Richmond wrestling standout Calista Espinosa is enjoying an impressive freshman season at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford.
Espinosa finished second in her 48-kg weight class at last weekend’s Canada West Championships, hosted by the Cascades. She lost to University of Sasktchewan’s Alex Schell in the gold medal match. Both will advance to next week’s USports National Championships in Calgary.
Espinosa’s outstanding 2018 season saw her earn a B.C. high school title, a juvenile (U19) national championship, and a silver medal at the junior nationals. The St Pats’ graduate and Bhullar Wrestling Club alumni made her Team Canada debut two years ago. After winning gold at the cadet national championships, she went on to win bronze at the Pan American championships in Peru, and she earned a seventh-place finish at the cadet world championships in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Meanwhile, seven members of the Bhullar Wrestling Club have qualified for the 2019 B.C. Secondary Schools Wrestling Championships that runs next week at the Langley Events Centre.
They include Marques Calapiz, Brooklyn Prasad, Toni Medeiros, Tyler Chung, Jarn Bhullar and Hymatt Shergill.
That’s five more qualifiers than a year ago as the club continues to flourish and burst at the same working out of the gym at the family home on Sidaway Road, According to coach Jag Bhullar, discussions are going well with the city of eventually re-locating to a larger facility.
