This has been one of the best seasons for Campbell River wrestlers since the 1990s and it couldn’t have ended any better than with three top five finishers at the 2012 Cadet/Juvenile Canadian National Wrestling Championships held in Fredericton, New Brunswick, April 13-14.
This event is of significant importance for all the up-and-coming wrestlers who will attempt to crack future Olympic teams and participate in national team programs.
Wrestlers from every province were in attendance in every different weight class for both the Juvenile category (17-18 years old) and the Cadet category (15-16 years old). In total, there are 28 weight categories combined for men and women in the each age group.
Friday’s preliminary rounds saw Brett Nelson opening strong by pinning his opponents in his first two matches. This placed him in semi-finals on Saturday.
He went on to pin his third opponent in semis, but lost in a tight final match to earn a silver medal.
Nelson also wrestled on Sunday in a bid to win a spot on Team Canada and was only one match away from making the team.
Mike Herman placed fifth in his weight category beating out his long-time Port Alberni rival.
Ashley Osachuk had a tough start to her weekend success with a loss in her first match. Staying strong though, she focussed in on one match at a time and finished fourth in her weight category.
Osachuk also tried out for Team Canada finishing third, one match short of making the team.
A team of eighteen wrestlers from Vancouver Island travelled to the national tournament, 14 of whom placed in the top six in their respective divisions.
