by Garrett Fodor - Photos submitted.
What began as playful fun on the playground eventually evolved into a career filled with accolades, global adventures, and lasting friendships.
When Colin Daynes reflects on his career in wrestling, he noted it started on the schoolyard in Essex, but it quickly began to turn heads at Essex District High School and then later at Brock University and beyond.
In late February, the 50-year-old Essex native was inducted into the Brock University Hall of Fame. Daynes was inducted alongside his former Coach at Brock, Richard DesChatelets, and other wrestlers, including three-time Olympic medalist Tonya Verbeek, Michelle Fazzari, and Evan McDonald.
While boasting an impressive career, the trajectory in what started from the schoolyard led to some of the longest-lasting friendships.
“We were just wrestling on the playground one day and then [it] turned out we had a wrestling program in the school run by Bill Hogarth,” recalled Daynes on his journey into wrestling. “Bill, at the time, had some national championships and he was doing some work, traveling internationally for some competition. He had a ton of experience, and he was the driving force of that Essex program back in the day, without him, none of it would have happened.”
Following his time at EDHS, Daynes was enrolled at Brock from 1994-1999, earning a degree in Health Studies. On the mats, Daynes boasted an impressive resume as a five-time OUAA Champion, and a four-time CIAU champion, while helping Brock to win five provincial and five national titles. Recognizing his successes, he was named the CIAU Wrestler of the Year in 1996 and was the Brock Male Athlete of the Year in 1998.
“Going to Brock was one of the best decisions of my life,” Daynes said. “Windsor-Essex is a strong wrestling area, I was turned on to Brock by some of the people who went there before me. I went there for a training camp and everything worked out, the coaches were fantastic. It was a strong program. I was fortunate to have a training partner and coach in Marty Calder, who I got to work with daily, and a bunch of other good guys, which helped me to earn a spot on the Canadian Olympic Team in 1996.”
Getting the call, Daynes noted, was surreal to hear he would be honored. For him to be inducted alongside his coach in DesChatelets – along with Verbeek, who trained with them while she was in high school, was full circle. He added it was great to be back on campus at Brock.
“The campus has really changed from when I was there almost 30-years ago,” Daynes said. “I was absolutely blown away, the facilities are incredible, from the hockey rink to the weight room facility. It is a first-class facility. I’d encourage anyone thinking about going into wrestling to consider Brock. They are exceptional there and truly have a support system there. Going back, it felt like a time machine.
“The friendships and the relationships that I forged over those years are what stand out to me the most,” Daynes continued. “I'm still pretty close with a bunch of the guys on that team. So, you know, the medals, the wins, the losses, that all kind of fades away, but the memories of the time spent with your friends and colleagues and coaches and athletes, that's really what you remember.”
In total throughout his 30-year career, Daynes earned a total of 62 gold medals, 11 silver medals, along with five bronze medals. While wearing the maple leaf, Daynes finished 14th in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta in the 74kg category. Daynes would also go on to wear the maple leaf in countless other international events.
While his time on the mats may be over, the 50-year-old still shares his love and passion for the sport through coaching. Daynes is now providing the experience and techniques he learned from his coaches to today's athletes. He has been training and coaching in mixed martial arts (MMA) around the world for more than 20-years.
“I love passing on the technique, and I love passing on everything outside of that technique, the mental department, and just kind of life stuff as well as some time management stuff, making sure guys are taking care of themselves,” Daynes said. “I was fortunate to work with and have learned a lot through the years and to give back is great.”
Daynes noted the region is fortunate to have such strong wrestling roots, citing his former high school Coach Bill Hogarth, Peter and Joe Domarchuk, and others who have gone on to become successful on the mat.
Reflecting on his journey, Daynes is still incredibly thankful to Windsor-Essex for providing him support throughout his career as he pursued his goals and helped to get him through the career he made on the mats and in the ring.
Along with the support system in the community, Daynes is thankful to his parents for their unconditional support, along with his long-time coach going back to his time at Essex District High School, Bill Hogarth. On the induction night, Daynes was able to share the honour with his mother and two brothers and their family.