London-Western wins overall team title – Men’s team takes Silver

Ontario Junior (U20) Wrestling Championships, Jan 30, 2010 (Sudbury)

Women’s Results

Sudbury, Ont. – For the second straight year, London-Western won the overall women’s junior (Under-20) team title at the Ontario Junior Wrestling Championships held on Jan 30.    The men’s team placed 2^nd overall, an impressive improvement from a fifth place team finish in 2009. 

It was a strong showing for the men that included two individual golds from Steven Takahashi (55 kg) and Ilya Abelev in the 66 kg division. 

The women won three individual golds from Olivia Gunnell  (59 kg) and from mustang rookies, Brianne Barry (55 kg) and Larissa D’Alleva (63 kg) who both won gold in their respective divisions.   Barry defeated teammate, Sara Patenaude who took the silver, in the 55 kg final.  Ramona Balfour of Laurier SS took the 43 kg silver.

Larissa D’Alleva won the gold in the 63 kg division, while London-Western teammate, Karleah Bonk placed 4th

London-Western scored 46 points, well ahead of second place Brock Wrestling Club which placed second with 27 points, ahead of third L’Essor who scored 12 points each. 

Mustang brothers, Scott and Shawn Wheatley, of London South S.S. both placed second in the 84 and 96 kg weight classes respectively.  Mustang teammates, Adam Argue (66 kg) and Eric Jacobson (74 kg) both won hard fought matches to win bronze in their respective weight classes. 

Mustangs, Christine Schmidt  (72 kg) and rookie Sahana Mazumder (48 kg) both took silver medals while Jennifer Archibald won the bronze in the 67 kg weight division.  Schmidt, who attended London Clarke Road S.S., defeated mustang rookie teammate, Monica Varallo of London’s Mother Theresa S.S. , who placed fifth at 72 kg.

“We did well as a team because of our depth,” said coach Ray Takahashi. “Christine (Schmidt) and Jennifer (Archibald) both had great performances.”

It was an impressive showing for London-Western taking both the women’s title and placing second in the men’s.  “It shows our program has good overall depth in both men’s and women’s teams– and shows promise in our future.  London-Western is our primary feeder program and we get many good local recruits,” said coach, Ray Takahashi.

Other mustangs placing in the top six were, Adam Burns (6^th at 55 kg), while Josh Proctor (66 kg) placed 6^th. 

The Mustangs will be at their home tournament, the Western Open, February 6, in Thames Hall Gymnasium.  It will be the last OUA tournament prior to the OUA Championships which the mustang’s also host, February 20 in Alumni Hall. 

Women Team Standings

1. London Western 46 points
2. Brock  27 points
3. L’Essor 12 points

Men Team Standings

1. Guelph  40
2. London-Western  35
3. Matmen  31

Individual Results:

• 1^st  Brianne Barry  W55 kg
• 1^st  Larissa D’Alleva  W63 kg
• 1^st  Olivia Gunnell  W59 kg
• 2^nd  Sahana Mazumder W 48 kg
• 2^nd  Christine Schmidt  W72 kg
• 2^nd  Sara Patenaude W55 kg
• 2^nd  Ramona Balfour W44 kg
• 3^rd  Jennifer Archibald  W67 kg
• 4^th  Karleah Bonk  W63 kg
• 5^th  Monica Varallo  W 72 kg

Individual Results:

• 1^st  Steven Takahashi  55 kg
• 1^st  Ilya Abelev  66 kg
• 2^nd  Scott Wheatley  84 kg
• 2^nd  Shawn Wheatley  96 kg
• 3^rd  Adam Argue  66 kg
• 3^rd  Eric Jacobson  74 kg
• 6^th  Adam Burns  55 kg
• 6^th  Josh Proctor  66 kg
  

Ilya Abelev takes down Marcus Bennett (Matmen WC) in the 66 kg final.  Abelev won the final in two rounds straight.

The mustangs were shut-out at the high calibre Guelph Open, January 23 where both men’s and women’s teams failed to win any individual medals.  Three women mustangs broke top six in their weight class, with Jennifer Nguyen taking 4^th in the strong 51 kg class.  The Open tournament attracted top wrestlers in Canada as it is used to accumulate national and provincial carding points. Mustang, Liz Sera placed 5^th at 59 kg ahead of London-Western teammate Olivia Gunnell who placed 6^th.  Rookie, Larissa D’Alleva placed 6^th at 63 kg.  The women’s division featured several world level wrestlers including Beijing Olympic champion, Carol Huynh (48 kg), and world champion Ohenewa Akuffo (72 kg). 

Both the men and women teams will travel to the Ontario Junior Championships (U20) in Sudbury, January 30. 

The mustangs will host the Western Open February 6 in Thames Hall gymnasium, the final OUA tournament prior to the OUA Championships which Western will host in Alumni Hall, Feb 20.

Queen’s Open, Jan 17, 2010 (Kingston)

The Womens Team placed 2^nd overall behind defending OUA champions Brock who finished with 57 points.  The mustangs finished second with 44 points, ahead of 3^rd place UNB who finished with 33 points.                     

Steven Takahashi defeated Concordia’s, Choueke, Gabriel in an exciting 3 round tie-breaker.  Takahashi scored by driving Choueke out-of-bounds with 2 seconds left in the match to win.  It was Takahashi’s first tournament at the senior level, which earned him the Male Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament

 The men’s team did not place in team standings, but had solid performances by Ben Spitzke (54 kg) and Ben Roberts (82 kg).  Montreal Wrestling Club edged UNB, by 5 points, 57-52 to win the overall men’s title.  Five mustang men placed in the top 6 – Austin Van Horne (5^th) and Adam Argue (5^th) both tied at 68 kg, Eric Jacobson (5^th at 76 kg), Ben Spitzke (54 kg) and Ben Roberts (82 kg) who both placed 4^th in their divisions.

Steven Takahashi attacks on Shujon Mazumder (U of T).  Takahashi won the match and the 54 kg division

In the women’s division, Jenn Nguyen (51 kg) and Olivia Gunnell (59 kg London-Western) took gold.  Gunnell defeated Western teammate Liz Sera who settled for silver.  Rookie, Larissa D’Alleva placed 3^rd at 67 kg. 

• 1st  Steven Takahashi  Mens 54 kg         
• 4th  Ben Spitzke
• 5th  Austin Van Horn  &  Adam Argue  Mens 68 kg
• 5th  Eric Jacobson  76 kg     
• 4th   Ben Roberts  82 kg
• 5th  Sahana Mazumder  women’s 48 kg     
• 1st  Jennifer Nguyen  women’s 51 kg
• 2nd  Brianne Barry women’s 55 kg
• 1st  Oliva Gunnell  women’s 59 kg
• 2nd  Liz Sera women’s 59 kg
• 4th Gabrielle Hochfelder  59 kg
• 5th   Karleah Bonk    63 kg
• 3rd  Larissa DAlleva   Womens 67 kg      
• 4th   Jennifer Archibald  67 kg

Brock Open Wrestling Tournament, January 9, 2010 (St. Catharines)

Ben Spitzke was the lone men’s medalist at the Brock Open Wrestling Tournament, January 9 in St. Catharines.  The 4th year Sciences student from Straffordville defeated Brock’s Michio Clarke to secure the 54 kg bronze medal.  London-Western teammate, Nolan Deinum captured silver at 57 kg.  Five other mustangs broke the top six in their individual weight classes.   Eric Jacobson placed 5th at 76 kg, as did teammate Scott Wheatley at 82 kg.  Mustang rookies, Tim Bartja (61 kg) and Josh Proctor (65 kg) both placed 6th in their respective weight classes.  It was the first tournament for the mustangs since November and mustang high performance coach Saeed Azarbayjani was pleased overall with their performance.  “They wrestled well ….. they need more experience and the matches were good to get.”  The mustangs will travel to the Queen’s Open, January 17 along with the women’s team.

 Ben Spitzke attempting to set-up a Cross-ankle turn (54 kg)

Results

• 1st  Liz Sera 59 kg
• 2nd  Sahana Mazumder 48 kg
• 2nd  Lesley McCallum 55 kg
• 2nd Nolan Deinum 57 kg (London-Western)
• 3rd  Larissa D’Alleva 67 kg
• 3rd  Ben Spitzke 54 kg
• 3rd  Olivia Gunnell 59 kg (London-Western)
•  5th  Eric Jacobson 76 kg
• 5th  Scott Wheatley 82 kg
• 6th  Tim Bartja 61 kg
• 6th  Josh Proctor 65 kg

Mustang, Jennifer Nguyen is training at the US Women’s National Camp in Colorado, Jan 4-9.  The annual training camp includes approximately 20 top Canadians selected by National Coach, Leigh Vierling.  The camp is  meant to provide a top level training environment for both teams which involves two mat sessions daily along with competitive matches.

Happy New Year to all.

Hope 2010 is successful for everyone.