Ottawa – Wrestling Canada Lutte announced today the class of 2016 to be inducted into the Wrestling Canada Lutte Hall of Fame. For 2016, Andrew Borodow will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the athlete category and Jim Mitchell will be inducted as a builder. The inductions will take place March 19, 2016 at the 2016 ASICS Junior / Senior Canadian Wrestling Championships at University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, NB.

“It is an honour for us to welcome another two inductees who will take their rightful place within our illustrious Hall of Fame,” says Wrestling Canada Lutte Executive Director Tamara Medwidsky. “We thank the Awards and Hall of Fame Committee for their dedication to the nomination process.”

An 11-time National Champion, Andrew Borodow represented Canada for over a decade in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. 1994 Commonwealth Games gold, 1991 Pan Am Games silver and bronze, 1995 Pan Am Games bronze, and 5^th place at the 1992 Olympic Games are a few of Andrew’s many achievements on the mat.

“I feel honored to have my name associated with some of Canada’s greatest athletes in Wrestling Canada Lutte’s Hall of Fame,” says Borodow. “I have been affiliated with wrestling since childhood as an athlete, a coach and a fan. Wrestling teaches discipline and independence. I hope that anyone who has not had an opportunity to experience a wrestling practice try it for themselves. As a fan I am looking forward to cheering for team Canada at the Olympics in Rio where our wrestling team has a realistic chance of getting multiple medals.  Go Canada Go.”

Jim’s contribution to wrestling spans over forty years, as one of Canada’s top officials. On the international scene, Jim has officiated at 1 Olympic Game, 10 World Championships, 3 Pan Am Games, 2 Commonwealth Games, and countless international tournaments. Domestically, we have seen Jim at over 40 Canadian Championships. He also dedicates his time locally in British Columbia having won the Sport BC Official of the Year Award, Sport BC President’s Award, BC Wrestling’s Official and Volunteer of the Year Award as well as numerous other awards.

As a builder, Mitchell takes pride in the company he now keeps. “It is a great honour to be inducted into the WCL Hall of Fame. I am very pleased to join the awesome group of Hall of Fame builders, coaches, and officials,” said Mitchell.

The Wrestling Canada Lutte Hall of Fame was established in 1975 to recognize outstanding achievement and contribution to Olympic wrestling in or for Canada. There are two categories of membership in the Hall of Fame, the athlete category and the builder category. The athlete category recognizes the achievements of those wrestlers who have represented Canada at major international competitions or Games. The builder category formally recognizes the contribution, leadership and abilities of those individuals who participate in the development of wrestling. A complete list of inductees since 1975 can be found at: http://wrestling.ca/programs/hall-of-fame.