Cold temperatures and seating capacity have resulted in the B.C. high school wrestling championship switching venues.
Originally scheduled for the Adidas Sportsplex Feb. 23 to 25, Penticton will now be hosting the championship at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
Tony Ramsay, coach of the Penticton Wrestling Club and chair of the host committee, said concerns with heating in the Sportsplex and seating capacity became issues. While the indoor facility can be heated to a certain point, it wouldn’t be enough to keep the wrestlers warm.
“The South Okanagan Events Centre is more suited to have the event,” said Ramsay, who appreciated the Adidas Sportsplex for giving initial support. “It would have been challenging to make it happen at the Sportsplex.”
Ramsay said after speaking with Kevin Webb from Global Spectrum, they are excited to have the wrestling championship come to the SOEC.
When it comes to competing in the championship, Ramsay said he hopes to have at least two to three of his athletes that will qualify out of zones. The Penticton Wrestling Club is going through a rebuilding year as they have young talent, but Ramsay said it takes time to build a champion. Roy Millar, who was provincial champion in 2010 and 2011 and named the MVP at the 2011 provincial championships, has moved on to Simon Fraser University on a scholarship.
“You are looking for commitment, dedication and hard work,” said Ramsay on what makes good wrestlers. “Learn necessary skills to succeed. The more matches they have, they become more seasoned in executing technique.”
Currently, the club has 12 active members, and eight to 10 attend on a consistent basis. Their youngest is six and the eldest is 17.
“They are very enthusiastic,” said Ramsay. “Eager to learn. They are a fun bunch. It’s been great working with them.”
Recently the club competed in the Western Canada Age Class. Rhys MacDonald of Holy Cross Elementary placed second, winning one match and losing another in the 32-kilogram class. Egzon Emini was fourth in the junior boys in the 85-kg class winning three of his five matches. Also in the junior boys was Nico Carboni (80 kg) winning one of three matches and Tragean Johnson (72 kg) lost both his matches. Cadet Aaron Ryan (63 kg) won two of his four matches, while Justin Thornton (58 kg) had the same success.
Other notable Penticton finishes were Justin Chahil's first-place finish in the schoolboy division and Alyssa Kroeker's third-place finish in cadet girls.