Larissa D’Alleva won the individual 61 kg bronze medal at the Concordia Invitational in Montreal, October 25/09.  The first year Western student won five matches and lost one, losing to silver medallist, Dory Yeats of Montreal’s YM-YWHA Wrestling Club.  Larissa also won gold a week prior at U of Toronto Open in the 61 kg weight class.  “She certainly has made an impact with us,” says coach Ray Takahashi.  Coming from Prince Albert just north of Oshawa, Larissa won gold at the Canada Summer Games in PEI (August 2009) for Team Ontario.  D’Alleva was one of Western’s top recruits and developed from Team Impact Wrestling Club out of the Oshawa area.

London-Western’s Ilya Abelev placed 2nd in the men’s 65 kg weight class.  The Central Elgin student won 3 matches before losing in the final to Jamie Mancini (YM-YWHA Montreal) in two rounds, 0-1, 0-2.  “It was a good tournament,” said coach Scott Proctor.  The university and senior level tournaments will be a good test for Ilya, who won the U18 (Juvenile) National Championships in April 2009.  He comes from the National Capital Wrestling Club in Ottawa.

Five team members were awarded Ontaro Cards for 2009-10.  Congratulations to:

• Eric Jacobson — Men’s Split-Card
• Olivia Gunnell — Women’s Split-Card
• Larissa D’Alleva — Women’s Split-Card
• Liz Sera — Women’s Split-Card
• Brianne  Barry — Women’s Full-Card

The Ontario Cards are made possible by the Quest for Gold lottery and provides financial assistance to those who qualify to aspire to National team status.

Olivia Gunnell won the silver medal at the Junior Pan American Wrestlling Championships in Guadalaja, Mexico, Oct 24.  Olivia, representing London-Western competed in the 55 kg weight class.  Ecuador’s Lisset Ante won the Gold. 

More information forthcoming….

The Sunkist Open was a solid opener for three mustang women, Jennifer Nguyen, Brianne Barry and Liz Sera, who part of a 17 Canadian Women contingent at the top rated women’s event in Phoenix, Oct 24.

“Our girls wrestled tough, and were ready for the level of competition…. we lost some tough matches and won some tough matches – a positive learning experience overall,” said coach Dave Spinney.  Jenn placed 5th in a highly competitive 51 kg weight class.  Olympic champion Carol Huynh was upset by teammate Gen Hayley who also beat number one ranked Canadian, Jessica MacDonald (Brock).  Jenn lost a close opener against MacDonald, and later was given the win by default when MacDonald pulled out of their 5th & 6th match.  “We got some really good matches in,” said Jenn

 Brianne was not able to break through the tie-up position against Whitney Conder (Gator WC), who placed 2nd and was a past Junior World champion.  Conder kept her at bay and was able to neutralize Brianne’s attempt at leg shots with the whizzer position.  Brianne had a strong second match winning 3-0, 5-0 against Jacquelyn Davis (Menlo College).  Unfortunately, Brianne was eliminated when she dropped her 3rd match, 1-0 (Clinch), 2-2, 0-3 vs Trinity Plessinger (Sunkist Kids). 

Liz lost two matches, but showed that she is able to score when offensive.  The experience competing at this level is important as some of the close matches show that Liz it is not far this level.  

Jenn Nguyen works the single leg to a scoring position (photo credit – Dave Spinney)

Jennifer Nguyen 51kg

1. L 0-1 (Clinch), 0-1 vs Jessica MacDonald (Bondy), Brock
2. W 5-3, 2-1 vs Katherine Fulp-Allen, NYAC 
3. L 2-0, 2-6, 0-3 Amy Whitbeck, Missouri Baptist

Brianne Barry 55kg – DNP/11

1. L 1-4, 0-4 vs Whitney Conder, Gators Wrestling
2. W 3-0, 5-0 vs Jacquelyn Davis, Menlo College
3. L 1-0 (Clinch), 2-2, 0-3 vs Trinity Plessinger, Sunkist Kids

Liz Sera 59kg – DNP/9

1. L 0-5, 0-6 vs Schuyler Brown, Gator Wrestling
2. L 1-0, 0-1, 0-2 vs Nena Garcia, unattached

Practice location will be changed for Thursday Oct 22 and Friday Oct 22 due to Fall Convocation at Western.  The wrestling room will be unavailable for practice during those days.

Thursday Oct 22:  at TRAC (Thompson Recreation and Athletic Complex) 4:30-6:00 pm.  Meet and depart 4:30 pm from TH locker room.  Dress for running activity.  Practice will consist of running activities, drilling, game.  Practice location is back-end lanes (wider space) of TRAC.

Friday Oct 22: Practice field #1.  Meet and depart 4:00 pm form TH locker room.  Dress for outside activity.  Practice will consist of running activities, drilling, game  NEW LOCATION inside.  Practice to be held in old varsity weight room location (TH)