FRANCIS, RENNALLS AND MARAUDERS WRESTLE TO GOLD HOME TOURNAMENT; HOWORUN TAKES BRONZE
November 5, 2005
HAMILTON, ON - Sheldon Francis and Dave Rennalls won individual gold as the McMaster men's wrestling team won gold at the 2005 McMaster Invitational Tournament on Saturday. The McMaster women's team finished 5th with Stef Howorun taking home bronze
Francis, a junior, dominated the 82 kg category, on his way to defeating Westerns' V. Nyugen in the final. An additional highlight for Francis included the exuction of a rare 5-point throw during tournament competition.
In the 72 kg category, Dave Rennalls was golden defeating his long time rival from Concordia, Toni Ronci.
Matt Miller also finished in medal position taking silver in the 68 kg category just ahead of teammate Steve Rennalls who placed third in the weight.
Also finishing in the medals was Mike Hutchison who had a career best day taking third in the 76 kg. Leonard Payne also finished with bronze in the heavy weight division having only lost one match in the tournament to former CIS Champion David Zilberman of Concordia.
On the female side the women placed fifth matching up against a field that included perennial CIS power Lakehead, as well as two of the United States top collegiate women's wrestling programs; the University of the Cumberland and Missouri Valley College.
Stefanie Howorun was the top individual finisher for the Marauders with a bronze medal in the 67kg. Howorun battled back from any early bracket, three round loss, to the eventual gold medallist and the #3 ranked American female in the weight class, Heather Martin of Cumberland. Howorun had defeated Martin the previous night in a dual meet against Cumberland. She rebounded after what many considered to be the equivalent of the gold medal match, and survived a marathon day winning 5 straight matches to secure the bronze.
The Marauders return to the mat this week when they travel to the Toronto Open on Saturday, November 12, 2005.