Members of the Alberni Valley Wrestling Club did an outstanding job of representing their club and community at the 2011 Cadet/Juvenile National Championships in Windsor, Ont.
Grade 11 wrestler, Daley Forbes won her weight class and the title of national champion for the second straight year in a row.
Competing in the 75 kilogram juvenile (17-18 year olds) girls’ Division, Daley was dominant throughout the competition.
In the gold medal final she threw and pinned her opponent from Smithers, B.C. in a first round victory.
Forbes has been training and competing for the Alberni Valley Wrestling Club since Grade 6.
Unfortunately for ADSS Daley moved to Fort. St. John and enrolled in school there in September.
In preparation for the national championships she joined the Alberni team for training in the summer, early February and most recently the provincial camp.
With her second straight national title and third straight medal (silver in 2009) the commitment paid off.
Watching Forbes in action was bittersweet, Messenger said.
“I would love to have her still collecting team points for Alberni District Secondary.”
Nanaimo’s Ryan Yewchin, who also trains with the Alberni club, earned a silver medal in the 92 kg juvenile division.
Yewchin’s victories included two come from behind wins in his quarter and semi final matches.
“Ryan has worked really hard this season and as a result has shown tremendous improvement,” Messenger said.
Yewchin travels to Alberni up to four times a week to train.
And a couple of universities have shown interest in him, Messenger said.
Grade 9 wrestler Jesse Wagner placed fifth place in the 46 kg cadet (15-16 year old) division.
Wagner lost his first match to the eventual gold medalist but he made it to the placing rounds.
Alberni wrestlers Cullen Hines (72 kg juvenile), Austin Evans (54 kg juvenile) and Jordan Wagner (46 kg cadet) also represented Alberni Wrestling in Windsor.
All three wrestlers won bouts but were one or two victories away from placing in the top six.
Hines and Wagner will be able to bring the experience they gained in Windsor back on the mats next season when they compete for ADSS and Alberni Valley Wrestling Club.
The national championships marked the end of Grade 12 wrestler Austin Evans’ his competitive wrestling career.
Evans went 2–2 in a weight class that including two returning national team members.
Evans started wrestling in Grade 6 at EJ Dunn and he grew into a team leader over the years.
“He is a strong student and I wish him the best of luck as he pursues engineering at the University of British Columbia next year,” Messenger said.
The national championships marks the end of the competitive wrestling season.
The wrestling club will now make final preparations for their annual awards night, which is being held on Tuesday, April 26, at the Italian Hall.
Following that they will gear up for a busy fundraising season as they prepare for a busy 2011-2012 season.