Congratulations: The Edson Gladiator Wrestling Club
Every year the Alberta Amateur Wrestling Association (AAWA) presents a number of awards to deserving individuals, coaches, teams, clubs and athletes at their annual awards banquet. Edson’s wrestling community has received such awards in the past for club and school programs but this year, three awards will be presented to Edson’s wrestling community - Curtis Brinker (contributor of year), Edson Gladiator Wrestling Club (club of the year) and Tiana Bryant (Under 17 woman wrestler of the year).
Curtis Brinker has been involved as an athlete, coach, parent and supporter of the sport of wrestling for over 45 years. In the past he has received volunteer and coach of the year awards but this is the first for outstanding contributor. Curtis has a passion for sports, physical fitness, and youth involvement in all types of team sports he was a founding member of the Edson Axeman Rugby Club. He has seen the dream of the development of wrestling in the Edson area come to fruition. There has been an incredible amount of support and work from the community, athletes, teachers, schools, individuals and parents to see the sport of wrestling develop from the initial days of school wrestling in 1993 at Niton to the current existence of a vibrant school and community wrestling program. Curtis’s passion and commitment is shared by a dedicated group of club executives, coaches, parents and wrestlers who share this award - including his wife Anne and daughter Robyn who coach and support club activities. Not to leave out pine grove school for their incredible support and parkland school’s active wrestling program.
The Edson Gladiator Wrestling Club was a vision that started back in around 2005 by a number of very determined wrestlers and their parents. Coleman and Clayton Brinker, along with a number of their team mates, came up with the Gladiator logo and name. Through the years many, many athletes, and families built on that dream, which focusses on“passion”, “perseverance”,“commitment”, “teamwork”,“integrity ”and“excellence”. And, of course, “fun”.
Through the years many wrestlers and their families have become part of the Edson and Area’s wrestling community. Some have competed far away (Europe, California, Brazil), travelled across Canada, competed at the university and national level but through it all they have come to love the sport of wrestling, developed a great sense of“team” and developed a belief in themselves.
One of the current Gladiator wrestlers and a student and wrestler at Parkland Composite, Tiana Bryant, in winning the Female U17 Wrestler for 2017 joins a very talented group of recipients including Christine Nordhagen who went on to represent Canada at the olympics in 2004. Last year Tiana won gold medals at the Alberta open u17, national u17, and many provincial tournaments as well as a bronze at the Canada summer games. Tiana is part of a very successful and committed team of wrestlers for the club and for Parkland.