London, ON - The Western Mustangs delivered a commanding performance on Saturday as Alumni Hall played host to the 2026 OUA Wrestling Championships, filling the building with energy, pride, and a strong home-mat advantage. Both the men's and women's teams finished second overall, showcasing depth, preparation, and poise across every weight class. With alumni packing the stands, teammates cheering from mat-side, and Western's event crew creating a championship atmosphere, the Mustangs turned the OUA's biggest day of the season into a showcase of excellence.
Head Coach
Scott Proctor praised the quality of the event and the environment his team thrived in. "It was a great event—really well run by Western—and the atmosphere in the building was outstanding," he said. "There was strong support from our team members and from the many alumni who came out to cheer us on." Proctor added that he was proud of how his athletes performed under the spotlight. "I'm very happy for those who accomplished their goals. They've put in the work and dedication all season, and it's nice to see it pay off."
One of the day's defining moments came from
Lukas Geske, who won his fifth consecutive OUA title at 82kg—making him the first Mustang in program history to win five in a row and only the second ever to collect five total OUA titles. Proctor emphasized just how significant the achievement was. "Winning five titles is incredible. Lukas's consistency and work ethic are unmatched. What he's accomplished over five years says everything about the athlete and person he is." Geske dominated his path to gold, winning all of his matches by technical superiority while surrendering only two points all tournament.
Western's women's team was anchored by another commanding champion,
Jonelle Clarke, who captured the OUA title at 65kg in flawless fashion, winning all three of her matches in the first round without giving up a point. Proctor praised Clarke's performance and the significance of her progression over the years. "For Jonelle, this is the accumulation of five years of hard work and continually improving. She showed complete command of every match today, and it reflects the dedication she brings every single day." Assistant coach Madi Parks added that the team's overall placement was a true collective achievement. "Everyone contributed to the team standings. Whether it was podium finishes, key wins in the early rounds, or the energy they brought from the stands, it was a full team effort."
The Mustangs also celebrated outstanding gold-medal performances from
Chayton Valleau and
Charlie Ortencio, who each wrestled with confidence and precision throughout the day. Assistant Coach
Steven Takahashi praised their preparation and execution. "Chayton and Charlie were extremely well prepared, and it showed. They wrestled with purpose, stuck to their game plans, and never took their foot off the gas. They earned those titles with the way they trained and competed."
Silver medals from
Cyenna Trotman,
Emmanuela Okeke,
Myah Kyle, and
Luca Roma, along with bronze medals from
Jennifer Nwamadi and
Zachary Ortencio, helped cement both teams in second place overall. Western also brought home two of the championship's major honours:
Jonelle Clarke was named Outstanding Female Wrestler, and
Iman Zebian received the Female Student-Athlete Community Service Award for her leadership and contributions off the mat.
In total, fifteen Mustangs earned automatic qualification to the U SPORTS Championships, with the possibility of additional qualifiers pending results from other conferences. Proctor noted that while the successes were significant, the emotions of the day also include difficult moments. "Of course it's always hard when athletes don't reach the goals they had for themselves," he said. "It's heartbreaking because I know the effort and hard work they put into being ready for this tournament. But that is sport. I am confident they will come back stronger and those that qualified for U SPORTS will have a chance to achieve their goals at that tournament. The sun came up the next day, and we will all continue to move forward."
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MAJOR AWARDS
Most Outstanding Men's Wrestler - Blayne Helou (McMaster)
Most Outstanding Women's Wrestler - Jonelle Clarke (Western)
Men's Rookie of the Year - Javier Tonita-Charriez (Brock)
Women's Rookie of the Year - Emma Chartres (Brock)
Men's Coach of the Year - Marty Calder (Brock)
Women's Coach of the Year - Davie Collie (Brock)
Men's Community Service Award - Jonathan Vecchio (Queens)
Women's Community Service Award - Iman Zebian (Western)
FINAL TEAM SCORING
Combined Team
| Place |
Team |
Points |
| 1 |
Brock |
157 |
| 2 |
Western |
117 |
| 3 |
McMaster |
112 |
| 4 |
Guelph |
93 |
| 5 |
Algoma |
58 |
| 6 |
Lakehead |
58 |
| 7 |
Toronto |
46 |
| 8 |
Queens |
41 |
| 9 |
York |
36 |
| 10 |
Carleton |
19 |
| 11 |
TMU |
17 |
Men's
| Place |
Team |
Points |
| 1 |
Brock |
79 |
| 2 |
Western |
59 |
| 3 |
McMaster |
56 |
| 4 |
Guelph |
48 |
| 5 |
York |
34 |
| 6 |
Algoma |
31 |
| 7 |
Toronto |
28 |
| 8 |
Lakehead |
24 |
| 9 |
Queens |
12 |
| 10 |
TMU |
11 |
| 11 |
Carleton |
8 |
Women's
| Place |
Team |
Points |
| 1 |
Brock |
78 |
| 2 |
McMaster |
56 |
| 3 |
Western |
56 |
| 4 |
Guelph |
45 |
| 5 |
Lakehead |
34 |
| 6 |
Queens |
29 |
| 7 |
Algoma |
27 |
| 8 |
Toronto |
18 |
| 9 |
Carleton |
11 |
| 10 |
TMU |
6 |
| 11 |
York |
2 |
