Port Perry sports briefs for March 11

Bright future ahead for PPHS wrestlers

PORT PERRY -- Port Perry High School's wrestling teams is wrapping up the most successful season in recent history.

The team consisted of 24 boys and girls who have trained four nights a week since the end of October. Highlights of the season to this point include the girls' team winning the Ajax Rams Invitational tournament, as well as the LOSSA team title and placing third overall at OFSAA with more than 100 teams entered. The boys' team, which is smaller than most other local high school programs, had an exceptional performance at LOSSA to tie for second out of 17 schools in the competition. In terms of combined team titles the Rebel wrestlers won their home tournament, the Northern Classic, where 21 teams were competing and placed 10th overall at OFSAA in the team standings.

Individual highlights include 10 wrestlers qualifying for the OFSAA wrestling championships with eight of these being LOSSA champions. These wrestlers included Brandon Vitez, Gene English and Kris Barchuk as LOSSA champions in the boys' division with Justin Bain being a silver medallist. Cassandra Fenech, Samantha Smith, Rebecca Simpson, Courtney Willett and Larissa D'Alleva were LOSSA champions in the girls' division with Jessica Reurekas being a silver medallist.

At the provincial cadet/juvenile championships hosted by Brock University, Cassandra Fenech captured a provincial gold medal while Rebecca Simpson earned a silver medal and Courtney Willett and Larissa D'Alleva came home with bronze medals.

At OFSAA, Courtney Willett became Port Perry High School's first ever OFSAA champion in wrestling, while Larissa D'Alleva earned a fourth place finish and was one of three wrestlers (selected from the 850 participants at the event) nominated by the organizational committee as a future prospect to watch in the sport of wrestling.

During March Break, Gene English and Chris Stewart represented the Central Ontario region at the Ontario Winter Games, a competition that invites the best 12 cadet wrestlers, in each weight class, from all Over Ontario to compete to see who is best.

Last but not least, three of the wrestlers will be returning to the National stage to compete at the Canadian Cadet/Juvenile Wrestling Championships which will take place in Saskatoon from April 10-13. These three wrestlers include, Rebecca Simpson, Courtney Willett and Larissa D'Alleva.

A very successful season to date -- but even more promising will be next year for the high school program as 22 of the 24 wrestlers return.

---