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Action photo of a Western Mustangs men's wrestler with a blue overlay in the corner with a large white text that reads 2025-26 Wrestling Championships with the OUA Wrestling championship logo and the event details below.
C/O Bob Davies
February 6, 2026

Banner Season: Badgers look to add to provincial banner collection in London

Burlington, Ont. –  The stage is set and the mats are ready for the very best in the conference to go head to-head in London, Ont. at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Wrestling Championships. The Western Mustangs look to use their home gym to their advantage as they play host to 10 other teams from across the province. The St. Catharines contingent will aim to add to their impressive banner collection and sweep the championships titles for the 10th year in a row.

EVENT DETAILS

Host: Western Mustangs
Date: February 7, 2026
Venue: Alumni Hall
Participating Teams (11): Algoma Thunderbirds, Brock Badgers, Carleton Ravens, Guelph Gryphons, Lakehead Thunderwolves, McMaster Marauders, Queen’s Gaels, Toronto Varsity Blues, TMU Bold, Western Mustangs, York Lions 
OUA Sport Model: Open Sport
Past Champions: Brock Badgers (W) | Brock Badgers (M)

STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH

Samuel Awonuga, York Lions | A rookie competing at 125 kg, Awonuga has made an immediate impact in his debut season for the Lions, winning gold medals at both the McMaster Open and the Western Open. He has shown maturity beyond his years, competing with confidence and composure against experienced opponents. The Toronto, Ont. product’s consistency and ability to rise to the occasion have quickly established him as one of the top heavyweights in the province heading into his first conference championships.

Chase Birch, Lakehead Thunderwolves | Entering his final year with the Thunderwolves, Birch’s leadership and work ethic have brought tremendous success to both himself and the Lakehead program over his five years. He looks to improve on his third place (82kg) finish from last year's OUA Championships and is aiming to end his university career on the highest note possible.

Jonelle Clarke, Western Mustangs | Clarke enters her fourth OUA Championships with strong momentum and a clear goal: to win gold after finishing second in each of the last two provincial finales. She is one of the team captains for the Mustangs, providing steady leadership, professionalism, and a calm presence both on and off the mats. She has had an extremely consistent season, competing in six tournaments and earning four gold medals and two silver medals therein, showcasing her reliability and highly competitive level. As a graduate student balancing a demanding master’s in biochemistry program with elite level wrestling, the London, Ont. local sets a standout example of academic and athletic excellence.

Yazdan Farokhizad, Brock Badgers | Building off an impressive season where the third-year sports management student captured five gold medals, Farokhizad will look to defend his OUA gold medal from 2025 and help the Badgers add to their dynasty of provincial titles.

Haley Florell, Lakehead Thunderwolves | Returning to the mats after claiming the U SPORTS gold medal (76kg) last year, Florell has continued her stellar run thanks to her work ethic and discipline. She also reached the top of the podium to begin the new year at the Brock Open and is looking to kick off her push for back-to-back national titles with a standout performance at the OUA Championships.

Gianluca Fortino, McMaster Marauders | Fortino is the epitome of resilience and grit. The local product is a leader for McMaster, as his boisterous camaraderie blares though the Marauders and helps elevate his team. The environmental science student had a very tenacious mind going into the championships and he is ready to compete and leave it all on the mat.

Mia Friesen, Brock Badgers | Friesen is looking to dominate once again, after a fantastic 2024 banner season showing where the St. Catharines, Ont. product was named OUA Outstanding Wrestler of the Year and took home an individual and team gold medal. The former conference rookie of the year is set to make her presence felt on the mat.

Lukas Geske, Western Mustangs | Geske is set to compete at his fifth OUA Championships, placing him on the verge of joining an elite group of wrestlers who have captured five OUA titles, a rare and impressive achievement at the varsity ranks. He is having an outstanding season, winning four gold medals in four tournaments and posting a perfect 17–0 record to date. Geske embodies the academic and athletics balance, excelling in his master of kinesiology program while competing at the highest level of university wrestling.

Macy Malysiak, McMaster Marauders | A phenomenal athlete, Malysiak is highly competitive but always competes with a big smile on her face. The fourth-year student-athlete loves to compete and her passion shines through on the mat and as a leader of the Marauder squad.

Prabhleen Randhawa, York Lions | Randhawa will compete in the women's 65 kg class and brings valuable championship experience into the conference finale. She enters the championships as the defending OUA silver medalist and has continued to build on that success throughout the season. The third-year kinesiology and health science student’s technical growth, resilience, and competitive mindset make her a strong contender once again at the provincial level.

BURNING QUESTIONS

  1. Will Lukas Geske capture his fifth OUA title and help the Western Mustangs to a podium finish in front of their home crowd?
  2. Can York’s rookie sensation Samuel Awonuga add a provincial championship gold medal to his debut season collection?
  3. With their largest contingent in a number of years, can the Varsity Blues women’s squad make a jump onto the leaderboard?
  4. Will the Badgers continue their OUA wrestling dynasty with yet another banner against a tough field of competitors?
  5. Will Lakehead’s Haley Florell add an OUA title to her hunt for back-to-back national gold medals?

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

“This is a young group, but the OUA Championship is exactly the environment we prepare them for all year. Competing against the top athletes and programs in our league is a great opportunity to measure our progress and continue building as a team.” - Marty Calder, Head Coach, Brock Badgers

“We look forward to this time of the year where championships are on the line. Our OUA league is strong, with talented athletes from every participating institution. We expect a very challenging weekend of top-notch wrestling.” - Marty Calder, Head Coach, Brock Badgers

“We have a very young group this season, but several of our athletes have shown tremendous progress early on in their careers. The future of the Gryphon wrestling program looks bright.”- Doug Cox, Head Coach, Guelph Gryphons

“We’re really excited to compete at the OUA Championships this year, and hosting the event makes it feel even more special for our team. We expect to compete hard and carry forward the strong, consistent wrestling we’ve shown all season. The athletes have been building momentum throughout the year, and we’re confident in the preparation, effort, and intensity they’ll bring to the championship.” - Scott Proctor, Head Coach, Western Mustangs

“We had a strong recruitment year leading into the season, and it’s been exciting to see the athletes grow day by day. The culture at York has changed into one that is tough, gritty, and competitive, and this young team continues to buy into that standard. I’m excited for the future of the program.” - Bernard Sanchez, Head Coach, York Lions