EDMONTON - This past weekend the Golden Bears and Pandas Wrestling Teams took the mats at the annual Golden Bear Open, repping the A in their home gym. The Bears and Pandas competed against athletes from over 20 teams across Canada, including the teams they will be facing off with at the upcoming 2026 Canada West Championships in February. 

The University of Alberta saw three first place finishers on the men's side, with seniors Ben Reid (57kg), Thomas Rousseau (90kg), and third-year Bjorn Nelson (125kg) going undefeated in their brackets. The women's side had fifth-year Panda Vianne Rouleau (83kg) as the lone champion, followed closely by second place finishes from Victoria Stefanov (50kg), Julia Daus (53kg), and Maria Sawiak (68kg).

The University of Saskatchewan took the No. 1 spot on the men's side with 49 points, while the University of Calgary nabbed the women's top spot with 61 points. The host Bears and Pandas teams both took second place, with 35 and 45 points, respectively. 

The tone for this was set the previous night, as the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary took the mats in the last conference dual of the season, leaving it all out on the mat for the excited Edmonton crowd. Although the University of Calgary was able to narrowly beat out the home team, the Bears and Pandas had a strong showing onlookers in Evergreen and Gold. Alongside the duals, the Bears and Pandas honoured four of their graduating seniors - Ben Reid, Vianne Rouleau, Maria Sawiak, and Aidan Stevenson. 

The Bears and Pandas now look to shift gears and make adjustments as they prepare for the Canada West Championships on February 14th, in the University of Alberta Main Gym.

MENS STANDINGS

POS	TEAM	POINTS
1	Saskatchewan	49
2	Alberta	35
3	Calgary	31
4	Lethbridge	3

 

WOMENS STANDINGS

POS	TEAM	POINTS
1	Calgary	61
2	Alberta	45
3	Saskatchewan	44
4	Lethbridge	3