As part of The Courier’s series highlighting Charlotte County athletes competing at the 2025 Canada Games in St. John’s, N.L., we are proud to feature St. Stephen’s own Abdelrahman Abuelela who is representing New Brunswick in wrestling at the 2025 Canada Summer Games, competing in the 48 kg weight class.
Abdelrahman’s wrestling journey began in Grade 10 at St. Stephen High School, when he decided to give the sport a try. What started as a one-time experiment quickly turned into a passion, leading him to join the St. Stephen Wrestling Club and compete in provincial and regional tournaments across the province. Since then, he’s built a strong competitive record, highlighted by going undefeated in the 2023–24 season and winning three consecutive NBIAA gold medals.
For Abdelrahman, representing St. Stephen and New Brunswick on the national stage is a meaningful milestone. “This is where my wrestling journey began, with the St. Stephen Wrestling Club, and now I get to take that passion and represent my province on the national stage,” he says. “It means a lot to me to represent both my town and New Brunswick, knowing that the place where I started is also cheering me on.”
He credits his coaches, especially club coach Mitchel Mann—also an assistant coach for this year’s Canada Games team—for guiding him from the basics to competing at the provincial level, and wrestling veteran Pat Zwicker for refining his technique. He also points to his family for their unwavering support, from early morning drives to cheering him on at competitions.
Looking back, one of Abdelrahman’s most meaningful moments was winning gold at his very first high school tournament. “It might not have been the biggest achievement in my career, but it was the one that truly sparked my motivation to keep going,” he says.
Now, after two years of preparation with the Canada Games in mind, he’s ready to step onto the mat against the best in the country. His advice to younger athletes from small towns: “Anything is possible if you truly believe in it and are willing to put in the work.”
The Courier will feature all of the athletes from Charlotte County who are competing in the Canada Summer Games in this spotlight series.
