REGINA - Three members from Carlyle attended the provincial high school wrestling championships in Regina on March 7-8, and each one brought home a medal in their category.
The team is guided by Monty McNaughton, who is a teacher at Manor School and a Grades 4-6 teacher. McNaughton has a background in boxing and mixed marital arts from his days while attending the University of Regina (U of R).
He saw that other students had an interest in wrestling, and he moved forward with this and began to teach wrestling.
Kylie George, a Grade 11 student from Carlyle's Gordon F. Kells High School, is one of his students. She has lived in Carlyle a short while but is making a name for herself with wrestling.
George began to love the sport when her older brother Myles Bellegarde wrestled, and she started wrestling when she was nine years old.
At the time, George was living in Regina, and wrestled at the U of R. She said it was really hard because most of the wrestlers were older than her, but she kept going.
Her brother Myles and herself often wrestled at home, and having an older brother made her tougher.
McNaughton became Kylie George's coach when she moved to Carlyle, and she practices twice a week in Manor.
“My dad Derek George, my step-mom Maxine George, and my mom Tara Parskimin are all very supportive of me,” she said. “They drive me all over for practices and tournaments.”
On March 1, she attended regionals in Carrot River. At this event, George wrestled three different matches and placed second, which sent her to provincials, as the top four moved on.
Her first match was against a girl from O’Neill Collegiate from Regina. This was a back and forth match, according to McNaughton. But George ended up tossing her opponent and winning with a pinfall.
The second match went quickly when George pinned her opponent.
In the crossover to go for the gold medal she wrestled a girl from Saskatoon and lost on points, leaving her in the bronze-medal match. She faced the same girl as in her first match, but George won with a pin again.
George plans to continue wrestling and try out for the Saskatchewan team in May. Only one spot for a boy and girl are selected, so she plans to work hard. It is not known how many will try out for this event.
Wendy Marcotte and Braydon Johnston from Wendy’s Wresting Rascals were also in attendance at provincials with two Carlyle wrestlers. The singlets that the athletes wore were sponsored by Michael’s Coffee Shop in Carlyle.
Weston Dormuth and Keller Wilson had a great time at provincials.
Dormuth has been with the team for two years. He was voted the MVP for his dedication to his team and the mentorship he has provided to the younger athletes. His hard work and determination paid off when he received the gold medal.
Wilson also had an impressive showing at provincials in his first year competing. He had only participated in one previous tournament due to hockey commitments.
Marcotte said one would never have known this when watching him wrestle, as he performed like a seasoned athlete.
He too worked extremely hard and walked away with a silver medal at provincials.
Marcotte said Wilson only joined the team in 2024, and he has been a great addition to the team.
