Original story by Darren Taylor // SooToday
The Sault's Felisity McDonald is proud to be a new member of the Algoma University Thunderbirds wrestling team.
"I like wrestling because it's a physically demanding sport. I like challenging myself both physically and mentally.
"In life you have to overcome obstacles and I enjoy overcoming them in wrestling as well," McDonald told SooToday.
McDonald is a standout athlete who brings her strength and skill to the Thunderbirds after a successful high school wrestling career in which she competed for St. Mary's College.
The first-year university student was announced as a Thunderbirds wrestler in April prior to graduating from SMC in June.
Inspired by her older sister Sienna McDonald - also a former SMC wrestler who will compete for Algoma in her third academic year - Felisity shined in her own right as a high school wrestler.
"I won first place in city championships and NOSSA all through Grade 9, 10 and 11. In Grade 9 at OFSAA I came in sixth out of 24 people. And then in Grade 12 I came first at city, second at NOSSA and fourth at OFSAA," Felisity said.
She has an outstanding 'victory is sweet' memory from that considerable amount of high school wrestling success.
"In my Grade 12 year I came in second at NOSSA but when I went on to OFSAA I ended up going against the girl who beat me. It was a rematch for me. I rewatched that video a million times and thought 'what could I have done differently?'" Felisity recalled.
"That one was definitely a tough fight. She was really strong. It was a pretty close match. I could hear my whole team cheering me on and I ended up beating her, and I was really happy that I did. It was definitely a hard match."
A multi-sport athlete, Felisity played football alongside male athletes while at SMC in Grade 9 and 10.
"It was really fun. I liked it."
"I did track and field. I did the javelin throw, discus throw and shot put. In Grade 9 I went to OFSAA and every other year I did well at the city championships and made it to NOSSA."
Apart from athletic accomplishments, Felisity excelled academically, finishing high school with an average of 95.
She is studying law and justice at Algoma University.
"I want to become a lawyer. As a kid I took a big interest in arguing like a lot of kids do," she said with a laugh.
"I held my stance on things to make myself and my siblings be heard. I got bullied a lot in elementary school. It gave me a different perspective on how I saw things.
"Slowly I discovered the different kinds of things I could do and I think fighting for other people's rights as a defence lawyer is what I want to do."
As with high school, Felisity plans to combine academic excellence with high performance in wrestling.
The Algoma University Thunderbirds wrestling team has its first competition for the 2025-26 season in Hamilton for the McMaster Open on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Soon to turn 18, Felisity works out in the gym regularly and will be wrestling in the 72 kg weight category for Algoma University.
"The team's like a second family. It's a great environment to be in. I enjoy going to practice every day.
"My coach Trevor Manchester and my teammates always encourage me in practice and I wouldn't doubt they will at competitions. This is a nice place to be."
