The SFU Clan wrestling teams came up with a few standout performances at the Clan International on Burnaby Mountain last Saturday.
On the women’s side, freshman Karah Bulaqui, sophomore Dominique Parrish, junior Fran Giorgio, and sophomore Payten Smith all secured first place in their respective divisions while senior Mallory Velte earned a solid second-place finish.
After taking the opening round by forfeit, Bulaqui scored two impressive wins by technical fall, over the unattached Caliota Espinoza (12-2) and Grey’s Harbor’s Cynthia Ramirez (14-4). The Clan lightweight won the 46-kilogram division by forfeit, not having to face Aileen Cruz of Grey’s Harbor.
Parrish was at the top of her game, winning two matches by technical fall, including the final match, in which she topped London Western Wrestling Club’s Julie Stiffler 14-4 for the 55kg title. The sophomore also took her semifinal matchup by pin, overpowering Washington’s Cecilia Wu in 2:08.
In 60kg, Giorgio won her class in convincing fashion, scoring a pair of wins by technical fall and one by pin en route to the final match. Once there, she defeated Coast Wrestling Society’s Ana Gonzalez in a one-sided 9-0 decision.
Smith was the Clan’s most dominant wrestler of the afternoon, notching three wins by pin, including a semifinal takedown of Husky Wrestling Club’s Kiera Prior in just 46 seconds. The 85kg final saw Smith win by forfeit, as Jaz Chavarria of South West Oregon Community College was unable to continue.
Velte didn’t allow an opponent to score a point in the opening two rounds, taking out Morgan Fredelet with a 10-0 technical fall before scoring a 6-0 decision over Calgary Dinos’ Breanne Graham. Velte came up short in the 63kg final, falling in 5-0 decision to national team member Braxton Papadopoulos.
On the men’s side, Ben Smyth and Sean Molle (125 kg) claimed second-place in their respective divisions.
Smyth won by forfeit over Cascades Wrestling Club’s Amtoj Dhalind in the opening round of the 90-kg class before falling in round two to Jason Bains of Burnaby Mountain.
After receiving a bye in the opener, Molle picked up a technical fall win (10-0) over the Regina Rams’ Jordan Tholl, and followed that up with a 7-1 decision over Cascades’ Brad Hildenbrant.
In the 125kg final, Molle was bested by Iowa Hawkeyes star Bobby Telfrod in a 10-1 decision.
In women’s 58kg, Jen Anderson placed third and Ashley Osachuk fifth, while Alison Horne ended up fourth in 69kg. On the men’s side, Cody Osborne stood third in 74 kg.
