The Algoma University Thunderbirds women’s and men’s wrestling teams opened their 2026-27 OUA wrestling season on November 1 weekend, travelling to Hamilton, Ontario, to compete in the 2026 McMaster Invitational.

The Thunderbirds delivered a strong showing against a competitive field of 38 teams, highlighted by an individual championship, a third-place finish, and several other top-six performances.

Leading the way for the men’s team was Ajay Guitard, who captured first place in the 90 kg weight class to claim individual gold and give Algoma a championship performance to begin the season.

The men’s squad also received a podium finish from Jace Anderson, who earned third place in the 100 kg division. Justin Bodlovic added a fifth-place finish in the 125 kg weight class, while William Mitchell finished sixth in the 68 kg division.

Those individual performances helped the Thunderbirds men’s team secure an impressive fourth-place finish out of 38 teams in the overall team standings.

On the women’s side, Lilah Fraser led the way with a second-place finish in the 90 kg weight class, earning a spot on the podium. Becca Gutteridge also contributed a strong result, placing fifth in the 59 kg division.

The women’s team finished eighth overall out of 38 competing teams, giving both Thunderbirds programs a top-eight team result to open their respective campaigns.

With an individual gold medal, a silver medal, a bronze medal, and several additional top-six finishes, Algoma’s opening tournament provided plenty of positive momentum heading into the remainder of the 2026-27 season.

The Thunderbirds will now turn their attention to their next competition, returning to the road for the 2026 TMU Open on November 8 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ontario.

Following their strong opening weekend in Hamilton, both the men’s and women’s programs will look to build on their early-season performances as the OUA wrestling schedule continues.