Wrestlers ready for national championship
Wrestling coach Victor Zilberman is poised to add to the 55 gold medals and six team titles he has seen at the nationals in over three decades coaching the Stingers’ program.
With 12 wrestlers competing, Concordia will send one of its largest contingents ever to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championships, this year at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., on February 25 and 26. Last year, the men’s team finished fifth.
There are high hopes for David Tremblay (57 kg), a former junior national champion who joined the Stingers in January 2009. He won gold medals at the nationals in 2009 and March 2010. He was named Outstanding Male Wrestler of the Year by the CIS in 2009.
There are other strong medal contenders on Concordia’s men’s roster. Last year, Matthew Miller (82 kg) won his first gold medal as a member of the Concordia Stingers. He had won a gold medal in 2007 and a silver medal in 2006 as a member of the McMaster University wrestling team.
Both Scott Schiller (65 kg) and Michael Noonan (76 kg) finished fourth at last year’s CIS nationals and could enter the winner’s circle this year.
Olympian David Zilberman (130 kg) returns to the nationals for his fifth and final appearance. He finished 14th in the 96 kg division of the 2008 Olympics. Zilberman has four medals in four CIS nationals – two golds, a silver, and a bronze at his last appearance in 2009.
On the women’s side, Nikita Chicoine (63 kg) hopes to improve on her 2009 and 2010 bronze medal performances. She also has a silver medal to her credit from the 2008 championship, where she was named Female Rookie of the Year.
As well, Elisabeth Williams (67 kg) won a silver medal in 2010. She also won a silver medal at the World University Wrestling Championship last October and a gold medal at the Pan Am Games last May.
Since 1980, Concordia has won 110 medals. In addition, eight Concordia athletes have been named Outstanding Wrestler of the Year at CIS tournaments, and Victor Zilberman has been named Coach of the Year on three occasions, in 2006, 1986 and 1984.
Related link:
• Stingers Wrestling
• Canadian Interuniversity Sport Wrestling