KES Wrestling Team Shines at Provincial Championships

The King’s-Edgehill School wrestling team capped off another successful season with a trip to Yarmouth for the provincial championship tournament this past weekend. These student-athletes spent over three months preparing, dedicating countless hours to improving their technical skills and conditioning. They balanced this hard work with academic responsibilities, maintaining their grades and effort levels without complaint.

 

A special thank you goes to the ‘Godfather’ of KES wrestling, Mr. Kim Walsh. In high school, wrestling is the only sport where student-athletes eagerly allow themselves to be twisted and turned into pretzels by their coaches. Our wrestlers continued to learn from Mr. Walsh, who came out of retirement to help at practices and tournaments.

 

Tim Oulton '31 and Ewan Shaw '30, our two youngest wrestlers, each finished in third place in the junior male 38kg and 42kg classes, respectively. Given their youth and commitment, we are confident they represent a bright future for our program.

 

Aidan Donovan '27 and Gavin Power '26, both new to wrestling, competed in the same weight class, senior male 110kg. Aidan earned third place, while Gavin took home a silver medal. Both wrestlers have quickly transitioned to the rugby field and are ready for the upcoming season.

 

Wesley Oulton '25, another brand-new wrestler, had a tough day on the mats. Despite earning medals at previous competitions, he finished in sixth place in the 80kg class against more experienced opponents. Wesley’s performance has prepared him well for the national championships in Calgary this April. He’s also eager to apply his wrestling skills on the rugby pitch this spring.

 

Kenta Matsuda '27, our most experienced wrestler, had a strong weekend. After placing first and second in various tournaments this season, we knew Kenta would deliver highly technical and physical matches. He did not disappoint, securing decisive victories in the opening and semi-final rounds. In the final, Kenta faced an opponent who had advanced via a bye and forfeit. Although Kenta lost the match, finishing second, this result places him in a strong position heading into the national championships in Calgary. We look forward to seeing Kenta’s continued growth as a wrestler and leader in the coming years.

 

On the girls’ side, our team exceeded expectations. Skye Hussey '26, a first-year wrestler in the 69kg class, faced a tough round robin. After winning her first match at regionals, Skye followed her coaches’ advice and enjoyed herself throughout the tournament, ultimately earning a silver medal.

 

Romina Rivas Gutiérrez '25 wrapped up her high school wrestling career with two hard-fought matches, earning a silver medal. Few athletes have shown as much perseverance as Romina.

 

Sierra Phillips '25 provided one of the tournament’s highlights, winning a gold medal in just 18 seconds of wrestling. This is 200 times shorter than the duration of her rugby games. Sierra combined her wrestling training with her exceptional athleticism to dominate her opponent. Provincial coaches are now trying to recruit her.

 

This year’s team was young and still developing both as wrestlers and athletes. Their hard work and determination bode well for the future of the program.