HAMILTON – The McMaster Marauders opened the 2023-24 season in Burridge on Sunday where they showcased their talent. The McMaster Invitational brought together competitors from varsity programs across the province as well as some of Ontario's top club wrestlers. National medalists on both the women's and men's sides, the Marauders started the season on the high with numerous noteworthy performances.
 
The No. 5 nationally ranked McMaster men's squad were led by third year Commerce student, Jullian Kato. The Ajax, Ont. won each of his matches at Sunday's McMaster Invitational, enroute to his first gold medal of the season in the 68kg class. This marks his first time topping the table in his third season as a Marauder and heads into November undefeated. Kato led the Marauder men to a second-place finish at the first competition of the year where they were the top performing university program.
 
Irman Kang and Jonathan Vecchio both picked up silver medals on home mats. Kang, a second-year humanities student, defeated a wrestler from Queen's and Western before earning a win over teammate Alex Harris to earn a spot in the 82kg final. He earned a silver medal after falling to a club athlete from GTA Alliance RTC. Vecchio, also earned a second-place finish in the 125 kg weight class.
 
A Sarnia, Ont. local, Howard Moffatt picked up the Marauders' fourth medal of the day. After falling in his first match of the day, Moffatt picked up four straight matches to secure the bronze medal.
 
McMaster, ranked 7th in U SPORTS, ended the competition with 29 points, the best performance by any OUA team, and just six points off the Montreal Wrestling Club who finished in top spot.
 
The Marauder women finished in 8^th place with 15.0 points and fifth amongst participating OUA programs. The maroon and grey secured three Top 4 finishes in the first competition of the season.
 
Tehani Blais, a second year from Winnipeg, Man., fell in her opening match but won back-to-back contests by decision and fall, respectively, to secure the silver medal in the 72kg class while teammate Natalie Vecchio, finished third in the same weight category.
 
Macy Malysiak won by fall over a Carleton Raven in her first contest of the day but lost by decision to a Mustang before earning a spot in the bronze medal match with a win over another varsity competitor. The Brampton local ended the day just off the podium in fourth place.
 
Next Up
 
The Marauders will prepare to compete at the TMU Invitational on Sunday November 12.