The Algoma Thunderbirds wrestling team delivered a strong performance at the York Open at the Tait McKenzie Centre on Saturday, November 16th, earning a fifth-place combined team finish, with the women’s team placing fourth and the men’s team sixth. Four Thunderbird wrestlers stood on the podium, showcasing their grit and determination.
Medalists Make Their Mark
Leading the pack was Mel Morrish (68 kg), who dominated her weight class to claim gold. Morrish was unstoppable, securing victories by technical fall, injury default, and decision, culminating in an impressive 11-3 win over Guelph’s Kylee Lubbers in the final round.
On the women’s side, Rebecca Vann (50 kg) earned silver. After a series of commanding wins, including a technical fall in the semifinals, Vann fell short in the gold-medal match, succumbing to Guelph’s Kelyn Young.
Lilah Fraser (83 kg) battled her way to a bronze medal, showcasing resilience by defeating Brock’s Ella Andrew twice in decisive fashion, including a fall in the third-place match.
On the men’s team, Anthony Nighbor (76 kg) also captured bronze. Nighbor’s campaign featured three wins by fall, including a rapid 22-second pin against Western’s Daniel Axentii in the early rounds and a decisive fall over Patrick Salvador Guzman (Western) in the third-place bout.
Other Notable Performances
The Thunderbirds saw several strong individual efforts, with wrestlers fighting through challenging brackets to secure top-six finishes:
Clayton Johnson (57 kg) finished fifth, rebounding from early losses to win his final match by fall over Isaac McGourty (K-Bay WC).
William Mitchell (65 kg) also claimed fifth, sealing his placement with a technical fall over Rahaman Dawson (Brock WC) in the fifth-place match.
Sahil Sahil (82 kg) fought valiantly, finishing sixth despite early successes, including a technical fall victory in his opening round.
On the women’s side, Kira Buck (72 kg) took fifth, capitalizing on an injury default in her final bout, while Nevaeh Pine (83 kg) rounded out the top five, defeating Brock’s Keira Roberts by technical fall.
Looking Ahead. The Algoma wrestling program will be competing in the U of T Open on November 30th.
Source: Algoma Thunderbird Athletics
