Last week, Nolan Mitchell was just another Grade 9 student walking the halls of Claremont secondary.

But since winning all three matches in the 41 kilogram weight class, at the high school provincial championships in Penticton from Feb. 23 to 25, Mitchell is starting to get some recognition.

B次元官网网址淲ho knew we had a wrestling team?B次元官网网址� said one teacher. B次元官网网址淚 know Nolan. DidnB次元官网网址檛 know he was a wrestler.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淢itchell is the wrestling team,B次元官网网址� cracked a parent.

As of Wednesday, Mitchell didnB次元官网网址檛 even know his name was flashing on the school sign out front, greeting visitors as they approach with B次元官网网址淲ay to go Nolan.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 hadnB次元官网网址檛 seen that,B次元官网网址� said the 14-year-old.

Soft-spoken, Mitchell might continue to go unnoticed as an elite athlete at Claremont. But not in the wrestling world.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 safe to say NolanB次元官网网址檚 a very special athlete, heB次元官网网址檚 going places,B次元官网网址� said MitchellB次元官网网址檚 coach Nick Zuback of the Cowichan Wrestling Club.

Thanks to a pair of dedicated parents, who make the one hour drive to Duncan twice a week, Mitchell manages three weekly sessions, totalling five hours under the watchful eyes of Zuback.

It is a long drive, and Mitchell admits he usually falls asleep. But his effort once he gets there has woken up those who understand the sport.

B次元官网网址淢itchellB次元官网网址檚 commitment level to better himself is very high,B次元官网网址� Zuback said. B次元官网网址淗e sets his goals and heB次元官网网址檚 like a sponge.B次元官网网址�

Only two schools in the entire region, Esquimalt High and Reynolds, have actual wrestling teams. For everyone else, there is the Victoria Bulldogs wrestling club, run by wrestling legend Ed Ashmore.

Mitchell trained with the Bulldogs last year, and attended as many tournaments as he could. ThatB次元官网网址檚 where he came to know Zuback.

In Penticton, Mitchell came out of a weight class 12 athletes deep. He only needed two rounds in each match, and didnB次元官网网址檛 surrender a single point in the gold medal match against the No. 2 seed, Justin Cacatian of Vancouver.

B次元官网网址淚 was so full of adrenaline after I won. IB次元官网网址檓 still feeling good about it,B次元官网网址� Mitchell said.

Going into the provincials MitchellB次元官网网址檚 camp, including his dad, Lance, and Zuback, figured CacatianB次元官网网址檚 No. 2 seed was deceiving. They all saw Cacatian beat Mitchell in the first tournament of the season.

B次元官网网址淚 said B次元官网网址楴olan, youB次元官网网址檙e not the same wrestler as you were two months ago. The way you transition and move is totally different.B次元官网网址� And sure enough, (Cacatian) had no chance,B次元官网网址� Zuback said.

Adding drama to the weekend was ZubackB次元官网网址檚 absence due to an emergency appendectomy. Because the matches were streamed online, Zuback was able to shout commands while recovering on his couch at home, as though he was ringside.

B次元官网网址淚t was really hard not being able to go. I was watching and luckily it was only about a three second delay,B次元官网网址� Zuback said. B次元官网网址淭hrough the phone I had a parent relaying my comments, and I could hear her shouting my suggestions through the webcast.B次元官网网址�

Dockers and Bulldogs

Eight Esquimalt wrestlers qualified for provincials: Kasha Solley, Jordan Merrick, Mohammed Abubakar, Daniel Norwood, Andrew Heels, Mitchell Keeping, Chris Dube and Warren Clark.

Clark placed sixth in the 70-kg class, while Lochlan Ellis from Reynolds was sixth in the 66-kg class.

Brett Matthews from StellyB次元官网网址檚 represented the Victoria Bulldogs. Matthews recently won gold at the Island championships, and finished fourth in the 84-kg category at provincials. Matthews is planning to make the trip to Fredericton for nationals in April.