Moose Jaw high school wrestlers earn 12 provincial berths

If there were any guarantees for Moose Jaw athletes heading into the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association regional wrestling championships this past weekend in Prince Albert, Peacock’s Kyle Yamniuk had to be high on that list.

The provincial team member was the reigning bronze medalist in the male 62-kg division at SHSAA provincials and was coming off a successful season leading up to the event – and in the end, Yamniuk would live up to the advance billing.

The Grade 11 standout went unbeaten through his four matches on Saturday, and dominated more and more as the tournament went on – defeating Swift Current’s Tim Treen 10-0 and Maidstone’s Colton Walde 10-0 before downing Nipawin’s Ritchy Brundage by pinfall in 2:01 and capping the event with a pin in 1:10 over Prince Albert’s Logan Bair in the first-place match.

Yamniuk would end up as the only regional winner from Moose Jaw schools, and one of 12 competitors to finish in the top four in their respective divisions and earn provincial berths.

Four other male competitors reached the final in their weight classes.

Peacock’s Matthew Knox lost his lone match in the 41-kg division, the same result as Kayce Owens in the 47-kg class.

Things were far tougher for Peacock’s Davin Miller in the 69-kg class, as he recorded pinfall wins over Swift Current’s Jared Steinley and La Ronge’s Tremayne Veteri before losing a narrow 8-5 decision to Darren Toothill of Wilkie.

Fellow Toilers competitor Dylan Yamniuk had a similar fate, downing La Ronge’s Jean-Luc Fafard and Prince Albert’s Tayvn Moreau but losing a 13-2 technical fall to Prince Albert’s Josh Jensen.

Also posting top-four finishes in the male divisions were Nigel Fang (Central, 53-kg, fourth) and Connor Rowsell (Peacock, 90-kg, third).

In the female division, defending provincial champion Alexis Bradish from Central will have a chance to return to the podium in the 68-kg class after a second place finish. Bradish defeated Maidstone’s Shina Tabrizi by fall in 23 seconds and La Ronge’s Jayde Desroches by fall at 5:00 before dropping a 10-0 technical fall to Prince Albert’s Sydni Natomagan.

Peacock’s Miheret Cridland finished second in the 56-kg division, defeating Swift Current’s MJ Anderson and Marstensville’s Shelby Shynkaruk by technical fall but losing by pin to Warman’s Miriam Shah in the final.

Also finishing in the top four were Alyssa Roney (Peacock, 53-kg, fourth), Makayla Holmes (Peacock, 64-kg, fourth) and Sydnee Christmann (Peacock, 73-kg, fourth).

The 2020 SHSAA provincial championships will run from Friday Mar. 6 though Saturday, Mar. 7 at Saskatoon Mount Royal.