The Maple Ridge Secondary School boys’ and girls’ wrestling team each made it to the podium at the Upper Fraser Valley Championships, with the girls finishing second and boys third.
Maple Ridge qualified 11 wrestlers for the provincial high school championships in Penticton this weekend.
Grade 10 student Payten Smith has managed a 28-1 record over the past two years, his only loss coming at last year’s provincial finals.
“It won’t happen again,” he said. “I’m going to bring home the gold for Maple Ridge and our school.”
Grade 8 wrestler Cameron Hicks will be competing in his first-ever provincial championship, and is considered one of the top two wrestlers in his division in B.C.
Coach Bill McCrae said he expects Brodie McKenzie, Colton Koopmans, and Shay Corwin to medal at the competition.
“Ridge wrestling should have its best result in four years,” he said.
Also qualifying for provincials are Jeremy Moen, Shaimen Bhogal, Mikaela Prichard, Scott McKenzie, Brody Koopmans, and Gareth Bourke.
sports@mapleridgenews.com