Thunder Bay, Ont. — The McMaster Marauders wrestling program delivered an outstanding showing at the 2026 U SPORTS National Championships, with both the men's and women's teams finishing among the nation's elite. The men captured the national silver medal with a dominant four-gold-medal performance, while the women secured a fourth-place team finish behind three individual national champions. 

Across two days of competition, the Marauders combined for seven national titles and multiple additional podium finishes, reinforcing McMaster's status as one of the premier wrestling programs in Canada.

Men's

The McMaster Marauders men's wrestling team delivered a statement performance at the 2026 U SPORTS National Championship, finishing second overall with 64 points in a tightly contested national race. Powered by four individual national champions and a bronze medalist, the Marauders proved their strength across multiple weight classes.

Blayne Helou set the tone at 61kg with a dominant championship performance. In the final, Helou squared off against Aiden O'Neill of Brock and controlled the match from start to finish. Applying relentless pressure and scoring in bunches, Helou secured a technical superiority victory to claim the national title and 12 crucial team points.

At 76kg, Luken Lawson delivered one of the most emphatic wins of the tournament. Facing Josiah Mayers-Noel of Toronto in the championship final, Lawson established control early before capitalizing in a key exchange to secure the pin. The fall sealed the gold medal and electrified the McMaster bench, adding another 12 points to the team total.

Omogbai Asekomhe followed with a commanding performance at 100kg. In the final, Asekomhe battled Callum Knox of Brock and imposed his strength throughout the bout. After wearing down his opponent and gaining a decisive advantage, Asekomhe secured the pin to capture the national championship, marking McMaster's second gold medal by fall in the finals.

Chanjot Kang made it four national champions for the Marauders at 125kg. In the heavyweight final, Kang faced Roger Li of Brock and controlled the center of the mat with disciplined positioning and timely scoring. Kang managed the match with composure and physicality to earn the victory and stand atop the podium.

Gianluca Fortino rounded out the medal performances with a bronze medal at 65kg. After a semifinal setback, Fortino rebounded in the third-place match against Callan Beggs of Western. Wrestling with urgency and determination, Fortino secured the win to claim bronze and deliver valuable points to the team tally.

The depth of the lineup also played a key role in the silver-medal finish. Andre Mrkobrad placed sixth at 72kg, Sarpapta Lally finished seventh at 82kg, and Kamrin Marotta earned eighth at 68kg, each battling through challenging brackets to contribute to the team score. With four gold medals, including two by pin in the finals, and a bronze medal performance, McMaster firmly established itself as one of the nation's elite wrestling programs.

Women's

The McMaster Marauders women's wrestling team delivered a strong performance at the 2026 U SPORTS National Championship, finishing fourth overall with 50 team points in a tightly contested national field. Behind three national champions and a bronze medalist, the Marauders once again proved they belong among Canada's elite programs.

Serena Di Benedetto led the charge at 53kg, capturing gold with a composed and dominant tournament run. In the championship final, Di Benedetto faced Maya Johnston and controlled the bout from the opening whistle. She dictated the pace, created scoring opportunities, and executed in key exchanges to secure the victory and the national title, earning 12 crucial team points.

At 59kg, Macy Malysiak added another gold medal to the Marauders' total. In the final, Malysiak squared off against Elizabeth Latulippe and delivered a confident, disciplined performance. Applying steady offensive pressure and capitalizing on scoring chances, she secured the win to stand atop the podium and contribute another 12 points to McMaster's team score.

Natalie Vecchio completed the trio of champions at 76kg in emphatic fashion. In the championship final against Haley Florell, Vecchio delivered the most dramatic finish of the night, securing the win by pin. After establishing control early in the match, she capitalized in a key exchange to lock in the fall and seal the national title in dominant style.

Olivia Lichti added to the podium count with a bronze medal at 62kg. After a hard-fought semifinal loss, Lichti responded with determination in the third-place match, defeating Kiera Stedall to secure bronze and valuable team points for the Marauders.

Mayumi King (56kg) placed seventh, while Juliana Skaljin (68kg) and Tehani Blais (72kg) each finished eighth to round out McMaster's results. Together, the Marauders combined for three gold medals, one bronze, and additional top-eight finishes that propelled them to a fourth-place national team standing. The performance reflects both the high-end talent at the top of the lineup and the depth that continues to drive McMaster's women's wrestling program forward on the national stage.