The Cowichan Valley Wrestling Club kicked off the 2014/15 season by winning seven individual gold medals at the Island Novice meet in Courtenay at the end of November.
The CVWC took 27 first-and second-year wrestlers representing nine different schools to the tournament at G.P. Vanier Secondary.
"Our wrestlers showed tremendous heart and determination throughout every match that they wrestled," CVWC head coach Nick Zuback said.
One of the club's newest members, Mikayla Brennan-McCann (Queen of Angels), made an impression in her competitive debut, going 4-0 and capturing her first gold medal in the school girls 47kg, while "sheer determination and work ethic" got Aidan Tuplin (Q of A) to the first gold medal of his career in the cadet boys 57kg.
Also claiming gold medals were Jordan Atcheson (Q of A) in the school boys 82kg, Miaya Brownbridge (Cowichan Secondary) in the school girls 43kg, Stephanie Mould (Q of A) in the school girls 51kg, Sarah Calimbo (Chemainus) in the school girls 54kg, Tesla Fraser (Queen Margaret's) in the school girls 69kg, and Antonio Diaz (Q of A) in the cadet boys 41kg.
Finishing second in their respective divisions were Christopher Gaw (Bench) in the school boys 45kg, Owen Ketch (Q of A) in the school boys 63kg, Sydney Hall (Q of A) in the school girls 34kg, and Jacob Berry-McKechnie (Cowichan) in the cadet boys 63kg.
Bronze medals went to Dylan Battye (Tansor) in the school boys 35kg, Owen Mackenzie (Q of A) in the school boys 41kg, Rowan Gillard (Drinkwater) in the school boys 54kg, and Grace Rhone (Q of A) in the school girls 34kg).
Q of A also finished first in the school girls standings, and second in both school boys and cadet boys.
Next on the schedule for the CVWC is the 10th Annual Cougar Invitational, this Saturday at Cowichan Secondary School from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.