The Cowichan Valley Wrestling Club brought home four medals, including two golds, from the Miri Piri Invitational meet in Abbotsford last weekend.
“It was a good tournament for us to have now, a month out from Nationals,” CVWC assistant coach Ryan Yewchin said. “The tournament brought together lots of high-level clubs from in and out of the province.”
Both gold medals came in the junior boys division, where Ross Meiner finished first in the 57kg class, winning all three of his matches by technical superiority, and Antonio Iannidinardo topped the 70kg class despite being the smallest wrestler in the group, beating both his opponents on technical falls. Carter Zuback took silver in the 51kg class.
Loryn Roberts wrestled to silver in the junior girls 65kg class, making a big pin in her semifinal. Emma Greenwood was sixth in the same class, while Georgia Bond placed fourth at 61kg. Both the 61kg and 65kg classes were loaded with national and provincial medalists from B.C. and Alberta.
“Emma, Loryn, and Georgia wrestled extremely competitive matches against high quality competition,” CVWC assistant coach Ryan Yewchin said. “Some of those results did not go the way we wanted, but those are the matches we want to have now to prepare us for nationals.”
Brady Zuback was a force in the school boys 35kg class, winning both of his matches by pin and demonstrating high levels of technique. Manny Iannidinardo also showed plenty of heart as he won all three matches in his weight class.
The club will continue to prepare for the U15, U17 and U19 National Championships in Calgary on June 9-12.