Fourteen heading to OFSAA wrestling

 Scott for a fourth trip, Bole her third and back to back provincial appearances from

 Nmor, Finzgar, Woodford, Vaessen, Berehulka and an Adjiza come back

  February 28, 2026

By Rob J. Ross

LONDON, Ont. - A year ago, an injury cut short the wrestling season for St. Joe's Rams' Ava Adzija.

Twelve months later, Adzija returned to the mat and took home gold in the female 61-kilogram class, at the Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (WOSSAA) wrestling championships, February 20 at Saunders secondary school.

"I didn't think I was going to win. It's kind of scary. It still doesn't feel real," Adzija said. "It's really validating. I haven't got a gold medal all season. It has all been bronzes."

Adzija defeated Tillsonburg Glendale's Keona Cornish in the gold match.

"I usually do leg shots, but she is really good at turning people over, so I wasn't going to do a leg shot because I'm going to be on my back," Adzija said. "She tried to throw me and I was like, oh, I can get her."

Cornish was one of two opponents who had previously beat Adzija.

"You want to be better than you were the day before. That's the name of the game," Adzija said. "You have to go in with the mentality you're going to win, because if I think I'm going to win, it's more likely to happen."

The Grade 11 athlete was invited to check out wrestling by Rams coach Wolf Schweitzer.

"I tried most of the different sports and clubs and I was looking at trying something new," said Adzija. "He came up to me in Grade nine after I got an (end of year athletic) award and said, 'I think you'd be really good at wrestling'. I wasn't even aware we had a wrestling team. Next year I came out."
 

Adzija is one of fourteen wrestlers, six who won WOSSAA titles, heading to OFSAA, the high school provincial championships, March 3-4 in Peterborough.

Parkside Stampeders Haevyn Bole captured her third consecutive WOSSAA title, pinning Lucas Vikings Alexandra Giroux in less than a minute in the female 57.5-kilogram gold final.

"I wrestled well. I had some quick matches," Bole said. "I would have liked for my final to go a little bit longer, so I could have show cased a little bit more of my skills."

Bole also pinned St. Joe's Allyson Marr and scored a 10-0 win against Saunders Sabres Emily Lawrence.

"It'll be a tough OFSAA this year. All of the girls are good," Bole said. "This year will be probably be the hardest, but I still would love to be in the final and win this year."

Bole has an OFSAA silver from 2024 and bronze a year ago.

No doubt Bole will see Ava Hunyadt, from Guelph John F Ross, a multiple OFSAA gold medalist.

"I've lost a few times to that girl, but every time I've got closer to beating her," Bole said. "Last time I scored four points and then got pinned."

Central Elgin Titans Kendelle Scott heads to her fourth OFSAA, taking gold in the female 83-kg class.

"I'm happy to go again," said Scott, who won OFSAA bronze a year ago. "I'm hoping I can be a contender for the gold, if not, I hope I can make it to the podium. It's where you give it your all because it's the last meet."

Scott is recovering from an knee injury suffered in early February at a club meet.

"My coaches helped me prepare, so I could defend properly and keep it (knee) protected," said Scott.

Four male CECI teammates will be at OFSAA with Scott.

Devin Berehulka won the male 67.5  class, Jon Janzen took silver at male 38, while  Logan Finzgar (male 54) and Dollan Brown (male 130) won challenge matches.

"OFSAA really brings the team together, because there are so few of you and you all support each other," Scott said.

Also standing a top the podium: Rams Trish Ehichoya (female 115) and Manha Jaafi (female 38). Unfortunately, Jaafi was injured during her gold medal match and will be unable to compete at OFSAA.

Taking silver medals were Stampeders Jack Rice (male 47.5) and Max Muscat (male 57.5), Rams Nikola Vaessen (female 89) and Flourish Nmor (female 67.5) and East Elgin Eagles Sydney Woodford (female 115).

All weight class gold medalists automatically qualify for OFSAA. Placing second also earns a spot at OFSAA, but may be challenged by a wrestler who did not fight the second place athlete earlier in the meet. The challenge winner takes the second spot at OFSAA.

Parkside's Ryan Nash (male 72) placed third, but challenged CCH's Alec Hodgson and nabbed the OFSAA berth.

Saunders won the overall team title, finishing first in boys and second in girls.

Lucas took the girls team crown.

St. Joe's placed fourth overall with the girls taking third.

Saunders' Layla Stumpf-Fawcett and Robee Moody were named WOSSAA female and male Most Outstanding Wrestlers, respectively.

Montcalm Cougars' Kyson Miller is the Most Outstanding Male wrestler of the year.

Lucas Vikings' Courtney Pinheiro, Most Outstanding Female wrestler of the year.

Complete 2026 WOSSAA results

Central Elgin

Kendelle Scott, gold, female 83

Devon Berehulka, gold, male 67.5

Logan Finzgar, silver, male 54

Dollan Brown, silver, male 130

Jon Janzen, silver, male 38

East Elgin

Sydney Woodford, silver, female 115

Kyle Louis, fourth, male 95

Parkside

Haevyn Bole, gold, female 57.5

Jack Rice, silver, male 47.5

Ryan Nash, third, male 72, wins challenge match

Abby Harrison, fourth, female 47.5

Hannah Anderson, fourth, female 61

Jack Dennis, fourth, male 47.5

Nash Okkerse, fourth, male 54

Gavin Dale, male 57.5


 

St. Joe's

Manha Jaasi, gold, female 38

Tricia Ehichoya, gold, female 115

Ava Adzija, gold, female 61

Flourish Nmor, silver, female 67.5

Tori Hill, silver, female 72

Nicola Vaessen, silver, female 89

Tyler Perrrot, fourth, male 130

Arianne Harricharran, fifth, female 47.5

Lucas Triana, fifth, female 64

Allyson Marr, sixth, female 57.5

Nash Bannerman, sixth, male 51

Eddie Wallace, sixth, male 61

 

        rob@hometownplay.ca

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