Of the 22 local wrestlers who travelled to Ottawa last month for the 2023 OFSAA Wrestling Championships, only three managed to win more bouts than they lost - so yes, a fifth place finish from A.J. Guitard (Lasalle Lancers - 89 kg) while posting a record of 4-2 is a pretty big deal in these parts.
Guitard opened the competition with wins over Furqaan Qamar (Stephen Lewis - YRAA), Luke Dufour (Bear Creek - GBSSA) and Jushua Ramon (Bishop Ryan - GHAC) before dropping a pair of bouts.
In his last match, the Lancer veteran bested Christopher Comini of Monsignor Doyle (CWOSSA), producing the top finish of 2023 for the SDSSAA contingent.
Also topping the .500 mark were the Sudbury Secondary North Stars duo of Grace Beange (61 kg) and Sophie Tchuente (72 kg), both finishing with marks of 3-2, the former defeating Samantha Higgins (Cairine Wilson - NCSSA), Kristina Zubiashvill (Stephen Lewis - YRAA) and Reine Gopaul (Pickering - LOSSA), while the latter outlasted Mia VandenHoek (Mayfield - ROPSSA), Brielyn Young (Blessed Trinity - SOSSA) and Hailey Basacco (Central Elgin - WOSSA).
While competition within the 130+ kg bracket is still somewhat elusive, both in the north and across the province, Macdonald-Cartier Panthères' newcomer Rielly Liefson managed to open his tournament with a win over Noah Fisch (Kitchener - CWOSSA), enough to see him earn sixth place in his weight class.
The group of Sudbury athletes who finished OFSAA at 2-2 included Noah Peredes (Lively Hawks - 64 kg), Hayden McIntyre (ESMC - 130 kg), Jordyn Vildis (Lively Hawks - 51 kg), Sophie Keenan (Lo-Ellen Knights - 61 kg) and Paige Kennedy (Lively Hawks - 89 kg).
Four other locals managed to hit the win column - Cengiz Colgecen (Lasalle Lancers - 61 kg), Kolby McLean (Lively Hawks - 72 kg), Ryland House (ESMC - 83 kg), Daniel Paulin-Poitras (Lasalle Lancers - 130 kg)- while the likes of Logan Constantin (Champlain Requins - 47.5 kg), Joe Vakareskov (Lo-Ellen Knights - 57.5 kg), Kian Marshall (Lo-Ellen Knights - 61 kg), Tysen Doherty (Champlain Requins - 67.5 kg), Gabrielle Chenard (ESMC - 47.5 kg), Andra Pretty (Horizon Aigles - 54 kg), Kyla Fournier (ESMC - 57.5 kg), Melody Hamilton (BAC Gators - 67.5 kg) and Gabrielle Roy (Horizon Aigles - 77 kg) all garnered valuable experience from their matches.
