Courtesy of Commonwealth Games Canada

With six wrestlers going for gold in various weight-classes today in Glasgow, the chance for medals was there, but the calibre of the wrestling done by the Canadians guaranteed it.

2012 Olympian Dave Tremblay (61kg) fought against Adam Vella of Malta. The Stoney-Pointe Ontario native quickly won the match with a final score of 12-2. In the quarter-finals, Tremblay met Senguia Essindi of Cameroon. Tremblay was aggressive and won the match 12-2. In the semi-final David wrestled Viorel Etko of Scotland. The crowd-favourite got the first point, but Tremblay quickly earned a quick four points. Tremblay then took control, rolling his opponent and reaching ten points. Tremblay would fight to be champion. When asked what he would add to his strategy to become champion, Tremblay said he would try enjoy himself and be tactical.

“For the final match I am going to add a little bit more courage and then be able to move a bit more,” said the 2012 Olympic athlete.

David battled Bajrang from India who was a World bronze medallist. Tremblay, was quick and neutralized his opponent quicker than expected to win the Gold 12-1.

“I got him in a technique, with that technique, you can finish the match very quickly now and for myself, that’s something that I like to do,” said Tremblay. “You look at all my matches, I get them down there, and it’s almost over after.”

Dorothy Yeats of Montreal battled local Scott Sarah Jones in the 69kg weight-class in the Quarter finals. Yeats confidently won 11-0. In the semi-finals, Yeats met Indian wrestler Kaur N Navjot. Yeats received the first points and quickly reached 10 points to win, she was going for gold.

“I am feeling really good, I feel I am in good shape, everything is coming together just in time for this event I am really looking forward to the finals,” said Yeats. “I was at the Youth Olympic Games and it is kind of similar, but this is senior so I am having a really good time in Scotland and at the Games, I am looking for gold.”

Yeats comes from good wrestling stock and will be adding to her family’s wrestling heritage. Doug Yeats, Dorothy’s father, is five-time Canadian Olympic Team member in Greco Roman Wrestling from 1976-1992.

“My dad has influenced me the most in my career. The fact that he was a wrestler when he was younger gave me the idea to try out wrestling,” said Yeats. Through my career I’ve ways bounced ideas off him, be it about wrestling techniques, tactics or just general life decisions and he’s always given me honest and logical answers. He is now my coach and I couldn’t be happier.”

In the final, Yeats wrestled Angele Tomo of Cameroon. Yeats dominated the mat and won 4-0 to win the gold. She had some ideas what she would do with that gold medal.

“Wear it. Sleep with it, eat with it, got to school with it, figure out how to wrestle with it,” she said smiling ear-to-ear.

In the 97kg weight-class Arjun Gill wrestled against Hugh Mccloskey of Northern Ireland in the Quarter finals. Although Mccloskey did manage a throw for 4 points, Gill was quick to create momentum and the match ended 16-5. In the semi-final match, Gill fought Sam Belkin of New Zealand for the chance to wrestle for gold. Gill received the first two points with an attempt to push his opponent from the ring. Gill ended by winning 14-1. In the gold medal match, Gill met Satywart Kadian from India. In a close bout and with the score 4-2 for the Indian wrestler, Gill pushed Kadian from the ring, Gill tied it up and was fought on to win. The Indian wrestling community present were amazed and somewhat shocked. Gill had done his job.

“This means a lot; it means a lot to my family, it means a lot to me, it means a lot to Canada,” said a quiet Gill.

At the women’s 58kg weight-class Braxton Stone-Papadopoulos received a by into the quarter-finals to battle Olga Butkevych of England in her Quarter-final bought. Butkevych, who wrestled for Great Britain at the Olympics got the first two points but then Stone-Papadopoulos went on the offensive and ended the half with eight points. After an appeal and video-review, the Pickering Ontario native won the bout with 14 points to 5. In the semi-final, Stone-Papadoloulos met Sakshi Malik of India. The Indian wrestler was aggressive, but Stone-Papadopoulos fought back in the end the Indian wrestler won 8-5. Stone-Papadoloulos was headed to the Bronze medal match. In the bronze medal match, Stone-Papadoloulos was solid and won the match 9-0. After the match she spoke about this being an important step for her.

“It means a lot. It’s my first Commonwealth Games, I was able to get a bronze here, hopefully next time I get to pass that and end up get that gold so it’s really exciting, I am so excited!” said Stone-Papadopoulos.

Jillian Gallays (53kg) met Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria in the Quarter-finals. The Nigerian was wiry and aggressive earning a quick seven points. The match ended when Adekuoroye reached 11. Needing to win her next bout to get a medal, Gallays had to win against Christelle Lemofack Letchidjio of Cameroon. Gallays, was a different wrestler on the mat winning confidently 5-0.

“I was hoping for gold, you know, I was hunting for it, but I learned a lot and we’re happy especially about the experience. I’m just happy to be on the podium,” she said.

Amazingly, Canada had won five medals and eight in total at wrestling here in Glasgow since yesterday.

Also competing at 61kg with Dave Tremblay and the first Canadian to battle on Day 7, in the 61kg 1/8 round, Michael Asselstine of Edmonton met Viorel Etko of Scotland. At the end of the first half of the bout, it was tied at two. Four minutes into the second period, the Scott had managed to get eight points thanks in part to the home-town crowd’s support. Michael fought hard, but lost the bout.

Wrestling continues tomorrow in Glasgow with the possibility of more medals.