Five female Western Mustangs wrestlers assisted the London-Western Wrestling Club to place second overall at the Ontario Senior Wrestling Championships on Nov. 28 in Barrie, Ont.
Mustangs rookie Larissa D’Alleva won gold in the 63 kg weight class. The first-year kinesiology student defeated Laura Steffler of Brock in the final. Brock Wrestling Club won the overall team title with 42 points, ahead of London-Western’s 32 points, while Lakehead Wrestling Club finished third with 29 points.
Olivia Gunnell of the London-Western Wrestling Club, also won gold in the 59 kg final defeating Aislynn Torfasson of Lakehead. Mustangs Brianne Barry placed second at 55 kg ahead of teammate, Lesley McCallum in the 55 kg division who took the bronze.
Barry lost in the final to former Mustang and CIS champion Terri McNutt who now competes for the Kingston Wrestling Club. Jennifer Nguyen won the 51 kg bronze, while Liz Sera placed 4th at 59 kg.
In the men’s division first-year Mustangs Eric Jacobson placed 6th at 74 kg, as did London-Western teammate Ilya Abelev at 66 kg. Guelph Wrestling Club won the team title with 40 points edging defending OUA champions, Brock, by two points, Team Impact Wrestling Club was third (28 points) while London-Western placed 6th overall with six points.
The provincial meet provided strong competition as it is used to gain points for Ontario’s Quest for Gold Athlete’s Assistance carding program. Current Ontario carded athletes from London-Western are Barry, Gunnell, Sera, D’Alleva and Jacobson.
The women’s team will compete in the Harry Geris Memorial Women’s Duals in Kentucky on Dec. 5 in Williamsburg. The Mustangs women’s team will be comprised of, Sahana Mazumder 48 kg, Nguyen 51 kg, McCallum or Barry 55 kg, Sera 59 kg, D’Alleva 63 kg, Jennifer Archibald 67 kg and Christine Schmidt 72 kg.
The Mustangs will have strong competition from host University of the Cumberlands who are ranked among the three in the U.S. Women’s College League. Other teams competing are Oklahoma City University, Lindenwood University, Missouri Valley, Simon Fraser and defending CIS champions Calgary.
Ontario Senior Wrestling Championships, Individual Results
1st Larissa D’Alleva 63 kg
1st Olivia Gunnell 59 kg (London-Western)
2nd Brianne Barry 55 kg
3rd Jennifer Nguyen 51 kg
3rd Lesley McCallum 55 kg
4th Liz Sera 59 kg
6th Ilya Abelev 66 kg (London-Western)