Members of the Olds Spartans wrestling team are preparing for one of the biggest matches of the year this coming weekend: the ASAA Rural Provincial Championships in Edson.
They were also in Edson this past weekend for the junior Olympics, a tournament for junior high school students. Bella Cranston and Bryer Brertton competed in that tournament. Plans call for those results to be published at a later date.
On Feb. 4, Spartan wrestlers competed in the Golden Bear tournament in Edmonton.
Coach George Grant liked what he saw.
McKensie Hammer got a bronze medal in the 50-kilogram class.
"She wrestled really well. I was quite impressed with her performance on the day," Grant says. "The only one who gave her any difficulty and beat her was the defending national champion, so that's understandable."
In addition to Hammer, other female wrestlers competing in that tournament were Bella Cranston who finished in fourth as well as Esther Koelstra and Isabelle Schaber, both of whom placed sixth, Grant believes.
Male competitors included Cole Walsh, who Grant believes finished in about fifth place, as well as Anthony Focker, Chase Molitor and Anthony Walsh (no relation to Cole) who all wrestled well, but did not place, Grant says.
"All the kids had really good tournaments. U of A is one of the largest tournaments in Alberta, in fact, all of Canada - with teams coming out of Saskatoon, and then pretty much throughout the province of Alberta," Grant says.
"So there was some tough competition, but the kids performed extremely well. I was pleased to see their progress and how far they've come in the season."
"All in all, the kids have improved and continue to improve," Grant says. "Their eagerness is definitely what's the best part of them because they're just not giving up. They want to get better, they want to improve, and that's great to be a part of."
"The kids performed extremely well. I was pleased to see their progress and how far they've come in the season."GEORGE GRANT OLDS HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING COACH
