The Lorne Akins Crush wrestling team pinned down the second-highest medal total in its 34-year history at the Provincial Junior Olympics.
The Crushers returned home from the junior high championships last Saturday in Calgary with 21 medals, two short of the team's record haul.
"It's pretty awesome what we did," said Lauren Rogers, the 40–kilogram gold medallist.
The lady Crushers dominated the female division with 10 podium finishes and five were crowned provincial champs.
"It was an amazing day for the Crush girls," said co-coach Barrie Schulha. "We knew we had a strong team going into the provincial tournament because we had captured team titles at three previous tournament."
The golden girls were Tegan Barnes (65 kg), Makena Krueger (70 kg), Makenna Marthiensen (60 kg), Danielle Riege (44 kg) and Rogers.
"The girls were really focused at the tournament. We wanted to win and we put some emphasis on all of us getting a medal," Barnes said.
Provincial repeat
Rogers, 14, repeated at provincials in her third and last season with the Crushers.
"I was really excited. It felt like I accomplished something. I wasn't just leaving wrestling hanging at the end," said the Grade 9 grappler.
Last year in Olds, Rogers wrestled the same opponent in a best-of-three playoff for the gold in the 39 kg division and was victorious on points.
"Last year kind of felt I didn't really deserve it because there was only one other person in my weight category but this year I had more people to beat so it felt a lot better," Rogers said.
The bronze medallist at the 2012 Alberta Winter Games was also the top female in the 40 kg division at the all-girls' tournament at Archbishop Joseph MacNeil School last month.
"This was my best year of wrestling. Before I didn't really get it, but then it started to come together this year," Rogers said.
Schulha described Rogers as a tiny but tough wrestler.
"Lauren is also very quiet but her actions speak louder than words," said the Crush founder.
Career highlight
Barnes, 15, also capped off her Crush career on a winning note with her first gold medal at provincials.
"It was pretty sweet. I'm in Grade 9 and I finished it up pretty good," she said. "You also feel like you've lived up to expectations and you helped keep the team up there at the top."
Co-coach Craig Baba gave Barnes props as one of the most dedicated Crush wrestlers the past three years.
"Tegan is a hard working and focused wrestler and it was very gratifying to see her finally celebrate a provincial gold medal," Baba said. "After not medalling at the Alberta Winter Games, winning gold at provincials was that much sweeter for her."
It's been a work in progress for Barnes at provincials after settling for bronze in the 35 kg division in 2010.
"In Grade 7 you don't know what to do when you're in a match. In Grade 8 it gets harder because everyone else knows what to do and you have to keep up. This year my technique was a lot stronger and I was able to throw people around better," she said.
Rookie powerhouse
Riege, 12, was among several Grade 7 Crushers that medalled. She also won gold at the St. Cecilia novice tournament and silver at both the all-girls' MacNeil meet and the Alberta Winter Games.
"Danielle was a real powerhouse all season," Baba said.
At provincials Riege defeated both of her opponents on points.
"I was very happy that I brought home gold," she said. "I'm also very thankful that I have such good coaches. I really learned a lot from them on how to be a good wrestler. You have to be aggressive. You just can't push the people out of the ring, you actually have to try some moves to beat them."
Riege is proud to be a Crusher.
"When you walk into a place wearing your Crush shirt you can hear people whispering about how they're nervous about wrestling you," she said. "It's just really good that you can help your team carry on that winning tradition."
Rounding out the Crush gold medallists was Riley Snider at 63 kg.
"On the boys' side, [Grade 9 student] Logan Brubaker was our flagship wrestler all year. He medalled at every tournament and dominated his weight category but at provincials he lost one very tough match and ended up with bronze in the bracket draw," Baba said.
"We also had Liam Duggan, a Grade 8 student who came out of nowhere to win silver. He hadn't won a match in competition coming into provincials, but he surprised a lot of very tough wrestlers in his category by making it all the way to the final. He eventually lost to a Grade 9 club wrestler from the [Calgary] junior Dinos."
