A wrestler from Kitchener, Ont. will be representing Canada on the world stage, after training in the sport for just two years. Jude Garrucho, 16, is the current under 17 double Canadian national champion in the 45kg weight division after winning this years under 17 men’s freestyle and national wrestling team trials. He will represent Canada at the U17 United World Wrestling Championships in Azerbaijan from July 27 until Aug. 2. After that, he will travel with the Canadian team to Hong Kong for another tournament and a camp. “It takes a whole lifetime of work. And you still might not get there even after a lifetime of work. So, it really is a special thing to be able to go to one of these trips,” Alex Moher, co-owner and coach at Olympus Martial Arts Academy said. “I would say he’s cerebral. He’s strong, he’s fast. He’s got good cardio and all those things. But he really does have a thoughtful process towards his wrestling and his technique.” The high school student has only been wrestling for two years and also competes for the Resurrection Catholic Secondary School team. When he gets to the world championship, he’ll be competing against athletes who have wrestled all their lives. However, his coaches believe he can win some matches. “No one really gets to go to worlds within two years. So, it’s pretty cool,” Daniel Krause, co-owner and coach at Olympus Martial Arts Academy said. “He’s very soft spoken. But he kicks ass on the matts.” “Worlds is very tough. He’s going to be going against some kids that were wrestling since [they were] in diapers. But you know, it’s the world championships and anything can happen. We’re hoping he comes away with at least a couple of wins and some really good experience in his first ever international competition,” Moher said. “I’m expecting to make a statement and I’ll just try my best,” Jude Garrucho said. His father, Brian Garrucho, described his own emotional state as “excited, anxious, nervous” as he prepared to cheer his son on. Jude was originally in Air Cadets and played other sports like soccer, track and field and volleyball, but wanted to find something with weight classes. “He tried MMA, but the mom said, ‘Nope, no way.’ They made a compromise. He’s going to graduate [elementary school] with honours. Then we’ll enroll him in MMA. So fortunately, he graduated with honours. And then we were looking for a gym, and we found this and he fell in love with the game. But coach Alex mentioned that he’s got more potential in wrestling and why don’t let him join the school team? And he made the team,” Brian Garrucho said. “It’s hard. It pushed me to be a better person. I feel like once you get good at wrestling, everything in life comes easier,” Jude Garrucho said. Garrucho trains at least three hours a day at Olympus Martial Arts Academy off Ottawa Street in Kitchener and tries to workout following that. “His work ethic, definitely. He pushes the pace of everything. It doesn’t matter what’s going on. He’s here at practice every day, training hard,” Ben Remillard, Garrucho’s training partner said. Remillard was also a national champion and said he quickly saw the potential in the young athlete. “I just thought he was a really good wrestler, a really good guy. Just wanted to bring him under, show him the way, show him how to do it,” Remillard said. “I was working hard the entire season with my training partner, Benny. He’s a former national champ, and I feel like he inspired me a bit to train my best and to follow in his footsteps,” Jude Garrucho said. In the future, Garrucho hopes to earn a scholarship for university and continue his wrestling and combat sports career. “I want to wrestle into university and maybe get a scholarship. But as of right now, I feel like continuing my journey in martial arts. I want to compete in mixed martial arts,” Jude Garrucho said. Garrucho needs at least $12,000 to fund the trip to the world championship. Canada Wrestling has a payment plan he can use, but donations would be helpful. “We just really want to raise money for him and raise some awareness to the public here in town,” Krause said. A breakfast fundraiser is being held at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Kitchener on Saturday, July 18.
