Skip to content

Ucluelet Secondary Warriors wrestling team on a roll

Senior girls nab the combine team title at the Campbell River Invitational on Jan. 14
31642092_web1_230122-UWN-ucluelet-wrestling-team-rocks-campbell-river-tournament-WARRIORS_1
Olivia Rhodes, Grade 11, pins an opponent at the Campbell River Invitational on Jan. 14. (Mike Rhodes photo)

There is no slowing the Ucluelet Secondary School Warriors Wrestling team as they set their sights on a peak performance at Vancouver Island Championships on Feb. 10 in Duncan.

Captained by seniors Mary Kindrachuk and Olivia Rhodes, the travelling team of Marcus John, Elsa Wagner, Krista Wagner, Rhys Cannon, Ava Duncan, Kennedy Bruno and Wyatt Rhodes finished strong at the Nanaimo Opener at the beginning of January, taking home the team title.

At the Jan. 14 Campbell River Invitational, the Warriors Wrestling senior girls nabbed the combined team title.

Olivia Rhodes and Kindrachuk won gold, Krista Wagner took silver and Elsa Wagner earned bronze to secure the team win for the girls. Junior girls Ava Duncan and Kennedy Bruno each took home silver medals.

On the boys side, Wyatt Rhodes took silver, Cannon earned bronze while Marcus John and Jett Bertin finished fourth on the day.

“It was a great day overall. For some of our newer wrestlers it was a good learning experience, putting skills learned in practice to use in a competitive situation. For our senior wrestlers, it was another step in developing toward the end of the season with Islands and Provincials coming up in February. The girls are rounding into form, showing they’re going to be a force on the provincial stage which is great to see,” said coach Mike Rhodes, who started Ucluelet’s wrestling program in 1999.

His daughter, 16-year-old Olivia Rhodes, won all four of her matches in the first minute. Olivia told the Westerly she was at the wrestling tournament until about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday then her parents drove her 1.5 hours to Gold River so she could play in the final of the Gold River Welcome Back basketball tournament at 5:30 p.m.

“I slept the whole way,” she said.

“We’re so fortunate the tournament schedule allowed for it,” said coach Rhodes.

Olivia, who has been wrestling since Grade 1 and currently competes in the 55 kilos weight-class, expressed her gratitude to have competitive sports back and a new gym.

“I couldn’t survive without sports. I was just like dying in my house because we couldn’t go do anything. Everyone is just so much happier,” she said before a Wednesday wrestling practice.

Coach Rhodes said it’s an exciting time of year for Warriors sports.

“The basketball teams are building towards Islands. We’re building towards Islands. Caitlyn Midlane is back from injury. That’s going to be a huge boost to our team,” he said.

The wrestling team heads to Vancouver on Jan. 27 and 28 for the Seaforth Cup, a tournament hosted by Canadian military.



nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

READ MORE: Ucluelet Secondary basketball teams win big in Gold River