WRES: Golden Bears, Dinos earn championship banners

SASKATOON, Sask. – The University of Alberta Golden Bears captured their fourth consecutive conference title Saturday at Education Gymnasium, while the University of Calgary Dinos women’s wrestling team completed back-to-back titles at the 2025 Canada West Wrestling Championships.

Both team titles were captured by 10+ point leads, with the Calgary women earning the 13^th conference championship in their program’s history with 46 points, two better than their 2024 title. Alberta (36) edged out Saskatchewan (32) by four points in the standings to claim silver.

The Dinos saw five student-athletes take the top spot on the podium on their way to 46 team points. Ankita Singh led the way at 50kg, followed by Gabi Cross (56kg), Annika Fines (62kg), Mackenzie Cayer (65kg), and Angelina Ellis-Toddington (68kg). Calgary would also see three wrestlers finish as runners-ups.

On the men’s side, the Alberta Golden Bears cruised to another Canada West banner with a seven gold, 53-point performance, claiming the title by 13 points. In second, the Calgary Dinos (40) finished with a 5-point advantage over the Saskatchewan Huskies (35) who rounded out the podium.

Golden Bears Alec Montoya (61kg), Isaac Le Morvan (68kg), Devan Larkin (72kg), Aidan Stevenson (82kg), Thomas Rousseau (90kg), Taran Goring (100kg), and Bjorn Nelson (125kg) led the way for Alberta with two other student-athletes claiming second-place finishes.

Outstanding Wrestlers Vianne Rouleau (Alberta) and Nick Hooper (Calgary) dominated competition in Saskatoon on Saturday. Rouleau claimed the conference honours with a fall and technical superiority win in the women’s 72kg weight class while Hooper recorded a 3-0 record in the men’s 76kg weight, allowing a single point against in a trio of technical superiority victories.

At Rookie of the Year, Lethbridge’s Payton Shields earned the title of top freshman with the Pronghorns lone gold medal of the evening in the women’s 59kg. On the men’s side, Calgary’s Jack Pye was named Rookie of the Year after a second-place finish in the 100kg. It's the third year in a row the male Rookie of the Year comes from Calgary.

Calgary’s Mitch Ostberg and Alberta’s Owen Dawkins were named the conference’s coaches of the year following their banner wins.

Focus for the Canada West wrestling programs now shifts to the 2025 U SPORTS Championships, which will be hosted by Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont. from Feb. 28 to March 1, 2025.

Major Award Winners

Outstanding Wrestler, Female Competition – Vianne Rouleau, Alberta Pandas

Outstanding Wrestler, Male Competition – Nick Hooper, Calgary Dinos

Rookie of the Year, Female Competition – Payton Shields, Lethbridge Pronghorns

Rookie of the Year, Male Competition – Jack Pye, Calgary Dinos

Coach of the Year, Female Competition ​ – Mitch Ostberg, Calgary Dinos

Coach of the Year, Male Competition – Owen Dawkins, Alberta Golden Bears

Student-Athlete Community Service Award, Female Competition ​ – Caitlin Clatney, Saskatchewan Huskies

Student-Athlete Community Service Award, Male Competition – Drake Buechler, Saskatchewan Huskies

Team Standings

Women

Men

Women's Final Results

Women’s 50kg

1st – Ankita Singh, Calgary

2nd – Natalya Jara, Alberta

3rd – Ellia Gaudet, Saskatchewan

Women’s 53kg

1st – Sierra Mullin, Saskatchewan

2nd – Maya Johnson, Calgary

3rd – Julia Daus, Alberta

Women’s 56kg

1st – Gabi Cross, Calgary

2nd – Natasha Ekundayo, Alberta

Women’s 59kg

1st – Payton Shields, Lethbridge

2nd – Caitlyn Clatney, Saskatchewan

3rd – Eve Maxwell-Nikiforuk

4th – Kiera Stedall, Alberta

Women’s 62kg

1st – Annika Fines, Calgary

2nd – Bea Herrera, Alberta

3rd – Kayley Clarke, Saskatchewan

Women’s 65kg

1st – Mackenzie Cayer, Calgary

2nd – Maria Sawiak, Alberta

3rd – Angel Besskkaystare, Saskatchewan

4th – Danya Braun, Lethbridge

Women’s 68kg

1st – Angelina Ellis-Toddington, Calgary

2nd – Kate McLachlan, Saskatchewan

Women’s 72kg

1st – Vianne Rouleau, Alberta

2nd – Eliidh Wist, Calgary

3rd – Taebyn Tulp, Saskatchewan

4th – Nadia Greaves, Lethbridge

Women’s 76kg

1st – Brydon Switzer, Alberta

2nd – Dankya LaBelle, Calgary

Women’s 83kg

1st – Myah Phillips, Saskatchewan

2nd – Aaliyah Hartfelder, Alberta

3rd – Brydget Dearling, Lethbridge

4th – Jaylaina Callan, Calgary

Men's Final Results

Men’s 57kg

1st – Fred Calingay, Calgary

2nd – Owen Kennedy, Alberta

3rd – Davyd Dzyuba, Saskatchewan

Men’s 61kg

1st – Alec Montoya, Alberta

2nd – Drake Buechler, Saskatchewan

3rd – Vincent Li, Calgary

Men’s 65kg

1st – Donovan Neudorf, Saskatchewan

2nd – Daniel Hernandez-Mendoza, Alberta

3rd – Brett MacDonald, Calgary

Men’s 68kg

1st – Isaac Le Morvan, Alberta

2nd – Brendon Maguire, Calgary

3rd – Ashton Bodnarchuk, Saskatchewan

Men’s 72kg

1st – Devan Larkin, Alberta

2nd – Braedon Monts, Calgary

3rd – Cole Sanderson, Saskatchewan

4th – Fulton Alexander, Lethbridge

Men’s 76kg

1st – Nick Hooper, Calgary

2nd – Dilon Hammer, Saskatchewan

3rd – Aidan Gresik, Alberta

4th – Michael Thomas, Lethbridge

Men’s 82kg

1st – Aidan Stevenson, Alberta

2nd – Judah Arthurs, Saskatchewan

3rd – Brantley Saar, Calgary

Men’s 90kg

1st – Thomas Rousseau, Alberta

2nd – Joseph Demaio, Calgary

3rd – Matthew Yong, Saskatchewan

Men’s 100kg

1st – Taran Goring, Alberta

2nd – Jack Pye, Calgary

3rd – Tyler Saruwatari, Lethbridge

4th – George Ren, Saskatchewan

Men’s 125kg

1st – Bjorn Nelson, Alberta

2nd – Aleksander Eisler, Saskatchewan

3rd – Connor Bren, Calgary