Skopelianos, back with mustangs. Selected Outstanding Wrestler at Toronto Open as women win team title, Men place third overall at Toronto Open
Wrestling Results – Toronto Open Wrestling Tournament, November 11, 2006
Laura Skopelianos and Jessica Fitzgerald won individual gold to edge defending OUA champions, Brock University by one point, 45-44, to win the team title at the Toronto Open Wrestling Tournament. Skopelianos, a London Lucas graduate who transferred back from the University of Calgary beat Brock’s Liz Martindale in two straight rounds, 3-0, 1-0 in the 51 kg weight division, although a tie-breaking clinch was required to decide round one after it ended scoreless 0-0. “Skope exploded into double-leg lift for a beautiful three-pointer at the same time the whistle blew,” said coach Ray Takahashi. “She timed it perfectly.” Skopelianos was selected as the Outstanding Women Wrestler at the Tournament. “She’s a great re-addition to the team,” said Takahashi. Skopelianos was mustang for two years from 2003-05, but attended Calgary last year in 2005-06 and competed for the Calgary Wrestling Club. Fitzgerald, won the 67 kg division and is undefeated so far with two individual golds in two starts after winning the McMaster Invitational the week prior. The mustang captain defeated Laura Stefler (Team Impact) with a cradle pinning hold to clinch the weight class. The mustangs collected seven medals in total. Other medalists were: Kirby Steinhoff (2nd 72 kg), Erica Thomson (2nd 48 kg), Kim Noakes (3rd 63 kg), Megan DeMille (3rd 82 kg), and Katrina Huszarik (3rd 59 kg). “It was good competition for our women,” remarked assistant coach, Josip Mrkoci. “Three of our women got a chance to compete against Tonya Verbeek who won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.”
The mustangs will prepare for the Ontario Senior Open Championships, Nov 25 in St. Catherines. Two London-Western teammates, Terri McNutt (51 kg) and Katie Patroch (59 kg) will compete in the New York Athletic Club International Tournament, November 18 in NY City. McNutt, last year’s CIS champion, and Patroch, a London Saunders SS graduate, are vying for a spot on the Canadian National team and are Olympic hopefuls. “They elevate the level of wrestling in the room and our women’s team is benefiting as a result,” said Takahashi. “We should do well at the Provincials.”
Women’s Individual Results:
1st Laura Skopelianos 51 kg
1st Jessica Fitzgerald 67 kg
2nd Erica Thomson 48 kg
2nd Kirby Steinhoff 72 kg
3rd Kim Noakes 63 kg (London-Western)
3rd Megan DeMille 82 kg
3rd Katrina Huszarik 59 kg
Overall Team Standing:
1 Western 45
2 Brock U. 44
3 Brock Wrestling Club. 20
Werden and Patton repeat Golden performance – lead men to third overall
Jeff Werden and Ian Patton repeated the
ir gold medal performances at the Toronto Open taking the 54 kg and 130 kg weight divisions respectively. Both won gold at the McMaster Invitational a week prior. Werden beat Gildo Domingo (Team Impact) in the 54 kg final by pin in the second round after taking the first round 5-4. “Jeff is becoming more confident in his wrestling and is finishing his attacks better,” said, assistant coach, Josip Mrkoci. Teammate, Matt Steele placed 3rd in the same division losing to Werden, 0-6, 0-3. Patton, the mustangs’ co-capatain, won the heavy-weight (under 130 kg) division defeating Ilya Manukahov (Team Impact), 1-0, 4-0. The mustangs placed 3rd overall with 29 points behind host, Team Impact (46 points) and Guelph (31 points). Teammates placing in the top six were: Cory Palmer (4th 90 kg), Josh Dawson (4th 68 kg), Andrew Ross (5th at 65 k), Keenan Miller, (4th 72 kg), and Phil Medeiros (6th 61 kg)
The mustangs are off this week-end with the next event the Ontario Senior Open Championships, Nov 25 in St. Catherines, along with the women’s team.
Men’s Individual medal winners:
1st Jeff Werden 54 kg
1st Ian Patton 130 kg
3rd Matt Steele 54 kg
Men's Team Standing
1 Team Impact 46
2 Guelph W.C. 31
3 Western 29
First year mustang, Lesley McCallum executes a fireman's carry (Toronto Open). McCallum won the 59 kg match.
