Alyssa Kroeker delivered the best results for Penticton wrestlers during the high school provincials in Duncan.
Kroeker lost in the final to Smithers’ Alex Schell. It was a finish that left her stunned.
“I guess I wasn’t mentally ready for the match,” said Alyssa, who represented Pen High but trains with her father Robert Kroeker in the Okanagan Similkameen Wrestling Club. “She (Schell) beat the girl who was supposed to win the provincials with a pin, so I think that scared everyone in our weight (47-kilogram) class. I walked into that match feeling like I was ready. I walked out and I was, OK, apparently I wasn’t.”
Schell and Alyssa have a history together as she beat Schell during last year’s provincials, which took place in the South Okanagan Events Centre. Prior to that, Schell defeated her.
“Overall I think I performed really well,” said Alyssa. “Up until the finals, no points were scored on me.”
Robert said his daughter dominated until that final match. Next, Alyssa will represent B.C. at nationals held in Saskatoon in April and has been asked to try out for the Canada Games team.
Also representing the OSWC were Josh Regier, Mason Poon, Justin Chahil and Leo Kruger. Kruger had to forfeit due to a shoulder injury. Chahil competed in the 66-kg weight group won two matches and lost two, the same results were achieved by Poon in the 60-kg class and Regier in the 110-kg group. Robert said they all wrestled well for their second year.
“The B.C. provincials is a grade 8 to 12 tournament so many of the athletes have five years or more experience,” he said.
From Pen High, Nico Carboni, Grade 12, and Aaron Ryan, Grade 11, placed 12th in the 74-kg and 70-kg weight groups, respectively. Carboni won one of his three matches while Ryan finished with the same result. Drew Boileau, in Grade 9, was 18th in the 63-kg boys.
“Drew, being in his first year, he had strong competitors,” said coach Tony Ramsay. “He had a bye first round. In the second round, he tried to throw the individual and got caught pinned. I knew he would have a tough time.”
Ramsay said with Carboni and Ryan being in weight groups of average men, there were a lot of strong competitors compared to their experience. Ramsay was pleased with the results.
“Nico all year has put in a great effort,” he said. “In Grade 12, you have potential for wrestling kids to have experience since Grade 4 to 6. This was Nico’s second year. Aaron is very motivated to work in the off-season to become a stronger competitor next season. That is a good thing. Drew, his eyes have been opened to the level of competition. I think that will help him to work harder in the future. They are both keen on being back there next year.”