Friday May 12th 2017
The summer months usually mark the off-season for high-school and university wrestlers. Competitions in the summer are few and far between as the focus shifts to international tournaments featuring usually featuring members of the Canadian National Team. Quebec athletes who are on the national team will be competing but for most of the province, this is a time of inactivity. However, this summer will be be different.
This summer will mark a busy time for Quebec wrestlers as several major national and international tournaments are scheduled at this time which will feature a larger number than normal of Quebec athletes. The first on this busy list is the Matteo Pelicone and Milone Trophy tournaments held in Sassari Italy. The tournament features Men and Women divisions in both Junior and Senior as well as a Greco-Roman tournament. After that there will be a training camp open to the athletes which will also feature some members of the Quebec Canada Games team. These tournaments and training camps round out the month of May.
Next on the schedule is the German Grand Prix, held in Dormagen Germany during the month of June. The tournament is open to FILA Cadets, Juniors and Seniors in the Women divisions. Next up is the Junior Pan American Championships which will be held in Lima Peru. Members of the Canadian Junior National Team will feature in this tournament. Both tournaments feature a smaller roster of Quebec athletes.
Alex Moore at the 2016 Junior Pan Ams and member of the Canadian National Junior Team
July sees a local tournament on the summer schedule in the Canada Cup which is international and features a strong Canadian presence in the Senior and Junior divisions. Next, we have the Macchabiah Games and the Jeux de la Francophonie which is being held on the Ivory Coast in Africa. Quebec athletes will feature prominently there as well.
Opening Ceremonies 2013 Macchabiah Games (photo property of the Jerusalem Post)
Finishing up the summer schedule in the month of August will be the Canada Games being held in Winnipeg Manitoba, which features some of the best Cadet and Juvenile wrestlers in the country. This summer marks one of the busiest for Quebec wrestlers in recent memory and would indicate the rise in the competitiveness of our local athletes both at home and abroad.