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WCL announces departure of head coach Tonya Verbeek

October 15, 2021

OTTAWA — Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) is announcing the resignation of Tonya Verbeek as head coach, effective October 15, 2021. Verbeek has been with the organization since retiring as a competitor in 2012. She was a significant contributor to many of the national program’s successes during that time.

Verbeek first joined WCL as a talent ID coach, which she served as until 2017. From 2017 to 2019 she was the organization’s international coach before moving up to head coach. As head coach, she helped the national program continue to achieve competitive excellence on the international stage.

“My decision to resign as head coach for WCL was made after careful consideration and continuous reflection of my experiences in this role,” said Verbeek. “I am sincerely appreciative of the athletes, coaches and staff who have supported me along the way and challenged me to grow professionally. I look forward to taking what I have learned during the last eight years in my coaching roles as talent ID coach and international/head coach and applying it to new opportunities. For those who know me, know my love for the sport of wrestling and passion for coaching will continue for years to come. ”

“On behalf of WCL, I would like to sincerely thank Tonya for her contributions to wrestling in Canada, and wish her every future success,” said Tamara Medwidsky, executive director, WCL. “Tonya brought a valuable perspective, having been an athlete in the program, and has shaped the next generation of athletes with her wealth of wrestling knowledge. She was instrumental in helping the program reach new heights during her tenure and will be missed.”

As a competitor, Verbeek was part of the first women’s competition at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games where she won silver. She would also represent Canada at the Olympics in 2008, winning bronze, and 2012, winning silver. Verbeek also won numerous medals at World Championships, Pan-American and Commonwealth Games.

In the interim, any national team coaching responsibilities will be addressed by the executive director, as acting high performance director. WCL remains focused on delivering a well-executed high performance and national team program and will look to the wrestling community for cooperation and support during this period.