JANUARY 27-28, 2012 -- It was a busy but successful weekend for the Mustang wrestlers. Half of the Western Mustangs wrestling team represented the London-Western municipal wrestling club this weekend at the Ontario Junior Wrestling Championships in St. Catharines, Ontario and dueled to a well-deserved victory. Meanwhile, the remainder of competitors clinched the top spot on home soil as the Mustangs hosted the Western Open Tournament at Thames Hall.
The Stangs are this year's junior men’s and women’s Provincial Team Champions. It is the first time both team titles have been captured at the U20 provincial championships sanctioned by the Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association.
A combined eight medals were won, including 3 gold in the men’s division by Mustangs
Steven Takahashi (55 kg) and
Ilya Abelev (74 kg), as well as Mustang recruit, Brian Cowan of Dorchester S.S., who won the 50 kg gold.
Both events were the final opportunities for the Mustangs leading into the OUA Championships to be held at McMaster University on February 11.
In the men’s division, the Mustangs amassed 46 team points with Hamilton Wrestling Club placing 2
nd with 32 points and Brock’s 28 points. It was closer in the women’s division with the mustangs edging Brock by four points – 29-25. Guelph was 3
rd with 21 points.
Other individual medallists were rookies
Ethan Smith (2
nd 60 kg),
Valerie Ouellette (2
nd 48 kg), and London-Western Age-Group Program athletes, Anna McKee of Catholic Central HS (2
nd 51 kg) and Castille Barry of Central HS (2
nd 51 kg).
Men’s Results
1
st Steven Takahashi 55 kg
1
st Ilya Abelev 74 kg
1
st Brian Cowan* 50 kg
2
nd Ethan Smith 60 kg
4
th Sammy Hanna 74 kg
4
th Justin Nicholls 120 kg
5
th Ameed Lakhani 50 kg
5
th Kyle Bonk* 96 kg
Women’s Results
2
nd Valerie Ouellette 48 kg
2
nd Andrea Wakelin 59 kg
2
nd Anna McKee* 51 kg
3
rd Castille Barry* 51 kg
5
th Cassie Leigh 48 kg
5
th Elhame Gashi 51 kg
5
th Alyssa Medeiros* 55 kg
*non-varsity (not OUA/CIS eligible)
At Thames Hall, the Mustang women’s wrestling team placed first in the varsity division at the Western Open Wrestling Tournament held on January 28.
The Mustangs were led by gold medallists
Brianne Barry (55 kg) and #Larissa D’Alleva# (63 kg). London-Western teammate, Ramona Balfour (48 kg) also claimed the individual gold. The combined Mustang and London-Western team captured the overall women’s team title.
The men’s varsity division was easily won by defending CIS champions -- Concordia University -- while Brock and McMaster placed 2
nd and 3
rd respectively.
Rishav (Fes) Ranjit (57 kg) and
Shawn Wheatley (90 kg) were the only Mustangs placing in the top two in their respective divisions.
The Mustangs absent from the Western Open competed in the Junior Championships held the same day.
Women’s Individual results:
1
st – Brianne Barry 55 kg
1
st – Larissa D’Alleva 63 kg
1
st – Ramona Balfour* 48 kg
2
nd – Shelby Riddell 82 kg
2
nd – Liz Sera* 55 kg
3
rd – Monica Varallo 72 kg
3
rd – Sara Pattenaude* 59 kg
4
th – Arllene Williams 67 kg
Men's individual results:
2
nd – Josh Dawson* 76 kg
3
rd – Rishav Ranjit 57 kg
3
rd – Shawn Wheatley 90 kg
4
th – Ben Spitzke 54 kg
4
th – Tim Bartja 61 kg
4
th – Josh Proctor 61 kg
6
th – Matt Hutchison 82 kg
*non-varsity (London-Western)
Team Results
Women's Varsity
Western 35
Brock 34
U of Regina 29
Women’s Overall Club
London-Western 57
Brock 34
Regina 29
Men’s Varsity
Concordia 70
Brock 33
McMaster 28
Men’s Overall Club
Montreal 98
Guelph 51
Brock 33
