The University of the Fraser Valley was the nerve centre of wrestling in the province last Saturday, as it played host to the inaugural B.C. Open Club Championships.
BC Wrestling launched the event this year in an effort to give young wrestlers an intermediate competition between the high school provincials two weeks prior and the national championships two weeks later.
The tournament drew upwards of 150 athletes in the juvenile (age 17-18), cadet (15-16), middle school and elementary divisions.
"It achieved its purpose for those who came – the kids got some matches in," said Jim Mitchell of the Mid Valley Athletic Club, who helped to organize the event. "It went well."
A pair of Abbotsford teams earned aggregate medals. The Miri Piri Wrestling Club finished atop the juvenile/cadet boys standings, while the Abby Wrestling Club was second in the juvenile/cadet girls points and third overall on the boys side.
Proceeds from the tourney went towards the UFV wrestling program, which is making the leap from club status to full-fledged CIS squad in the 2014-15 school year.
The juvenile/cadet national championships run April 4-6 in Guelph, Ont.