The Western Canada youth wrestling championships hosted March 1 by the Cochrane Cowboys wrestling club can be described as a smokin‘ success.
Cowboys coach Vern McNeice preferred a different description: “This was a breakthrough year for us,” he said.
Regardless of the terminology used to describe the event, more than 200 wrestlers from B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan hit the mat at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre for some high-grade grappling.
“We usually get around 165 wrestlers for this meet,” McNeice said. “This year we had 200 kids. The word is getting out. This is one of the bigger meets in the province. Everyone wants to be at the best meets.”
And the Cowboys figured in the spoils, with Danika Cook, Isaiah Springer, Connor Pointen, Brendan Mckeage, Connor McNeice and Daniel Coles all winning gold. Cian Hilkewich, Eric Swedlo, Rory O’Donnell and Jorgen Thompsen won silver and Berg Thompson bronze.
