Local wrestling legend Ed Ashmore was pleased as punch with a solid turnout for his 2011 Victoria Novice Wrestling tournament.
“Numbers jumped from 78 (last year) to 128 wrestlers,” said Ashmore, who leads the Victoria Bulldogs district club team.
The Bulldogs, along with Reynolds and Esquimalt high schools, competed in a pool of 20 teams.
Reynolds’ Avery Murphy was dominant until she lost a close one in the finals, said co-host Mike Thompson, coach of the Esquimalt wrestling team.
“Steven Hagen from Esquimalt was equally impressive winning an undefeated gold,” he said.
Alan Couldwell of the Bulldogs was unbeatable in his weight class cruising to a gold medal.
“This tournament’s focus is on our youngest participants (some as young as nine years old), which represent the future of this wonderful sport,” Thompson said.