For today's feature on our 2020-21 Purple Blanket Award Winners, we are shining the spotlight on Brayden Ambo of the Western Mustangs Wrestling Team.
Video Interview with Winner Brayden Ambo
To watch the video interview with Brayden Ambo and Mustangs Wrestling Head Coach Scott Proctor, please click below. For closed captioning options, please view video on YouTube https://youtu.be/hMDV3AmCHr0.
Purple Blanket Awards are granted to students who, often in their graduating year, are nominated by their coaches and chosen by members of the Selection Committee. Nominated individuals must have been a Western Mustangs student athlete for a minimum of three (3) years, have received a minimum of three (3) First Colour Awards throughout their career, and have been an active participant in their respective sport at the time of recommendation.
Ambo is a part of the Western Mustangs Men's Wrestling Team and has been competing since 2016. He has won five (5) First Colour Awards, one for each season he has competed for the Mustangs, and has been the team's Captain for the past three seasons. He was an OUA 2nd Team All Star in the 2018-19 season and lead the team to OUA Championships in the 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. Ambo placed 3rd in the OUA Championships in his most recent season, and placed 5th in the U SPORTS Championships in the same season.
"[Ambo] has been a dedicated and valuable member of the wrestling team for the past five (5) years. [Ambo] always gives his best in practice. He is always willing to share his expertise with other teammates and often can be found after practice showing teammates different techniques." said Men's Wrestling Head Coach Scott Proctor. "He has served as captain and has shown great leadership, always helping out teammates with technique and offering advice."
Head Coach Proctor also talked to us about his accomplishments: "[Ambo] is a 4 time OUA team member with our team, earning individual medals at every OUA championship he is has attended (3 x Bronze, 1 Silver). [He] is a very strong upper body wrestler and is known for his spectacular throwing ability. He gives 100% in all his matches and due to his ability to score big points he is never out of a match. And he has represented Western on the mat with sportsmanship's and class over his career."
Ambo has competed at the national level and has been awarded two silver medals in the Greco-Roman style wrestling, in addition to a bronze medal in the Freestyle wrestling, at the Senior Canadian Wrestling Championships. Ambo placed second in the 2020 Olympic trials for Greco-Roman style wrestling and would become an alternate to represent Team Canada in the 2021 Olympic Games.
"[Ambo] has competed in some of the most challenging weight classes throughout his university career and has always competed hard, and has continually been a great ambassador for Western." remarked Head Wrestling Coach Proctor.
Ambo is in his final year of the Kinesiology program at Western.
We would like to extend congratulations to Brayden Ambo on being the recipient of a 2020-21 Purple Blanket Award. This accomplishment is one to be very proud of.
