Former Maple Ridge secondary wrestler Payten Smith won her weight division at the Women’s West Coast Tournament of Champions in Rocklin, Calf., where she was competing for Simon Fraser University.
Smith, a second-year Clan wrestler, dominated the 170-pound weight class and took home a gold medal.
The 2015 national silver medallist won her way to the finals with two pins before taking the final match against SFU alumna Justina Distasio by forfeit.
The WWCTOC is in its second year and the event is hailed by organizers as a pioneer in women’s wrestling – it is the only all-female tournament that showcases both high school and college wrestlers.