Eighteen wrestlers from School District 71 will be competing for provincial glory after an outstanding team performance at the Vancouver Island championships.

Leading the charge was Alice Clements from Vanier Secondary, who not only clinched gold in her weight category but was also named the most outstanding wrestler of the tournament.

Clements鈥檚 performance was nothing short of dominant, setting a high standard for her peers and competitors alike.

She won her first match in nine seconds. She won her second match by technical fall (10+ point advantage) in the first period, and scored a 10-0 first-period technical fall in her gold-medal match.

Jacob Price, also from Vanier, continued his winning streak by securing an individual Island gold for the second consecutive year, showcasing his prowess and determination on the mat.

The finals saw seven Valley wrestlers vying for the top spot, with Max Korthuis (Cumberland), Ryan Nasadyk (Highland), Nathan Malouin (Isfeld), Kylie Cameron-Patterson (Vanier), and Ben Howlett (Vanier) each earning well-deserved silver medals.

In an interesting turn of events, Unya Hollmayer (Vanier), a previous provincial and national champion, and Nate Gaudet (Isfeld) were petitioned into the provincial tournament due to injury, with Gaudet securing his place through a special wrestle-off.

The provincial championships take place Feb. 22-24 in Vancouver.

Coach Stehura honoured

The event also served as a platform to honour those who contribute tirelessly behind the scenes. Coach Ben Stehura received the prestigious Ed Ashmore Award, a volunteer of the year accolade that recognizes an individual鈥檚 significant impact on the development of wrestling on the Island. This award is a testament to Stehura鈥檚 dedication to not only fostering the talents of his athletes but also his contributions towards enhancing the sport across the Island.