Dozens of young wrestlers in a number of weight categories went head-to-head in the Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School gym at an elementary school tournament on Feb. 20.
The long-running Wrestlemania tournament in 100 Mile House drew 67 competitors from 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and Prince George.
While there were some very keen grapplers gaining good experience, the number of competitors this year was down from previous years.
The tournament used to see close to 150 wrestlers, explains organizer and coach Phil Johnston.
“108 Mile Elementary School and Horse Lake Elementary School, as well as several elementary schools from Williams Lake, used to attend this tournament, but now there are less people volunteering there time to help coach.”
Fewer elementary schools getting involved in wrestling means the sport will soon be forgotten, the coach adds.
“As long as I'm around 100 Mile House I will try to keep the sport going.”
Local girls top finishes:
Group 1: Kaitlyn Arthur (second).
Group 4: Lita Montgomery (second), Ciara Loiselle (third), Crystal-Lynn Taylor (fourth).
Group 5: Madelyn McEachern (second), Catherine Arthur (third).
Group 6: Hayley Edlund (first), Hailey Arnott (second), Jessica Menning (third).
Group 7: Julia Mosher (first), Angie Dubrovay (second).
Group 8: Halle Guimond (second), Kelsey Cleave (third), Haileigh Archie (fourth), Brooke Montgomery (fifth).
Group 9: Trysha Bedore (first).
Group 10: Laura Dewbury (first), Cassandra Emile (second).
Group 11: Harmony Kotchea (first).
Local boys top finishes:
Group 2: Reichert Sanford (first).
Group 3: Keenan Arnott (second), Daniel Villeneuve (third).
Group 4: Mason Pincott (first), Riley Campbell (second), Ryder Arnott (third).
Group 5: Solomon Jensen (second), Joe Fortin (third).
Group 6: Nelson Swann (first), Dakota Cook (second), Alex Fortin (fourth), Hunter Wilson (fifth).
Group 7: Kaden Lobsinger (first), Ryan Scorse (second), Hunter O'Connor (third).
Group 8: Jaden McLauchlin (first), Nigel Swann (second), Kolton Lindner (third).
Group 9: Ryan Chamberlain (first), Josh Biasotti (second), Robby Dubrovay (third).