Junior-Senior Nationals

Edmonton, March 21-23, 2014

Eight team members came home with hardware from the Junior-Senior National Championships as London-Western grapplers earned eight total medals including two gold, four silver, and two bronze.

Anna McKee, this season’s OUA Rookie of the Year, won the individual gold in the Junior (U20) division defeating Alberta’s Hayley Heffel (Bears WC) 12-4 in the 59 kg final. The London CCH graduate recently won the OUA Championships in her debut campaign.

Steven Takahashi placed second in a strong 57 kg Senior Men’s division losing a close 2-2 final vs. David Tremblay, formerly of the Montreal Wrestling Club. Tremblay was Canada’s 2012 London Olympic representative. Takahashi won an exciting National Team challenge match vs. Isaac Bernard (Burnaby Mountain WC) on a 9-9 tie. Bernard who placed third was able to challenge Takahashi since they had not met during the tournament, and took a substantial 9-0 lead on Takahashi. Takahashi was able to mount an incredible comeback, including a spectacular shoulder throw, and score nine points within the last 45 seconds in the match to win on the tie.

Riley Otto, 2014 CIS champion at 90kg, won silver and defeated Montreal’s Jordan Steen in a close semi-final match to advance to the finals. Otto transferred from Concordia in 2013 and was Steen’s training partner. Otto lost to Tamerlan Tagziev of Team Impact in the 86 kg final.

Brianne Barry won four matches in the 53 kg weight class defeating Jade Parsons (Brock WC) in the bronze medal match. Barry, who won both the OUA and CIS Outstanding Wrestler Award in 2013-14, was able to use her upper-body techniques and throw Parsons and secure the pin.

Madi Parks had a solid tournament winning four matches to secure the bronze medal in the 48 kg Senior Women’s division. The CIS second team all-Canadian, defeated Calgary’s Jose Tremblay 6-0 in the bronze medal match.

Kyle Bonk-Dann won silver in the 96 kg Junior Greco roman division. Two London-Western teammates placed in the Greco Roman division – Andrew Ross was the gold medal recipient in the senior 71 kg while Joe Dashou placed second at 66 kg. Greco Roman style wrestling focuses on upper body techniques where it is prohibited to attack or use the legs in scoring.

Riley Otto & Josh Proctor —  CIS Champions

Top 6

• 4^th  Larissa D’Alleva 63 kg Senior Women
• 5^th  Caleb Rutner 66 kg  Junior Men
• 5^th  Kyle Bonk 96 kg Junior Men & Senior Men
• 5^th  Alyssa Medeiros 55 kg Junior Women
• 5^th  Michelle Szilagyi 82 Junior Women
• 6^th  Alexa Momy 59 kg Junior Women