OTTAWA — The 2025 Canadian U23 Wrestling Championships, Senior/Junior Greco-Roman, & Non-Olympic Weight Class Trials will be in Thorold, Ontario this week, June 27-28, at Canada Games Park as wrestlers look to be crowned national champions, earn a spot on a national team or both.
The title of national champion and a spot on the national team will be on the line for U23 athletes in 10 weight classes for both men and women. Senior athletes will be looking to secure one of eight non-Olympic weight class roster spots (four men’s and four women’s) for this year’s World Championships. Finally, Greco-Roman wrestlers will be looking to be named national champions at the Senior and Junior levels.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring the Canadian U23 Wrestling Championships Senior/Junior Greco-Roman, & Non-Olympic Weight Class Trials to the Niagara region, hosted at the world-class Canada Games Park in Thorold,” said Tamara Medwidsky, WCL CEO. “This event showcases the best of Canadian wrestling talent—from emerging athletes to seasoned champions—and we couldn’t ask for a better venue to highlight their skill, dedication, and passion for the sport. We look forward to an unforgettable championship experience for athletes, coaches, and fans alike.”
The event will begin with the Canadian U23 Championships on June 27. The competitors will look to earn their way onto the national squad that will compete at the World U23 Championships, October 20-26 in Novi Sad, Serbia.
The event will feature many notable Canadian wrestlers including two World U23 silver medalists from 2024. Both Stoney Creek, Ontario’s Serena Di Benedetto and Edmonton’s Vianne Rouleau will compete at the event. Di Benedetto will be in action at 53kg, while Rouleau will compete at 72kg. Both will compete in the weight class that they won their medal.
As for the men, notable entries include: Pickering, Ontario’s Blayne Helou at 61kg, Montreal’s Connor Church at 79kg, Edmonton’s Aidan Stevenson at 86kg and Abbotsford, British Columbia’s Jorawar Dhinsa at 125kg. All four men captured national senior titles this year and will look to become double champions at the U23 level.
At the Senior World Team Trials, June 28th, four weight classes will be contested for both Men’s Freestyle and Women’s Wrestling. The winners will join the Olympic-weight class winners from the Canadian Wrestling Championships at the Senior World Championships, September 13-21 in Zagreb, Croatia.
In action on the women’s side will be former World bronze medalist, Karla Godinez Gonzalez. Godinez Gonzalez won the women’s 57kg weight class at this year’s Canadian Wrestling Championships but will look to give herself another option at the weight class where she won her medal (55kg) in 2022. She is also coming off a gold medal at 55kg at this year’s Pan-American Championships.
As for the men, one weight class to keep an eye on will be at 61kg as Helou will be pulling double duty, competing in the U23 Championship and in the non-Olympic weight trials. Helou won the 61kg weight class at the 2025 Canadian Wrestling Championships but will need to defend that title against a group of hungry competitors.
For the first time, the event will also feature the Senior and Junior Greco-Roman Championships, also on June 28th. Much like Helou in the Trials competition, pulling double duty here will be Dhinsa. Dhinsa is a former Pan-American Greco-Roman silver medalist, having captured it a the U20 level last year.
In addition to the competitions, there will be a special WCL Hall of Fame ceremony on June 27th to honor and induct the second member of the Class of 2025 – two-time Olympian Lawrence Holmes.
With so much at stake and so many talented competitors in action you won’t want to miss a second of this event. Spectators are invited to attend, and tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information, visit the tournament site. The event will also be streamed on FloWrestling.
About Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL)
Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) is the national sport governing body for Olympic style wrestling in Canada. Among its responsibilities, the association selects and prepares Canada’s teams that participate in international competitions including Continental Championships, World Championships and major multi-sport Games (i.e. Olympic Games). WCL works with provincial and territorial partners to deliver world-class programs and services to athletes, coaches, and officials to achieve podium success and grow the sport.
For more information:
Darren Matte
Marketing & Communications Manager
Tel: 416-768-6847
Email: dmatte@wrestling.ca