrestling team -- and starting today in Calgary, she's to compete in her fifth and final CIS championship meet.
Ashtiani has yet to win a national title, finishing fourth in 2005, earning a bronze medal in '06, and winning silvers in '07 and '09 (she redshirted in '08). She goes into this meet ranked third at 48 kilograms.
"This time, I won't be satisfied with silver," Ashtiani said. "I want gold. Leo (McGee, the U of R's head coach) said it before: 'She's always the bridesmaid, never the bride.' I want that to change."
Ironically, Ashtiani is to wed former U of R wrestler Sean Quinn on Aug. 7 in Sydney, N.S. A gold medal in Calgary would be a lovely bridal shower gift.
"I just want to wrestle without fear and without doubt," she said. "Knowing that this is my last year is going to be a factor. I know I won't have the opportunity to wrestle again (in a CIS event). The girls I wrestle (in Calgary), I won't get another chance to wrestle them -- and I won't get a chance at redemption."
It's hard to believe somebody with Ashtiani's resume feels the need for redemption. She's a five-time medallist at the Canada West championships (bronze in '05, silver in '06, '07 and '10, and gold in '09), a two-time Academic All-Canadian, the '09 Canada West female wrestler-of-the-year, the '09 University of Regina President's Award winner, and Finland's top female wrestler in '02.
But that's what losing the final at the '10 Canada West championships will do. Ashtiani was beaten in the conference final by Victoria Anthony of the Simon Fraser Clan -- and Anthony is the No. 1 seed at 48kg this weekend.
"Last time, I gave her too much respect," Ashtiani said.
"I didn't know what to expect, so I focused on defence: 'I'll do this if she does this, this and this.' I didn't focus on attacking. This time, I'm going to be more aggressive. I'm very determined to get gold."
Ashtiani's determination has got her to this point.
McGee remembers seeing her for the first time at a meet in Istanbul, Turkey and thinking how athletic she was. After convincing her to attend the U of R in '04, McGee put her to work.
"She has improved tenfold," he said. "She was a neophyte when she got here. She has gone from a competitor in her first year to a contender for a national title every year since."
What has helped Ashtiani improve?
"Hard, hard work," McGee said. "Preparing for the Olympics (in 2008) taught her a lot in terms of hard work. The discipline involved in that really, really helped her."
"That work ethic has been drilled into me since I was young," noted Ashtiani, who didn't make the Finnish team for the '08 Games in Beijing. "It's just a matter for me over the past six years of having the right coach to bring it out."
Now, that working relationship is set to end with the conclusion of Ashtiani's U of R career.
"It went by really fast," she said. "It's going to be very weird. I won't have Leo calling me every day. That was the routine I did for more than five years -- and now I have to find a new one."
Four other U of R women are to compete at nationals. Jasmine Slinn (51kg), Meghan King (59kg) and Lisa McKibben (67kg) are ranked second in their respective weight classes, while Jillian Durant is No. 5 at 63kg.
Former Cougars star Ali Bernard, who now competes for the Alberta Pandas, is the top-ranked wrestler at 72kg.
Eight men are to represent the U of R at the meet. Connor Malloy (76kg) is ranked second, Steven Schneider (54kg), Gilbert Musonza (57kg), Kirk Ackerman (61kg) and Gaelan Malloy (68kg) are No. 3, Jarret Coels (72kg) and Jimmy Levesque (90kg) are ranked fourth, and Brian Lunde (82kg) is No. 6.
Levesque was added as an injury replacement for Spencer Watkins of the Calgary Dinos.