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Spartan wrestlers deliver coveted OFSAA four-peat By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion E.C. Drury's provincial wrestling dynasty continues - and at Uis point will likcly neyer be matchcd. Hcading into last wcck's OFSAA championships in Samnia, Larry Jaroslawski's Spartans wcre looking to make high school history as Uic firat school to ever win four tcamn titles in a row. That bid was Ureatcncd Urough Uic early going, but the dcfending champs rallied from Uieir sub-par start to pull off Uic until now elusive four-pcat. Dnsry grapplers won 10 of 11I second-round match- es and uscd Uiat as a springboard to anoUier title repeat - winning by five points for a second straight ycar, thit time edging Hamilton's Bishop Ryan 120-115. "The record-sctting win was Uie mots draining yct rcwarding title since Uic flrst onc in 2000," said an emotionally-draincd Jaroslawski Wcdncsday night, shortly aftcr his Spartans clinched top honours. "None of Uie oUicr tearos had to endure as many close defeats, bad draws and protestcd matches - as well as a cost- ly seeding enror. But Uic tcamn just kept bouncing back, refuting to throw in Uie towel. "Setting the four-peat record is nos only a duilfing accomplishment, but a very rewarding one as it can be shared by several generations of Drury wrettlers." Jesse Ronan led this year's charge wiUi a silver- medal effort in the 54-kilograrn division - wiUi his bid for gold finaly queileri by defending OFSAA champ Frank Mcnsah of Bramnalea. Before Uiat, Uic provincial veteran coastcd to two preliminary round victories, scored a close quarterfinal decition and then upstaged one of the medal favourites 14-13 in a heart- stopping sem-ifmnal thowdown. Equally inipressive was 61 -kg. grappler Matt Knock - who secured hit second OFSAA medal in as many appearances by capturing bronze. In what was widely regarded as the moat intpiring performance of the tournament, he rebounded fromt a quarterfinal los with three consecutive victoriet - capping the rmn wiUi a pay-back win over the opponient who knocked him out of Uic gold-medal picture in Uic hattle for bronze. Remarked Jaroslawtki, "Knock's gutsy victo- I'None of the other teamts bad to endure as many close defeats, bad draws and protested matches - as weiI as a costiy seeding error. But the teamnjust kept bouncing hack, refusing to throw in the towel." ry epitomsdzed the character of the entu-e teani" These medal-winning efforts highlighted a roller- coaater day in which Drury dropped to as low as fourth in thc team standings before fmnally rcturning them- selves to Uic top of the provincial pecking order. Helping fuel thc championship drive wiUi fifth-place performances were a trio of Spartans. Tcnth grader Gary Ferrier (57.5 kg.) avenged Iast year's lbas to former Spartan Mike Devries in the flfth- place clash after coming wiUi a heartbeat of upsetting Uie number one seed in quartertinal competition. Firat-tiane OFSAA participant Kevin Tyrer collected five wins in the 72-kg. class to finish flfth and start his teamn on its championship march, while Rob Petherick (64 kg.) ended his high school career with an identicai placing - cracking the top six for the second tume. A five-tinie OFSAA qualifier, Petherick alto has Uic distinction of being the only member of al four goltu- medal teanis. Aiding Uie title win wiUi uncxpectcdly-strong efforts were rookie ightweights Blake Hilier and Alan Moffat, who placed sevenUi and appeared to have Uic eventual bronze mcdalist in sure pin Uiat was neyer counted by Uic official. He went on to lose Uiat match, thus being denied a trip to thse medal round. Ben Beech, Jordan Lumb and Chris Flannigan al scored wins and had a hand in Uie teani victory, whilc rounding out Uic squad were Eric Freeze and Greg Foster. Assisting Jaroslawski was Sinmon Vanellis. The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, Mardi 11, 2003-21 TI ye c.Hockey gear drive Iîqta nud is on ai Gallinger 's bac*t% tKum.c")D M ro,&M Hockey youngsters are getting a big assist in the battie against %oM jod ring equipment costs. MM *« . *o Throughout this month, Ford dealers across North Amnerica 4g w g W wiil be holding a used hockey equipment drive in support of KobVIIý w needy ink rats. in r rcwroe ri That means Miltonians with extra gear lying around can drop it> AIM uoet it off at Main Street's Gallinger Motors Ltd. to aid the Wayne MW hmgS Gretzky Foundation - tic Great One's new charitable organi- MWW HI M g I zation dedicated to providmng youths across the continent with WY Fgrrls. the opportunity to play hockey. llsMn la Eric Ail equipment provided in safe, working condition wil be acccpted. Aniong pieces of equipment in particularly high demand are children's skates, helmets, sticks, gloves and goalie PhMt by equipment. GRL4H4 PAINE Gallinger Motors will teamn up with Milton Minor Hockey to distribute donated gear to local youths in need. AiWeqld n Are you con nected to your community? 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