In the 2010-11 season the Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) wrestling team attended two tournaments, one at Bedford Road Collegiate in Saskatoon and regionals in Swift Current. Jessica Riffel won a gold medal at Bedford Road, silver at regionals and a bronze at provincials.
There were a few challenges this year that had to be overcome, such as the small team size and injuries.
The smaller team made it hard to find an opponent at the same level whether it was in skill or weight, meaning participants either had to wrestle someone bigger and stronger than them.
This year's MVP, Riffel is in her second year on the team, earning her second trip to provincials where she earned a bronze medal. Vicky Wickenheiser and Meaghann White always make trips memorable. Both Wickenheiser and White are encouraging and provide great leadership to the younger members of the team.
White was this year's team captain and although she missed most of the season because of an injury she always gave any help she could to her teammates.
The best road trip is always Bedford Road because it's the first tournament of the year and everyone is always pumped and ready to go. Whether a rookie or a vet athletes are always interested in how many people are going to be there and if they know anyone. This year the team took the Bedford Road tournament as a time to bond and get to really know each other. The Bedford Road event is always a learning curve for rookies because it's the start of their high school wrestling career.
Everyone on the team is important and the team wouldn't be the same without them. Each person brings something a little bit different. Though we had a small team this year, with lots of young members, the team is sad to lose two senior members, Wickenheiser and White. The best part of coaching a small team like the YRHS squad is getting to know each member very well and learning about their strengths and weaknesses. It was also great to see the hard work and determination that each member showed this year, as well as their excitement as they grew to be better wrestlers.
Even though we had injuries it was still nice to see them come out and support the team whether it was at practice or tagging along for support at tournaments.
Garry Gawryliuk and Cory Chandler were the coaches of this year's Raider Wrestling team. Their work was very much appreciated, especially that of Gawryliuk who is retiring this year. In his YRHS coaching career he coached over five hundred wrestlers, won ten small city championships and had eight provincial gold medalists. He was an inspiration to all who had him as a coach and he made all those he coached better athletes and citizens. He will be missed but not forgotten. The YRHS wrestling team wishes him well in his retirement.
