Ontario Senior Wrestling Championships, November 28, 2009 (Barrie)

Five women mustang wrestlers assisted the London-Western Wrestling Club to place 2^nd overall at the Ontario Senior Wrestling Championships, November 28 in Barrie.  Mustang, Larissa D’Alleva won gold in the 63 kg weight class.  The first-year Kinesiology student defeated Laura Steffler of Brock in the final.  Brock Wrestling Club won the overall team title with 42 points, ahead of London-Western’s 32 points, while Lakehead Wrestling Club finished 3^rd with 29 points.   Olivia Gunnell of the London-Western Wrestling Club, also won gold in the 59 kg final defeating Aislynn Torfasson of Lakehead. Mustang, Brianne Barry placed second at 55 kg ahead of teammate, Lesley McCallum in the 55 kg division who took the bronze.  Barry lost in the final to former mustang and CIS champion, Terri McNutt who now competes for the Kingston Wrestling Club.  Jennifer Nguyen won the 51 kg bronze, while Liz Sera placed 4^th at 59 kg. 

In the men’s division, first-year mustang Eric Jacobson placed 6 at 74 kg, as did London-Western teammate Ilya Abelev  at 66 kg.  Guelph Wrestling Club won the team title with 40 points edging defending OUA champions, Brock, by 2 points, Team Impact Wrestling Club was third (28 points) while London-Western placed 6^th overall with 6 points.

The provincial meet provided strong competition as it is used to gain points for Ontario’s Quest for Gold Athlete’s Assistance carding program.  Current Ontario carded athletes from London-Western are, Brianne Barry, Olivia Gunnell, Liz Sera, Larissa D’Alleva, and Eric Jacobson.

Summary

1^st  Larissa D’Alleva 63 kg

1^st  Olivia Gunnell 59 kg (London-Western)

2^nd  Brianne Barry 55 kg

3^rd  Jennifer Nguyen  51 kg

3^rd  Lesley McCallum 55 kg

4^th  Liz Sera 59 kg

6^th Ilya Abelev 66 kg (London-Western)

6^th Eric Jacobson 74 kg

A busy week-end is ahead with the Ontario Senior Championships in Barrie, Sat Nov 28, while the same day Western hosts the London-Western HS Invitational tournament in Thames Hall Gymnasium.  As a result, Friday’s practice (Nov 27) will be informal and held after mat set-up for the tournament (in TH).   Team members not competing in the ON Sr’s will assist in the tournament operations.  For more info contact coach Ray.

Friday Nov 20 4:00 pm practice will be rescheduled to Saturday Nov 21 at 9:00-10:30 am.

Western’s Ian Patton won the gold at the Toronto Open. 

Patton, a Mustangs veteran, won the heavyweight gold in his return to the mats after a two-year absence. A Kinesiology graduate student, won all four matches in the 130 kg division. 

“The solid performance was important for Ian to get back into competition and measure where he stands in the OUA,” (coach) Takahashi said. “Although, early in the season, Patton’s successful return shows he will be a contender at the OUA and CIS Championships.”  

Takahashi said his experience showed by controlling the close tie-up position with an “underhook” and attacking from the “outside” with standing leg-attacks.  

Meanwhile, women’s teammate, Liz Sera, was outstanding as she defeated Lakehead’s Aislynn Torfason in a tie-breaking third round to win one of four medals by the Mustangs women.     Sera, a third-year Winnipeg native, who previously lost to Torfason recorded her first tournament victory this season.  

Patton, in his final year of eligibility, was able to use his power and size to effectively use zone tactics by pressuring his opponents near the edge of the mat.  “He’s so explosive,” says mustang high-performance coach, Saeed Azarbayjani.  

The mustang women tied for first overall in team standings along with Brock with 27 points, ahead of third place Guelph (12 points), followed by Lakehead (11 points).

Photo 1:  Ian Patton wins the Gold in the 130 kg class at the Toronto Open. 

Other mustang men in the Top 6 were Adam Argue (4th, 68 kg), Josh Proctor (5th, 68 kg), Shawn Wheatley (5th, 90 kg) and Nick Bradley (6th, 82 kg).  

Women’s rookie stand-out, Larissa D’Alleva, also won gold in the 63 kg division. Brianne Barry (55 kg) won the silver medal losing to national team member Jessica Bondy-MacDonald of Brock (0-1, 2-3) in a solid performance, while teammate Lesley McCallum (London, Ont.) took bronze in the same weight defeating Alicia Hubbard (New England) by pin.  Olivia Gunnell, representing London-Western, placed 3^rd at 59 kg. 

Barry, Sera, and Gunnell, along with Mustang Jennifer Nguyen will compete in the highly touted New York Athletic Club Tournament, Nov. 21 in New York City.

WESTERN RESULTS
1st 130 kg Ian Patton
1st  59 kg Liz Sera
1st  63 kg Larissa D’Alleva
2nd 55 kg Brianne Barry
3rd 55 kg Lesley McCallum
3rd 59 kg Olivia Gunnell (Representing London-Western Wrestling Club)
4th 68 kg Adam Argue
5th  68 kg Josh Proctor
5th 90 kg Shawn Wheatley
6th 82 kg Nick Bradley

Photo:  Liz Sera digs for the underhook.  She won the match and the gold at 59 kg

LONDON, Ont. – The London Sports Hall of Fame induction and volunteer recognition on Nov. 5  recognized two wrestlers  with strong ties to the Western Mustangs.

Bill Salter, who is the current president of the W Club executive, and the late Harry Geris, a former Olympic wrestler who coached at Western, have strong Mustangs ties and were recognized for their efforts. Geris was a volunteer coach with the mustangs and the London-Western Wrestling Club and was an “original” team member, board of director,  and past president of the community based club.  He was inducted in the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1984.

Salter, a past mustang wrestler in the 50’s, was honoured by the London Sports Council as its volunteer of the year, which honours outstanding work volunteers do in the community.  He co-authored the first instructional manual for Ontario high school wrestling in 1958 with past mustang coach, Glynn Leyshon.

Geris, a past Mustangs volunteer wrestling coach and three-time Olympian, died suddenly on April 24, 2008, while helping set up a high school event for the sport he loved. He was known as the Gentle Giant of Canadian wrestling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAdq-96aO3o