The Brock Badgers showcased their dedication, talent and mental strength as they secured two national titles at the U SPORTS Wrestling Championships in Guelph on Saturday, March 2.
 
The Brock women's team claimed their 11^th national championship title in program history while the men's team captured their ninth consecutive championship title, and 22^nd overall.
 
In total, the Badgers won a total of 16 medals (eight golds, six silver and two bronze) between the men's and women's teams.
 
Brock head coach Marty Calder attributed the success to the relentless efforts of his student-athletes and emphasized the challenges they faced with each passing season.
 
"Our opponents get stronger every year, but our student-athletes take on the challenge and they perform their best at this tournament," Calder said. "Winning this championship is never a cakewalk. Injuries and keeping everyone healthy are always a battle."
 
It's the ninth time both of the Brock men's and women's wrestling teams have captured a title together at the national championships.
 
The Brock women's team captured first place with a total of 75 points ahead of Alberta (56) and Saskatchewan (55); the Brock men's team took first with 83 points to hold off Alberta (62) and McMaster (48).
 
Brock also received three major awards.
 
Francesca Lo Greco secured U SPORTS Female Rookie of the Year, Dave Collie was named the U SPORTS Women's Coach of the Year and Marty Calder won U SPORTS Men's Coach of the Year.
 
Lo Greco, a Neuroscience student from Angus, won by decision 10-2 over Saskatchewan's Abby Wolff in the women's 50-kilogram gold-medal match.
 
"I love this team and I just couldn't imagine my life without being at Brock," Lo Greco said.  "The camaraderie within this team, the friendships I've made, and the unwavering support we have for one another has changed my life."
 
Lo Greco, together with her teammates Mia Friesen (56kg) and Brianna Fraser (83kg), played a pivotal role in scoring points for their team, securing a national championship title for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
 
Jessica Tillmanns (68kg), Vanessa Keefe (72kg) and Cassie Corbett (76kg) each earned a silver medal while Brooklyn Brown (53kg) and Michaela Rankin (59kg) each collected a bronze.
 
"The team was disappointed they didn't win last year, so they really embraced the high-performance lifestyle this season," Collie said. "It was incredible to witness all of their hard work and sacrifice pay off."
 
On the men's side, the Athletic Centre at the University of Guelph echoed loudly with chants of 'Bobby' as veteran team captain Bobby Narwal won an emotional gold-medal match.
 
Narwal's grandmother, Harbans Kaur, passed away earlier this week. He said the loss took a significant toll on him, however he was motivated by a motto she lived by.
 
"Mentally, finding the motivation to get myself out of bed this morning was tough, but something my grandma always emphasized was that 'family holds a significant importance in our lives'," Narwal said. "Knowing the family I have here at Brock was more than enough motivation for me to fight today."
 
Narwal overcame Concordia's Yann Heymug 6-2 by decision to win the men's 72kg gold-medal contest.
 
He was joined on the podium by fellow Brock gold medalists Garette Saunders (61kg), Nicolae Gandrabura (65kg), Callum Knox (100kg) and Roger Li (125kg).
 
Gabriel Blanchette (68kg), Johannes Budgey (76kg) and Yazdan Farokhizad (90kg) each brought home a silver medal.
 
"We're a team that gives our best. The program demands it. Everyone on our team tries to be the best that they can be," added Calder. "We outperformed our ranking. We took it to another level, again. When teams do that, they have character, passion and determination. Our student-athletes have those qualities within them."
 
MAJOR AWARDS
Female Outstanding Wrestler of the Year: Serena Di Benedetto (McMaster)
Male Outstanding Wrestler of the Year: Gregor McNeil (McMaster)
Female Rookie of the Year: Francesca Lo Greco (Brock)
Male Rookie of the Year: Nick Hooper (Calgary)
Female R.W. Pugh Fairplay Award: Mary Adarkwa (Guelph)
Male R.W. Pugh Fairplay Award: Howard Moffatt (McMaster)
Female Community Service Award: Sueanne Harms (Saskatchewan)
Male Community Service Award: Donnovan Newdorf (Saskatchewan)
Women's Coach of the Year Award: Dave Collie (Brock)
Men's Coach of the Year Award: Marty Calder (Brock)
 
WOMEN'S RESULTS
50kg
Gold – Francesca Lo Greco (Brock)
Silver – Abby Wolff (Saskatchewan)
Bronze – Kelyn Young (Guelph)
 
53kg
Gold – Serena Di Benedetto (McMaster)
Silver – Sierra Mullin (Saskatchewan)
Bronze – Brooklyn Brown (Brock)
 
56kg
Gold – Mia Friesen (Brock)
Silver – SueAnne Harms (Saskatchewan)
Bronze – Annika Fines (Calgary)
 
59kg
Gold – Gabriella Cross (Calgary)
Silver – Caitlin Clatney (Saskatchewan)
Bronze – Michaela Rankin (Brock)
 
62kg
Gold – Jolie Brisco (Concordia)
Silver – Olivia Lichti (McMaster)
Bronze – Jonelle Clarke (Western)
 
65kg
Gold – Ella Doornaert (Western)
Silver – Maria Sawiak (Alberta)
Bronze – Angelina Ellis-Toddington (Calgary)
 
68kg
Gold – Aleah Nickel (Alberta)
Silver – Jessica Tillmanns (Brock)
Bronze – Ellise Daynes (Calgary)
 
72kg
Gold – Vianne Rouleau (Alberta)
Silver – Vanessa Keefe (Brock)
Bronze – Eilidh Wist (Calgary)
 
76kg
Gold – Andrea Franko (Alberta)
Silver – Cassie Corbett (Brock)
Bronze – Mary Adarkwa (Guelph)
 
83kg
Gold – Brianna Fraser (Brock)
Silver – Myah Phillips (Saskatchewan)
Bronze – Deanna Eastman (Alberta)
 
MEN'S RESULTS
57kg
Gold – Treye Trotman (Western)
Silver – Tristan Cako (Guelph)
Bronze – Talon Hird (Alberta)
 
61kg
Gold – Garette Saunders (Brock)
Silver – Francesco Fortino (Toronto)
Bronze – Blayne Helou (McMaster)
 
65kg
Gold – Nicolae Gandrabura (Brock)
Silver – Declan Papadopoulos (TMU)
Bronze – Gavin Eldridge (Western)
 
68kg
Gold – Gregor McNeil (McMaster)
Silver – Gabriel Blanchette (Brock)
Bronze – Prosper Ademoye (Calgary)
 
72kg
Gold – Bobby Narwal (Brock)
Silver – Yann Heymug (Concordia)
Bronze – Elias Wile (Alberta)
 
76kg
Gold – Nick Hooper (Calgary)
Silver – Johannes Budgey (Brock)
Bronze – Caius Hargbridge (Guelph)
 
82kg
Gold – Isaiah Springer (Alberta)
Silver – Judah Arthurs (Saskatchewan)
Bronze – Irman Kang (McMaster)
 
90kg
Gold – Taran Goring (Alberta)
Silver – Yazdan Farokhizad (Brock)
Bronze – Howard Moffatt (McMaster)
 
100kg
Gold – Callum Knox (Brock)
Silver – Aidan Stevenson (Alberta)
Bronze – Peter Shirley (McMaster)
 
125kg
Gold – Roger Li (Brock)
Silver – Karanveer Mahil (McMaster)
Bronze – Mitchel Schechinger (Guelph)
 
WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
Brock (75 pts)
Alberta (56 pts)
Saskatchewan (55 pts)
Calgary (54 pts)
McMaster (42 pts)
Western (30 pts)
Guelph (26 pts)
Concordia (25 pts)
Algoma (9 pts)
Carleton (8 pts)
York (4 pts)
Toronto (3 pts)
Lakehead (1 pt)
Queen's (1 pt)
Lethbridge (0 pts)
TMU (0 pts)
UNB (0 pts)
 
MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
Brock (83 pts)
Alberta (62 pts)
McMaster (48 pts)
Calgary (35 pts)
Saskatchewan (35 pts)
Guelph (27 pts)
Western (23 pts)
Concordia (20 pts)
Lakehead (20 pts)
TMU (12 pts)
Algoma (10 pts)
Toronto (8 pts)
Lethbridge (3 pts)
UNB (3 pts)
Carleton (0 pts)
Queen's (0 pts)
York (0 pts)