Wrestlers pin down gold medals
Cubby Phillips
The men won their tenth straight championship in convincing fashion taking home eight of the ten gold medals available. The women won their fourth straight OUA championship taking two gold, two silver and a bronze. By qualifying in eight of the ten men's divisions and five of the seven women's divisions Brock is in the best position to challenge for the team titles at the CIS. In fact the men will be favoured going in.
Brock men were unbelievable in winning their eight golds by a combined 183-8 score which included 17 wins by technical superiority and two pins. They won the team event by 33 points over Lakehead, who fought Guelph and McMaster for second. For the women, the margin of victory was just four points over Western.
Leading the way for the men was rookie Cleo Ncube who was named OUA Outstanding Male Wrestler after winning the 65 kg weight class with a perfect 3-0 record including two pins and a convincing 14-4 victory in the finals. Brock also winning gold were Clint Kingsbury who took the 54 kg class with two 10-0 victories. At 57 kg, it was Jamie Macari winning his second straight OUA title. Ryan Weicker took the 68 kg gold as he tries to become the first wrestler to win four straight CIS championships. Adam Fera captured the 82 kg title, Mike Neufeld won in the 90 kg class and Steve Snyders who ranked fourth in the CIS going into the tournament took the heavyweight title. Rounding out the gold medallists was Canadian Olympic team member Evan MacDonald who easily took the 72 kg weight class with three 10-0 victories.
Richard DesChatelets, coach of the wrestling team, was not surprised by the showing. "This is the best team we have ever had," he started. "Macari and the rookie Ncube really wrestled well and MacKinnon wrestled very well and just missed qualifying for the CIS tournament." DesChatelets conceded that the east did not give the men much competition but warned that the CIS will be more of a challenge. "Simon Fraser and Saskatchewan both have good teams and the team title could be decided in the preliminary round."
For the women it was Heather Sweezey leading the way taking gold in the 57 kg class while rookie Stephanie Szmiett took gold in the 48 kg division. Capturing silver were Golda Parahoo at 65 kg and Jen Hanson in the 80 kg class. Alan King took bronze in the 53 kg division.
"We are looking for a top three finish at the CIS for the women" commented DesChatelets. The women will have their work cut out for them as Simon Fraser, Calgary and Western all qualified wrestlers in all seven weight classes while Brock only qualified five. Once again they will be led by last year's CIS champion Sweezey.
In other wrestling news Tonya Verbeek got one step closer to becoming a member of the Canadian Olympic team by defeating the top Canadian in her weight class. Verbeek is off to Tunisia to wrestle in an international competition were she must finish in the top three to qualify for the Olympics.
"We have no doubt Tonya will be able to qualify. Her victory was a great inspiration for the women's team," DesChatelets stated. "The mood of the women's team changed when they found out Tonya won."
Brock hosts the CIS men's and women's championships in the Bob Davis Gymnasium March 4-6.
