(File photo/meadowlakeNOW staff)

By Elliott Knopp

Wrestling Shortage

Meadow Lake wrestling group optimistic despite winter games withdrawal

Dec 17, 2021 | 6:23 PM

The cancellation of a sporting event highly anticipated by young athletes in Saskatchewan is adding another obstacle to the rebuilding of a local organization.

On Friday, the Northern Pikes Wrestling Club and other wrestling clubs in the province were informed by the Saskatchewan Amateur Wrestling Association that the Board of Directors had approved a withdrawal from the 2022 Saskatchewan Winter Games due to a shortage of returning athletes.

In an interview with meadowlakeNOW, wrestling coach Christopher Brownrigg said participation in the close-contact sport had already suffered a significant decline as a direct result of the pandemic, and losing a key event like this isn’t an encouraging development.

He added while the cancellation of the sport’s presence in the winter games is disappointing, the measure taken to protect the safety and integrity of the sport is necessary.

“It was a very fun event [last time], but my understanding is the atmosphere we experienced at the last winter games was not likely to be the same this time around with the lockdown protocols that were going to exist to keep the kids safe from COVID,” he said.

Health

Saskatchewan warned of helium supply cut because of Middle East war

Apr 04, 2026

Out of this World

WATCH: Canadian Space Agency's first space to Earth video call with Jeremy Hansen

Apr 04, 2026

Iran War

Iran calls on public to find 'enemy pilot' as U.S. continues frantic search

Apr 04, 2026

Brownrigg explained the club’s temporary shutdown at the beginning of the emergence of the virus and the implementation of several guidelines and policies had deterred people from returning to the organization.

Prior to the original outbreak, the club had nearly 70 athletes and coaches in the organization. Since then, the club is currently made up of only three coaches and 13 athletes.

The nature of the sport required all wrestlers to be vaccinated, which Brownrigg said is a fair prerequisite, but he also mentioned it would deter those who are against the vaccine from returning to the program.

Despite the development’s bleak appearance, Brownrigg believes the future of the sport in Meadow Lake still has a bright long-term future.

“I have no concern for the success of the club,” he said.

“Meadow Lake, for the last six – seven years, has had outstanding success. When COVID first hit, it was right at the end of the high school season, and proudly, our girls team won the provincial championship. A couple years earlier our boys won it.”

While the total number of people within the organization is much less than it was nearly two years ago, Brownrigg said the passion for the sport remains strong. As a coach for Northern Pikes and also at Carpenter High School, he highlighted the strength of the school team as a promising development.

“I believe we are still going to have more athletes join the program in the coming weeks, but we have a pretty big hill to climb to grow the club back to those numbers,” he said.

“I have no doubt that the Northern Pikes and wrestling is going to be here for a long time. There’s a great future for wrestling in our community.”

Brownrigg said he is hopeful the wrestling team will be able to participate in tournaments at some point in the near future.

—

elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp