Perennial powerhouse
Brock dominates competition in men’s and women’s wrestling at nationals
Brock University once again ended the men’s and women’s wrestling seasons on the top step of the podium
After taking both team titles at the Ontario championships earlier this month, the perennial powerhouse Badgers repeated that feat at the 2017 U Sports Wrestling Championships that concluded on Saturday afternoon at the University of Winnipeg.
On the men’s side, Brock took home medals in eight weight classes, four gold and four silver on their way to winning their fourth consecutive team title. The Badgers accumulated 77 points well ahead of the McMaster Marauders, 37 point. The Alberta Golden Bears finished third with 35 points.
Members of the Badgers men’s team winning gold were Chris McIsaac (61 kg), Matt Jagas (68 kg), Tyler Rowe (76 kg) and Jevon Balfour (82 kg).
Marco Palermo, Lakehead (54 kg), Josh Bodnarchuk, Saskatchewan (57 kg), Vincent De Marinis, Concordia (65 kg), Ilya Abelev, UNB (72 kg) , Grayson St-Laurent, UNB (90 kg), Finn Higgins, Winnipeg (100 kg) and Brad Hildenbrandt, Fraser Valley (120 kg) were the other athletes crowned U Sports national champions.
In women’s competition Brock captured its sixth consecutive team title. The Badgers claimed medals in seven of eight weight classes, including four gold medals to go along with two silver and one bronze to finish the event with 67 points. The Guelph Gryphons finished second, 34 points; while the Saskatchewan Huskies finished third with 32 points.
Taking home gold for the Brock women were Tina Mclaren (51 kg), Emily Schaefer (59 kg), Jessica Brouillette (63 kg) and Indira Moores (67 kg).
Other gold medallists were Katie Dutchak, Saskatchewan (48 kg), Cara Nania, Calgary (55 kg), Gracelynn Doogan, Guelph (72 kg) and Kiera Prior, Saskatchewan (82 kg).
Illya Abelev (UNB) and Jessica Brouillette (Brock), the 2014 Women’s Rookie of the Year were named the U Sports wrestlers of the year.
“(Jessica) is one of the leaders on our team and we are very pleased to see that all her hard work and dedication payed off with her winning the national championship and the outstanding female athlete of the year,” said Brock assistant coach Dave Collie. “She was fortunate to have the opportunity to showcase her skill and determination against such an amazing athlete in (63 kg silver medalist) Temi Ogunjimi from Calgary.”
Brock head coach Marty Calder was named U Sports coach of the year on both the men’s and women’s side, his sixth time as women’s coach of the year and eighth men’s honour.
The following individual awards were presented:
WOMEN
Outstanding Wrestler: Jessica Brouillette – Brock
Rookie of the Year: Hannah Taylor – Brock
Coach of the Year: Marty Calder – Brock
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: Natassya Lu – Guelph
Student Athlete Community Service Award: Alisha Kaegi – Winnipeg
MEN
Outstanding Wrestler: Ilya Abelev - UNB
Rookie of the Year: Marco Palermo - Lakehead
Coach of the Year: Marty Calder – Brock
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: Kyle Nguyen - Winnipeg
Student Athlete Community Service Award: Joban Phulka McMaster
Athletes of the week
Brock University’s top athletes for the week ending Sunday are women’s wrestlers Emily Schaefer, Sarnia; and Kristina Mclaren, St. Catharines; and men’s wrestlers Matt Jagas, Kitchener; and Chris McIsaac, Orillia.
Schaefer, a third-year education major, helped lead the Brock women’s wrestling team to their seventh national championship in school history. At 59 kg, Schaefer went undefeated defeating Cierra Carere of the Guelph Gryphons in the gold medal match for her second straight individual U Sports title.
Mclaren, a third-year kinesiology major, captured her second straight individual U Sports title posting a 4-0 record. In the gold medal match, she defeated Jade Dufour of the Concordia Stingers.
Jagas, a third-year history major, helped lead the Brock men’s wrestling team to its 17th National Championship in the program’s history. At 68kg, Jagas posted a 4-0 record, defeating Western’s Caleb Rutner in the gold medal match. This was his second straight U Sports individual title.
McIsaac, a second year sociology major, made an impact in his first appearance at the U Sports Championships. At 61kg, McIsaac was outstanding going 4-0, including a victory over Guelph’s Elvir Uzunovic in the gold medal final.
Women’s V-ball splits final weekend
The Brock University women’s volleyball team split its final two matches of the season with a 3-0 victory over the Royal Military College Paladins and 3-1 loss to the Queen’s Gaels.
Against RMC, Maddie Brown, Scarborough; led the way with 12 kills and a .450 hitting percentage. Renee Helmer, Waterloo; contributed with six kills, while Hannah Davenhill, New Zealand; chipped in with four kills. Rookie setter Emily Armstrong, Oshawa; finished with 26 assists and six digs while libero Karlinna O’Leary, Whitby; added 13 digs in the victory.
For the match, Brock hit .243 registering 33 kills with 15 errors on 74 attempts. RMC added just 17 kills with 13 errors on 65 attempts for a .062 hitting percentage.
Prior to the game versus Queen’s, Brock volleyball head coach Dale Melnick honoured three graduating fifth-year players: Lauren Kniewasser, Ottawa; Brown, O’Leary.
Brown led the Badgers offence against the Gaels finishing with 15 kills. Brianna Hamilton, Dunrobin, Ont.; contributed with eight kills and 10 digs, while Laura Condotta, Etobicoke; chipped in with eight kills and nine digs. Armstrong added 42 assists.
In her final Brock game, O’Leary finished with 24 digs. She finishes second all-time in career digs with 1381.
The Badgers hit. .263 for the match registering 48 kills with 13 errors on 133 attempts. Queen’s added 57 kills with 15 errors on 146 attempts for a .288 hitting percentage.
1-1 finish to season
Brock closed out the men’s university volleyball season with a 3-1 victory over the RMC Paladins Friday and 3-2 loss to Queen’s Gaels on Senior Night Saturday.
Against RMC, senior captain Matthew Ragogna, Tottenham; had a strong match for the Badgers registering 13 kills and 11 digs for the double-double.
John Elgersma, Wellandport; Calvin Fast, Queenston; both recorded 10 kills each, while rookie setter Marcelo Correa, Indaiatuba, Brazil; added 40 assists.
Brock collected 47 kills with 23 errors on 132 attempts for a .182 hitting percentage.
The Paladins finished with 34 kills with 21 errors on 103 attempts for a .126 hitting percentage.
Prior to the game against Queen’s, Brock head coach Doug Hanes recognized five graduating players: Damon Currie, Adrian Yeun, Elgersma, Fast and Ragogna.
Elgersma led the Badgers attack registering 10 kills and 3.5 blocks. Fast and Currie collected seven kills each while Ragogna and Timmy Spisar chipped in with six kills a piece in the victory.
Brock registered 41 kills with 15 errors on 111 attempts for a .234 hitting percentage. The Gaels added 56 kills with 16 errors on 118 attempts for a .339 hitting efficiency.