SUBMITTED PHOTO Hat High's wrestling team poses in their gym with the plaques they won at the high school rural provincial championships this past weekend in Lethbridge.
At a meet originally designed to give wrestlers in smaller centres a chance to win something prior to Calgary- and Edmonton-based athletes dominating at the official provincials, Hat High again stole everybody’s lunch.
The Hawks did what they always do, claiming a 10th straight boys team title this past weekend in Lethbridge.
For a team that’s only been around to compete in 11 rurals, head coach Darren Klein was understandably proud of the achievement.
“Looking at a provincial plaque that has Medicine Hat on it for nine years straight is a confident feeling,” wrote Klein in an email to the News. “However the email reminder to make sure that the plaque is delivered to the competition delivers the reality to the coach. We are reminded that in the world of sport there really are no guarantees.”
True, but when the dust settled 20 Hawks qualified for the main provincials and both boys and girls teams won their respective team titles. It was the third for the girls.
Klein noted that LCI had once won nine boys titles in a row, so the 10th straight for his guys represents a new record.
Despite the clear dominance, only two Hat High wrestlers actually won their individual titles at rurals. Aayden Callan topped the boys 90 kilogram class, while Alicia Dominguez Martinez won girls 61 kg.
Other boys to medal were William McDougald (second, 120 kg), Dylan Callan (second, 108 kg), Kaedan Lowe (third, 98 kg), Logan Wells (third, 82 kg), Sam Bjarnason (third, 76 kg) and Aidan MacKinnon (third, 68 kg).
Hawks girls on the podium included Hanna Davies (second, 50 kg), Ines Bustamante (second, 70 kg), Lucia Blazquez (third, 65 kg), Jaylaina Callan (third, 75 kg) and Mikayla Eirich (third, 80 kg).
Klein is still waiting to hear if even more of his athletes will get to go to Calgary for provincials next weekend, as others unable to attend would free up spots for next-place finishers.
The ultimate goal? Overall provincial titles: two of them.
