The Alberni District Secondary School (ADSS) wrestling team kicked off their season with an impressive showing at the Island Novice High School Tournament held at John Barsby Secondary School on Nov. 30.
Competing against several schools across various categories, the ADSS Storm displayed skill, sportsmanship and determination both on and off the mat. The junior boys claimed first place with 64 points, far ahead of their closest rival NDSS (who scored 30 points).
Overall, ADSS led with a dominating 94 points, followed by Vanier with 54 points and Highland with 51 points.
Individually, Rhea Brown earned first place for ADSS in the Junior Females 64-66kg category. For Junior Males, Kane Olsen (40-44kg), Eli Bayley (60-61kg), Jackson Price (63-65kg) and Jaxxon Gallic (80-89kg) secured first place, while Reese Gatenby (54-55kg), Trenton Makofka (57-58kg) and Mason Vanderhoeven (80-89kg) took second place. Evan Jimenez (46-52kg) finished third, with Mohammed Abed (also 46-52kg) finishing fourth.
In the senior division, Rain Olsen (53-58 kg), Theris Ward (65-68 kg) and Alex Bielert (heavyweight) took second place, while Khoa Luu (61-64 kg) came third and Karan Ieda (53-58 kg), Riley Wood (61-64 kg) and Chase Klus-Brown (76-82 kg) placed fourth.
Coach Travis Cross expressed pride in the team’s efforts, highlighting their competitive spirit and sportsmanship.
"This initial tournament sets a strong foundation for the season ahead, as the wrestlers continue to develop their skills and gain experience," he said. "The Island Novice tournament marked an excellent debut for many of ADSS' novice-level wrestlers."
This event, he explained, is specifically designed to introduce newer competitors to high school wrestling in a supportive yet competitive environment. The team took full advantage of this opportunity, achieving successes across numerous categories and setting a strong tone for their season.
The ADSS wrestling team will face a tougher challenge at their next competition: the Queen Margaret's School Christmas Classic on Dec. 7. This tournament will feature some of the top wrestlers from both Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, offering a significant step up in competition level.
