Burnaby, B.C. – 2016 Rio Olympic Champion Erica Wiebe is expected to face tough competition at the 2017 Commonwealth Games Trials. It is anticipated that she’ll face off against 2017 World Wrestling Championship bronze medalist Justina Di Stasio of Burnaby, B.C., in the 76-kilogram freestyle event.

Both Wiebe and Di Stasio have held a top three world rank over the past two years.

Wiebe, 28, will be looking to qualify for her first international team since winning gold in Rio. The Stittsville, Ont. native also won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Commonwealth Games Trials will be run using the new United World Wrestling Olympic weight classes.

• Men: 57-kg, 65-kg, 74-kg, 86-kg, 97-kg, 125-kg
• Women: 50-kg, 53-kg, 57-kg, 62-kg, 68-kg, 76-kg

The Trials will also feature 2017 World Wrestling Championship medalist Michelle Fazzari of Hamilton, Ont. Fazzari, 30, captured bronze in the 58-kg weight class, and will be competing in the new 62-kg class.

Olympians Korey Javis and Danielle Lappage will be looking for a chance to make the team to defend their 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medals. Javis, of Elliot Lake, Ont., will be competing in the 125-kg category. He also captured a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India in the 96-kg weight class. Lappage of Olds, Alta., won her Commonwealth gold at the 63-kg weight class, and will be moving up to the new 68-kg class.

The Trials will be used to select the team to attend the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. Wrestling will run from April 12 to April 14 at the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre.

The Commonwealth Games Trials will take place at Simon Fraser University on November 3. Wrestling begins at 10:30 a.m PT.

Final entry list:

FS

FW