There’s no need to check her list twice.
Simon Fraser University student and former Clan wrestler Danielle Lappage sewed up the first berth to the 2016 Summer Olympics with a victory last week over No. 1-ranked Braxton Stone-Papadopolous at the Canadian Wrestling Team Trials in Strathcona, Alta.
The 25-year-old secured the berth by a 2-0 score in the best-of-three final, just 14 months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear in her right knee.
An SFU criminology graduate, Lappage trains with the Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club.
She secured the spot after rolling up six straight victories, including two over Stone-Papodopoulos in the women’s 63-kilogram division, including a close 6-4 opener.
Stone-Papodopolous had guaranteed Canada’s spot in the 63kg division earlier at the 2015 Senior World championships.
After capturing both the 2014 Commonwealth Games and senior Canadian wrestling championships last year, Lappage tore her ACL during practice. She used the year off to pursue a Master’s Degree in criminology.
“Danielle is an almost perfect example of who we want our student-athletes to be,” said SFU women’s wrestling head coach Mike Jones. “She is competitive, she is resilient and she is a terrific student. She used her year off with injury wisely, completing a Master’s Degree. I am proud that she will be representing Canada at the Olympics.”
Another Clan alumna, Justina DiStasio, was named an alternate in the women’s 75kg division, while Arjun Gill won the men’s 97kg weight class and will advance to the Olympic qualifiers at the Pan American Games.
