Tironese POW Honorable Mention, Alberni Wrestling Update

Congrats to Bulldogs Forward Evan Tironese, who received an Honorable Mention in regards to the BCHL's Player of the Week!

Nanaimo Clippers forward Greg Fraser has been named the Gongshow BCHL Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 3, the league announced Monday.

The Nanaimo native led the short-manned Clips to two comeback wins on the road and posted four points in the process.

With just 10 forwards dressed, Fraser assisted on both third-period goals as the Clippers downed the Prince George Spruce Kings 2-1 and followed up the next night with a goal and an assist in a 5-3 victory over the Merritt Centennials where he earned 1st Star.

Honourable mentions this week go to:

Alberni Valley Bulldogs F Evan Tironese (4G 1A, GWG, 1st Star, Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game)

Penticton Vees F Wade Murphy (2G 5A, 1st Star)

West Kelowna Warriors F David Pope (3G, 1st Star)

West Kelowna Warriors F Marcus Basara (4A, 2nd Star)

Salmon Arm SilverBacks G Adam Clark (2W, .967 sv%, 1.00 GAA, 3rd Star)

Armada Wrestling Team Wins Miri Piri Invitational

Members of the Alberni Armada Wrestling team travelled to the high caliber Miri Piri Invitational in Abbotsford over the weekend.  The tournament featured some of the top wrestlers from the Lower Mainland and throughout BC. The ADSS team did not disappoint and really looks to be coming into form as they make final preparations for an important month of competitions with the Alberni Invitational, the Island Championships and the BC High School Championships fast approaching.

The ADSS boys won the Juvenile Men’s Division followed by Rustom Wrestling Club and Burnaby South Secondary who finished second and third respectively.  The girls team finished fourth place behind Maple Ridge, Guildford Park, and John Oliver.  Both teams managed high placings despite the fact that a number of wrestlers did not travel due to injury, illness, and other commitments.

The boys were once again led by the gold medal performance of Grade 10 standout Nolan Badovinac.  Nolan won the men’s 74 kilogram division in dominating fashion.  “Nolan looked really good in all his matches.  As a Grade 10, he continues to impress opposing coaches and athletes.  The challenge right now is keeping him sharp. Sometimes you learn more from your losses than you do your wins.  There are some little things that we are focusing on that will help him continue to win as the level of competition rises in the later stages of the season,” commented Coach James Messenger.

Jordan Wagner (54 kg) and Dean Leyland (70 kg) also had great tournaments dropping just one match each to finish with silver medals.  Jonathan Spencer (74kg) and Eryk McKenzie (70kg) finished with bronze medals in their respective weight classes.  Jesse Wagner (5th at 54kg), Sheldon Haddad (5th at 60kg), Russell David (6th at 54kg), and Johannes Kulich (6th at 70kg) rounded out the top 6 placings for the Armada boys.

On the girls side Michel Kurucz (60 kg) and Remi Wells (57kg) both won bronze medals in their weight classes. Lauren Barker (57kg) wrestled tough to finish fifth in her weight class.  The future looks bright as all three of these athletes are just in Grade 10. The  girls team hopes to move up a few notches in the standings when they have their full team competing.

Lone EJ Dunn wrestler, Aaron Badovinac was invited to travel with the ADSS team and rose to the occasion finishing second in the 54 kilogram Junior Boys Division.

“All our athletes wrestled really well today,” assessed Coach Chris Bodnar.  “Under the leadership of our Grade 12 wrestlers Jonathan Spencer and Sheldon Haddad we have a core group of Grade 10 wrestlers who are going to be a force to reckon with.  As coaches I think we thought we were going to have to wait a year or two to cash in on their hard work and development.  However, I think the results today have shown that this team of athletes may just make a run at a few titles before the year is done.”