Alberni District Secondary Wrestling, in partnership with Alberni Wrestling, is excited to announce that Port Alberni will be hosting the 2018 BC Secondary Schools Wrestling Championships for boys and girls March 1-3, 2018 at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
More than 100 schools from across British Columbia will be represented by more than 600 athletes at the 2018 BC High School Wrestling Championships.
Registrations and weigh-ins will take place at ADSS on Thursday, March 1, but due to the size of the event, the actual competition will take place at the Multiplex where Port Alberni has hosted many wrestling tournaments, including the 2008 BC’s.
Preliminaries will run all day Friday, March 2 and finish early Saturday, March 3 before placing and medal matches begin at around 10 a.m. After a short lunch break, the doors will reopen at 1 p.m. for the finals at 2 p.m.
“We expect to fill the Multiplex with over 1,500 people for the finals of the BC Championships on March 3, and they will be treated to an amazing show of athletic talent and entertainment,” said Alberni Wrestling President Tom McEvay. “To top things off, our own wrestling team from ADSS will be in the running in all three team competitions for the boys, the girls and the prestigious combined Aggregate Championship.
“ADSS is proud to have previously won 12 BC wrestling team titles - five boys, three girls and four aggregate,” he went on. “Individually, ADSS will have many athletes vying for medals including gold. Alberni has placed 368 wrestlers in the top six at the BC’s over the past 39 years. This has included 76 BC gold medal champions, 74 silvers and 61 bronze. Few other high school programs, in any sport, anywhere in Canada, can celebrate this level of success.”
McEvay, ADSS Athletic Director Mike Roberts and James Messenger will co-chair the 2018 Championships.
Armada Head Coach John McDonald is already looking forward to the tournament.
“This is our 39th consecutive year hosting a major tournament and the fifth time hosting the BC’s,” he said. “About three years ago we looked at the group of athletes we had and decided we wanted to put a bid in for 2018. Our team has only gotten stronger since then. The horses or talent will get you there, however, we must have the commitment we need from every wrestler and stay healthy throughout the season to do something special.”
All the past and current success, including 39 straight years of hosting tournaments, would not have been possible without the incredible support of the community, sponsors and volunteers. It will be an exciting few days of wrestling action.
If you are part of an organization or club who would like one of the directors to come and speak at a meeting to tell you more about the 2018 BC High School Wrestling Championships and the local wrestling program, or if you would like to sponsor, donate or volunteer for this event, please contact James Messenger at 250-735-8854 or email jmessenger@sd70.bc.ca.