OTTAWA— The Canadian Wrestling Championships (Senior, Junior, Cadet) will take place next week, May 29-31, in Edmonton at the Clare Drake Arena on the University of Alberta campus. This premier wrestling event features three age groups of competitors all vying for the title of national champion and a spot on one of Canada’s national teams.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be returning to Edmonton for the upcoming Canadian Wrestling Championships (Senior, Junior, Cadet),” said Tamara Medwidsky, CEO of Wrestling Canada Lutte. “Edmonton has always been a passionate and supportive wrestling community, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to once again showcase the best of Canadian wrestling in such a vibrant city. This event plays a critical role by determining our national champions and selecting members of Canada’s national teams—athletes who will go on to represent our country on the international stage. It’s an exciting event for our sport and we can’t wait to witness the incredible talent and determination that define Canadian wrestling.”
“2025 is a very exciting year for the Friends of the World Cup of Wrestling Society. Not only do we get to welcome the wrestling community to Edmonton for the national championships, but we are also celebrating our 35th anniversary, as an organization,” said Kelly Rich, Event Chair / Friends of the World Cup of Wrestling Society. “Our host organizing committee and volunteers are looking forward to hosting the over 600 participants from across the country, as they vie for the opportunity to represent Canada at the Continental and World Championships later this year.”
The event will feature many recognizable names to Canadian wrestling fans including four members of Canada’s 2024 Paris Olympic Team. Summerside, P.E.I.’s Hannah Taylor, Surrey, B.C.’s Ana Godinez Gonzalez, Montreal’s Linda Morais and Montreal’s Alex Moore will all be in action, looking to earn the right to represent their country again.
In addition to the Olympians, the field will feature former World Champions. That list includes Godinez Gonzales, who was the 2022 U23 World Champion and Morais, who was Senior World Champion in 2019, in addition to Anmore, B.C.’s Peiman Biabani, the 2016 Junior World Champion, and Narin, Ontario’s Kaura Coles, who became Canada’s latest World Champion last year at the U17 World Championships.
There will be many strong local competitors in action including Edmonton’s Vianne Rouleau. Rouleau, from the Edmonton Wrestling Club, won a silver medal last year at the U23 World Championships and has already represented Canada in 2025, as a member of the Senior Pan-American (Pan-Am) Championships team.
Another mainstay from the national program and the Edmonton Wrestling Club, Swift Current, Saskatchewan’s Aleah Nickel will also compete. Nickel has won multiple medals at the Pan-Am Championships, in three different age categories, and was the Francophone Games Champion in 2023.
With so many great athletes in action, the event is sure to be a can’t miss. Spectators are invited to attend any of the sessions, wrestling begins at 10 a.m. on all three competition days. Tickets are available at the door. The event will also be streamed on FloWrestling. For complete tournament information, visit the tournament site.
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
Wrestling.ca
Tel: 416-768-6847
Email: dmatte@wrestling.ca
c/o House of Sport – RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1H 7X7