Lambton College (LC) is making some history.
The school is the first within the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) to have a sanctioned wrestling club.
The college has partnered with the Bluewater Wrestling Club to launch Lambton Lions Wrestling Club.
Starting this fall, students will be competing in men’s and women’s senior level open tournaments and select varsity tournaments in the Ontario University Athletics landscape.
The club will be sanctioned by the Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association (OAWA).
Manager of Athletics and Student Life James Grant said he's looking forward to working alongside the Bluewater Wrestling Club, and its coaches John Burke and Kyle Bershatsky.
"With this collaboration with Bluewater Wrestling Club, we’ve found an innovative and financially sustainable way to provide student-athletes with another opportunity to compete at the postsecondary level," said Grant. "Student athletes are a big part of our campus community and the broader Sarnia-Lambton community, and Bluewater Wrestling are strong supporters of that."
Grant said the competitive season will begin in November and conclude with the national championships in May.
"Sarnia-Lambton has a strong wrestling tradition, and we’ve seen that reflected in the talented student-athletes competing in the secondary school tournaments we’ve hosted on campus,” he said. "We’ve already had a good number of athletes reach out for more information, and we’re excited to focus recruitment efforts within our Southwestern Ontario region to establish a solid core for the program."
Athletes will be eligible to compete at the OAWA and Wrestling Canada Lutte provincial and national championships, which includes the junior age group, U23 age group, and the senior championships.
At these events, athletes will be competing for carding points, funding, and the opportunity to qualify for national team programs, including the Pan American Championships, Commonwealth Games, and World Championships.