Brock University Athletics

Stephen Leithwood

Mia Friesen (57kg) and Cole Coghill (70kg) placed first in their respective divisions at the 2025 Canadian U23 Championships at Canada Games Park on Friday, June 27.

Women's Wrestling 6/30/2025 11:00:00 AM Theo Wan

Brock wrestlers find success on home turf

In the familiar confines of Canada Games Park, members of the Brock wrestling team shined as they qualified for various world championships.

The 2025 U23 Canadian Wrestling Championships and Sr., Jr. Greco-Roman, & Non-Olympic Weight Class Trials took place on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28.

Both Mia Friesen and Cole Coghill have earned the right to represent Canada at the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia from Oct. 20-26.

Friesen defeated Gabriela Cross from the Calgary Dinos and the Dinos Wrestling Club in a hard-fought 4-2 decision victory in the 57-kilogram weight class.

In a six-person field in the men's 70kg division, Coghill bested all challengers in commanding fashion, winning all three of his matches by technical fall 10-0.

Transitioning to the Non-Olympic Weight Class Trials, the Badgers saw two wrestlers qualify for the World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia which takes place Sept. 13-21.

Vanessa Keefe defeated Ellise Daynes of the Calgary Dinos and Dinos Wrestling Club by 6-5 decision and Marthe Laplante Brady of the Queen's Gaels and Kingston Wrestling Club by technical fall 10-0 to finish first in the 72kg event.

In the 61kg weight class, Saunders earned a gritty 9-5 decision win against Keeyan Trotman of the Western Mustangs and London-Western Wrestling in the semifinal before winning a 5-0 decision over Christophe Merlo of C.L.I.C. to claim first.

Brock wrestlers Vanessa Keefe and Garette Saunders pictured in a group — **Vanessa Keefe (third from right) and Garette Saunders (second from right) posing with the other wrestlers who placed first at the Non-Olympic Weight Class Trials.**

Three Badgers women's wrestlers also earned silver at the U23 event in Keefe (68kg), Brianna Fraser (76kg) and Michaela Rankin (59kg).

Fraser previously qualified for the Senior World Championships in the 76kg division with a victory by fall at one minute and 43 seconds over Vianne Rouleau of the Alberta Pandas and the Edmonton Wrestling Club at the 2025 Canadian Senior Championships that occurred from May 29-31 in Edmonton, Alta.

Zakir Ibrahimkheil rounded out the top results for the Brock men's side this past weekend, finishing second in the 57kg after a close 12-10 decision battle with Javier Tonita-Charriez of the Advanced Wrestling Club.

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