SASKATOON – The University of Calgary Dinos women's wrestling team has completed their title defence.

The Dinos impressively captured their 13th Canada West women's wrestling championship, holding off their opposition by 13 points. The upstart Dinos men's program came away with a second-place finish and plenty to be excited about following a pair of major individual awards.

"I thought our team performed well. They wrestled to their abilities, and we have strong women's and men's teams," said Dinos head coach Mitch Ostberg, who was named the Canada West Coach of the Year in Women's Wrestling.

A year ago, the women's team title came down to the final bout to decide a winner. On Saturday in Saskatoon, the Dinos set the tone for the day with a dominating performance versus the Alberta Pandas in round one, winning seven of their 10 matches head-to-head.

"We did a good job in the first dual against Alberta, knowing they would be our primary opposition," explained Ostberg. "We beat them quite soundly; it was a great way to start the day."

The Alberta Golden Bears won the men's team title for the fourth consecutive year. Like the Calgary women, the Alberta men had an extraordinary day on the mats and finished 13 points ahead of the second-place Dinos.

Seven Calgary wrestlers won individual gold medals. Ankita Singh led the way at 50kg, followed by Gabriela Cross (56kg), Annika Fines (62kg), Mackenzie Cayer (65kg), and Angelina Ellis-Toddington (68kg) on the women's side. Fred Calingay (57kg) and Nick Hooper (76kg) topped the podium for the men's team.

The reigning national rookie of the year, Hooper made quick work of his competition with three tech fall victories and only surrendered a single point on the day. He was named the Canada West Male Outstanding Wrestler – joining Brian Hutton (2011, 2012) and Callum McNeice (2018) as the only Dinos to receive the honour.

Towering first-year Dino Jack Pye claimed Canada West Male Rookie of the Year recognition. He rebounded from a tech fall defeat in his first bout to earn a pair of convincing tech fall wins of his own.

"We feel very good about the direction our men's team is headed," said Ostberg. "They are on the upswing with some good youth."

The focus for the Canada West wrestling programs will now shift to the 2025 U SPORTS National Championships, which will be hosted by Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., from Feb.  28 to Mar. 1.

"We are chomping at the bit," stated Ostberg. "We have been planning to be able to put the heat on Brock. They are the defending champions, but we will go after them with everything we've got."

Major Away Winners
Outstanding Wrestler, Women – Vianne Rouleau, Alberta Pandas
Outstanding Wrestler, Men – Nick Hooper, Calgary Dinos
Rookie of the Year, Women – Payton Shields, Lethbridge Pronghorns
Rookie of the Year, Men – Jack Pye, Calgary Dinos
Coach of the Year, Women – Mitch Ostberg, Calgary Dinos
Coach of the Year, Men – Owen Dawkins, Alberta Golden Bears
Student-Athlete Community Service Award, Women – Caitlin Clatney, Saskatchewan Huskies
Student-Athlete Community Service Award, Men – Drake Buechler, Saskatchewan Huskies

Team Standings
Women
1.    Calgary Dinos – 46 points
2.    Alberta Pandas – 36 
3.    Saskatchewan Huskies – 32 
4.    Lethbridge – 11 

Men
1.    Alberta Golden Bears – 53 points
2.    Calgary Dinos – 40 
3.    Saskatchewan Huskies – 35 
4.    Lethbridge – 5 

Final Results

Women's 50kg
1st – Ankita Singh, Calgary
2nd – Natalya Jara, Alberta
3rd – Ellia Gaudet, Saskatchewan

Women's 53kg
1st – Sierra Mullin, Saskatchewan
2nd – Maya Johnston, Calgary
3rd – Julia Daus, Alberta

Women's 56kg
1st – Gabriela Cross, Calgary
2nd – Natasha Ekundayo, Alberta

Women's 59kg
1st – Payton Shields, Lethbridge
2nd – Caitlyn Clatney, Saskatchewan
3rd – Eve Maxwell-Nikiforuk
4th – Kiera Stedall, Alberta

Women's 62kg
1st – Annika Fines, Calgary
2nd – Beatriz Herrera Bustamante, Alberta
3rd – Kayley Clarke, Saskatchewan

Women's 65kg
1st – Mackenzie Cayer, Calgary
2nd – Maria Sawiak, Alberta
3rd – Angel Besskkaystare, Saskatchewan
4th – Danya Braun, Lethbridge

Women's 68kg
1st – Angelina Ellis-Toddington, Calgary
2nd – Kate McLachlan, Saskatchewan

Women's 72kg
1st – Vianne Rouleau, Alberta
2nd – Eilidh Wist, Calgary
3rd – Taebyn Tulp, Saskatchewan
4th – Nadia Greaves, Lethbridge

Women's 76kg
1st – Brydon Switzer, Alberta
2nd – Danyka LaBelle, Calgary

Women's 83kg
1st – Myah Phillips, Saskatchewan
2nd – Aaliyah Hartfelder, Alberta
3rd – Brydget Dearling, Lethbridge
4th – Jaylaina Callan, Calgary

Men's 57kg
1st – Fred Calingay, Calgary
2nd – Owen Kennedy, Alberta
3rd – Davyd Dzyuba, Saskatchewan

Men's 61kg
1st – Alec Montoya, Alberta
2nd – Drake Buechler, Saskatchewan
3rd – Vince Li, Calgary

Men's 65kg
1st – Donovan Neudorf, Saskatchewan
2nd – Daniel Hernandez-Mendoza, Alberta
3rd – Brett MacDonald, Calgary

Men's 68kg
1st – Isaac Le Morvan, Alberta
2nd – Brendan Maguire, Calgary
3rd – Ashton Bodnarchuk, Saskatchewan

Men's 72kg
1st – Devan Larkin, Alberta
2nd – Braedon Monts, Calgary
3rd – Cole Sanderson, Saskatchewan
4th – Fulton Alexander, Lethbridge

Men's 76kg
1st – Nick Hooper, Calgary
2nd – Dilon Hammer, Saskatchewan
3rd – Aidan Gresik, Alberta
4th – Michael Thomas, Lethbridge

Men's 82kg
1st – Aidan Stevenson, Alberta
2nd – Judah Arthurs, Saskatchewan
3rd – Brantley Saar, Calgary

Men's 90kg
1st – Thomas Rousseau, Alberta
2nd – Joseph De Maio, Calgary
3rd – Matthew Yong, Saskatchewan

Men's 100kg
1st – Taran Goring, Alberta
2nd – Jack Pye, Calgary
3rd – Tyler Saruwatari, Lethbridge
4th – George Ren, Saskatchewan

Men's 125kg
1st – Bjorn Nelson, Alberta
2nd – Aleksander Eisler, Saskatchewan
3rd – Connor Bren, Calgary

-UC-