January 30, 2012

WRESTLING ROUNDUP: Results from Western Open

Brock Badgers:

LONDON, Ont. - The Brock men's and women's wrestling teams both placed second overall at the Western University Open Saturday.

The Brock women had three first place finishers, which included Jade Parsons (51kg), Rebecca Levitt (67kg) and Alishah Depass (82kg). Placing second overall were Natascha Ballas (59kg) and Marissa Sorrell (63kg). Rounding out the Brock medalists was Stephanie Riopel who captured bronze at 51kg.

For the Brock men, Tim Clement (57kg) and Mike Dancey (130kg) both captured silver. Michio Clarke (54kg) and John Cottrill (68kg) both finished third overall. Rounding out the Badgers top finishers were Mike Scamurra (72kg), AJ Reid (76kg) and Anton Schipillo (82kg) who all placed fourth in their respective weight classes.

Source: Badgers Athletics

Western Mustangs:

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 team 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’s 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 2nd 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 3rd with 21 points.

Other individual medallists were rookies Ethan Smith (2nd 60 kg), Valerie Ouellette (2nd 48 kg), and London-Western Age-Group Program athletes, Anna McKee of Catholic Central HS (2nd 51 kg) and Castille Barry of Central HS (2nd 51 kg).

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 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Rishav (Fes) Ranjit (57 kg) and Shawn Wheatley (90 kg) were the only Mustangs placing in the top two in their respective divisions.

Source: Mustangs Athletics