Former wrestlers at U of R angry after medals, trophies tossed in dumpster

It’s a discovery that’s added insult to injury.

That’s what former team members of the University of Regina’s wrestling program are saying after several of the team’s awards were found in a dumpster outside the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport on Friday.

“It was our MVP trophy, Canada West trophy and other (medals) and plaques that were in the (locker) room,” said Amber Wiebe, a former Cougars wrestler.

The program, which was axed last year, meant athletes would have to look elsewhere for varsity wrestling opportunities.

A former teammate of Wiebe’s, who did not want to be identified, found the awards while looking in the dumpster Friday morning. The discovery discouraged him.

“I don’t like the team’s legacy thrown in a dumpster,” he said.

Wiebe said she’d felt a pattern of disrespect toward the wrestling team and her teammate who found the items thinks administration doesn’t care about the team’s legacy.

“It’s not really a priority for them,” he said.

“It’s a team that got cut, so they don’t have a use for them anymore.”

Erica Ravelo, another former Cougars wrestler, was the first to receive the call from her former teammate to say he found the awards in the dumpster. She didn’t want to speculate who made the decision to throw them away, but was upset at who did it.

“If you’re going to throw away the trophies and the plaques you might as well throw away those (national and conference championship) banners up in the (Kinesiology) building,” she said. “That was a team effort.”

Harold Riemer, dean of the faculty of kinesiology and health studies, said he was unaware the items were discarded, but believes they came from the offices of one of the former wrestling coaches.

“Both coaches were invited to come out and clean their offices on a number of occasions,” said Riemer.

Riemer said one coach did come in but the other didn’t. He added the items were likely moved due to renovations in the fitness centre affecting the former coaches’ offices.

He said the university doesn’t keep all trophies teams win, but does keep their banners.

None of the players interviewed want to speak with administration about the issue because they believe any conversation won’t be constructive.

“Whenever you talk to them it just feels like they don’t respect your opinion and they don’t really care,” said Ravelo.

Wiebe added many of the former wrestlers no longer attend the U of R as they are either attending other universities or have dropped out altogether.

That could make any conversation with administration less effective.

Riemer said he feels he has treated the students fairly.

“I’d like to hear from them,” he said. “I’m happy to talk with them to see what they saw.”