2010 Canada West wrestling preview

by Canada West Sports Information Offices

The 2010 CWUAA wrestling championships take place at the University of Calgary "Red Gym".

A change in format will see a champion each day, with the women's events taking place on Friday and the men's on Saturday.

The Simon Fraser Clan ruled the country on the men's side in 2009, the first to dethrone perennial champion Brock Badgers. Gone due to graduation are three Canada West champions, but 2009 68 kg runner-up Max Arcand moves up to 76 kg, while fellow conference silver medalist Arminder Virk also returns. Ninety-kilogram specialist Ali Al-Rekabi also moves up, to the 130-kg class.

The Saskatchewan Huskies won a three-way battle with Regina and Alberta for the team silver medal at last year's CWUAA men's event. Daniel Olver, 2009 Canada West Male Wrestler of the Year, and 2009 CIS Rookie of the Year Ryan Myrfield are back to defend titles, while Chris Hobman (82 kg) bolsters a solid roster. Canada West 2009 Rookie of the Year Connor Malloy is now more experienced and moves up to the 76 kg class for the Regina Cougars. Chad Bates, who took silver in the 61 kg event at this event in 2009, also moves up, to the 68 kg class. Gilbert Musonza also hopes to medal again for the Cougars.

The Alberta Golden Bears appear to be a young team and will be challenged to move up in 2010 under new head coach and former Bear Owen Dawkins. Curtis Horsbaugh, Jason Wass and Coleman Brinker, all bronze medalists at the Canada West level a year ago, return to the lineup. With no returning 2009 conference medal winners, the host Calgary Dinos face a daunting task this weekend. Four wrestlers return, with Brian Hutton (65 kg) and Spencer Watkins (90 kg) both looking to grab podium spots this time around.

One the women's side it is a much different story for the Calgary Dinos. Defending CIS champions Gen Haley (51 kg), Erica Wiebe (72 kg) and Leah Callahan (82 kg) form the base of a very strong Dinos roster, with newcomer Natalie Brady (55 kg) a likely contender for Canada West and CIS Rookie of the Year. Heidi Erdle, 2009 CIS Outstanding Wrestler, was defeated by Jessy Seida, the school's new 63 kg division representative.

Simon Fraser and Saskatchewan finished second and third to Calgary at both the conference and national levels. This year, each looks to gain ground, if not overtake the Dinos for wrestling supremacy.

The SFU Clan are led by former Junior world champion and 48 kg freshman Victoria Anthony, who has the potential to be a champion at all levels. Looking for redemption is senior Stacie Anaka, favoured to win gold in the 67 kg class at Canada West and CIS in 2009, where she claimed silver at both instead. Danielle Lappage is coming off a WCWA. Jill Gallays stood tall at the 2009 CIS championship in the 55 kg event and returns as team captain for the USask Huskies, which had their best-ever national placing a year ago. With CIS silver medalist Amy Dyck having used her eligibility, talents such as Beth Thompson (82 kg) and Natasha Kramble (51 kg) look to build off of recent experience.

The Regina Cougars were a very close fourth at Canada West and fifth at CIS in 2009, but with 2009 Canada West Wrestler of the Year Hajar Ashtiani and fellow fifth-year Meghan King back in the mix, the No. 4-ranked squad has every chance to move up. The remainder of the roster is young, however, as '09 CIS bronze medalist Jasmine Slinn heads up a list of those in their first or second year of eligibility.

The Alberta Pandas placed fifth as host of the 2009 conference finals. Katherine Martin, who has taken bronze at the CIS level her first two seasons and has a Pan-Am junior gold in the 72 kg weight class is a solid performer. Ali Bernard, who wrestled for the U.S. at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won CIS gold four times while with the Regina Cougars, has transferred and looks to make it five national university titles, this time with Alberta.

Alberta Golden Bears & Pandas

Men
2009 Canada West: 4th
2009 CIS: 10th
Last CW title: 1985
Last CIS title: none

Women
2009 Canada West: 5th
2008 CIS: 12th
Last CW title: none
Last CIS title: none

Edmonton - Exactly one year later the University of Alberta wrestling squads finds themselves with a sense of déjà vu.

At this time in 2009, the Golden Bears and Pandas were excited to have Gia Sissouri, Canada's most decorated international wrestler, lead them into action at the Golden Bear Invitational tournament. It would have been his first official act as the new head coach of the program after taking over for 17-year coach Vang Ioannides.

Sissouri, however, didn't stick with the program past the GBI, and now on the eve of 2010 Golden Bear Invitational tournament, the U of A grapplers head onto the mat with another new coach. Former Golden Bear gold medalist Owen Dawkins was anointed the new boss in April of 2009 and is ready to lead his young charges.

Both the Golden Bears and Pandas' rosters are filled with youth which should help Dawkins implement his style quicker. There are just two fifth-year athletes, both Pandas, and between the two teams, 19 freshmen.

Key returnees for both sides include Curtis Horsbaugh, Ben Marois, Jason Wass and Coleman Brinker for the Golden Bears as well as, Katherine Martin and Meaghan Young for the Pandas. Martin, now in her third year, won CIS bronze in her first two seasons and picked up Pan-Am junior gold in the 72 kg weight class in the summer of 2009 in Mexico City.

Newcomers to watch for include Hayley Thomas for the Pandas and James Yurick for the Golden Bears.

Another key athlete for the program itself is Ali Bernard. The native of New Ulm, Minnesota spent four seasons competing with the University of Regina Cougars, where she won four CIS gold medals. She also wrestled for the United States of America at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and now has her sights set on a fifth national gold and a coaching career.

Calgary Dinos

Men
2009 Canada West: 5th
2009 CIS: 11th
Last CW title: 2003
Last CIS title: none

Women
2009 Canada West: 1st
2008 CIS: 1st
Last CW title: 2009
Last CIS title: 2009

Calgary - Acting as host for both the Canada West championships this weekend as well as the CIS championships on March 5-6, the University of Calgary Dinos wrestling teams will be in familiar territory as they grapple for conference and national supremacy.

While a young Dinos men's team has only four returning wrestlers competing at the Canada West meet this weekend, five will be making their debut in high-level conference action and are looking for big results as they begin their varsity careers.

Two of them, Calgarian Brian Hutton and Okotoks native Spencer Watkins, have excellent chances to medal in the 65 kg and 90 kg divisions, respectively. Hutton recently wrestled to third place at the Huskie Open in Saskatoon while Watkins, a highly decorated recruit out of high school, took second place at the Western Open in London, Ont.

Second-year wrestler Alex Burk has possibly Calgary's best chance for a medal in the 82 kg division and is hungry to build on his recent success. Burk placed first at both the Huskie Open and the Western Open, where he beat the highly ranked Corey Lee from Lakehead University.

Head coach Mitch Ostberg is optimistic about his team's chances in the men's competition this weekend.

"I think, realistically, we will be hard pressed to take home the team title this weekend, but we can definitely strive for individual success," said Ostberg. "Our goal is to qualify at least five guys for the CIS meet, and place third as a team. I would be very happy with those results."

The men will face stiff competition from defending national champion Simon Fraser, which is ranked first in the country by a wide margin, and both Saskatchewan and Regina, which sit No. 4 and 5 in the national rankings.

The women's team will get an excellent crack at defending its Canada West team title in front of its home fans but will face stern resistance from the rival Simon Fraser Clan.

Calgary returns three of six CIS gold medalists from a year ago in Gen Haley (51 kg), Erica Wiebe (72 kg) and Leah Callahan (82 kg), and one silver medalist (Jazzie Barker) from two years ago.

Fourth-year veteran Haley is working towards being the first female in the history of CIS wrestling to win gold medals in all five years of eligibility. She is also in the running for five straight Canada West gold medals.

The Dinos also flex their muscles in terms of depth provided from their rookie class. First-year wrestler Natalie Brady has both conference and national Rookie of the Year potential in the 55 kg division, while Jessy Seida will represent the Dinos in the 63 kg division after out-wrestling 2009 CIS Outstanding Wrestler Heidi Erdle at the team qualifier.

Ostberg and the Dinos would love to beat-out their rivals on their home mats.

"It will definitely be entertaining this weekend, as the competition could very well come down to the final duel," said the three-time CIS Women's Coach of the Year. "We're tied with SFU right now at the top of the CIS rankings, and it will be very challenging and very close this weekend."

Regina Cougars

Men
2009 Canada West: 3rd
2009 CIS: 6th
Last Canada West title: 2002
Last CIS title: 1998

Women
2009 Canada West: 4th
2009 CIS: 5th
Last Canada West title: none
Last CIS title: none

Regina - The Regina men's team will depend heavily on the experience of three fifth-year wrestlers this weekend, as head coach Leo McGee expects Chad Bates, Jarret Coels and Brian Lunde to form the backbone of the No. 5-ranked Cougars.

"If this version of the Cougars is going to be successful, these three guys have to wrestle well for us this weekend," McGee said. "We'll be depending on them to provide the leadership we need this weekend, and I fully expect our younger wrestlers to perform as well."

Bates, a three-time Canada West silver medalist, will wrestle at 68 kg this year - the heaviest weight class he's ever entered the conference meet at. Coels, who won a Canada West bronze in both 2008 and 2009, will wrestle at 72 kg. Lunde will enter at 82 kg.

Connor Malloy will wrestle at 76 kg this season after winning Canada West gold and being named the conference's Rookie of the Year last season. First-year wrestler Gaelan Malloy, Connor's younger brother, is expected to wrestle at 65 kg.

Gilbert Musonza won a Canada West silver at 54 kg last year and is expected to medal again as a second-year athlete, while Steven Schneider returns after winning a conference bronze medal at 57 kg.

The Cougars will actually have a fourth fifth-year athlete, as Bjorn Person is in his first season with the wrestling team, but in his final year of eligibility after playing football with the U of R for five seasons. Person will wrestle in the 130 kg class.

Person, Kirk Ackerman (61 kg), and Jimmy Levesque (90 kg) will all be making their Canada West debuts this weekend for Regina.

Anchored by fifth-year wrestlers Hajar Ashtiani and Meghan King, the Cougars women's team has had a strong 2009-10 season and enter the Canada West meet ranked No. 4 in the CIS.

Ashtiani is a heavily decorated athlete, as the Finnish wrestler is a four-time Canada West medalist, a three-time CIS medalist and the reigning Canada West Female Wrestler of the Year. Ashtiani has wrestled at both 48 kg and 51 kg throughout her U of R career. Like last season, King is expected to wrestle at 59 kg for the Cougars.

"We're expecting some strong individual performances this weekend," Regina head coach Leo McGee said. "We're competing well right now, but not having a wrestler at 82 kilos will affect us."

Regina is expected to field an extremely young lineup this weekend, as Ashtiani and King are the only Cougars past their second year of eligibility.

Jasmine Slinn, who should wrestle at 51 kg, was a Canada West and CIS bronze medalist last season in her first year as a Cougar. The second-year wrestler recently finished in third place at the WCWA championships in Marshall, Mo.

Lisa McKibben (67 kg) and Andrea Nillson (72 kg) will also be competing in their second conference championship, while first-year wrestlers Laurin Holhoyi (55 kg) and Jillian Durant (63 kg) are expected to make their Canada West debuts this weekend.

Saskatchewan Huskies

Men
2009 Canada West: 2nd
2009 CIS: 7th
Last CW title: 1986
Last CIS title: none

Women
2009 Canada West: 3rd
2008 CIS: 3rd
Last CW title: none
Last CIS title: none

Saskatoon - The University of Saskatchewan wrestling teams will once again look to be a top contender at the Canada West championships after finishing at the top of the pack in 2008-09.

Saskatchewan's women made a statement with a third place finish in the Canada West and team-best third place finish at the CIS championships. The women were right on the heels of a second-place finish at both championships. Once again the men proved to be strong finishing in the second position, behind the dominant Simon Fraser Clan. The Huskie men look to make a run at their first title since 1985-86.

Both Huskie wrestling teams enter the Canada West championships ranked No. 4 in the CIS.

Leading the way for the Huskies are team captains for the men's and women's teams, Daniel Olver (76 kg) and Jill Gallays (55 kg). Both are reigning Canada West gold medalists and entering the championship ranked No. 1 in CIS in their respective weight classes. Olver was named the Canada West Most Outstanding Male Wrestler, while Gallays won Canada West and CIS gold without having a point scored against her. Both have competed internationally on Canada's Junior National or Senior National team.

"I am excited about this year's Canada West championships," said Huskies head coach Todd Hinds. "Our women's team will be led by two fifth-year athletes. Both Jill Gallays and Beth Thompson have shown great leadership all season and I know that the team will be on the same page come the day of the competition. Our men, will be led by Daniel Olver and Tim Kent, who are ranked No. 1 and 2 in the country. All-in-all, the team is excited and it is a matter of letting go and allowing themselves to perform their best."

To help Olver in their quest are veteran fifth-year Tim Kent (heavyweight), 2009 CIS Rookie of the Year Ryan Myrfield (68 kg), sophomore Landon Squires (90 kg), junior Bryan Blackwell (54 kg) and Chris Hobman (82 kg). Myrfield jumped onto the wrestling scene in 2008-09 with a season that saw him win no less than a silver medal throughout competitions. He is both the reigning Canada West and CIS champion. Myrfield, Squires and Blackwell are ranked No. 3 in CIS.

The women's team will look for a replacement for perennial medalist Amy Dyck (59 kg), who finished CIS eligibility in 2009 with a second straight gold medal. Fifth-year veteran Beth Thompson (82 kg) will look to join Gallays in pushing the team toward a top place finish. Thompson, ranked No. 3 in the CIS, finished 2008-09 with a Canada West gold and a CIS bronze. Also competing for the Huskies is Lindsay Wickstron (48 kg), Natasha Kramble (51 kg) and Koren Pitkethly (59 kg). The three are ranked No. 4 in CIS heading into championship season.

Simon Fraser Clan

Men
2009 Canada West: 1st
2009 CIS: 1st
Last CW title: 2009
Last CIS title: 2009

Women
2009 Canada West: 3rd
2008 CIS: 2nd
Last CW title: 2006
Last CIS title: 2008

Burnaby, B.C. - The Simon Fraser Clan men's and women's wrestling programs are perhaps the most storied in the nation, having produced Canada's lone Olympic champions on both the men's (Daniel Igali, 2000, Sydney) and women's (Carol Huynh, 2008, Beijing) sides, and in 2010, competing in their final Canada West championships before moving to the NCAA in 2010-11, the Clan would like nothing better than to cement that tradition with one final CW championship.

On the men's side, the defending Canada West and CIS champion Clan have a retooled lineup due to the graduation of CIS champions Isaac Wing (65 kg) and Arjan Bhullar (130 kg), and look to senior Raj Virdi (Surrey, B.C.) for leadership. Virdi, a former CIS Rookie of the Year, won a silver medal at CIS Nationals last season. Max Arcand has moved up a weight class after finishing fifth at the CIS championships at 68 kg, Arcand will compete at 76 kg at the Canada West finals. Elsewhere on the team, Arminder Virk (Surrey) was a second team All-Star at the 2009 Canada West championships and finished fifth at the 2009 CIS event, and should score the Clan some valuable points at 72 kg. Ali Al-Rekabi (Surrey) will be asked to step up to 130 kg, after competing at 90 kg last season. The SFU men's program is coached by Justin Abdou, 2009 CIS Coach of the Year.

On the women's side, the Clan's top wrestler in 2009, Ashley McKilligan (48 kg), has moved on due to graduation, but an equally formidable wrestler has stepped into her place. Competing at 48 kg, freshman Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, CA), is a former Junior world champion and recently won the Women's College Wrestling Association title at 48 kg over fellow former Junior world champion Nicole Woody.

The Clan are led by fifth-year senior Stacie Anaka (Victoria, B.C.), who will compete at 67 kg. In 2009, Anaka was upset by Calgary's Vanessa Wilson in the Canada West finals, and also fell to Wilson at the CIS championships to win silver at both tournaments.

A bronze medalist in 2009 at the CIS championships, Danielle Lappage (Olds, AB) is coming off a WCWA championship and is extremely formidable at 63 kg. At 82 kg, Hillary Greening (Courtney, B.C.) is looking to improve on her second-place finish from the 2009 Canada West championships, while the biggest question mark on the team is the health status of Taylor Dick ( Kamloops, B.C.) at 72 kg. The Clan are uncertain if she will be healthy enough to compete. The Clan women are coached by Mike Jones, a former CIS and Canada West Coach of the Year.