In the 2010-11 season the wrestling team attended two tournaments, one at Bedford Road Collegiate in Saskatoon and Regionals in Swift Current.
Jessica Riffel won a gold medal at Bedford, silver at regionals and a bronze at provincials.
There were a few challenges this year that had to be overcome, such as the small team size and injuries.
The smaller team made it hard to find someone who was the same level as you whether it was skill or weight, meaning you either had to wrestle someone bigger and stronger than you or ended up laughing because you and your partner have some inside joke. Riffel was recently voted team MVP at a team banquet held at Boston Pizza.
"She was the best wrestler. The kids said that she deserved it." This is her second year on the team and her second trip to provincials earning a bronze medal. Vicky Wickenheiser and Meaghann White always make trips memorable. Both girls are encouraging and provide great leadership to the younger members of the team.Meaghann was this year's team captain and although she missed most of the season because of an injury she always gave any help she could to her teammates.
The best road trip is always Bedford Road because it's the first tournament of the year and everyone is always pumped and ready to go. Whether a rookie or a veteran, you are always interested in how many people are going to be there and if you know anyone.
This year the team took the Bedford tournament as a time to bond and get to really know each other. Bedford is always a learning curve for the rookies because it's the start of their high school wrestling career. Everyone on the team is important and the team wouldn't be the same without them.Each person brings something a little bit different. Even though they had a small team this year, with lots of young members, the team is sad to say goodbye to its two senior members White and Wickenheiser.
This year's wrestling team will be the final YRHS team coached by Garry Gawryliuk, who has announced he will be moving on at the end of this school year.
Gawryliuk said that with White and Wickenheiser both moving on, the YRHS team will be starting next year without at least three regulars, including their coach. Gawryluik said there's been more then enough interest shown in various YRHS wrestling clinics over the year and the program should remain intact. Despite having some injuries on the roster this year, team members still came out in support of one another.
Gawryliuk and Cory Chandler were the coaches of this year's wrestling team. A huge thank-you to these two coaches especially Mr. Gawryliuk who is retiring this year. In his YRHS coaching career, he mentored over 500 wrestlers, won 10 small city championships and had eight provincial gold medalists. He was an inspiration to all who had him as a coach and he made everyone better.He is wished well in his retirement from teaching.
