40 years and counting

BY ALBERT KRAMBERGER

editor@transcontinental.ca

Coach Jay Bradbury went to the mat again for local kids as he organized the 40th annual Riverdale Invitational High School Wrestling Tournament held Saturday in Pierrefonds.

About 180 wrestlers from Quebec and Ontario high schools competed. A novice division for those with no experience at the high-school level, an open level for experienced wrestlers and a separate peewee under 12 category were featured.

Bradbury, 64, said he was moved when thanked for his four decades of service to the tourney with a plaque presentation prior to the first match Saturday morning. "He started everything," said fellow coach Nick Pirocacos, 45, who was coached by Bradbury as a teen. "He's a very giving man and a great coach. He gets little thanks for all he does."

As for Bradbury, who runs a sporting goods store in Roxboro, said he loves wrestling and has no plans to stop. He organized his first tournament in January 1969. "That's quite a stretch, we never missed a year," he said after the tourney was over. "I've never considered stopping. I still enjoy doing it."

The tourney was also a homecoming of sorts for Robert Betz, who was coaching a Hamilton contingent. The former West Island resident and nationally ranked wrestler was once coached by Bradbury before heading to Ontario for university. "He brought a nice group of quality wrestlers," Bradbury said of his former pupil.

As for local wrestlers, in the open boys category, Alex Lauzon (John Rennie High School) came in second in the 175 pounds weight class; Joel Lanni (John Rennie) came in third in the 150 pounds weight class and Vince Demarinis (John Rennie) came in fourth in the 108 pounds weight class. In the peewee category, two Riverdale Club members garnered medals. Ethan Watson came in first in the 51 pounds weight class and Michael Manfredi came in second in the 57 pounds weight class.

Bradbury said interest in the sport goes in cycles and he hopes more kids will come join his club run out of Riverdale High School, where he once taught many years ago. "We don't have enough kids these days," he acknowledged. "It's hard to recruit high school kids."

Anyone interested in joining the Riverdale Wrestling Club can come by Riverdale High School during practise sessions (Monday and Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m. for those 13 and up and on Tuesday nights for those under 12).