January 26, 2015

WRESTLING ROUNDUP: Western Open

Mustang men finish first, women second at Western Open

LONDON, Ont. – The Western Mustangs were well represented this past Saturday as hosts of the annual Western Open in Thames Hall, winning several close matches and reaching the medal round in various men's and women's divisions on their way to a ten medal performance. The Mustangs finished first on the men's side and second on the women's side.

Gold medal finishes include Kyle Bonk-Dann, who weighed in at 100 kg, Alexa Momy at 63 kg, Ligrit Sadiku, who represented London-Western non-varsity in the 54 kg class, and Steven Takahashi, who weighed in at 57 kg and won in his first time competing at the home tournament.

The Mustangs won the men's overall team title with 48 points, followed by the McMaster Marauders in second with 37 points and the Brock Badgers who placed third with 37 points.

Western's Bonk-Dann defeated York University's Zach Werheid in the final match to win the 100 kg gold. Takahashi won the 57 kg division, defeating Queen's graduate student Tim Clement 10-0 in the final with three straight matches by technical superiority. Teammate Riley Otto lost a hard fought final match against Angus Arthur of Team Jamaica in the 90 kg division. Unfortunately, Ingmar Salvador Guzman suffered a lower body injury in his opening match at 82 kg and was forced to withdraw from competition.

Western placed second in the women's division with 39 points, behind the first place Brock Badgers with 44 points. Third place went to the McMaster Marauders with 28 points.

Brock Wrestling Club and World Champion, Jesse MacDonald, competed at 48 kg and won her division defeating Mustang Valerie Ouellette. Teammates Alyssa Medeiros, at 59 kg, and Michelle Szilagyi finished in second place with silver medals. Lastly, Julie Steffler finished third place in the 55 kg class.

Several Mustangs did not compete and instead chose to rest, including veteran Alec Bauer, and women's veteran Mustang and national team member Madi Parks, who will compete at the Dave Schultz International Memorial Competition next weekend. Takahashi and former Mustang Larissa D'Alleva will accompany Bauer and Parks at the tournament and will be coached by assistant Dave Spinney in Colorado Springs from January 28-31, 2015.