WRES: Top wrestlers to fight for gold in conference championship

By Brian Swane, special to CW

It’s been more than a decade since he competed at this meet, but the memories remain strong for Daniel Olver. They are, after all, among the greatest moments of his student-athlete career.

Now as coach of the University of Saskatchewan’s wrestling teams, Olver hopes his pupils can have the same experience he did while representing the Huskies at the Canada West Wrestling Championships.

This year’s edition of the championships takes place Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Van Vliet Complex on the University of Alberta campus in Edmonton. Competition comprises three rounds, including Alberta vs. Calgary at 11:30 a.m., Calgary vs. Saskatchewan at 1:30 p.m., and Saskatchewan vs. Alberta at 3:30 p.m. (all times mountain). The action will be streamed live on Canada West TV.

Having won gold in his weight class at five consecutive Canada West championships from 2007 to 2011, Olver knows better than anyone what it takes to succeed on the conference’s biggest stage.

“I’m a dozen years out of having been in their position of competing, so I still remember what they’re going through and I’m able to relate to them, but I can also talk to them from the detached perspective as a coach,” says Olver, a four-time Canada West Coach of the Year.

“I’m in a great position where I can have that coach’s lens where you watch from a detached perspective and I’m still young enough where I can relate emotionally to what they may be feeling heading into bigger competitions.”

The Huskies hosted the Canada West Wrestling Championships last year at the University of Saskatchewan, but their party was spoiled by Alberta, as the Golden Bears and Pandas won the men’s and women’s titles, respectively. Now the Huskies would like to return the favour, by winning it all on Alberta soil.

Alberta hosted the Canada West Wrestling Championships once during Olver’s student-athlete career, in 2009, and it was arguably his finest hour: the proud Huskie not only won gold in the 76 KG class, but was named Canada West Athlete of the Year and took home the Student-Athlete Award.

“What I remember is the team atmosphere at the Canada West Championships, Olver says. “It just fired you up, with your team right there on the side of the mat. It’s probably one of the best feelings in wrestling to understand what a real team atmosphere is like.”

Alberta is the all-time Canada West wrestling leader with 13 men’s titles, while Calgary has won a record 11 women’s championships. Since Olver was named head coach of Saskatchewan wrestling in 2015, the Huskies have won the men’s and women’s title twice each.

In addition to vying for a spot on the podium in their respective weight classes, the Canada West competitors will be looking to secure their spot at the 2023 U SPORTS Wrestling Championships, which the University of Alberta is also hosting.

Canada West has dominated the U Sports Top 10 this season. To start February, Alberta, Calgary, and Saskatchewan held down the top 3 spots in the men’s ranking, while occupying three of the top five slots in the women’s ranking.

For more information, visit the CW Wrestling Championship Central.