The Algoma University Thunderbirds wrestling team made a strong showing at the McMaster Open over the November 3rd weekend, with standout performances from both the men’s and women’s squads.
Jace Anderson Dominates Men’s 125KG Division
Jace Anderson delivered a flawless performance in the Men’s 125KG category, claiming 1st place and contributing a crucial 10 points to the Thunderbirds’ team total. Anderson was unstoppable from start to finish, pinning his way through the early rounds with commanding victories. In Round 1, he quickly dispatched Carleton’s Aidan St Jacques by fall in just 1:09. He continued his dominance in Round 2, once again winning by fall, this time over Carleton’s Ifaetu Melifonwu at 4:55.
In the final round, Anderson faced a tough challenge from Guelph’s Anthony Fonte but remained composed, securing a decisive 9-1 victory by decision to clinch the top spot on the podium.
Rebecca Vann Battles to 2nd in Women’s 50KG
In the Women’s 50KG division, Rebecca Vann impressed with a series of hard-fought victories en route to a 2nd place finish. Vann opened her campaign in spectacular fashion, winning by fall over York’s Erin Corrado in just 36 seconds. She kept the momentum going with a quarterfinal fall over McMaster’s Mara Sanders at 4:06 and a closely contested 12-8 decision win against Carleton’s Alex Ciccolini in the semifinals.
Vann’s stellar run ended in the gold medal match, where she faced off against Brock University’s Samantha Romero. Despite a valiant effort, Vann fell short, losing by technical fall (10-0), but her performance earned 7 valuable points for the Thunderbirds.
Lilah Fraser Claims Silver in Women’s 83KG
Joining Vann on the podium was Lilah Fraser, who also secured a 2nd place finish, this time in the Women’s 83KG division. Fraser opened her day with a commanding win by fall over McMaster’s Vanessa Fonrose in 1:02. She then advanced to the semifinals, where she wasted no time in pinning Western’s Risa Ferrari at 1:18.
In the final, Fraser met Mariposa WC’s Lauren Smith, who ultimately secured the win by technical fall (12-2). Nonetheless, Fraser’s effort was outstanding, and she contributed another 7 points to Algoma’s team total.
Anthony Nighbor: The Silent Finisher
In his quest for gold at the McMaster Open, Anthony Nighbor put on a show of dominance and precision that had spectators on the edge of their seats. Wrestling in the men’s division, Nighbor showcased his impressive technical skills, finishing the majority of his matches with quick pins.
He opened the competition with a lightning-fast fall over Western’s Hussain Hyder in just 53 seconds. The quick victories didn’t stop there—Nighbor continued his streak by pinning York University’s Finn Paragas in only 42 seconds. In the quarterfinal, his opponent, Bilal Naous from GTA Alliance RTC, had to withdraw due to injury, propelling Nighbor into the semifinals.
Nighbor’s semifinal bout against Toronto’s Pratham Singh ended in another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it finish, with Nighbor securing a fall in just 36 seconds. However, his momentum was halted in the championship match by Mohamed Hozayen of Montreal WC, who won by technical fall (10-0). Despite the defeat, Nighbor’s impressive journey to the silver medal reinforced his reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
William Mitchell: The Resilient Competitor
William Mitchell may have finished 6th at the McMaster Open, but his path to that finish was anything but straightforward. The Algoma University wrestler kicked off the tournament in stellar fashion, winning his opening match by technical fall (10-0) against Western’s Yu Kang Huang. He followed that up with a decisive victory by fall over Queen’s Bobby Kalaydzhiev, pinning him at 1:33.
In the quarterfinal, Mitchell faced a nail-biting contest with McMaster’s Ali Hammoud, falling just short in a 10-9 decision that could have gone either way. Despite the setback, Mitchell showed incredible resilience in the consolation rounds, pinning two Guelph competitors—Cameron Workman in 2:23 and Daniel Chew in 1:22—to keep his tournament hopes alive.
His run ended in the consolation semifinal, where Montreal WC’s Cam Dallman secured a victory by fall (2:11), sending Mitchell into the 5th place match. In a rematch against Hammoud, Mitchell fought hard but ultimately fell by technical fall (10-0), ending his tournament run in 6th place. Despite the result, Mitchell’s relentless effort and ability to battle through a tough draw highlighted his competitive spirit.
Our men’s team was 2nd overall and women’s was 4th out of 28 teams. With multiple podium finishes and dominant showings throughout the competition, the Thunderbirds wrestling team proved their strength and resilience at the McMaster Open. Next action for the Thunderbirds is November 10th as they compete at the TMU Invitational!
Source: Algoma Thunderbird Athletics
