Remember when Eston was Canada’s Wrestling hotspot?

Do you remember when Eston was Canada’s wrestling hotspot? According to a report in an April, 1993 edition of West Central Crossroads, Eston hosted the 1993 Saskatchewan Open Wrestling Championship, in April, 1993, while beginning preparations to host the Bantam West Festival the following month in May. There athletes from across western Canada, the territories and northern United States came to compete at the Eston Community Complex.

Bill Dorian brought wrestling to the Elrose-Eston area, and encouraged Bill Woods to help coach and start up a team in Eston back in 1976, and by 1989 Eston had produced its first national champion, Lease Bertram.

Numerous national champion titles came from this region, and the Eston group won multiple national titles plus a national team boys title and a girls second place team at national championships. Coach Dorian’s Eston club members included: Michael Burton, Neil Walker, Roy Fersch, Darin Jans, Woodford Smith, Allen Parson, Trent Hammond, Walter Burton, Warren Allin, Stacey Comet, Christopher Crockett and Jeff Edwards. In 1992, Bill Woods was voted top coach in the country, and Eston became the centre of Canada’s wrestling map.

10-year-old Josh Gosselin representing the PA Wrestling Club throws in the towel to his more experienced opponent.
Photo: (West Central Crossroads, April, 1993)