Five Maple Ridge Ramblers high school wrestlers qualified for Team B.C., and all four who competed brought home medals from the Dinos Cup, which was held over the weekend at the University of Calgary.
They helped Team BC win the tournament in the male and female division. Earning gold were Tatyana Lagrange and Agnia Krakovska, Zahara Adomi took silver, and Tyson Deane-Freeman bronze.
Captain Ashton Senko also made Team BC, but was away in Colorado at the U.S. Team’s Olympic training center, where she had the opportunity to train with some world champions.
To make Team BC, they had to be the top BC wrestler in their weight class at the War on the Floor Tournament at Simon Fraser University, which took place Dec. 10.
“The amazing thing is that out of the 24 weight classes, five of them are from one school,” said Ramblers coach Kevin Menic.
Adomi is a Grade 11 who Menic said is a great athlete and a natural at the sport of wrestling.
Lagrange is a co-captain of the Ramblers team, who won a provincial championship two years ago. Injuries kept her from competing last season, but now she is back as a Grade 12, and still dominant.
READ ALSO: Abbotsford’s Vasily Podkolzin lifts Canucks to 6-5 shootout win over Coachella Valley
Krakovska is a Grade 11 who is in her second year in the sport, and Menic said she won a lot of matches on determination last season.
“She has so much willpower – a lot of the reason she would win is that she’s tougher than the other girl,” he said. “But she’s got more skill now as well.”
Deane-Freeman is a Grade 9 who has his sights set on a provincial title, and he’s a dedicated athlete, said Menic.
In addition to the Calgary tournament, the Team BC athletes also get extra practices with Team BC coaches.
This weekend the Ramblers will be competing at the Duke Cup tournament, hosted by Vancouver College at the Beatty Street Drill Hall.
READ ALSO: Young official from Revelstoke chosen to go to NHL game