When on the mat, Olds' Amber Maschke only has herself to count on.Now, however, the 19-year-old wrestler is asking for help from her community as she sets her sights on becoming the junior woman's world champion in the 55-kilogram weight category.Maschke, who just finished her first year at the University of Alberta and currently lives in Edmonton, has landed a top spot on Canada's wrestling team thanks to a gold medal performance in the 55-kilogram junior category at the 2014 ASICS Junior and Senior Wrestling Championships in Edmonton in March.She has an opportunity to wrestle at the Junior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, from August 5 to 10, with stops at international tournaments in Germany and Austria as well as the Junior Pan Am Wrestling Championships in Toronto next month and the Canada Cup tournament and camp in Guelph, Ont., in July.But in order to make it to these events, Maschke needs to raise roughly $9,500 for travel costs and other expenses.She has started an online fundraising campaign where so far she has received more than $1,100 in donations and on May 24, her family is hosting a fundraising event at their farm in Olds.Maschke said if she is able to meet her fundraising goals and compete at these national and international events, she will be eligible for funding from the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association that will allow her to participate in even more competitions in years to come.“So the more that you attend and the better your results are at them, then the more money they give you so the less it costs in the future (to compete at other events.),” she said, adding she can also open the door to funding for other wrestlers.“The funding that I'm getting isn't all because of my results, it's also because of results of people that have been competing in years before me.”Maschke said she has received roughly $1,000 in funding from the association at this point.Aside from her fundraising activities, Maschke is training five times a week with the University of Alberta Golden Bears wrestling team in preparation for the world championships and is also doing extra cardio and weightlifting exercises three times a week.Her most recent major competition was the Senior World Team Trials in Calgary from May 2 to 8 where she decided to wrestle in a higher weight category, the 58-kilogram class, and came in sixth place.In the past four weeks, Maschke has seen a steady stream of donations come in to her online fundraising page at http://makeachamp.com/ambermaschke with one donor pledging $500.She said the support has shown her she comes from a very generous community.“I'm not alone,” Maschke said. “People care about what I'm trying to achieve.”To make a donation to Maschke's fundraising campaign, visit http://makeachamp.com/ambermaschke or contact Maschke at 403-556-5679 or [email protected] fundraising event on May 24 begins at 4 p.m. with dinner served at 5 p.m.The evening will include a silent auction, petting zoo and entertainment including the band Boots and Hoots.To RSVP, contact Maschke using the information above.Her family's farm is located at the corner of Twp Rd. 332 and Highway [email protected]
