The Cochrane Cowboys Wrestling Club walked away as the cream of the crop this past weekend at the Alberta Open in Edmonton where they won 10 gold, six silver, and four bronze medals despite seven of their veterans missing the competition due to injuries.
Keath Dostaler, Noah Sharkey, Grace Toner, and Alex Washburn all dominated the Elementary division and picked up gold medals. Nicholas Hooper, Danika and Jaityn Labelle, Ben Sharkey, and Aaron Swedlo all nabbed silver. Catherin Swedlo won a bronze medal, while Max Peace finished fourth.
Cowboys wrestlers also came home with six gold medals in the bantam, cadet, and juvenile divisions. Grace Chambers, Sarah Gregory, Hunter Smith, Elijah Springer, Brooklyn Thomson, and Berg Thompson walked away with gold. Connor Swedlo won silver, while Brett Burak as well as Leif and Reid Sadler each won a bronze medal. Jorgen Thompson placed fourth.
“It was a neat tournament for us,” said Cowboys head coach Vern McNeice. “We did very well. We had a few kids who are our older, more experienced leaders that were out with injuries that we decided to rest for nationals, so the younger group stepped up and did phenomenally well.
“This group is going to nationals in two weeks time, and this event was a great stepping stone to prepare for that.”
The icing on the cake for the club was the awards banquet that was held in conjunction with the tournament to honour the 2015 wrestling season. The Cowboys won every major award they were up for, except one (Coach of the Year).
Despite that, the Cowboys won Club of the Year, as Outstanding Cadet Female (Brooklyn Thomson) and Outstanding Cadet Male (Connor McNeice). Sarah Gregroy picked up the Outstanding Juvenile Female award, while Aidan McKeage and Callum McNeice split the Oustanding Juvenile Male category. Vern McNeice won the award for Outstanding Contributor.
“We had a very good year, last season,” McNeice said. “These awards were pretty special. The top club award is the one we’re most proud of, it’s a reflection on everyone who is a part of this program, not just the athletes, but the parents and coaches.”
Next up for the Cowboys is the National Wrestling Championships held at the University of Calgary from April 15 to 17.
