They will be wearing their schools colours this weekend at the Langley Events Centre but much of the preparation work has been done right here in Richmond.
Five members of the Bhullar Wrestling Club will be competing at the BC Secondary Schools Wrestling Championships that will see weigh-ins on Saturday and preliminary round action on Sunday. The medals will be handed out on Monday and there is a good chance the club will come away with at least four of them.
Notre Dame’s Marques Calapiz (51-kg) and Tupper’s Brooklyn Prasad (47-kg are undefeated and ranked No. 1 in their respective weight classes. Another Norte Dame student — Tyler Leung — won bronze a year ago while McRoberts’ Jaren Bhullar made an impressive debut with a sixth place finish at the 51-kg level.
Altogether there are 526 wrestlers in 29 weight classes set to compete with 17 weight classes featuring 347 wrestlers on the boys’ side and 179 wrestlers in a dozen weight classes for girls.
“The potential is there for four medals and we are just preparing them as well as we can,” said Jag Bhullar who heads the coaching staff at the Sidaway Road family gym that was fill with young athletes last Sunday. “I’m super excited. We have a good group going that will be wearing their school colours proudly.”
Calapiz will be looking to conclude his accomplished high school career in grand style.
He was the provincial champion at the 48-kg class in his Grade 10 year then work hard to capture bronze in 2019 at 51-kg. This year he has taken his ability to another level that is getting plenty of attention from university and college programs.
“Everything I ever wanted is just being in this position,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and working with people that have led to me being the number one seed going into this weekend. I’m motivated and focused.
“This is our grind time (of the season). This is what we live for.”
Prasad was fourth in her debut at the 47-kg weight class and the Grade 11 student has made considerable improvement since.
“I put in a lot of hard work over the summer and it is really paying off,” she smiled. “I have really improved a lot.”
