ADSS Wrestlers Win Island Title For Record 14th
Year In A Row
The ADSS wrestling team has a rich history
and tradition and added another milestone to their dynasty on the weekend. The
ADSS Boys Wrestling team won the Vancouver Island Secondary Wrestling
Championship in Ucluelet on the weekend for the 26th time in the
past 31 years and the 14th year in a row.
The ADSS boys finished with a whopping 119
points, more than double the 45 points accumulated by second place Dover Bay of
Nanaimo. Timberline of Campbell River were third with 43 points followed by
Esquimalt of Victoria at 30 points and Cowichan Secondary at 21 points. The other top ten teams were Queen of Angles,
Reynolds, Ballenas, Oak Bay and Francis Kelsey and Gulf Islands tied for tenth.
The ADSS Girls team were not able to make
it a clean sweep for ADSS as they finished second to the host team from
Ucluelet. Ucluelet were first with 36
points with ADSS at 26 points and Cowichan at 21 points. Timberline were fourth
in the girls division with 16 points and Campbell River Secondary fifth with 12
points. The reminiang teams in the top 10 for the girls were Queen of Angles,
Dover Bay, Quamichan, Francis Kelsey and our own middle school team from Dunn.
“The continued dominance of our ADSS
wrestlers on the Island scene is truly a remarkable accomplishment,” stated
Alberni Wrestling Director Tom McEvay, “there are few teams in any sport at any
level who can show this type of legacy over such a long period of time. We are
certainly proud of our young wrestlers, their dedicated coaches and the amazing
support we get from our community.”
ADSS wrestlers won nine of the 29 weight
classes contested at the Islands. On the boys side the team were led by their
young guns. Grade 10 wrestler Dean Leyland had the tournament of his career so
far as he won gold in the very tough 70 kg division. Not only did Leyland win
his division he was selected as the events Most Outstanding Male Wrestler.
“Dean had a terrific tournament,” exclaimed
head ADSS coach John McDonald, “he wrestled to his potential and beyond. Every
match he had was a close battle and each time he kept his composure, did what
he needed to do and pulled out the wins. Some of his victories were of the last
second variety which is remarkable for a grade 10 at a high school
championship.”
ADSS grade 10 wrestler Nolan Badovinac
continued his tremendous season with another tournament victory. Badovinac took
gold at 74 kg and is expected to compete for the provincial gold at the BC’s in
two weeks in Duncan. Grade 11 twins Jesse and Jordan Wagner were unstoppable on
route to winning the 51 kg and 54 kg weight classes respectively. Fellow grade
11 Christian Anderson was dominant in taking the 90 kg weight class while grade
12 wrestler Cole Walton returned from injury to win the 110 kg weight.
In the girls division it was grade 12
Jordon Bodnar winning her unprecedented 5th straight Island gold at
43 kg. Bodnar is also a 4 time BC
champion and will lead the ADSS girls into the BC’s in Duncan. Grade 10
wrestler Remi Wells continued her outstanding season with an Island gold at 57
kg. Up and coming grade 9 wrestler Micaela Dick surprized no one in winning the
69 kg weight class. Despite being so young both Wells and Dick could compete
for medals at the BC’s this year.
The strength of the Alberni Wrestling
program is not just evident in their gold medal results. Six local wrestlers
brought home silver medals and five captured bronze. ADSS captain and grade 12
wrestler Jonathan Spencer took second at 74 kg while fellow graduating wrestler
Bailey Durning was second at 64 kg on the girls side. Both of these senior wrestlers are medal
threats in Duncan. Grade 10’s Lauren Barker, Michel Kurucz took slivers at 57
and 60 kg as did another young ADSS wrestler Julia McGowan at 69 kg. Grade 8
wrestler Trevor Barker of Dunn was second at 38 kg.
Bronze medalists for the ADSS boys were grade
12 Sheldon Haddad at 60 kg and grade 10 Eryk McKenzie (Cardinal) at 70 kg. Both
had terrific tournaments and according to their coaches impressed everyone in
attendance. On the girls side grade 11 Elise Huffman was third at 69 kg while a
couple of local middle school wrestlers Summer Wass (Dunn 51 kg) and Isabella
Jones (Neill 60 kg) were also bronze medalists.
Rounding out the top six placer for local
wrestlers were fourth place finishers Jarred Beckett (ADSS 48 kg), Matt
Grimston (Dunn 60 kg) and Kalissa Montgomery (Dunn 47 kg) . Placing sixth were
Morgan Dagenais (Dunn 54 kg), Johannes Kulich (ADSS 70 kg) and Trenton
Vanderkooi (Dunn 74 kg). Russell David of ADSS had to withdraw due to illness
and will be given a chance of a wrestle-off this week to still qualify for the
provincials. The top 5 boys and top 6 girls qualified for the BC’s.
With the Island now behind them the
complete attention for the local wrestlers will be preparation for the BC’s in
Duncan February 28 – March 2nd. “This week will be a hard week at practise as
we push our wrestlers every day, “ said McDonald, “by next week we begin to
tapper and just make sure everyone is healthy and on weight. We will be
extremely competitive in both boys and girls at the BC’s and we are proud to
have a shot at an unequalled fourth straight Combined/Aggregate title.”
Congrats to Hunter Stewart and Evan Tironese! From the BCHL website
Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Hunter Stewart has been named the Gongshow BCHL Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 17, the league announced Monday.
Stewart racked up five goals and two assists in helping the 'Dogs to four of a possible six points last week. The Calgary native started hot with a hat trick and two assists in a big win over the Powell River Kings where he was named 1st Star as well as the FortisBC Energy Player of the Game.
He finished up with two goals and another 1st Star nod in an overtime victory against the West Kelowna Warriors.
Honourable mentions this week:
Merritt Centennials F Sebastien Pare (3G 2A, two GWGs, 3rd Star)
Chilliwack Chiefs G Mitch Gillam (2W, 1st Star, .961 sv%, 1.50 GAA)
Nanaimo Clippers F Reid Sturos (3G 1A, two 1st Stars, FortisBC Energy Player of the Game)
Penticton Vees F Jedd Soleway (3G 2A, 1st Star, GWG)
Alberni Valley Bulldogs F Evan Tironese (1G 9A, 2nd Star, 3rd Star)
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