The Big One.
What else do you call the largest one-day indoor sporting event of 2015 in Cochrane? Three-hundred-fifty athletes ages 5-30 are at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre March 7, competing in the Alberta Open amateur provincial wrestling championships. Hosted by the Cochrane Cowboys Wrestling Club, Alberta's top wrestlers hit the mat in the Alberta Amateur Wresting Association's (AAWA) annual Open tournament.
The Big One.
What else do you call the largest one-day indoor sporting event of 2015 in Cochrane?
Three-hundred-fifty athletes ages 5-30 are at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre March 7, competing in the Alberta Open amateur provincial wrestling championships.
Hosted by the Cochrane Cowboys Wrestling Club, Alberta's top wrestlers hit the mat in the Alberta Amateur Wresting Association's (AAWA) annual Open tournament.
“This is it. It's going to be good, ” says AAWA president Jerry Derewonko. “You'll have a variety of competitors who will showcase our sport. It's a big event. People will be trying to see who has the goods in terms of their performance in the province and use this as a stepping stone to higher levels. ”
Thirty-five Cowboys wrestlers are competing in age classes from 5-18. This, after several Cowboys competed Feb. 27-28 in Alberta rural high school wrestling championships at Grande Prairie and March 4-5 city championships in Calgary.
“Cochrane has shown they are able to host an event like this because of past performances. They have great volunteers in Cochrane. They have a site, the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.
“They have the volunteer base. They have the expertise and they have the enthusiasm to put on a great, great event. ”
Derewonko expects the competition to be stiff in all age classes and weight groups.
“You will have individuals who are vying for Olympic spots all the way down to kids aged 6-7. There will be university students who have competed this past weekend at the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) national championships in Edmonton. Some of these people will be looking for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team coming up in December of this year. The Olympic trials will be held in Sherwood Park. You will have a variety of people who will showcase our sport. ”
The Alberta Open amateur wrestling tournament goes all day March 7 at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre's turf facility (Philergos Field). Action begins 9 a.m. with the youngsters, progressing up the age/skill ladder to elite competition as the day progresses before wrapping up at 7 p.m.
