Eldridge wrestles to a silver at OFSAA

By Rob J. Ross 

Gavin Eldridge is an OFSAA silver medalist.

The Parkside C.I. student was undefeated before losing in the boys' 57.5-kilogram gold medal match to Roman Wawryk, of Kitchener C.I., at the OFSAA wrestling championships, in Ottawa, March 5-6th.

"It was a great feeling. You get a rush of joy and pride go through your body when you hear your name being announced," said Eldridge. "Last year just missing out by one round I felt disappointed. This year feels a lot better."

Complete OFSAA results

The scorecard read Wawryk, 14-6, on points.

Eldridge felt a four point move by Wawryk was difference in the match, leaving Eldridge in a 10-6 deficit at the time.

"I was trying to figure out what would work and what I could get on him," Eldridge said. "That was progressing through my head, remembering what I have learned throughout the years."

The Grade 11 student used his experience to beat his long time WOSSAA rival, Diego Worsley, of London Beal, in the semifinals.

"It's just sticking with what I know and having a confidence in myself."

Eldridge defeated Zac Ortencio (Neil McNeil), 12-1; Brandon Medina (St. Aloysius Gonzaga), 12-2; Jared Jose (St. Ignatius), pin and Diego Worsley (Beal) 4-2, to advance to the gold medal bout.

His goal now is a return to that gold medal match next season.

King

Parkside's Maddie King finished sixth, in the girls' 47.5-kilogram division, dropping the fifth place match to Alicia Alvarez (Father Bressani)

"I felt like I wrestled my very hardest throughout the whole tournament. I went up a weight class this year to challenge myself and that's exactly what I got, a challenge," said King. "Over all it was a really good learning experience and just inspires me to work harder so I can reach my goal for next year."

In her semifinal, King lost to Jessica Hong, from Sir Robert Borden, who won the gold medal.

"I was really proud of my match against Jessica. I improved so much since our last match at provincials this year," said King. "I didn't let her intimidate me or stop me from wrestling my hardest. I was able to block a lot of her moves. I didn't let her win easily or quickly."

King opened with a pair of wins by pins, against Crystal Ler (Stephen Lewis) and Olivia Martinez (Bishop Ryan). Zanig King (St. Franci Xavier) denied Maddie a shot at the bronze medal, with a 4-0 win.

Dorchester's Josh Smith placed fifth, in the 72-kilogram class, defeating Lukas Geske (Bishop Ryan), 4-1.

Smith won his first two bouts against Connor Rooney (Innisdale) and Patty Morocz (Canterbury) before losing to Bilal Naous (Stephen Lewis), 10-4. Naous went on to take home silver. Smith rebounded with two dominating victories, over Peyton Garvin (Guelph Collegiate) and John Charron (Uxbridge).

Smith

Local rival, Ideen Maghsud of London Oakridge, who beat Smith in the WOSSAA final, prevented Smith a chance at the OFSAA bronze medal, with an 8-1 decision, advancing to win the medal himself.

Central Elgin Titan Dalton Holt went 2-2, at 83-kilograms, including a win against Parkside's Cole Moore, avenging a loss in the WOSSAA final.

Parkside's Brady Johnson finished 2-2, at 130-kilograms.

"Brady Johnson really impressed me at OFSAA," said Eldridge. "He's been great all year and he really showed up at OFSAA. For his first time, it was a great tournament for him."

Patrick Salvador, a student at London Mother Teresa, who trains with the St. Joseph's Rams, is the boys' 77-kilogram OFSAA champion. Salvador beat Sukhman Gosal, of Turner Fenton, in the gold medal match.

For more on Salvador, see Golden at OFSAA.

St. Joe's Rams were Liam Bacon (1-2, 61-kg) and Mary Clare Haasen (0-2, girls' 64kg).

"We were very happy with our team overall. My 'own' St. Joe's athletes both wrestled with a lot of poise at their first OFSAA, which is difficult to do on that biggest stage. Both did lots of good things in their matches and we're confident they'll be more successful when they return to the championships next year," Schweitzer said.  

"Thomas Fortier (also from MTS) and Kendall Dettloff (London CCH) both bounced back from early losses and wrestled well throughout the tournament, just missing out on finishing on the podium (top six at OFSAA)."

Dettloff won four consecutive matches following her opening loss, in the girls' 54-kilogram class, before eliminated by Olivia Fyshe (Orchard Park), one match short of a podium appearance.

It is Dettloff's second OFSAA championship within the past five months, also qualifying for cross country running last November, as part of the CCH senior girls' team.

Other local OFSAA results: Cole Moore, PCI (1-2, 83-kg); Julie Boyko, PCI (1-2, girls' 57.5-kg); Steph Boyko, PCI (1-2, girls' 67.5-kg); Emma Penner, PCI (1-2, girls' 61-kg); Peyton Brodie-Grubb, PCI (1-2, girls' 61-kg); Adam Holt, CECI (0-2, 89-kg); Owen Bisschop, LDSS (1-2, 67.5-kg); Nick Lynch, LDSS (1-2, 38-kg); Kolton Reading, LDSS (0-2, 38-kg).2.81)