Morning Star Staff
It was a sweet tune-up for the provincial finals for Vernon Secondary School’s wrestling team last weekend.
The Panthers earned five medals at the Okanagan zone tournament in Kamloops, highlighted by Grade 12 Tyler Weibe, who set a new team record in pinning his opponent in the 88 kg class.
“It was an incredible display of a quick series of moves”, said VSS co-coach Rob Eggert. “Tyler took his opponent from a standing starting stance to a single leg takedown, to a shoulder blade pin in eight seconds.”
Wiebe earned a bronze in his weight division.
Brothers Joe and Sam Eggert also had success at the zones.
Joe Eggert went undefeated in the 38 kg classwith a head and arm pin in his final match to win gold.
Sam Eggert displayed a perfect arm toss in his initial bout, then nearly stuck the reigning B.C. bronze medalist in the 48-kilo class. Sam Eggert, though, settled for a silver medal.
Grade 8 bronze medalist Kalvin Blaeser, in the 57 kg class, came from behind in his first match to earn a pin with 20 seconds left in the round.
Tyler Jackson, undefeated all season, ended up with silver in the 51 kg.
“Tyler was ahead in points in his championship bout but made a costly move,” said Rob Eggert. “I’m sure he would like to have that one back.”
VSS placed fourth out of 14 teams, qualifying them to compete with the best in B.C. at the provincials Feb. 28 in Prince George.
“This is our first year of taking a team to the provincials, thanks to the support of our school and Dr. Rex Hawthorne,” said Panthers co-coach Brad Wyse.
“The boys are determined to do their best and will be training all of this week, combining practices with Penticton’s club to fine-tune techniques with different practicing partners.”
