Last weekend seven Campbell River wrestlers were podium-bound at the 2013 BC High School Wrestling Championships in Duncan.
Timberline finished with their best team and individual results ever, with three medals and four top-six placings. The wolves earned a tenth place finish in the boys division, and an impressive fourth place finish in the team aggregate division (including both boys and girls team points).
Individually, Timberline was led by the lone grade 12 and returning provincial champ, Ashley Osachuk, who claimed her second title in as many years.
Close behind was Brett Nelson who lost a hard fought match in the finals. Nelson was inches away from pinning his opponent, before he escaped from his grasps.
The bout was named the most outstanding match of the tournament, which was voted on by all of the tournament officials.
Another Timberline silver medal was earned by grade 9 Conlan Foy. Last season Foy was named the Up and Coming Campbell River wrestler, and he did not disappoint with his outstanding performance this year.
“He has great training partners, and even though he may be a bit smaller and less experienced than his teammates, that doesn’t deter him, which has ultimately made him into a better wrestler,” says coach Paul Murphy of Timberline.
Rounding out the top six for the wolves was Dawson McKay, who had his best tournament of the season.
“Dawson really impressed us this weekend. He is proving that he is not just a big strong guy, he is a good wrestler too,” Murphy says.
Carihi too had some great results at the top tournament of the year. Mike Herman earned a silver medal, losing a close match in the finals. This is their best boys finish since coach Matt Sparling won a silver medal for Carihi 10 years ago.
“I thought he had it,” says a proud Sparling, “even though he did not win the gold, I still think he was the better wrestler in the finals.”
Hailey Dean was the other Carihi wrestler to earn some hardware, finishing third and taking home the bronze medal. Dean lost a close match on the first day, and then dominated on day two, on her way to the bronze.
Grade 9 Alison McPhee finished in fifth place, who competed outside of her regular division.
Other competing wrestlers were Petro Kindy-Olsen and Alex Jinda. Both are grade 9 Carihi athletes who did not see the podium this weekend, but gained some valuable for the following season.
Next up for our local wrestlers is the National Championships this April in Saskatoon. The Campbell River Wrestling Association will be organizing hot dog sales at Save On Foods and Discovery Foods, and will be bagging groceries at Super Store next month to help pay for expenses to Saskatoon. They will also be handing out a wrestling magazine at each event that will highlight the top local wrestlers, and will profile the success of wrestling within our community.