A first for Cape Dorset
Peter Pitseolak School student to compete in Canadian Judo Championships
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, April 28 2014
KINNGAIT/CAPE DORSET
Cape Dorset's judo club is sending a student to compete in the Canadian Judo Championships for the first time since the group's inception nearly four years ago.
Joseph Pinguartuk hasn't faced this level of competition before, but says he feels ready to take on the challenge.
"I'm nervous but at the same time I'm excited," said Pinguartuk, adding he's been practising more than two hours every day.
The Grade 12 Peter Pitseolak School student first joined Cape Dorset's judo team in 2011, after noticing a poster principal and coach Mike Soares put up at school. He looked up the sport on YouTube and quickly became interested.
"It looked fun so I decided to join," said Pinguartuk, who grew up in Cape Dorset.
The teen also has a knack for soccer, table tennis, badminton and volleyball, which is his favourite sport.
"He's not just a one trick pony," said Soares. "He's an all-round athlete and he has tremendous potential for someone of his age and weight."
The Canadian Judo Championships will be held in Saguenay, Quebec from May 14 to 18.
Soares and two students from Iqaluit are also set to attend the championships.
Although they will be competing in their relative age groups, Soares and Pinguartuk are in the same weight class (90kg), which makes it easier to train.
Pinguartuk's involvement in the sport has helped him live a healthier life. By following his fitness routine he's lost more than 40 pounds.
The championship is meant to be a stepping-stone for Pinguartuk to get to the 2015 Canada Winter Games, said Soares.
"He's a mature young man and he brings that to any sport he's been involved in," he said. "Intelligence is an important part of being successful in any kind of a sport and Joseph brings that to the table. He also has a pretty good work ethic and he has what's called 'coachability.'"
At this year's Montreal Cup judo tournament, Pinguartuk placed fifth while two years earlier he won gold. He finished third at the Edmonton International Judo Championships last year.
Soares explained he doesn't want to put any expectations on Pinguartuk but hopes the teen will treat the championship as a learning experience.
"This will hopefully give him focus for the next step in his ongoing development, ie. preparing him for the Canada games," he said.
If Pinguartuk performs well at nationals he could move onto the Judo World
Championships.
