It’s not by any definition a field trip, but the 12 New Westminster Secondary boys heading to Salmon Arm this weekend hope to turn it into a field day.
The dozen student-athletes making the trek have qualified for the provincial high school wrestling championships, after laying down strong results at last week’s zone playdowns in Coquitlam.
And while he didn’t compete due to an injury, senior Connor Pattison will be front and centre as the Hyacks team looks to defend its title in the boys division.
“We hope to have big perform-ances from all of our zone champions (like B.C. champion) Connor Pattison, plus Daniel Dordevic, who is a newcomer in the heavyweight division (and) shown great promise,” New West wrestling coach Gord Sturrock said.
Pattison, who won last year’s 90-kilogram B.C. title with a come-from-behind effort, was petitioned into the provincials.
Picking up zone gold were Grade 11s Yanni Angelopoulos, in 110kg, Jason Groux in 66kg, Isaiah James in 110+kg, Hossain Shidfar in 78kg, and Sammy
Sidhu in 84kg.
Angelopoulos bested fellow Hyack Anthony Dillman in the final, while Grade 10 Evan Nolli finished third in the 110kg division. Coming in fifth place was Darrio Cade. Groux beat Centennial’s Jivan Basi in the 66kg category, while James defeated Heritage Woods’ Jacob Reis in the 110+kg division. Coming in third place was Dordevic.
In the 78kg final, Shidfar defeated St. Thomas More’s Joel Pielak, while Sidhu prevailed in the 84kg division over STM’s Sam Steele.
Angelopoulos and Sidhu will be targeting their second provincial medal, after securing bronze at last year’s championships.
Also qualifying were Juan Cespedes and Alec Lakusta, who finished fourth and fifth respectively in 60kg.
