A Niverville wrestler brought home a national championship and four more medals came back with teammates at a major competition in Grande Prairie, Alberta last month. Ryan Unrau, a 13-year-old Grade 8 student, won gold in the under-15 division at the 2026 Canadian Wrestling Championships, making him the first national wrestling champion from the community. All five youth athletes from WAMMA Niverville competed strongly, with four confirmed medals.
The national championships ran April 24 through 26 at the Design Works Centre and drew more than 700 wrestlers. Unrau’s final match lasted fewer than ten seconds, ending with a hip toss and pin. His mother, Sherry Unrau, immediately texted Dean Delorme, co-owner of Santa Lucia pizza, who had promised a giant pizza if Ryan won gold, telling him to start his oven.
Unrau’s gold was the highlight, but every Niverville competitor posted strong results. Nyles Fast earned silver in under-15 freestyle and Greco events. Lilyanne Reuter took silver in under-17 Greco. Benjamin Reuter won bronze in under-15 Greco, and Noah Fast notched three wins in under-17 competition after being disqualified from his first match and battling through the B-side bracket. Coach Jens Reuter, whose children Benjamin and Lilyanne were among the wrestlers, led the team.
The strong showing built on the team’s performance at the Manitoba Winter Games in March, where they earned two gold and two bronze medals and helped the South Team finish second overall. For Unrau, it was also a big step forward after finishing fourth at nationals last year in the under-15 75-kilogram division. He credits coach Reuter and extra training through WAMMA Next Gen in Winnipeg for his progress.
Unrau says his goal is to one day represent Canada internationally through Wrestling Canada programs. His quick championship win and the team’s five-medal performance mark a notable moment for Niverville, where the WAMMA gym continues to develop top young wrestlers.
