OTTAWA — On the heels of the 2021 World Team Trials, Sept. 4, in Saskatoon, Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) is proud to announce the 15 athletes that will represent the country at the Senior World Championships, Oct. 2-10, in Oslo, Norway.

The team is comprised of a combination of winners from the Trials and athletes that have met other qualification criteria.

“The World Team Trials were a great success for WCL in our return to the mats after a prolonged layoff, due to COVID-19,” said Tamara Medwidsky, executive director, WCL. “Notwithstanding the enormous challenges getting to this point, we are excited about the opportunity for our athletes to be competing on the world stage.”

In total, five different provinces will be represented at the World Championships, with British Columbia (5) leading the way, followed by Ontario (4). Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club will have the largest contingent of any club with five athletes competing. That list includes Tokyo Olympian Amar Dhesi. The Surrey, B.C. native punched his ticket by winning his bracket at the World Team Trials in the men’s freestyle 125kg weight class.

Joining Dhesi from the club are: Jasmit Phulka, Abbotsford, B.C., who topped his bracket at 74kg; Nishan Randhawa, Abbotsford, who will compete at 97kg; Darthe Capellan, Surrey, who will compete at 57kg; and Ana Godinez, Surrey, who will compete in the women’s 62kg weight class. Godinez is fresh off a silver medal at the 2021 Polish Open.

The Ontario group features Madison Parks (London-Western Wrestling Club) at 50 kg, 2018 U23 World Champion Alexandria Town (York Wrestling Club) at 57 kg, as well as Olivia Di Bacco (Brock Wrestling Club), who will compete in the 68kg weight class. London-Western Wrestling Club’s Ioannis Narlidis, will be the lone Greco-Roman combatant at 97kg.

Montreal YMHA athletes include 2019 Senior World Champion Linda Morais at 59 kg, who is coming off a silver medal at the 2021 Pan-American Championship this past May. She will be joined by her teammates, Samuel Barmish at 79 kg and Jeremy Poirier at 92 kg.

Rounding out the team are: Black Bears Wrestling Club’s Samantha Stewart, Saskatoon Wrestling Club’s Natasha Fox; and Cat-town Wrestling Club’s Kayla Bednarcik.

“I am looking forward to working with our World Team athletes, coaches and staff,” added Tonya Verbeek, WCL head coach. “This group of athletes has endless potential that can be tapped into. The World Championships in Oslo, Norway are just the first stop. We now have the opportunity to reset our goals and intentions and move in a positive direction as the program heads towards Paris 2024.”

Joining the athletes are the coaching and support staff which includes: Verbeek, David McKay, David Spinney, David Zilberman, Eamonn Dorgan, Don Ryan Dan McGee and Logan Stieber. Maxim Hanna and Patrick Stiles will act as the team’s medicals. Gary Bird will represent Canada at the event as a referee.

For more information on the World Championships or to follow Canada’s athletes during the event, including live streams of matches, visit: https://uww.org/event/world-championships-55.

WCL 2021 Senior World Championship Team