LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs wrestling program slammed their way to many accomplishments this season, including a third place finish at the CIS national championship for the women's team.
To kick off the season the team started on a very high note, with the women's team claiming first place at the University of Toronto open and the men's team taking third place. At the tournament Jennifer Nguyen (Mississauga, Ont.), Lesley McCallum (Woodstock, Ont.)band Larissa D'Alleva (Prince Albert, Ont.) all brought home gold medals in their respective divisions. D'Alleva also walked away with a larger individual achievement as the rookie was name the outstanding female wrestler of the tournament.
The Mustangs also hosted two large events this season. The Western Open and the OUA Championships, both were successful events with Nguyen winning the gold at the Western Open and the women's team finishing second overall at the OUA Championships.
With the success at the OUA Championships, the Mustangs sent nine wrestlers to the CIS championships in Calgary.
Christine Schmidt completed a successful season with the Western Mustangs, claiming the bronze medal at the Western Open and silver at the Ontario Junior Championships. Her bronze medal win at the OUA Championships earned her a birth in the CIS Championships where she placed sixth in the 72kg division.
Jennifer Archibald brought home a bronze medal at the Ontario Junior Championships, and then claimed a third place finish at the OUA Championships to give her a bronze medal and a shot at the best in the country at the CIS Championships where she finished sixth in the 67kg division.
Monica Varallo represented the Western Mustangs at the CIS championships after she claimed a bronze medal at the OUA championships.At the CIS nationals she finished in eighth place in the 82kg division.
Sahana Mazumber claimed a bronze at the OUA Championships to earn a birth at the CIS championships, where she finished sixth. This goes along with her bronze at this years University of Toronto open and her two silver medals at the Brock Open and the Ontario Junior Championships.
Golden is a good way to describe the year for Jennifer Nguyen. She claimed the top medal at the University of Toronto Open, the Queens Invitational and the Western Open. She also won bronze at the Toronto Open and got silver at the OUA championships then finished in fourth at the CIS championships.
It’s been a successful season for Brianne Barry, she claimed a bronze medal at the Western Open and four silver medals at the University of Toronto Open, the Ontario Senior Open, the Toronto Open and the Queens Invitational. Her big achievement of the season came with winning a gold at the Ontario Junior Championships and at the OUA Championships. At the CIS championships Barry brought home a silver medal.
Liz Sera brought home four silver medals this season, at the University of Toronto Open, the McMaster Invitational, the Queen’s Invitational and the OUA Championships. Her crowning achievements came at the Toronto and Brock Open’s when she brought home the gold medal at each event. At Nationals, she finished in third place bringing home a bronze medal in the 59kg division.
Four gold medals tell the story for Larissa D’Alleva this season with the wins coming at the Toronto Open, Ontario Junior Championships, University of Toronto Open and the OUA Championships. She was honored with being named the Outstanding Female wrestler award at the U of Toronto open. To go along with her already golden season, she won a bronze medals at the Concordia Invitational, Queen’s Invitational and the Western Open. D'Alleva claimed a silver medal at the CIS championships.
The lone male representing the Western Mustangs at the CIS championships, Eric Jacobson claimed a bronze at both the Ontario Junior Championships and the OUA Championships to advance. At the CIS championships Jacobson finished fourth in the 72kg division.
