Lakehead University will be staging the second annual Championship Cup of Women's Wrestling this Friday to Sunday at the C. J. Sanders Fieldhouse (the Thunderdome) at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. This unique meet will feature host Lakehead, Simon Fraser University, Brock University, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, Western University, Memorial University, Cumberland College from Kentucky for the team duals and individual competitions and the team from the United States Olympic Education Center (USOEC) based at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan for special exhibition duals team events. Grappling fans around the world can catch the mat action online as Friday's and Saturday's wrestling will be video webcast live at www.realtimescorebook.com The Championship Cup will feature many CIS champions, 11 American wrestlers ranked in the USA themat.com Top 10 for their weight classes, Canadian and American Senior national team members, Pan-American Champions, world medallists, and Olympians. Championship Cup organizer and Lakehead Head Coach Francis Clayton said this meet is important in helping to develop women's wrestling. "It is our hope that this event becomes one of the premiere women's wrestling events anywhere." This year's Cup differs from last year's duals-only team format in that this year will feature three sections; Friday will see some of the top U.S. Olympic Education Center wrestlers take on the University of Calgary and Simon Fraser University in two exhibition duals team events. Saturday will have the CIS teams and Cumberland College face each other in the team duals event. In addition, the OUA Selects and Canada West Selects wrestle off against the USOEC team in two more team challenges. Sunday will feature an open individual event for all the wrestlers at the meet. Lakehead Athletic Director Tom Warden said Lakehead is committed to support women's wrestling. "It is of fundamental importance that Lakehead University continue to support the sport of women's wrestling. Our institution and conference continue to be leaders in this sport, this tournament is a example of that." Championship Cup of Women's Wrestling Schedule: Friday, Nov. 19th (1 mat) 7:15 pm USOEC (Team 1) vs U of Calgary (Team 2) 8:15 pm USOEC (Team 1) vs Simon Fraser University (Team 2) Saturday, Nov. 20 (4 mats) 9:00 am Round 1 (1 vs. 2, 3 vs. 4) Web cast of Lakehead vs. SFU 10:00 am Round 2 (1 vs. 3, 2 vs. 4) Web cast of Lakehead vs. Brock 11:00 am Round 3 (1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3) Web cast of Uof Calgary vs. Cumberland 12:00 pm OUA Selects vs. USOEC Web cast 1:30 pm CAN West vs. USOEC Web cast 3:00 pm Semi Finals (cross over 1 vs 2 and 3 vs. 4) Web cast of #1 pool A vs. #2 pool B 4:00 pm 3rd and 4th, 5th and 6th, 7th and 8th Web cast TBA 6:00 pm FINALS Web cast TBA Saturday Duals Team Round Robin Pools: Pool 1: 1. SFU 2. Lakehead 3. Alberta 4. Brock Pool 2: 1. Calgary 2. Memorial 3. Western 4. Cumberland Sunday, November 21 Open Individual Tournament, Wrestling Starts at 9 am. THE TEAMS Lakehead University Coach Clayton said his very young team should be able to give a good account of themselves against some of the best female wrestlers in North America and the world. "Lakehead's women's team is young. We only have one Fourth year wrestler, one Third year, and the remaining all in their first and second years. This makes this event an important one in our development. Our team will see a wide variety of competitors, from world medalists to University level wrestlers and this will be a great challenge for our young wrestlers." The Fourth year wrestler is Melody McCague (3rd at 2004 CIS @ 57 kg). Melody is a leader by example, a hard worker with a good team attitude. Melody missed last year's Challenge Cup because of an injury, and is really looking forward to this championship. She was bronze medallist at last year's CIS National Championships. The third year wrestler is Michel Gorrie who will wrestle at 53 kg. The second year wrestlers are Emily McCague at 70 kg, Sarah Swan at 57 or 61 kg, and Christina Jones at 65 or 70 kg. The first year wrestlers are Mary Jo Michell at 48, Sarah Silva at 53 or 57, Tasha Eady at 61 and Katie Woodinfinden at 80kg. The CIS No. 9 Thunderwolves are coming off a fifth place team finish at the McMaster Invitational. Last year Lakehead placed fourth at the first Championship Cup of Wrestling in the team standings. Lakehead Roster: Demars, Alex 53 kg Eady, Tasha 61 kg George, Jessica 53 kg Gorie, M 53 kg Jones, Christina 65 kg McCague, Emily 70 kg - 80 kg McCague, Melody 57 kg - 61kg Mitchell, Mary Jo 48kg Silva, Sarah 53kg - 57 kg Swan, Sarah 57 kg Woodfinden, Katie 80 kg For more information about Lakehead Wrestling go to: Lakehead women's wrestling University of Alberta The CIS No. 6 University of Alberta Pandas have added a number of women to their roster this year, with hopes of returning to the CIS Team Podium. Three-time CIS Medallist Heidi Kulak (5th Year), and CIS Bronze Medallist Jaclyn Hedges are joined by several newcomers; including former Juvenile National Champion Holly Battig and Juvenile National Silver Medallist Jennifer Zubrack, and Provincial Champion Kathleen White. Other newcomers include Jennifer Obst, a Medical student, and Lisa Lamour, a transfer student who competed at Lakehead University last season, and is therefore ineligible this season, but will compete for exhibition purposes. Perhaps the most prolific addition to this year's squad is Erica Sharp, a World Silver Medallist and three-time CIS Champion at the University of Calgary. Erica's most recent accomplishments include a bronze medal at the World Cup and a silver medal at the Sunkist International. One of Canada's most accomplished female wrestlers, Erica is definitely a nice addition. Along with Erica, Heidi Kulak will lead this young team, and is already showing the way. She has a perfect 10-0 record so far this year, with wins at the Dino and McMaster Invitationals. Head Coach Vang Ioannides said his team is looking forward to the Championship Cup. "Lakehead University has taken a leadership role in the development of women's wrestling at the CIS Level. This event is the premier event in Canada, and perhaps North America in terms of offering quality competition in the excitement that only dual meets can provide. The opportunity to webcast this event will hopefully lead to increased awareness of the incredible opportunities that exist for women to compete and study." Alberta Roster: 48 KG - Lisa Lamour (Exhibition only) 53 KG - Erica Sharp 57 KG - Jennifer Obst 61 KG - Holly Battig 65 KG - Heidi Kulak 70 KG - Jaclyn Hedges 80 KG - Jennifer Zubrack and Kathleen White For more information on Alberta Wrestling, go to Alberta women's wrestling Brock University CIS No. 3 Brock will be a force at the Championship Cup of Wrestling. The team is fresh off winning the women's team titles at the Concordia Open and the Toronto Invitational. Three-time CIS Champions Heather Sweezey (55 kg) will be a force as she won gold at the SFU Invitational last weekend against Calgary's Brit Laverdure. Other wrestlers to watch are Alana King at 57 kg who won gold at Concordia and Golda Parahoo who won gold at Concordia and silver at Toronto. Brock Roster: Melanie Howitt 112 pounds Alana King 121 pounds Heather Sweezey 134 pounds Liz Martindale 117 pounds Jesse Bondy 125 pounds Golda Parahoo 132 pounds Jenn Aitken 135 pounds Lindsay MacDonald Buffy Ainsworth 160 pounds Jen Hanson 176 pounds Jo