Wrestlers from elementary schools across the Cowichan Valley — and even from as far away as Port Alberni — congregated for the elementary playdown tournament on Feb. 16 at Queen Margaret’s School’s new sports hall.

More than 225 students registered to wrestle in this year’s event and ranged from second graders to seventh graders.

The big gymnasium was packed with youngsters who were there to have a great day of learning to wrestle and older students from QMS who were working hard at mastering their officiating and scorekeeping skills in support of the young athletes.

“We had, in total, 15 schools represented — that’s the most we’ve ever seen at this tournament and it’s the seventh time we’ve hosted it,” said event organizer Nick Zuback, a teacher at QMS and coach with the Cowichan Valley Wrestling Club. “It was a pretty amazing event we hosted with seven matches going at once. We had amazing comments from coaches and parents on how well the event was received and I couldn’t ask for any more from my volunteers.”

Zuback said the future’s bright for wrestling in the Cowichan Valley.

“Having it start at the grass roots level with kids as young as Grade 2 all the way to Grade 7, is exciting,” he said.

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