THUNDER BAY – It was a banner couple of days of wrestling for Northwestern Ontario athletes competing at the Ontario Winter Games.
A day after the women’s team won gold and the men’s team took silver in the duals competition, the team collected 15 more medals on Sunday in the individual competition, including seven golds, three silvers and five bronzes.
Koen Hurlbert, named the male wrestling MVP, captured gold in the 65-kilogram category, edging out Eastern Ontario’s Alex Kandybalsky in the championship match.
“Honestly, it felt like everything just came together. Today was a rough day. I woke up so tired. I didn’t sleep well at all last night, just thinking about absolutely everything. I woke up too early, but got a good workout there in the end and it just felt like it all came together,” Hurlbert said.
He added he never thought a day like Sunday would come, the gold medal hanging proudly around his neck following the medal ceremony on the track at Lakehead Unviersity’s The Hangar.
“It makes me appreciate everything that my coaches have done for me. It feels awesome,” Hurlbert said.
Samuel Prosser also won gold for the men’s team, taking top spot in the 75-kilogram division. Madelaine Blain (36 to 42-kilograms), Madelin Jose (43-kilograms), Emily Harris (80-kilograms) and Kylie Boucha (90-kilograms) won gold for the women’s team.
Harris, who also won gold at last year’s Ontario Winter Games, said it’s been a surreal weekend, but one that shows hard work does pay off.
“I’m very happy,” she said. “I was a bit nervous before my match, so I’m glad I got my head into the game before I went on the match. I’m thankful for all my coaches for helping me with that too.”
The 16-year-old Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute student said this year’s win was that much more special, given friends and family were in the crowd cheering on her every move.
“I know a couple of my friends came to watch today and I’m really proud I did well in front of them,” Harris said.
It was a great weekend for Northwestern Ontario wrestling too, Harris said.
“We were all really happy. That last match, yesterday, we were all jumping with excitement when we knew we won. We were ecstatic.”
Silver medalists included Merric BeauParlant, Trista Robins and Heyden Reinelt. Parker Evans, Tyler Poperechny, Mylie Baccari, Lillian Savage and Shevaun Wilson captured bronze medals.
Local medalists:
Male 42 KG
Anton Rozic (gold)
Male 55 KG
Merric BeauParlant (silver)
Male 60 KG
Tristan Robins (silver)
Male 65 KG
Koen Hurlbert (gold)
Male 70 KG
Parker Evans (bronze)
Male 75 KG
Samuel Prosser (gold)
Male 80 KG
Tyler Poperechny (bronze)
Female 36-40 KG
Madelaine Blain (gold)
Female 43 KG
Madelin Jose (gold)
Female 53 KG
Hayden Reinelt (silver)
Female 57 KG
Mylie Baccari (bronze)
Female 65 KG
Lillian Savage (bronze)
Female 73 KG
Shevaun Wilson (bronze)
Female 80 KG
Emily Harris (gold)
Female 90 KG
Kylie Boucha (gold)
