City Hosts Largest Wrestling Events In The Province
By Robert Thomas
“It has been incredible for the sport of wrestling in Moose Jaw,” Rob Villeneuve, a coach with the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Wrestling Club said on Sunday afternoon.
Moose Jaw was in the process of hosting two major amateur wrestling tournaments over the weekend.
The two days first saw 350 high school wrestlers compete on Saturday and 390 club wrestlers compete on Sunday.
Sunday’s event featured wrestlers from Freshie (age four) up to Juvenile (age 18) divisions.
“This year we hosted the biggest high school wrestling event and we have hosted the biggest Saskatchewan amateur wrestling event both one day after another,” Villeneuve said.
“The combined numbers for both days has been 750 athletes so it has just been incredible…we have had an incredible turnout this year. Our numbers are up. Compared to last year we have 250 more athletes over the two days,” he said.
Villeneuve attributes the large turnout based upon the reputation the tournaments have built up over previous years plus also four new matts purchased by the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Club to facilitate such large tournaments.
“They love our venue and they love what we are putting on for them. Last year we went and talked to the Kinsmen and we told them we have the venue we just need a couple of more matts. If Moose Jaw had a couple of more matts we could be hosting the biggest event in Saskatchewan.”
The South Saskatchewan Wrestling Championships held on Sunday drew teams and athletes not only from southern Saskatchewan but also drew competitors from as far north as La Ronge, Dene and into Alberta.
“We could not be happier with all the teams throughout the province and Alberta that came out to our event,” he said, adding “this isn't just southern Saskatchewan it has turned into a big event.”
For Saturday’s high school event the numbers had to be capped because if more invitations had been sent out the tournament would have been over capacity and taken away from the overall quality of the event, he said.
The size of the two tournaments is not just about bringing in large numbers but there are spin-offs which should help wrestling to continue to thrive and grow in Moose Jaw.
“What this does for Moose Jaw is people in the community are able to come out and see what wrestling is all about. When we are trying to draw in more club members and more people into our high school program it just makes it easier because they are able to come out and see what it is all about,” he said.
In Moose Jaw the high school wrestling programs of all three high schools train through the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Wrestling Club.
Despite the large turnout in athletes and spectators the event organizers always look at bettering the event and do not rest on their laurels.
“Last year we had an incredible response because at the tournament we put on and this year we are getting an even better response because every year we take a look at what we could have done better and implement it,” Villeneuve said.
Wrestling in Moose Jaw has a long history with it starting at the iconic Pyles Gym leading to wrestlers from the community not only winning Canadian championships but also competing in the Olympics.
Tournament results will be posted when they become available.