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Olds native Danielle Lappage shows fine form during the CIS final for the women’s 63 kg championship on the weekend in Calgary. Submitted photo.

Olds wrestling dynamo and Simon Fraser University sophomore Danielle Lappage is no stranger to the top step of the podium and it didn’t take long into her university career to reach the highest rung.

In just her second year competing at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) level, the former OHS standout claimed the national championship in the women’s 63 kg division over the weekend at the CIS 2010 Wrestling Championships in Calgary.

Lappage defeated Larissa D’Alleva of Western Ontario in the gold medal match to improve on her bronze medal finish from a year ago. The gold medal capped a perfect weekend for the junior national team member as she went undefeated in all her freestyle bouts to secure an individual title while helping the Clan to the women’s team title over their fierce rivals from the University of Calgary.

"Well, going into the tournament I knew I was able to win it," she explained in an e-mail to the Albertan. "In my semi-final I had a very tough match but I knew I had to win that one to improve my placing from last year."

Lappage’s road to the final began with a 5-0 win over Jillian Durant of Regina, followed by a 3-1 decision over Nikita Chicoine of Concordia and another 5-0 victory against Laurel Knowles of Lakehead.

Even though it was her first championship at the CIS level, the local product won’t have a chance to defend the title with Simon Fraser’s athletic department moving to compete in the NCAA Div. II this fall and to the NAIA level in wrestling.

"It was a very big accomplishment to win the CIS, and I think it was more important to me this year because this is SFU’s last year as a CIS school so it was my last chance," Lappage explained. "After losing a match at this same tournament last year I told myself I had to win this year … and one of the best feelings in the world has to be accomplishing your goals."

The title also helped validate the decision to pursue wrestling as her sport of choice. Having taken up the sport in junior high, she proved to be a natural and quickly began dominating her age group as she progressed through high school and at the club level.

"Winning this title also showed me that all the hard work I have put into my wrestling is paying off, which is important," she said.

Lappage will continue to compete this springas a member of the Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club with the national junior/senior championships set for later this month in Fredericton, N.B.

In addition to her CIS title, Lappage was also named an all-Canadian for her exploits this season.