The Alberni Armada Boys Wrestling Team won the Vancouver Island Secondary School Wrestling Championships for the 17th consecutive year last weekend.
It was the 29th time in the last 34 years the Armada Boys won the title of Island champions.
The ADSS boys finished with 79 points, more than double the 39 points accumulated by second place Dover Bay. Ucluelet Secondary was third with 30 points.
The Armada girls finished second behind a tough team from Ucluelet Secondary. The host team from Gulf Island Secondary finished in third place in the girl’s division.
Eight Alberni wrestlers claimed the gold medals in their respective weight classes. Ravi Mahas (41kg), Owen Spencer (51kg), Isaac McDonald (54kg), Aaron Badovinac (70kg), Jarod Gagnon (84kg), Trenton Vanderkooi (110kg), Anna Frost (47kg), and Kyla McAuley (110kg) all went undefeated to win gold in their weight classes.
Kiarra Fong (54kg), Kylea Anderson (90kg), Seth Price (45kg), Trevor Barker (48kg), Jayce Clayton (78kg), Lane Harris (90kg) and William Merry (130kg) all finished with silvers.
Darien Van Ingen (51kg), Ethan Tramer (54kg), Noah Stampeen (60kg) and Morgan Dagenais (54kg) all finished with bronze medals.
Prateesh Giri (60kg), Scott Coulthart (74kg) and Mackenzie Boudreau (64kg) rounded out the placings finishing fourth in their divisions.
“I am happy with how we did as a team this weekend,” head coach John McDonald said.
“What really excites me is the fact that every single one of our wrestlers can compete in this tournament again next year. We have no Grade 12s. That means we should be even stronger again next year.
“Right now though our focus is getting ready for the BC Championships in two weeks,” he said.
“There were a number of wrestlers who had strong individual performances,” coach Russ Bodnar said. “For me one of the highlights was seeing Owen Spencer defeat a tough opponent in the final. Owen missed a chunk of the season due to injury. He is definitely back to 100 per cent and looking strong.”
In addition to athlete recognition ADSS Coach John McDonald was awarded the Ed Ashmore Volunteer Award. McDonald received this award for his outstanding volunteer contribution to Vancouver Island Wrestling.
Grade 10 wrestler Daniel Spencer was unfortunately sidelined due to injury but qualified for BC’s through coaches’ petition based on his outstanding results this year. Coaches are hopeful that he will be ready to compete at the BC Championships in Abbotsford from Feb. 25–27.