SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – Temitope Ogunjimi and
Erin Geddie certainly saved the best for last at the U SPORTS Wrestling Championships hosted by Algoma University.
The two Dinos wrestlers took home gold medals at 67 and 82 kilograms, respectively, Saturday afternoon in the first-ever national championship hosted in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Ogunjimi was up first, taking on Brock's Indira Moores. Leading throughout the match, the fifth-year Dino managed to hold off a late charge by the Badger and emerged with the victory, winning her first U SPORTS gold medal on her final attempt after winning the Canada West gold medal in each of her five seasons.
She wraps up her varsity career as one of the most decorated athletes in Dinos history, with seven Canada West gold medals (five in wrestling, two in rugby) along with two rugby All-Canadian awards and now the wrestling national title. Now, she can add two more honours: for her efforts, the fifth-year Dino was named the U SPORTS Outstanding Wrestler of the Year and also brought home the student-athlete community service award.
Two bouts later, freshman
Erin Geddie stepped onto the mat to face the favoured Gracelynn Doogan from Guelph. The OUA Champion - and a world U23 silver medallist - held the upper hand until midway through the second and final period, when Geddie turned the tables with a throw to take the Gryphon to the ground. After some anxious moments, the Dinos' corner exploded when the pin was awarded, and Geddie turned her Canada West silver medal into U SPORTS gold.
Appropriately, Geddie was named the U SPORTS female rookie of the year.
The Dinos finished third in the overall women's standings thanks to the first-place finishes by both Geddie and Ogunjimi, along with fourth-place showings by
Sydney Summach (72 kg) and
Grace Chambers (51 kg). In men's action, the Dinos finished ninth, led by fourth-place finishes from
Brendan McKeage (65 kg) and Callum McNeice (72 kg).
Cameron Hicks placed fifth at 57 kg, with
Baldwin Asala sixth in the 100-kg class.
Peter Jones was also sixth at 82 kg, with
John Fayad taking eighth place at 76 kg.
Brock University captured the men's and women's team titles.
TEAM STANDINGS
MEN
1. Brock Badgers, 90
2. Concordia Stingers, 62
3. Alberta Golden Bears, 48
4. Guelph Gryphons, 35
5. Fraser Valley Cascades, 32
6. Saskatchewan Huskies, 29
7. McMaster Marauders, 28
8. Regina Cougars, 26
9. Calgary Dinos, 21
10. Lakehead Thunderwolves, 17
11. Algoma Thunderbirds, 9
12. Western Mustangs, 8
13. UNB Varsity Reds, 4
14. Memorial Sea-Hawks, 4
15. Queen's Gaels, 4
WOMEN
1. Brock Badgers, 72
2. Alberta Pandas, 36
3. Calgary Dinos, 30
4. Concordia Stingers, 29
5. Regina Cougars, 25
6. Saskatchewan Huskies, 24
7. Guelph Gryphons, 16
8. Lakehead Thunderwolves, 16
9. Fraser Valley Cascades, 16
10. York Lions, 11
11. McMaster Marauders, 8
12. Western Mustangs, 7
13. UNB Varsity Reds, 5
14. Algoma Thunderbirds, 4
MEN
57 kg
1st Place - Sam Jagas (Brock Badgers)
2nd Place - Melvin Arciaga (Alberta Golden Bears)
3rd Place - Marco Palermo (Lakehead Thunderwolves)
4th Place - Oren Fumanov (Guelph Gryphons)
5th Place - Cameron Hicks (Calgary Dinos)
6th Place - Remington Tschetter (Saskatchewan Huskies)
65 kg
1st Place - Vincent DeMarinis (Concordia Stingers)
2nd Place - Lucas Hoffert (Regina Cougars)
3rd Place - Mizam Tamaradze (Brock Badgers)
4th Place - Brendan McKeage (Calgary Dinos)
5th Place - Peter Shannon (Queen`s Gaels)
6th Place - Connor Quinton (McMaster Marauders)
7th Place - Devan Larkin (Alberta Golden Bears)
72 kg
1st Place - Cruiz Manning (Brock Badgers)
2nd Place - Alexander Chaves (Guelph Gryphons)
3rd Place - Guseyn Ruslanzada (Concordia Stingers)
4th Place - Callum McNeice (Calgary Dinos)
5th Place - Karan Dhillon (Fraser Valley Cascades)
6th Place - Caleb Rutner (Western Mustangs)
7th Place - Marcus Peterson (Alberta Golden Bears)
76 kg
1st Place - Tyler Rowe (Brock Badgers)
2nd Place - Aidan McKeage (Alberta Golden Bears)
3rd Place - Ben Zahra (McMaster Marauders)
4th Place - Brayden Ambo (Western Mustangs)
5th Place - Aaron Orszak (Concordia Stingers)
6th Place - De`Andre Williams (Fraser Valley Cascades)
7th Place - Matthew Vilain (UNB Varsity Reds)
8th Place - John Fayad (Calgary Dinos)
82 kg
1st Place - Nicholas Goleniec (Alberta Golden Bears)
2nd Place - Ty Bridgewater (Brock Badgers)
3rd Place - Samuel Barmish (Concordia Stingers)
4th Place - Daniel Humphrey (Guelph Gryphons)
5th Place - Peter Shirley (McMaster Marauders)
6th Place - Peter Jones (Calgary Dinos)
7th Place - Noah Bertholet (Saskatchewan Huskies)
100 kg
1st Place - Jordie Steen (Concordia Stingers)
2nd Place - Waylon Decoteau (Regina Cougars)
3rd Place - Ignatius Pitt (Brock Badgers)
4th Place - Job Reinhart (Guelph Gryphons)
5th Place - Dennis Sutton (Memorial)
6th Place - Baldwin Asala (Calgary Dinos)
7th Place - Justin Ramgotra (Alberta Golden Bears)
8th Place - Scott MacLellan (McMaster Marauders)
WOMEN
51 kg
1st Place - Kristina McLaren (Brock Badgers)
2nd Place - Jessica Bershatsky (Lakehead Thunderwolves)
3rd Place - Jade Dufour (Concordia Stingers)
4th Place - Grace Chambers (Calgary Dinos)
5th Place - Amber Wiebe (Regina Cougars)
6th Place - Kaelan Findley (Alberta Pandas)
67 kg
1st Place - Temitope Ogunjimi (Calgary Dinos)
2nd Place - Indira Moores (Brock Badgers)
3rd Place - Amanda Savard (Concordia Stingers)
4th Place - Jasmine Thebeau (UNB Varsity Reds)
5th Place - Megan Fendelet (Alberta Pandas)
6th Place - Casey Turner (Lakehead Thunderwolves)
7th Place - Rachel Evans (Regina Cougars)
8th Place - Olivia Cirillo (Western Mustangs)
72 kg
1st Place - Skylar Grote (Brock Badgers)
2nd Place - Brandy Perry (Alberta Pandas)
3rd Place - Inga Hammer (Regina Cougars)
4th Place - Sydney Summach (Calgary Dinos)
5th Place - Genevieve Lamarche (Concordia Stingers)
6th Place - Christelle Lans (York Lions)
7th Place - Ashley Gravelle (Lakehead Thunderwolves)
82 kg
1st Place - Erin Geddie (Calgary Dinos)
2nd Place - Gracelynn Doogan (Guelph Gryphons)
3rd Place - Darrion Sterling (Brock Badgers)
4th Place - Jessica Rabet (Regina Cougars)
5th Place - Taylor Follensbee (Saskatchewan Huskies)
6th Place - Kara Nixon (Lakehead Thunderwolves)
INDIVIDUAL HONOURS
MEN
Outstanding Wrestler: Francis Carter, Concordia Stingers (68 kg)
Rookie of the Year: Parker McBride, Fraser Valley Cascades (54 kg)
Coach of the Year: Owen Dawkins, Alberta Golden Bears
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: Bryce Davis, Algoma Thunderbirds (68 kg)
Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Josh Bodnarchuk, Saskatchewan Huskies (61 kg)
WOMEN
Outstanding Wrestler: Temitope Ogunjimi, Calgary Dinos (67 kg)
Rookie of the Year: Erin Geddie, Calgary Dinos (82 kg)
Coach of the Year: Marty Calder, Brock Badgers
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: Inga Hammar, Regina Cougars (72 kg)
Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Temitope Ogunjimi, Calgary Dinos (67 kg)
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