When matched up with some of the top wrestlers from across Canada, the Prince Albert Wrestling Club fit right in.
Shay Sather, Chad Bannerman, Donovan Neudorf, Colby Thomas, Cole Sanderson, Josh Jensen and Sydni Natomagan represented the team last weekend in Fredericton, N.B. at the Under 17 and Under 19 national championships.
“It was a good weekend and a great experience,” coach Cody Souter said. “Everyone enjoyed themselves out there and tried their hardest, which is all you want as a coach.
“I thought they handled themselves well in a totally different environment and they left everything they had out there on the mat.”
Sanderson had a stellar weekend as he won his second gold medal in the Greco competition, was named one of the event’s outstanding wrestlers for the second time and also won a silver medal in freestyle.
“It was a pretty typical weekend from Cole after what we’ve been able to watch him do out on the mat over the last couple of years,” Souter said.
“The kid trains so hard and he leaves absolutely everything out there each time he competes.”
Neudorf also reached the podium as he won a bronze medal in the Greco event.
“This was his very first time going to the nationals so it was awesome to see him have such a good showing,” Souter said.
“We had a couple of injuries and some wrestlers that were in some really tough brackets out there, but they still had really good showings despite not making the podium.”
Although the nationals are now in the books, the PAWC still has some events on the horizon.
In addition to summer training camps, the team will be sending members to the Western Canada Summer Games trials next month for the chance to represent the province in Swift Current in August.
