MacDonald defeats 2008 Olympian Gentry in wrestle-off

GUELPH, Ont. - Brock University wrestling assistant coach and club wrestler Evan MacDonald becomes the third Brock wrestler who will be competing at the world championships September 21-27 in Denmark.

The 2004 Olympian will join Jessie Bondy and two-time Olympic medallist Tonya Verbeek at the world championships.

In a wrestle-off in Guelph at 74kg versus 2008 Olympian Matt Gentry, MacDonald defeated him in two straight rounds (2-1, 4-2) to become the number one Canadian wrestler at that weight class.

MacDonald competed at previous world championships and the Olympics at 66 kilograms, but moved up a weight class because making the lighter weight aggravated his chronic injuries.

"It was a really good victory for him," Brock coach Marty Calder said. "The guy wrestled in the Olympics and is a pretty accomplished wrestler."

"Evan knows how to get ready for the big match," said Calder. "He is an absolutely phenomenal competitor and probably the best we've ever had. Verbeek and him are the most stubbornest and competitive and maybe you could throw me in the mix too."

It will be MacDonald's first appearance at the world championships since an eighth-place showing in 2006. He's looking to better that result in 2009.