Jonelle Acom Clarke -Winners Never Quit
THIS WEEK ON PRACTICE TO PODIUM
Meet, Jonelle Acom Clarke
She didn’t start her wrestling journey with a podium finish—or even a win. But what she did have from the very beginning was something far more powerful: persistence.
From her early days at Nicholas Wilson Public School, she was driven by competition and curiosity, eager to try every sport available. That same energy carried into her time at London Central Secondary School, where she became a true multi-sport athlete—running cross country in the fall, stepping onto the wrestling mat in the winter, and competing in track and field events like long jump, high jump, the 100m sprint, and the 4x100m relay in the spring.
Wrestling, however, wasn’t part of the original plan.
In Grade 9, after being cut from the volleyball team, she went looking for something—anything—to stay active during the winter season. That search led her to the school’s activity room, where she saw athletes grappling on the mats. Curious, she asked what they were doing. The answer—wrestling—would change her life.
Under the guidance of coaches Adam Summers and Coach G, she stepped onto the mat for the first time. The results weren’t immediate. In fact, during her entire first season, she didn’t win a single match. For many, that might have been the end of the story.
For her, it was just the beginning.
She embraced the grind, fell in love with the process, and came back stronger. By her second year, the wins started to come. Over the course of her high school career, she qualified for OFSAA three times, steadily improving and proving that growth comes to those who refuse to quit.
University brought a new level of challenge—and a familiar pattern.
Joining the varsity team at Western University, she once again found herself at the bottom of the ladder. Wins were hard to come by in her first year, but her passion never wavered. She committed to the work, trusted the process, and began climbing.
The breakthrough followed.
Year by year, she transformed herself into one of the top athletes in the country, earning medals at both the OUA and U SPORTS levels. Her leadership and perseverance didn’t go unnoticed—she was named team captain, a role she held for two years, where she focused on building a culture rooted in support, inclusion, and unity.
In her final varsity season (2025–2026), everything came together.
She captured her first OUA gold medal.
She claimed her first U SPORTS national gold medal.
And she was named Most Outstanding Women’s Wrestler at the OUA Championships.
A journey that began without a single win ended at the top of the podium.
Behind her success was a network of coaches who believed in her—starting with Ray Takahashi, whose early support helped ignite her drive, and head coach Scott Proctor, whose continued investment helped shape her path. Along the way, coaches Madison Parks, Steven Takahashi, Chris Capangyarihan, Chris Woodcroft, David Spinney, and Zachariah McLeod all played key roles in her development.
But her impact goes beyond medals.
As a leader, she made it her mission to ensure every teammate felt seen, valued, and supported—because she understood firsthand how powerful that environment can be. The culture she helped build is one of her proudest accomplishments.
Now, as she closes her varsity chapter, her journey is far from over. She plans to continue competing with Western’s club program, with her sights set firmly on the world stage—aiming for medals at the Senior World Championships and, ultimately, the Olympic Games.
She carries pride in every team she has represented—from London Central to Western University, and all the way to Team Canada. What started as a chance encounter in a high school activity room became a lifelong pursuit of excellence.
And beyond the mat, her discipline extends into the classroom, where she earned an Honours Specialization in Synthetic Biology and a Master of Science in Biochemistry.
Her story is a testament to one simple truth:
You don’t have to start strong—
you just have to refuse to give up.