Ottawa – Wrestling Canada Lutte has announced the team-members competing February 12 – 14, 2015 at the Granma y Cerro Pelado in Havana Cuba and the Klippan Lady Open February 14, 15, 2015 in Sweden for the final international competitions before the Canadian Championships.

“As we look towards the Canadian Championships, these final competitions become critical for the time on the mat and the mental preparation,“ says Wrestling Canada Lutte Executive Director Tamara Medwidsky. “Canada is once again proud to send strong delegations to these two events.”

For the Granma y Cerro Pelado event, the strong Canadian Team Members will head to Havana for this senior event followed by an international training camp. Leading the team will be two-time Olympian Haislan Garcia. Among the other team-members are 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medalist James Mancini, 2014 Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist Jevon Balfour (65 kg) and Commonwealth Games athlete Chris Laverick (74 kg).

In Sweden, the Klippan Lady Open tournament will be familiar for over half the team who attended the event last year. Fresh off her title win at the Yarygin Grand Prix, the 2014 Commonwealth Games Champion Erica Wiebe will be looking to repeat her gold medal performance from 2014 in Sweden. Other former Klippan medalists returning include 2014 58kg silver medalist Michelle Fazzari.

Eighteen countries took place in the 2014 Klippan Lady Open tournament. The tournament is open for seniors, juniors and cadets.

A complete list of entries and coaches as well as event schedules follows:

Granma y Cerro Pelado Schedule (local times):

Wednesday, February 11 (GR 59, 71, 80, 98)
14:00 to 17:00 – qualification
18:00 to 19:30 – finals

Thursday, February 12 (GR 66, 75, 85, 130; FW 48, 55, 60, 69)
14:00 to 17:00 – qualification
18:00 to 19:30 – finals

Friday, February 13 (FW 53, 58, 63, 75; FS 57, 65, 74, 97)
14:00 to 17:00 – qualification
18:00 to 19:30 – finals

Saturday, February 14 (FS 61, 70, 86, 125)
14:00 to 17:00 – qualification
18:00 to 19:30 – finals

Granma y Cerro Pelado Team:

GR 80 – Phil Barriero
GR 85 – Tom Barriero

FS 57 – James Mancini, John Pineda, Darthe Capellan
FS 70 – Haislan Garcia
FS 74 – Jevon Balfour, Chris Laverick
FS 86 – Alex Brown, Jordan Steen, Matthew Miller
FS 97 – Manjot Sandhu

Coaches – Gia Sissaouri, Dave McKay
Medical – Todd Bennett
Referee – Curtis Leung
UWW Referee – Lee MacKay

Klippan Lady Open Schedule:

Saturday, February 14 – sessions at 13:00 and 17:00 (all weight classes)
Sunday February 15 – sessions at 10:00 and finals at 13:00 (all weight classes)

Klippan Lady Open Team:

FW 48 – Jasmine Mian, Genevieve Morrison, Natasha Kramble
FW 53 – Brittanee Laverdure
FW 55 – Samantha Stewart
FW 58 – Michelle Fazzari
FW 60 – Kathleen Kent
FW 63 – Stacie Anaka, Breanne Graham
FW 69 – Leah Callahan
FW 75 – Erica Wiebe

Coaches – Leigh Vierling, Tonya Verbeek
Medical – Khatija Westbrook
Referee – Carl Chan