Control Jiu Jitsu At The True North Grappling Championship

From Left to Right: Zackary Wilgosh, Roque Spaan-Murray, Grady Diguer (From Diekema Martial Arts in Saskatoon) and Paxton Nelson.

By Nick Murray

Eight members from Control Jiu Jitsu made the March 16th trip to St. Albert, Alberta to compete in the True North Grappling Championship on at the Servus Credit Union Place. 
Little Zackary Wilgosh went 1-1 in the Mighty Mites 5 & 6 year old division. He took home a silver medal. 

Paxton Nelson, who competed in the 9-10 year old -70lb division also went 1-1 on the day. He seemed, at one point, to be on course to win gold. Nelson dominated his first match, defeating Hunter Bartos from Sherwood Park's Carlson Gracie team 8-0 on points. In his second match he scored an early takedown on Jack Aucoin from 101 Academy in Calgary before succumbing to a slick sweep and being finished with an arm bar. Nelson was awarded a Silver medal. 

Roque Spaan-Murray started slowly, losing a stalemate (2-0) against Ethan Coss from the Carlson Gracie team. He turned things around in his second match, defeating Grady Diguer from Diekema Martial Arts in Saskatoon 8-3 on points. In his third match, he pulled off an outstanding triangle choke submission on Jake Barbeau, a Grey belt from the Rodrigo Resende BJJ Academy in Edmonton. Spaan-Murray then got his redemption in a rematch against Ethan Coss, defeating him by judges decision. In his final match, Spaan-Murray was outwrestled by Jacob Green from the hometown Hayabusa Training Centre. He finished with a 3-2 record in the White & Grey belt 8-9 -70lb division. 

Left to Right: Jeff Nelson (Did not compete), Jessica Church, JAson Church, Seylor Giroux, John Precepa

It wasn't just the kids competing though. Head Coach Jason Church and four other adult students competed as well. 

Coach Church competed in a battle of brown belts. He defeated Taylor Brasko from Hayabusa Training Centre on points 21-0.

Nathan Bernard was dominant, once again, going 5-0 on the day. He won Gold in the male Master Blue Belt competition and also won the Master 1 & 2 Blue Belt showdown, submitting Kevin King from Complete MMA in Regina. 

Jessica Church won Gold in the women's medium White Belt division.

John Precepa accumulated a 2-1 record in the White Belt Middleweight division, securing a Silver Medal.

Seylor Giroux went 3-1 on the day, taking home Gold in the Lightweight Featherweight division.