by Paul Heselwood
for The Saskatoon StarPhoenix 

Monday, April 05, 2004  Saskatoon wrestlers came away from the Canadian cadet-juvenile championships in Windsor, Ont., with a barrel full of 10 gold.

In freestyle cadet, for athletes born in 1988-89, Stephany Dergo of the Saskatoon Wrestling Club won gold in the girls 49-kg class and Spencer Edwards (63 kg) and Daniel Olver (69 kg) were first in the boys division.

"It sure feels good to win back-to-back," Olver said after repeating the title he won last year in Calgary.

 
In the juvenile category, for athletes born in 1986-87, Pam Ewanishen of the SWC won the 44-kg class. Last year, Ewanishen won gold in the cadet division.

"I like to be able to challenge myself by taking on the best and beating them," said Ewanishen.
 

 
Amy Dyck of the SWC was named the outstanding wrestler in the juvenile girls division. En route to the gold in the 60-kg class, she beat defending juvenile and current Canadian junior champion Justine Bouchard of Edmonton.

"Anytime you beat an undefeated, defending champion you get recognized," said Dyck.

 
Beth Thompson of the Saskatoon Wolverines Wrestling Club (WWC) won the 75-kg event.

"I won last year as a cadet, but this year it was tougher with more girls in the tournament," said Thompson.

In the juvenile boys category, Chris Kulbida successful defend his title in the 105-kg class.

"I'm really focused on continuing to train hard," said Kulbida. "Next year is a junior world championship year and I want to be on that team."

In total, the SWC had six athletes in finals.

"We won six out of a possible six gold medals," said head coach Shane Bradley. "Our kids wrestled well and I'm very proud of them."

Rene Faulds of the Prince Albert Wrestling Club won the cadet girls 90-kg title.

Other medallists included Jody Hounjet (SWC, bronze, juvenile girls 48 kg), Jill Gallays (SWC, bronze, juvenile girls 52 kg), Dayna Brose (WWC, cadet girls 56 kg), Troy Lange (WWC, bronze, juvenile boys 50 kg), Eric Walker (SWC, bronze, juvenile boys 58 kg), Travis Kramchynski (WWC, bronze, juvenile boys 63 kg), Dash Pelletier (SWC, bronze, cadet boys 52 kg);

The SWC won the team title in juvenile girls and the Regina Cattown Club were team champions in cadet girls. Cattown was led by former Saskatoon wrestler Nicole Daum, who was first at 70 kg.

The SWC placed second in both the juvenile and cadet boys categories. 

Provincially, Saskatchewan finished second in juvenile girls and cadet girls, third in juvenile boys and fourth in cadet boys.

Competition continued Sunday with the FILA cadet trials for athletes born in 1987-89. On the line was an opportunity to travel to Europe for competitions in May. Ewanishen travels to Germany, while Olver goes to France.

The weekend wrapped up with the juvenile boys Greco-Roman competition. Lange (50 kg), Walker (58 kg) and Kulbida won gold. Saskatchewan won the provincial team title in Greco-Roman.

(Heselwood is a Saskatoon freelance writer)

© Copyright 2004 The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)

in front: Chris Kulbida
middle (l to r): Stephany Dergo, Amy Dyck, Jody Hounjet,
Jill Gallays, Dash Pelletier, Pam Ewanishen
back (l to r): Jon Johnson, Kai Yong, Spencer Edwards, Daniel Olver,
Bruce Waldner, Eric Walker, Shane Bradley