Four Algoma wrestlers crack national rankings

NEWS RELEASE
ALGOMA UNIVERSITY
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Four Algoma Thunderbirds wrestlers will enter 2018 ranked nationally by U Sports. Strong performances on the mats from Natasha Doroodian, Bryce Davis, Jordan Campioni, and Stephen Kreyenbuhl have poised the foursome to enter 2018 with national attention.
 
Sault Ste. Marie-born Natasha Doroodian is seeing success after sitting out the last two seasons due to injury. Doroodian is ranked fourth in the 63-kilogram weight class. Doroodian is a graduate from Korah Collegiate and Vocational School, where she was an OFSAA Champion as well as a former National Champion at the club level. With Algoma, Doroodian has already earned an U Sports Championship silver medal, an OUA Championship silver medal, and two nods as Female Student-Athlete of the Year. In 2015, she was named Sportsperson of the Year and awarded the H. P. Broughton Award. She is the most decorated student-athlete in the history of the Thunderbirds.
 
“Natasha’s work ethic shows in her matches,” says Head Coach Trevor Manchester. “She is always the wrestler looking to control her opponents and setting the pace of the match. After missing the last two seasons, Natasha has returned as a stronger, more confident wrestler. She is committed to becoming a complete wrestler and her growth in the sport shows at practice and in competition.” 
 
Second-year wrestler Bryce Davis is currently ranked fifth in Canada in the 72-kilogram weight class.  The Fenton, Michigan native is a crucial component of the growing Algoma program.
 
“Bryce is the type of wrestler that will continually grow and become a bigger and bigger threat. He is dedicated toward the goal of capturing a National Championship title, and is progressing and getting closer to this goal daily. As a second year wrestler, he is gaining invaluable experience against older competitors. At practice, he is a team leader that sets the pace and motivates the other wrestlers.”
 
Jordan Campioni, another Sault Ste. Marie student-athlete, has transitioned well from the high school level and is ranked 8^th in the 82-kilogram weight class. Campioni was a stand out for the St. Mary’s Knights, where he finished his high school career with a respectful 4^th place finish at OFSAA last year.
 
“Jordan experienced a minor setback early in the season when he injured his knee. This injury held him out of competition for the majority of November, but he will make a large impact with his return at the end of Jan. at the Junior Provincials. Even injured, he is the type of student-athlete that is still growing his game and expanding his knowledge of the sport.”
 
Hailing from Athens, Georgia, Stephen Kreyenbuhl is ranked 7^th in the 90-kilogram category. Kreyenbuhl has made a commitment to improving on the mats and also trains with the cross-country running team. Last season, Kreyenbuhl was named Rookie of the Year.
 
“As a second year wrestler, Stephen has made the move from folkstyle to freestyle wrestling with a lot of success. He moves extremely well for a 90-kilogram wrestler, and his technique is improving at every practice. Training with the cross-country running team and their coach, Cameron Wilson, has led to a huge improvement in his cardio. This has positively impacted his performance this season.”
 
The Algoma wrestlers continue to train over the holiday break and will return to competition in Jan. at the Brock Invitational in St. Catharines, Ontario. The squad has four more tournaments before the OUA Championships at Brock University in mid-Feb.
 
For more information, please visit algomathunderbirds.ca.

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