The Williams Lake Wrestling Club has hit the mat for its 2013/14 season, recently attending the Prince George Secondary School Icebreaker Tournament.
Sonia Conrod, president and head coach of the Williams Lake Wrestling Club, said the tournament was a great opportunity for the club’s more experienced grapplers to shake off some mat rust, and also a tough test for the club’s newer members.
“The tournament is similar to zones and provincials where athletes are pooled grades 8 to 12,” Sonia said. “Our first-year students had intense matches — Grade 8s taking on veterans — and did very well. It’s a sign of what’s to come in the season.”
Team captain Kerry Normand injured his shoulder early but still managed to take fourth in the 90-kilogram class. First-year grappler Peter Fayowski, also competing in his first tournament, won a bronze medal in the 110-kg class.
Veteran Braden Conrod, starting his eighth year with the WLWC, had a clean sweep in the 54-kg weight class to win the gold medal.
Third-year wrestler Kara Pare lost her first match but battled her way to three consecutive wins to also win gold in the 57-kg weight class.
Grade 8 Haleigh Stubtich, competing in a tough division battling former provincial medalists, just missed the podium taking fought in the 51-kg class. Mikaela Lemon, also in Grade 8, took bronze. Danielle Schultz also had some tough competition , missing the podium by one point, despite injuring her elbow.
Sonia added the club has recruited a great group of coaches and student coaches to volunteer their time with the club this season. Coaches include Sonia, Jeremy Thompson, Stuart Campbell, Jodi Scheer and Guy Lemon. Keenan Taylor, a nationally certified official, and Phil Johnson, a nationals coach from the 100 Mile House Wrestling Club, will also be making appearances to help the club during the season.
Helping out with the club’s elementary programs are Braden, Makaela Haller and Pare.
“We have a very busy season ahead of us with many possible tournaments,” Sonia said. “We will be travelling all over the province as we train for B.C. provincials.”
Coming up for the WLWC is a trip to Langley for the War on the Floor in Langley Dec. 19-21.