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THUNDER BAY, ON (CIS) – The first day of wrestling at the 2011 CIS wrestling championships saw Alberta rise to the top on the women's side, while UNB has the most opportunities for gold and standing points on the men's side.

Complete results from Day 1 (PDF 139 KB)

Championship web site: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wrest

Watch live webcast of finals at (Day 2 placement matches only):
http://www.ssncanada.ca/media/special_pages/cis_2011_wrestling_finals.html

But the races are very tight, as UNB has teh opportunity for 4 gold and 1 bronze medal on Saturday, and Concordia are right there behind them, with 3 opportunities for gold and 4 for bronze in the medal round. Not to be outdone, Regina is also standing strong on the men's side, with 4 chances for gold.

Notable male wrestlers going for gold are heavyweights  Concordia's David Zilberman (Beijing Olympian, 14th) versus UNB's Charles Thoms. Regina's Connor Malloy will face Jake Jagas from Guelph in the 76 kg division, a rematch of last year's final (although Jagas was then with Simon Fraser). Local Lakehead wrestler Gaston Tardif will also go for gold against David Tremblay of Concordia in the 57 kg division.

On the women's side, Alberta is in the lead with 7 medal chances (2 gold, 5 bronze), while Calgary is right behind them with 3 gold medal matches and 1 bronze. Ontario's Brock Badgers are looking strong as well, with 2 gold, and 3 bronze medal matches on Saturday.

Notable matches include Calgary's Gen Haley, who is trying for a 5th straight gold medal in 5 years, a feat never before accomplished by a female CIS athlete. She will wrestle Koren Pitkethly of Saskatchewan in the 55 kg division.

Standings:

Women: (medal matches Saturday)

Alberta (2 gold, 5 bronze)

Calgary (3 gold, 1 bronze)
Brock (2 gold, 3 bronze)
Concordia (2 gold, 1 bronze)
Guelph (2 gold)
Western (2 gold)

Saskatchewan (1 gold, 2 bronze)
Lakehead (1 gold, 1 bronze)
UNB (1 gold)

Regina (1 bronze)
Memorial U (1 bronze)
McMaster (1 bronze)
Queen's (no medal matches)

Men: (medal matches Saturday)

UNB ( 4 gold, 1 bronze)
Concordia (3 gold, 4 bronze)
Regina (4 gold)
Saskatchewan (2 gold, 2 bronze)
Guelph (2 gold, 1 bronze)
McMaster (2 gold, 1 bronze)
Western (2 gold, 1 bronze)
Lakehead (1 gold, 2 bronze)
Brock (3 bronze)

U of Toronto (2 bronze)
Calgary (2 bronze)
Alberta (1 bronze)

-CIS-