The ADSS Armada wrestling team travelled to the Richmond Olympic Oval to compete in the Western Canada Age Class tournament this past weekend. The team had nineteen athletes battle over the course of two days against more than 420 athletes from B.C. and Alberta. Seventeen of the nineteen placed in the top five of their respective age and weight classes.
Team results included fourth place finishes for Armada School Girls (Grade 8) and Junior Boys (Grades 9/10) and 5th place finishes for School Boys, Junior Girls and Senior Boys (Grades 11/12).
“I’m very pleased with our team results. This is a large tournament with more than 90 teams participating so placing in the top five is impressive,” said Coach James Messenger.
Local wrestlers claimed five gold medals at the age class. Grade 7 Paige Maher of Dunn continued her impressive results with a win in the 69kg schoolgirl division.
Ravi Manhas showed that if he can get to the right weight he is a top of his age group and he is right there with the best in B.C. by winning gold in 41kg junior boys.
Grade 8 Kylea Anderson dominated the 90kg schoolgirl division.
Two of ADSS’s top Grade 8 boys showed their prominence on the provincial scene with Owen Spencer winning 51kg and Scott Coulthart winning at 74kg.
Head coach John McDonald commented, “to win 5 weight classes is a big accomplishment for our younger wrestlers. What a great indicator for the future.”
Silver medalists included Anna Frost (47kg), Daniel Spencer (Jr Men 70 kg) and William Merry (HWT) while bronze medals went to Mackenzie Boudreau (64kg), Trenton Vanderkooi (110+kg), Aaron Badovinac (Sr M 70 kg),I saac McDonald (Sr M 54kg) and Seth Price (Jr M 45kg).
“Badovinac, McDonald and Price had good results considering they wrestled up an age division,” said Coach Russell Bodnar.
“Our coaches want to challenge these athletes heading into the toughest part of the season.”
Finishing in fourth place were Trevor Barker (48kg) and Jayce Clayton (78kg) and with 5th place were Kiarra Fong (54kg) and Jarod Gagnon (84kg).
Having strong performances, but not placing, were Jayden Iversen (66kg) and Darien Van Ingen (51kg).
Next up for the Armada is the Miri Piri tournament in Abbotsford. ADSS will send a small number to Abbotsford.
All hands will be on the mats the following weekend of February 5-6 when ADSS hosts the 33rd Alberni Armada Invitational Tournament.
