It was the black and blue’s young grapplers shining Feb. 17 in 100 Mile House when the Williams Lake Wrestling Club competed at Wrestlemania.
The club took 12 athletes to the event, hosted at Peter Skene Ogden secondary.
“This was an elementary playday with students from kindergarten to Grade 7 competing,” said WLWC president Sonia Conrod. “All students that wrestle receive medals. The primary level kids, kindergarten to Grade 3, all receive participation medals and are all winners.”
Conrod said watching this age group compete is extremely entertaining, and enjoyable.
“This is one of the most enjoyable ages to watch as they all have such a great time,” she said. “They put on their ‘grrr’ faces, yet smile even when being pinned.”
Intermediate wrestlers, grades 4-7, received medals for gold, silver and bronze. It was the first tournament for the elementary grapplers who, Conrod said, performed exceptionally well.
First-year wrestlers Gage Davis and Trey Alphonse, the club’s youngest wrestlers, both got ribbons for competing. Grade 2 grapplers Steven Campbell, Gabriel Eves and Boston Mason each also earned medals. Corbin Ash, a first-year wrestler, also won both his matches.
In intermediate grade 4 boys Zane Barr wrestle his way to a silver medal. Colby Ash won bronze, while Nathan Preston, in a tough weight class, battled his way to a fourth-place finish. Also in the division Brayden Hall took bronze.
Grade 5 Alexander Eves, a veteran with the club, also won a bronze medal.
On the girls’ side Haleigh Stubitch, also known as Mighty Mouse by club members, walked away with a gold medal.
The WLCW high school wrestlers also helped referee at the tournament.
“A special thanks goes out to all that helped — Mylissa Widdoes, Makaela Haller, Kerry Normand and Braden Conrod. Also, to Dan Smith for donating his time to drive the bus to 100 Mile so our youngsters could compete,” Conrod said.
Next up, this Saturday, March 3 at Williams Lake secondary, is the WLWC’s Smackdown wrestling tournament.
“We welcome all who would like to come watch, or even volunteer to help out at this tournament,” Conrod said.