The McMaster Marauders wrestling team is thrilled to welcome their newest recruits to the 2022-2023 class with the signing of Natalie Vecchio, Olivia Lichti, and Tehani Blais to the program.
 
"I am absolutely thrilled with the commitment of these three young women," said wrestling Head Coach, Ahmed Shamiya. "They are amongst the top high school wrestlers in the country, and all have an eagerness to learn."
 
Natalie Vecchio graduated from Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, with intentions of entering the Kinesiology program in the fall.
 
"I love the environment of the school and the wrestling team," said Vecchio.
 
At the high school level, Vecchio earned a fourth-place finish at OFSAA in 2020 for her Holy Cross Catholic High School team. At the club level, competing for the Kingston Wrestling Club, Vecchio has gone on to earn gold at provincials in 2019, and bronze in 2020.
 
"I am most excited about getting to know my teammates and being able to compete at the OUA's with them," said Vecchio.
 
This summer, Vecchio will represent Team Ontario and compete at the 2022 Canada Summer Games taking place in Niagara.

With intentions of Kinesiology in the fall, Olivia Lichti graduated from Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School.
 
"As soon as I stepped into the wrestling room I knew that this was a place where I could reach all of my goals," said Litchi. "I'm really excited to get to know the team, make new friends and better myself as a wrestler and a person."
 
Representing the Matmen Wrestling Club, Lichti won a Greco-Roman National title in 2019. She then went on to place fourth at provincials in 2019 and 2020.
 
Litchi will go on to represent team Ontario this summer at the 2022 Canada Summer Games.

 
Tehani Blais attended Collège Jeanne-Sauvé and will be entering McMaster's Life Sciences program in the fall.
 
"I chose McMaster because of the positive and constructive environment," said Blais. "I am very excited to be a part of its community and hope to contribute to the success of the team."
 
Blais started wrestling just over two years ago and is still gaining experience. Most recently she trained in Las Vegas with the Legends of Gold team. Representing the Winnipeg Academy of Martial Arts, Blais then competed at the 2020 Western State Championship in Utah, placing in the top three in Greco, Freestyle and Folkstyle.
 
"I believe their best wrestling is ahead of them and am confident they will be great additions to our already thriving women's team," said Shamiya.

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