A Maple Ridge wrestler is looking to defend her Pan American title.
Madisyn Grof will compete for Canada at the U-20 Pan Am Championships in Peru from July 10 to 12, and also at the world championships in Bulgaria in August.
Last year she competed at the event in Peru and took gold, winning all of her matches by technical superiority.
“Today, she outscored her opponents 30-0. She’s a warrior through and through,” said her club team Coast Wrestling in social media.
Grof went on to compete at the 2024 U20 World Championships in Spain, where she finished 10th.
The 19-year-old is a graduate from Maple Ridge secondary school, and had a distinguished career as a member of the Ramblers wrestling team. Grof won the 54-kg title at the 2023 BC high school championships, and led the Ramblers to the team banner. She took silver at the 2022 high school provincials.
Grof has gone on to Simon Fraser University, and line a legacy of Ramblers who have joined Red Leafs team, including her teammates Ivy Threatful and Ashton Senko.
Team Canada athletes are expected to raise funds or find sponsorship to support their training and travel expenses, and there is an online fundraiser for Grof at gofundme.com.
So far had raised almost $2,500 out of a $10,000 goal for her summer of international competition.