The Cowichan Valley Wrestling Club finished first in the middle school male and female divisions at the Island Novice Wrestling Tournament in Victoria last weekend.
The club took 49 athletes to the event, which is limited to first- and second-year wrestlers who haven’t won a big tournament.
“Being a novice tournament, you can’t take all your all-stars,” CVWC head coach Nick Zuback said. “It’s for wrestlers who are still developing.”
The middle school divisions were reserved for wrestlers in Grades 6, 7 and 8.
Zuback was particularly impressed with the efforts of Charlie Roberts, who beat a tough wrestler from Port Alberni to finish atop the female 36-39kg class; Frazer Wilmot, who dominated the male 48-52kg class; newcomer Josh Wong, who won the male 44-47kg class in his first tournament; and Dylan Battye and Paul Belcourt, who finished first and second in the male 36-39kg class.
Other first-place results went to Braden McKenzie (male 40-43kg), Ethan Mellings (male 43-47kg), Aidan Dyer-Price (male 56-59kg), Caleb Fraser (male 59-63kg), Chloe Foster (female 63-67kg), and Rosie Klatt-Leblanc (female 72-77kg).
Second-place finishes went to Zachary Simon (male 31-34kg), Ashton Combdon (male 52-55kg), Brady Gregson (male 55-58), Jacob McCluskey (male 59-63kg), and Danielle Doherty (female 49-52kg). Bronze medals went to Zack Liddle (male 48-52kg), Caleb Battye (male 52-55kg), Damian Blaney (male 56-59kg), Andre Lauzon (male 88-94kg), Laura Nguyen (female 49-52kg), and Nadja Schwarz (female 63-67kg).
The club’s only high school wrestler at the novice meet was Anthony Anderson, who placed second in the male 57-60kg class.
Final results weren’t kept for the elementary divisions, but Zuback was pleased with what he saw from the 22 Grade 1-5 athletes that competed.
“They did really well,” he said. “A lot of them medalled and they won lots of matches. It’s really good for our grassroots program.”
The CVWC’s next event is the Cougar Classic, which it hosts at Chemainus Secondary School on Dec. 10, with matches beginning at 10 a.m. More than 200 wrestlers are expected to attend the meet.
The club is also holding a camp on Dec. 29 and 30 for current wrestlers of any level or newcomers. For more information, email nzuback@hotmail.com or phone 250-815-0959.