Wrestlers capture medals

Perhaps one of the lesser known, but much enjoyed by the participants, extra-curricular sports offered at some SD83 schools is wrestling. Our district is now also home to a student who is a B.C. Secondary School Wrestling Champion!

This past wrestling season, which runs from the end of October until mid-February, SD83 had 25 wrestlers competing at the elementary and middle school levels and 15 wrestlers at the secondary level.

The younger wrestlers compete to the regional level while the more senior wrestlers, if they qualify, can compete at the B.C. Secondary School Championships.

This season, three local wrestlers stood on the podium at the BC Secondary School Championships Feb. 16-17 at Langley Events Centre.

Elijah Lazar of Salmon Arm Secondary Sullivan captured gold, Eve Maxwell of Jackson was fourth and Hayden Lazar of Jackson was also fourth! The senior wrestlers are coached by Ray Munsie, Duane Kroeker and Greg Seed.

At the Okanagan Zone Championships in February, Ranchero Elementary’s wrestling team took home many golds and top three placements, including grade 8 student Emma Muddimen who won gold in her weight class.

The coach of the Ranchero wrestlers, teacher Duane Kroeker, is looking for any elementary teachers interested in starting a team and competing against Ranchero’s team next year. He also offered a wrestling games unit for interested teachers at the inservice day on Feb. 21.