Yukon wrestler Erica Sharp brought home a gold medal for the Canadian women’s wrestling team at a German Grand prix tournament in Dormagen, Germany, last weekend.
Sharp, wrestling in the 51-kilogram division, took on some top female competitors, all with their eyes on Beijing in 2008.
Although the Grand Prix gold doesn’t really help her chances of making it to the Olympics, Sharp said that every chance to compete internationally is a great learning opportunity — and this time especially, because the powerhouse Chinese team was in attendance.
“We don’t get the chance to wrestle against Asian teams very often; it’s a good chance to see what they’re like before next summer,” she said.
Sharp was modest about her success after arriving in Calgary on Monday.
“My weight class wasn’t as tough as it could have been,” she said, adding that a number of her fiercest rivals didn’t compete. “But it’s a confidence builder, for sure.”
Sharp’s teammate and fellow Yukoner Brittanee Laverdure also made the podium, grabbing bronze in the 55-kilo division. “Brittanee’s division was much tougher than mine,” said Sharp. “She had two close matches … it’s frustrating, but she’s getting closer (to gold) every time.”
After the tournament wrapped up, the team headed to a week-long training camp outside Frankfurt, which Sharp said was a great chance to dispel any false notions surrounding the infallibility of the Chinese team.
“Our Canadian girls are tough … I think we rattled them a bit,” said Sharp. “The language barrier builds up a mystique — it was good to see them break like anybody else.”
With Beijing a year away, and the Canadian women’s team limited to four spots (the sport has seven standard weight classes), Sharp has to decide which weight class she’ll wrestle in by December’s Olympic trials.
Her 51-kilo division isn’t available, so she’ll either have to drop down to 48-kilo or bulk up for the 55-kilo.
In the meantime, Sharp, Laverdure and the rest of the Canadian team will head to Guelph in two weeks for the Canada Cup tournament. There, they’ll face international and domestic competition.
Gymnastics
Eleven athletes from the Polarettes Gymnastic Club travelled to Vancouver this weekend for the 2007 Super Hero Showdown Gymnastics Invitational at the Phoenix Gymnastics Club.
The highlights for this competition are as follows:
Girls competition
Provincial 2 tyro: Cassandra MacDonald, bronze medal on vault.
Provincial 3 tyro: Greer Vanderbyl, bronze medal on bars, bronze medal on beam, silver medal on floor, and silver medal all around.
Corey Baxter, silver medal on vault.
Provincial 3 novice: Emily Oetlli, gold medal on vault, silver medal on bars, silver medal on beam, silver medal on floor, and silver medal all around.
Four polar tumbler boys also competed at this competition in the Level One, Under-13 category. This was their first Outside competition. They competed against 27 athletes from the top clubs in BC.
Andrew Crist took gold on rings, bronze on vault and bronze all around, and Drew Wagner earned a gold on floor.
Mountainview Men’s Commercial Golf
Stroke Play was the format at this week’s Men’s Commercial League at the Mountainview course.
The full eight points were made by Northwestel, Missing Links, and Ketza Construction. Macdonald & Co. was a close second with seven points.
Current standings (May 31 score, total points):
1st Emco 4-Skins, 5, 21
2nd Shoppers Drug Mart, 6, 20
3rd Matco Transportation, 4, 18
4th MacKay LLP, 6, 18
5th Pour Rite Construction, 4, 16
6th Skookum Asphalt, 4, 16
7th Northwestel, 8, 16
8th Missing Links, 8, 15
9th NuWay Crushing, 2, 14
10th Olson Construction, 2, 14
11th P&M Recycling, 6, 14
12th Super A, 6, 14
13th Lister’s Motor Sports, 2, 14
14th Feature Foods, 3, 13
15th Ketza Construction, 8, 13
16th Triple “J” Services, 5, 12
17th Talmark/Sit Easy, 2, 11
18th The Chain Gang, 4, 11
19th Roadhouse Offsales
Relics, 0, 10
20th Macdonald & Co, 7, 9
21st Kal Tire, 3, 7
22nd Roadhouse
Bar & Grill, 6, 7
23rd Irving Collision 0, 6
24th Northerm, 2, 6
25th Total Trac Yukon, 2, 6
26th Super Save Propane, 6, 6
27th Casa Loma Motel, 1, 5
28th Whitehorse Business
Machines, 0, 4
Soccer
Under-18 (Monday)
Peterson Contracting 4
Assante Financial 3
In this competitive match, Lowell Johnston scored two goals for Peterson while Erin Holloway and Ryan Wilson each added one goal. Alex Johnston was given Most Valuable Player of the game for Peterson Contracting because of his contributions.
Sam Kumar scored a pair for Assante, while Michael Fisher added a single. Most Valuable Player honours, for Assante Financial, went to Joel Stacey.
Office Supply Centre 10
Metro Chrysler 8
Markus Liebau scored an amazing seven goals for the Office Supply while Jeff Gartshore, Michael Hemmings and Grant McWatters each added singles. Dayna Thompson took the MVP nod.
Stephen Dynes was Metro Chrysler’s top scorer with five goals, while Logan Potter added two, and MVP Janelle Greer netted a single.
Under-12 (Monday)
ReMax 6
Whitehorse Star 2
Matthew Smith and Elliott Berg netted a pair each for ReMax, while Scott Hunston and Scott Peterson added goals as well. Alex Zheng took MVP honours
Owen Hedstrom-Langford and Dustin Charlie scored for The Star, and Megan Jensen was named top player.
Rafter A Ranch 3
Quarton & Sutherland 3
Q&S scorers in this draw were Dominic Korn, Liam Janke and Brittany Milner.
The Ranch had goals from Matt McCarthy, Gauge Preece and Tyler Koenen.
Silver Spoke Adventures 4
Fountain Tire 2
Mike Wintemute scored a pair for Silver Spoke, and Eric Fekete and Aaron Vienneau added singles. Chelsea Etienne took the MVP nod for the Spokes.
Fountain Tire’s goal scorers were Youje Blackburn and Kurt Spenner, and Breagha Fraser was named MVP.
Under-11 (Monday)
Sportslife 5
Kopper King 4
Tanner Borsa booted in three goals, leading Sportslife over the KK. Andrew Hunter and Brendan Gendron rounded out the scoring with one each. MVP for Sportslife was Katja Altherr.
Jarrett Malchow’s two goals led the scoring for Kopper King, Cole Morris and Garrett Enoch added goals as well. MVP for Kopper King was Garrett Enoch.
Boston Pizza 7
Cannacord 4
Jono Runions led BP with three goals on the night, while Ryan Chippet and Jared Steinbach netted two each. Aiden Allen scored as well, and Felix Russell was named top player.
Cannacord’s scorers were Dylan Reed, with a pair, Wynn White and Wesley added singles, and Kanoa Jones took the MVP honours.
Zip Transport 3
The Deli 0
Will Rees, Andrew Scoffin and Samantha Burgis scored for Zip with Burgis named team MVP.
MVP’s for the Deli were Tiana Oostindie and Sebastien Lapres.
Under-six MVPs
and allstars (Monday)
M&M Meatballs — Logan Kruse and Zachary Zimmermann
The Eagles — Kia Knowler and Adam HynesYukon
Women In Trade — Wyatt Peterson and Daniel Vega-Shoemaker
Jacobs Industries — Charlie Hawes and Kyle Stockley
Coldwell Banker — Olivia Wright and Heather Munro
Lake Laberge Lions — Brandon Peteiski and Tyra Chippett