Cumberland College to compete in first Women's Championships Cup of Wrestling at Lakehead University in Canada The first Women's Championship Cup of Wrestling this Saturday November 15th at Lakehead University's C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse in Thunder Bay, Ontario will be the largest university women's duals tournament ever staged in Canada, featuring nine universities from Canada and one from the United States. Joining host Lakehead will be Simon Fraser University, the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, McMaster University, Brock University, Memorial University, the University of Western Ontario, the University of Saskatchewan, and Cumberland College from Kentucky. The tournament will be in the duals format, meaning it is run in head to head team competition with each individual match adding up to a final team score against each opponent school. There will be two seeded pools of five teams and each pool will wrestle a round robin schedule. There will be wrestling on four mats at the same time with duals beginning at the start of each hour, beginning at 9 a.m. There are 7 wrestlers per team and each team will wrestle all the opponents in its pool once. The teams will then be place in their pool from 1 to 5 based upon their win/loss record in their four matches. The No. 1 finishers in each pool will then wrestle for the tournament championship, the No. 2 pool finishers for 3rd and 4th places, No. 3 pool finishers for 5th and 6th, No. 4 pool finishers for 7th and 8th, and No. 5 pool finishers for 9th and 10th. Live updates of the meet will be given by realtimescorebook.com. Their webcasting of the meet will give university wrestling fans in Canada and the US instant access to the results as they happen. The two seeded round robin pools are: Pool 1: 1. Calgary 2. Western 3. Lakehead 4. Saskatchewan 5. Memorial Pool 2: 1. Simon Fraser 2. McMaster 3. Brock 4. Cumberland College 5. Alberta Pool 1 Team Previews: No. 1: Calgary Dinos The Calgary Dinos bring a formidable team to the Championship Cup. The Dinos were CIS National Champions the first three years of CIS women's wrestling; from 1999-2001and Canada West Conference Champions from 2000-2002. Calgary was second at the CIS Nationals for the last two years and were second in the conference championship last year as well. Leading the Dinos this year is team captain and 5th year wrestler Breanne Graham at 65kg. She recently won an individual bronze medal for Canada at the Women's World Cup of Wrestling in Tokyo, Japan as well as contributed strongly to a team bronze medal amongst the elite field of Japan, USA, Russia, China, Germany, and Greece. New on the Dinos squad is Laura McDougall at 61kg. Laura is in her first year of CIS wrestling and comes off a summer of competing for Canada at the Junior Worlds. McDougall is a hard nosed wrestler with the drive to succeed at the CIS level. Rounding out the lineup is; 48 kg Brandy Ens (2nd year), 53kg Andrea Ross (2nd yr) '03 Junior National silver medallist at 55kg, 57kg Brittanee Laverdure (4th yr), 70kg Germaine Watkins (2nd yr), and 80kg Kelsey Andries (2nd yr) or Alternate Elisa Howes (1st yr). Head Coach Mitch Ostberg is looking forward to the innovative duals tournament. "The Dinos Women Wrestling Team and I are very excited to be part of this initiative by Lakehead and Coach Francis Clayton. The women's division of the CIS wrestling is growing and improving so this will be an exciting competition. I recently was at the Women's World Cup in Tokyo, Japan coaching our women's national team to a third place finish in the world. The dual meet format for this event, which is the same as the World Cup, is a great way to present wrestling to spectators and very motivating for the athletes. I think we'll see some very intense matches, because the team performance is carried by each competitor. The amount of cheering by teammates and spectators also adds to the atmosphere. Lakehead has a long tradition of hosting great wrestling events and I believe this event will only add to that reputation." Head Coach: Mitch Ostberg ********************************************************** No. 2: Western Mustangs The Western Mustangs come to the Championship Cup fielding a squad of seven wrestlers. Wrestlers to watch are defending OUA champion Terri McNutt, who also placed second at the McMaster open last month and Jessi Fitzgerald who placed fourth at McMaster. Sarah Gil was third in the OUA championships last season. Western Head Coach Ray Takahashi said the tournament will be a great challenge for Western's young team. "Western is happy to be included in this inaugural Dual-meet tournament for women. There is a strong tradition of wrestling in Thunder Bay and Francis Clayton has done an outstanding job with the program. He has also developed an excellent women's program and this dual tournament will further build upon the wrestling tradition in Thunder Bay. " Western Roster For Championship Cup: 48kg Katie Wilson, Third year, Psychology, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. 53kg Terri McNutt, Third year, Nursing, OUA champ '03 (MVP) Joyceville 57kg Shannon Smart, First year Health Sciences, OFSAA 5th, Ont. Provincials 2nd, Kingston, Ont. 61kg Sarah Gil, Third year, Biology, 3rd OUA 02, Kingston, Ont. 65kg Jessi Fitzgerald, First year, MVP HS, top 8 OFSAA, Bancroft, Ont. 70kg Jill McCallum, First year, Social Sciences, OFSAA champ '03, London, Ont. 77kg Jennifer Scheid, Third year, Kinesiology, Elmira, Ont. Team Coach: Chris Capangyarihan Trainer: Derek Butterwick No. 3: Lakehead Thunderwolves The host Lakehead University Thunderwolves are fresh off a fifth place finish at the McMaster Invitational. Head Coach Francis Clayton wants to build upon that strong finish at the Championship Cup as his team faces very tough competition. Coach Clayton is very proud that Lakehead is hosting this new women's tournament. "Anytime you can host a high level event like this you bring a lot to the university and the community and I know this will be a great event for women's university wrestling in Canada." Wrestlers to watch are Emily McCague who placed second at McMaster and rookie Rachel Dean who placed third. No. 4: Saskatchewan Huskies The University of Saskatchewan Huskies team comes to the Championship Cup with solid group of returning athletes and talented new comers that continue to be the backbone of a solid team. Lead by Head Coach Todd Hinds, The Huskies continually field teams that are filled with strong and technically sound wrestlers in all weight classes. Coach Hinds is very happy to be in Thunder Bay for the first Championship Cup tournament. "Francis Clayton has been a coach, mentor, and friend of mine since 1985. He has always been there to lend a hand or give advice, for which, I have nothing but the greatest respect, for this man and for what he stands for. The Lakehead University Women's Championship Cup of Wrestling duals tournament is another example of his commitment to the sport of wrestling. It takes people like Francis to pave new roads, which makes the sport of wrestling better for all of us. Thanks, Francis." Third year wrestler, and team leader, Megan Buydens continues to prove why she is one of the best in Canada West. Buydens, a two time CIS medallist, finished second at the junior nationals this season, and placed 7th at the Junior Worlds in her weight division this season. Buydens returns to the Huskies looking and competing better then ever. Buydens is joined by third year wrestlers Laura Ostrander and Joanne Yanke, who both had outstanding matches at the Univerisity of Calgary Dino Open. The Huskies squad is rounded out be newcomers Megahn Hobman, Shelby Wells, and Lianne Desjarlais who all bring youth and enthusiasm to the program. The newcomer to watch is Ellen Fritz who placed second in her first Canada West meet. Coach Hinds is excited about the upcoming season as he has a solid group of athletes that are dedicated to making the Huskies a co