Queen of Angels School dominated the Cougar Invitational wrestling meet in Chemainus last weekend, finishing first in the junior boys, senior girls, and junior combined standings, and second in the junior girls standings, as well as taking the elementary team title.
“It was a great success from the kids’ point of view, from the parents’ point of view, and from other coaches points of view,” Cowichan Valley Wrestling Club head coach Nick Zuback said.
The meet attracted about 215 from across Vancouver Island, including about 85 from Cowichan Valley schools. Local wrestlers collected nine first-place finishes, including gold medals for stars Hannah Tuplin (Chemainus Secondary) in the senior girls 63-65kg division and Talon Hird (Q of A) in the senior boys 47-51kg class.
“They dominated their weight classes and represented their schools very well,” Zuback said.
Stephanie Mould (Q of A) took top spot in the senior girls 57-60kg class.
“She was sick all day with the flu, and still stuck through it,” Zuback said. “It was good to see.”
Other first-place finishers included junior boys Dylan Battye (Q of A) at 38-39kg, Joshua Wong (Frances Kelsey) at 45-47kg, Zack Liddle (Cowichan Secondary) at 48-52kg, and Owen MacKenzie (Q of A) at 58-59kg; and junior girls Hayley Bye-Pace (Q of A) at 55-60kg and Nadja Schwarz (Alex Aitken) at 64-67kg.
Local wrestlers also dominated in the elementary divisions, led by Cassidy Pace of Queen of Angels and Levi Peters of Drinkwater.
“A number of kids did extremely well,” Zuback said. “They are definitely future stars.”
The CVWC is taking 18 wrestlers to the Western Canada Age Class meet in Kamloops this weekend where they will take on some of the best from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
“It’s a good indicator for the kids in cadet and juvenile for where they stand,” Zuback said.
The club won several medals at the meet last year, including a gold for Mould and silvers for Hird and Tuplin.
