By Larry Moko
Some of the top young wrestlers from across the country converged on Hamilton for the Bishop Ryan Open tournament Friday.
A total of 347 athletes from seven provinces and one territory took part in the prestigious annual event.
An eagerly anticipated match at the competition was in the girls' 64-kilogram class where Taylor Engelen of the Bishop Ryan Celtics was up against Surrey B.C.'s Natalie Wojciechowski of Coast Wrestling.
Wojciechowski captured the gold medal at the most recent Canada Summer Games in St. John's, N.L., while Engelen came home with the bronze.
This time around, however, Engelen won the first-place match over Wojciechowski with a 4-2 decision.
"It went really well," Celtics wrestling coach Sheldon Francis said of the meet. "It's easy to choose a highlight -- Taylor's match against Natalie. She lost to Natalie at nationals and lost to her at the Canada Summer Games.
"So for her to be able to beat Natalie this time, is large. We knew she had the ability, she just needed to do it."
Engelen is the defending OFSAA champion.
"Taylor wrestled smart," Francis added. "She was able to take advantage of some opportunities that Natalie presented. And she didn't let Natalie tie her up to slow her down."
Bishop Ryan entered 29 wrestlers and swept top honours in the boys, girls, and overall team categories. Forty-nine teams were represented.
Another Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board squad -- the St. Thomas More Knights -- placed fifth in overall points. They came third in the boys' division and seventh in girls.
More's most outstanding performance was turned in by Aydan Cook. He and Tanner Ward of the Knights won gold in the boys' 61 and 41 kg divisions respectively.
"Aydan did a great job of showcasing what he's capable of doing on this national stage," Francis said. "We're happy for a fellow Hamilton Catholic wrestler. It's a culmination of everything he has been working on."
Cook picked up a bronze medal at OFSAA in the 57.5 kg division last season. He's also a former provincial cadet champion.
Other Celtics to finish first included Christian Coccia (boys' 51 kg), two-time defending OFSAA champion Ella De Almeida (girls' 67.5 kg) and Carlos Trombetta (boys' 38 kg).
Other top-six placings by Hamilton Catholic individuals were: Adam Huybers, Cathedral, second, B 44 kg; Leon Blais, Bishop Ryan, fourth, B 44 kg; Jacob Fazari, Bishop Ryan, third, B 47.5 kg; Aldair Barahona, Cathedral, sixth, B 51 kg; Sebastian Lucia, Bishop Ryan, sixth, B 54 kg; Nathan Evangelista, More, sixth, B 57.5 kg; Jawad Al-Mesaar, Cathedral, fourth, B 61 kg; Ion Lumi, Bishop Ryan, fourth, B 67.5 kg; Nicholas Groppo, Bishop Ryan, fourth, B 72 kg; Kayden Nemhara, Bishop Ryan, sixth, B 72 kg; Amir Newallo, Cathedral, sixth, B 77 kg; Anthony Perrins, Bishop Ryan, third, 89 kg; Shon Mah, Cathedral, sixth, 95 kg; Luca Capretta, More, fifth, 130 kg; Gabrielle Stienstra, More, third, G 47.5 kg; Elma Albaba, Bishop Ryan, third, G 57.5 kg; Candice Abanda, Cathedral, fifth, G 64 kg; Selena Shweihat, Bishop Ryan, sixth, G 64 kg; Jaslene Niculita, Bishop Ryan, second, G 83 kg; Maya Kurpan, More, fifth, G 83 kg; Sophie Levesque, St. Jean de Brébeuf, sixth, G 83 kg; Janelle Lethbridge, More, second, G 89-95 kg.
The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic high school wrestling championships are Feb. 12.
Photos by Richard Andoga
More photos on HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page
