SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. - For the third straight year, the McMaster Marauders wrestling teams have secured the team silver medals at the 2024 OUA Championships.
The Marauders roster boasts a number of OUA medalists from past seasons and that experienced showed as the maroon and grey medaled in 12 of the 20 weight classes, including three gold medals.
Named a U SPORTS Men's Wrestler of the Week earlier this year,
Gregor McNeil had a dominant performance in the Sault at his first OUA Championship. The North York local sustained a season ending injury before last year's OUA Championship but, after undergoing surgery, he continued his impressive return to the mats at the provincial championship. The second year commerce student won each of his three preliminary bouts against competitors from the Guelph Gryphons, York Lions and Lakehead Thunderwolves en route to the 68kg gold medal match. McNeil added another win, this one by technical fall over a Brock Badger, to earn his first-ever OUA title and medal.
Veteran wrestler, Howard Moffat earned victories in all of his preliminary matches and fell just short of repeating as the OUA Champion, picking up the silver medal in the 90kg class.
Karanveer Mahil, a second-year Marauder, secured the OUA silver medal in the 125kg for the second time in as many years.
Gregor McNeil earns the gold medal and OUA Champion title in the 68kg weight class.
Irman Kang,
Peter Shirley and and
Blayne Helou earned the silver medal in their respective weight classes to round out the podium performances for the Marauder men.
The McMaster Marauders, ranked third nationally in the U SPORTS rankings released at the end of January, finished Saturday's competition in second place, six points ahead of the Western Mustangs in the bronze medal spot.
On the women's side, McMaster secured the OUA silver medal, finishing behind the Brock Badgers and ahead of the Guelph Gryphons. The Marauders topped the podium in two weight classes and picked up four additional medals.
Serena Di Benedetto has become a constant podium threat in her two years as a Marauder. The reigning OUA gold medalist in the 53kg class was looking to build on her impressive resume after being named the OUA Rookie of the Year in 2023. The second year humanities student won her preliminary match in the 53kg class against a competitor from the Guelph Gryphons to secure a berth to the gold medal final. The Hamilton local won her gold medal match by injury default to defend her OUA Champion title, the only Marauder on this year's roster to go back-to-back.
Serena Di Benedetto defended her OUA Champion title in the 53kg class.
One of the veterans on the Marauders women's roster,
Macy Malysiak was impressive for the maroon and grey at the 2024 OUA Championship. The Brampton local picked up a win by fall over a Guelph Gryphon to secure a berth to the gold medal match. A fourth year life sciences major, Malysiak won OUA gold in the 59kg class by injury default, upgrading her silver medal from 2023.
Macy Malysiak upgraded her silver medal from 2023 to gold at this year's OUA Championship.
Tehani Blais and Natale Vecchio each battled their way to the finale to pick earn the silver medal while
Olivia Lichti and
Saskia Ramaischrand secured bronze for the Marauders.
McMaster wrestling has become a constant threat for the provincial title and will now focus on performing on the national stage next month.
Next Up
The Marauders will take a few weeks to prepare for the U SPORTS Wrestling Championships which will take place on March 2nd in Guelph where they will be joined by the top varsity wrestlers from across the country.
