HAMILTON-WENTWORTH CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Knights Capture Overall Wrestling Points

The Bishop Ryan Celtics have a new rival in the sport of wrestling.

It's the St. Thomas More Knights of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic Athletic Association.

The Knights captured the overall points trophy at Friday's Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference wrestling tournament held at the BR gym. They edged out the Celtics, 231-221.

Fourteen high schools from Hamilton, Burlington, Milton, Georgetown and Oakville took part in the annual championship for boys and girls in the various weight classes.

"CKSS (Craig Kielburger Secondary School in Milton) has always been our rival," Celtics coach Sheldon Francis said. "Now we have two rivals. One is in the city and one is in the region."

More also took the boys' team title, while Bishop Ryan ended up on top in the girls' division.

"St. Thomas More has done a great job of stepping up as a contender in our region," Francis added.

Coach Stefanie West launched the mat program at More six years ago.

More then started flexing its muscles at last year's city championships, sweeping the boys', girls' and overall division titles. That snapped BR's 47-year hold on the team trophy.

The Knights also went on to finish fourth overall in points at last year's OFSAA championships in Kitchener.

Bishop Ryan's last overall title at OFSAA wrestling was in 2024.

"Our girls dominated again," Francis said of this year's qualifier for the provincial finals. "We're led by our two-time defending OFSAA champion Ella De Almeida (67.5kg) and returning OFSAA champion Taylor Engelen (61kg).

"Our boys team is young and ready for the challenge."

One of More's victories in the boys division was by Yunus Kinaci (64 kilograms). In the final, he won,20-17, after scoring a pin in an earlier match.

"I really wanted to go this year (to OFSAA) because I didn't make it in my 10th or 11th grades," said Kinaci who has been fasting for Ramadan.

"My coach told me to do my best. It was hard. My opponents were super tough. My friends wanted me to win so I gave it my all."
Said West: "He was an absolute stud."

Anthony Canuto of the St. Jean de Brebeuf Braves finished first in the boys' 47.5 class and hopes to add to his gold and silver-medal collection from OFSAA. Aydan Cook of More, who also brought home bronze last year from OFSAA, qualified again with a win in the 61kg category.

The OFSAA championships are scheduled for March 3-4 in Peterborough.

Qualifiers from Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic high schools for 2026 OFSAA wrestling:
GIRLS -- Atorina Georgis, BR, 38kg; Gabrielle Ajagunmo, More, 44kg; Tamara Cifuentes, More, 47.5kg; Isabella Rendina, BR, 51kg; Gianna Gallo, More, 51kg; Claire Ashby, St. Mary, 54kg; Vienna Tice, BR, 54kg; Elma Albaba, BR, 57.5kg; Shikemi Soyemi, BR, 57.5kg; Taylor Engelen, BR, 61kg; Katalina Sanchez-Restrepo, More, 61kg; Chelsea Daynes, BR, 64kg; Ella De Almeida, BR, 67.5kg; Hailey Jolly, More, 67.5kg; Monica Burt, More, 72kg; Tee-Lyne Chaisson, More, 77kg; Jaslene Niculita, BR, 83kg; Maya Kurpan, More, 83kg; Itiaron Olowola, More, 89kg; Jenelle Lethbridge, More, 95kg.

BOYS -- Carlo Trombetta, BR, 38kg; Tanner Ward, More, 41kg; Anthony Canuto, Brebeuf, 47.5kg; Christian Coccia, BR, 51kg; Aaron Gregory, More, 51kg; Sebastian Lucia, BR, 54kg; Nathan Evangelista, More, 57.5kg; Karem Farajat, Brebeuf, 57.5kg; Aydan Cook, More, 61kg; Yunus Kinaci, More, 64kg; Ion Lumi, BR, 67.5kg; Joey Macri, Brebeuf, 67.5kg; Amir Newallo, Cathedral, 77kg; Shon Mah, Cathedral, 89kg; Jesse Vaccarella, BR, 95kg; Luca Capretta, More, 130kg; Caleb Bryan, More, 130kg; Austin Raposo-Campbell, More, 130+kg.

See photos on HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page