Megann Nkenglack may have just finished her first year in McMaster Engineering’s Computer Science co-op program, but she’s already making moves in the classroom — and on the wrestling mat.
Nkenglack discovered her sport in Grade 10 when she was invited by a classmate to attend a trial practice. “I was amazed,” recalls Nkenglack. “I went home and told my dad, ‘I want to try wrestling.’”
Despite starting later than many of her peers, wrestling would come to define Nkenglack’s high school years. “I remember chipping two of my teeth in one of my first club tournaments,” she says. “But I still loved it.”
Through hard work and dedication, she became a multi-time provincial and Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) champion. With high school graduation looming, she set her sights on continuing her wrestling career at the university level. Knowing she wanted to study computer science, Nkenglack focused on schools that offered both a competitive learning environment and a wrestling program. This led her to McMaster.
Even before she accepted her offer to McMaster, Nkenglack had already built a connection with McMaster’s wrestling team. In Grade 12, Nkenglack started attending university-level wrestling tournaments. Through these opportunities, she reached out directly to McMaster’s coaches, and before long she was invited to practice with the team.
Despite this connection, however, Nkenglack recalls how intimidating it was to join the team as a first-year student. “These are all people who are older than me and really good,” she says. But the welcoming environment and mentorship of coaches Ahmed Shamiya and Stefanie West Howorun helped her settle in comfortably. “The team really helped me bridge the high school to university transition.”
This year, Nkenglack was nominated for the McMaster Athletics Female Rookie of the Year Award. “I was so happy to be nominated,” says Nkenglack. “It was one of my main goals for the year.”
Being a varsity athlete is no small feat, but Nkenglack believes that her athletic life balances her academic one: “Wrestling taught me to manage my time and have self-control,” she says.
Looking ahead, she’s focused on even bigger ambitions. Next year she hopes to win gold at the USports National Championships and attend the Team Canada Trials. “Making Team Canada would be such a life changing experience.” And whether it’s learning a new programming language or perfecting a takedown, Nkenglack is determined to keep pushing boundaries in whatever she does.
“I’m just really happy with how far I’ve come. And I’m excited to see where I can go next.”