By Larry Moko
A special presentation was made at this year's Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic high school wrestling championships.
At his home gym, Aydan Cook of the St. Thomas More Knights received a poster commemorating his 100th win in the sport.
"Last week Aydan celebrated his 100th win in an STM singlet," More coach Stefanie West said. "It's the first time that's ever happened in St. Thomas More history."
The brief ceremony was held at the annual city competition after the playing of the national anthem Thursday.
"I really didn't know what was happening," Cook said. "The presentation was pretty 'sick'.
"I got the 100th win at the West Niagara tournament. It was a quick tech fall for the championship."
Cook was a bronze-medal winner at OFSAA last year in the 57.5 kg weight class.
On and off the mat West says Cook has been instrumental in More building a strong high school wrestling program. This is the school's sixth year for the re-introduction of mat action. Last year STM impressively had eight top-10 finishes at OFSAA and placed fourth overall out of 238 teams."
"Aydan has been our captain the last two years," West said. "He's been an incredible leader. This team is as much his baby as it is mine.
"Today, he won all of his 61 kg matches decisively."
Earlier this month, Cook captured bronze at the U-19 provincial club level in Markham.
"I want to win OFSAA, but that's like the smaller picture," Cook said. "In the bigger picture I want to go on and win nationals this year which qualifies for Pan Ams and world team trials."
More swept all three of the divisional point standings Thursday -- boys, girls and overall team. In each category the Bishop Ryan Celtics came second and the St. Jean de Brébeuf Braves ended up third.
It was More's second-consecutive combined city points title.
"We're happy that wrestling in Hamilton is so big," Bishop Ryan Celtics coach Sheldon Francis said. "We have 170-plus athletes. And it's not just the numbers, we have a lot of athletes who are potentially going to be in an OFSAA final in Peterborough (March 3-4)."
Francis said an especially entertaining 61 kg girls' match at the city championships had Juliana Ruiu of Bishop Ryan against Katalina Sanchez-Restrepo of More.
"That was a great match," Francis said. "Very exciting. It got the place jumpin."
Impressive, too, was Gianna Gallo of More.
"Gianna is our female team captain," West said. "She plays in Oakville's OPDL soccer program and this morning she had a university/college soccer showcase game in Mississauga.
"After playing that game, she made it back to this tournament to be with her team. And she won all of her 51 kg matches to get first."
Next up is the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference championships Feb. 19 at Bishop Ryan.
First-place Girls:
38 kg -- Atorina Georgis, BR
44 kg -- Gabrielle Ajagunmo, More
47.5 kg -- Tamara Cifuentes, More
51 kg -- Gianna Gallo, More
54 kg -- Claire Ashby, St. Mary
57.5 kg -- Elma Albaba, BR
61 kg -- Taylor Engelen, BR
64 kg -- Daniella DeLuca, More
67.5 kg -- Ella De Almeida, BR
72 kg -- Monica Burt, More
77 kg -- Tee-Lyne Chaisson, More
83 kg -- Jaslene Niculita, BR
89 kg -- Itiaron Olowola, More
95 kg -- Jenelle Lethbridge, More.
First-place Boys:
41 kg -- Tanner Ward, More
47.5 kg -- Anthony Canuto, Brebeuf
51 kg -- Christian Coccia, BR
54 kg -- Sebastian Lucia, BR
57.5 kg -- Nathan Evangelista, More
61 kg -- Aydan Cook, More
64 kg -- Yunus Kinaci, More
67.5 kg -- Ion Lumi, BR
72 kg -- Nicholas Groppo, BR
77 kg -- Amir Newallo, Cathedral
83 kg -- Wylie Beach, More
89 kg -- Shon Mah, Cathedral
95 kg -- Jesse Vaccarella, BR
130 kg -- Caleb Bryan, More
130+ kg -- Austin Raposo-Campbell, More
Photos by Richard Andoga
More photos on HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page
