Ottawa,ON- Wrestling Canada Lutte’s (WCL) NextGen program is designed to provide resources to wrestlers who are “trending five to eight years out from an Olympic Podium” according to the wrestling Canada website. U23 wrestlers are able to participate in a camp based system that includes two domestic camps, an international tour and target competition. 

The program is divided into two tiers. The 2020-21 tier includes a number of U SPORTS wrestlers.

After their sweep of both men’s and women’s U SPORTS banners, it’s no surprise that a number of Brock Badgers were named to both the first and second tiers. In the first tier, Hannah Taylor  won gold at U SPORTS in the 63 kg event. She competed in the 57 kg event a the U23 World Championship and came third. In the second tier the Badgers are represented by Shauna Kuebeck who placed first in the 82 kg event at the U SPORTS championship. Also in tier two is Ty Bridgewater, the 76 kg bronze medalist from the university championships. Richard Deschatelets placed second in the 120 kg event at nationals.

Also well represented is The University of Saskatchewan’s wrestling program, four Huskies were selected to be a part of the program. In tier 1 is Hunter Lee who came in first place at the U SPORTS championships in the 90 kg event. Hunter’s younger brother, Carson Lee has been placed into the second-tier placed first at U Sports in the 82 kg event. Logan Sloan and  Berit Johnson will also be part of the program. Johnson competed in the 72 kg event at U SPORTS and came second and Sloan placed first in the 54 kg event.

Concordia has one wrestler represented tier one, Aly Barghout who placed first in the 120 kg event at the U SPORTS championship. In the second tier, Jayd Davis who finished first in the 55 kg event, Laurence Beauregard who placed third in the 59 kg event and Amanda Savard who placed third in the 67 kg event. 

The Calgary Dinos have two wrestlers in the second tier, Ellise Daynes  and Amy Bellavia who placed second in their events, 67kg and 59 kg respectively. Also in the second tier; Marco Palermo of Lakehead (first place in the 61 kg event), Victoria Seal of Simon fraser, and Karan Dhillon of Fraser Valley (second place in the 90 kg event)

The full list of wrestlers is available by clicking HERE.

U SPORTS talent is well represent within wrestling Canada. The NextGen program is designed to help athletes achieve podium results in Olympic competition, so be sure to watch out for U SPORTS talent during the next summer Olympics!