Elementary grapplers storm Wrestlemania

The Williams Lake Wrestling Club, joined by Glendale elementary’s and Mountview elementary’s wrestling teams, were in 100 Mile House this past Friday, Feb. 18 where 34 local elementary grapplers joined 150 competitors from around the region for the 100 Mile House Wrestling Club’s Wrestlemania tournament.Williams Lake wrestlers scooped up 27 top-three podium finishes followed by several respectable fourth and fifth-place finishes.Ages and weights were pooled for the tournament.Coaches and parents said all of the Williams Lake competitors worked extremely hard and showed great sportsmanship during the event, cheering each other on and showing exceptional team spirit while representing their hometown club.In the grades 4-5 division, Parker Engel showed strong skills bringing home a gold medal. Engel, wrestling in his first year as a member of the WLWC, is undefeated in tournament competition this year.Meanwhile, Mountview’s Tyrell Wiggins took gold and Jacob Jackson nabbed silver in their pool. For Glendale, Jake Ibbotson took gold. The WLWC’s Alexander Eves took fourth and Ian Schwalm named fifth, both receiving participation medals for their efforts.Matthew Matheson also wrestled to a silver medal in his grouping, while Mountview’s Mason Seaward took gold. In another group, Mountview’s Brandon Little took bronze.Also competing in grades 4-5 matches, the WLWC’s Mark Johnston took bronze, while Austin Moore finished fourth.In the girl’s grades 4-5 division, Glendale’s Tresa Fitzpatrick and the WLWC’s April Frank both took gold medals.In the boys grades 6-7 division, the WLWC’s Braden Conrod, Vincent Beaudoin and Kaylan Bowe, and Mountview’s Kurtis Olsen, Braedon Pickard, and Glendale’s Matthew Ibbotson won gold medals.Winning silver medals for the WLWC were Brayden Haines and Ryan Johnson, while Glendale’s Nathan Randall and Brandon Bunce and Mountview’s Brody Themassen won silvers.In the girls grades 6-7 division, gold medals went to WLWC’s Heatherly Mann and Mountview’s Tori Rochefort, while silver medals were picked up by the WLWC’s Hazel Ruger and Glendale’s Haleigh Stabitsch. Taking bronze were Glendale’s Lexi Rimmer and the WLWC’s Kendra Shorter.The WLWC’s high school wrestlers including Kerry Normand, Mylissa Widdoes and Jeremy Thompson refereed the event.Coming up for the WLWC is the School District 27 Intermediate Championships on March 4 at 9:30 a.m. at Glendale elementary, while 11 of the WLWC’s high school grapplers head off to Abbotsford to compete at the provincial championships this weekend.