OTTAWA— Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) is proud to announce that Edmonton will host the 2023 Canadian Team Trials, Dec. 15-17 at the Saville Centre, at the University of Alberta. The event will see Senior age group wrestlers compete to qualify for participation at the 2024 Paris Olympics in Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Women’s Wrestling.

The Canadian Team Trials, held every four years, is comprised of three days of competition with pool and ladder matches. The weight classes that will be contested are: FS – 57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg, and 125kg; GR – 60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg; WW – 50kg, 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 68kg, and 76kg.

“With its strong history and passion for the sport of wrestling, WCL is thrilled to once again be heading to Edmonton for the Canadian Team Trials,” said Tamara Medwidsky, WCL Executive Director. “In May 2022, Edmonton did a superb job of welcoming participants back to the sport. We are confident they will do an excellent job in hosting this event, which will determine Canada’s Olympic hopefuls, and ensure that the participant experience is of the highest quality.”

“On behalf of the Canadian Team Trials Committee and the Friends of World Cup of Wrestling Society (FWCWS) we are extremely proud to have been chosen to host this event in Edmonton. This event is an exciting opportunity to cheer on the nation’s top wrestlers on their journey to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games,” said Russ Pawlyk, President of the host committee. “We hosted the 2004 and 2008 Team Trials and the 2012 Women’s World Championships and will provide a first-class event. Good Luck to all the wrestlers, we hope to see you in Edmonton.”

The event is also supported by the local tourism authority, who echoed Pawlyk’s excitement for bringing the competitors to the city. “Explore Edmonton is thrilled to have the country’s top wrestling athletes in our city to compete towards achieving their Olympic dreams, while also continuing our storied history of hosting major wrestling events. We are excited to work with the phenomenal Friends of the World Cup of Wrestling and Wrestling Canada Lutte teams to help create the best event possible for all visiting athletes, coaches, and spectators, and to showcase Edmonton in all its winter glory,” Janelle Janis, Executive Director, Event & Business Development, Explore Edmonton.

This first step to the Canadian Team Trials is this week with the Canadian Wrestling Championships in Waterloo, Ontario, March 9-12. Winners there will be in prime positions heading into the Canadian Team Trials.

For more information on the event, as it becomes available, visit the event site.