Three gold-medal performances highlight Gryphon success

The Gryphons travelled to St. Catherines to partake in the 2012-13 OUA Championships at Brock University on Feb. 16.

The men finished fourth in a tightly contested day, ending with 59 points. Western earned 73, McMaster 67, and the host Brock notched 63 to round out the top three. Western’s victory gives them the title of back-to-back champions, winning last year’s championship as well. The imposing John Fitzgerald earned gold for Guelph in the 130-kilogram category, effectively defending the event he won at last year’s OUA Championship. Mathieu Deschatelets also took gold for his efforts in the 82-kilogram weight class, and Navrit Wirach earned silver in the 57-kilogram event. Deschatelets was named the male athlete of the week by the athletic department.

The women’s side witnessed Brock win the championship at home with 69 points, while Western (59) and Lakehead (49) rounded out the top three. Guelph’s 39 points were enough to earn fourth in the competition.

Kelsey Gsell earned gold in the 82-kilogram weight class, improving on the form that earned her silver in last year’s competition. Gsell’s efforts allowed her to share the athlete of the week spotlight with teammate Deschatelets, both were named OUA all stars. Jade Papke earned silver in the 52-kilogram category, totaling the gryphon medal accruement at five.

Head coach Doug Cox was pleased with the young team’s performance in an excerpt from the gryphons.ca report.

“We took a very young men’s and women’s team with half of our team made up of first year wrestlers,” said Cox. “I’m very excited about our future with the work ethic of our rookie athletes and the great group of returning athletes coming back next year.”

Guelph’s wrestlers will travel to London, Ont. for the CIS Championships where the hosting Western Mustangs will look to keep the momentum gained from their first and second place finishes in the provincial finals.

Concordia University will look to make it three national championships in a row on the men’s side, while Brock enters the women’s final looking to duplicate the success they had last year en route to a national championship. The championship will occur on March 1 and 2.

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