By Larry Moko
The 2026 OFSAA wrestling championships in Peterborough were filled with joy and heartbreak for the Bishop Ryan Celtics.
While St. Mary of Pickering finished on top of the girls, boys and overall point totals, the Celtics gave them a battle right to the end.
"It came down to the last match of the day," Bishop Ryan coach Sheldon Francis said. "In the girls' 38kg final, Atorina Georgis fought her heart out for us. When the time was up in her match, it was tied, 10-10, and we had more criteria.
"We were jubilant and so excited. But then St. Mary challenged the call. It took an extremely long time to figure out the challenge ... five to 10 minutes."
And the official decision?
"They came back with St. Mary getting two extra points from the takedown. So we went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows at that point."
With that ruling, Bishop Ryan came second behind St. Mary in girls' team (142-135) and overall team (250-171).
More than 900 athletes from 250 Ontario schools took part in the two-day event.
In addition to the silver medal by Georgis, Bishop Ryan picked up two gold medals (Taylor Engelen, G 61kg, and Ella de Almeida, G 67.5kg) plus a pair of bronze (Jesse Vaccarella,B 95kg, and Jaslene Niculita, G 83kg).
"I would rather have a bronze than a silver any day," four-year veteran Niculita said. "For silver, you lose in the final. This was a good ending for me. I had never won an OFSAA medal before.
"Getting all the way through this program changes you.
Francis was also pleased to see Vaccarella medal.
"Jesse came off going to OFSAA with the football team," Francis said. "He was one of the top running backs in the province. Now he's one of the top light heavyweights in the province getting bronze."
Defending champion St. Mary had an advantage over Bishop Ryan in the team standings because they entered more wrestlers for the competition.
"St. Mary came with 31 athletes -- 15 boys, 16 girls qualified," the BR coach said. "We had only 14 athletes -- nine girls, five boys. So for our girls to bring it down to the wire was great. It speaks to the quality of athletes that we have here."
In the boys' division, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic representatives from St. Thomas More impressed with a best-ever third-place team finish. That included eight top-10 finishes.
Individually, More's Tanner Ward placed second (B 41kg), while Aydan Cook (B 61kg) and Gabrielle Ajaguno (G 44kg) each came third.
Nathan Evangelista climbed the podium for More, as well, with a fifth-place boys' 57kg showing.
Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic also got a bronze-medal performance by Anthony Canuto of the St. Jean de Brébeuf Braves (B 47.5kg) and a bronze by Claire Ashby of the St. Mary Crusaders (G 54kg).
Photos by R.F. (Bob) Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
