The 2022 rendition of the Alberta Amateur Wrestling Association Junior Olympics is just around the corner, and Cochrane's own Cowboys are playing host.
Athletes ages 4-19 will be sparring for a medal against competitors from across Alberta at Springbank's Edge School Feb. 19-20.
Cowboys Wrestling Club manager April Hooper called the offer to host one they "couldn't refuse."
"That weekend was actually supposed to be the Alberta Winter Games," she said. "They were cancelled this year, so that weekend ended up being open and we initially were looking at it for hosting our tournament."
The club was given the choice between hosting the Cowboys Invitational Wrestling Tournament or the AAWA Junior Olympics, which no one had staked claim to.
"I was so excited at the opportunity," said Hooper. "Our tournament is normally one of the biggest fundraisers for our group — it's how we raise money so that our future season can happen.
"We were kind of scrambling to see what we could do to help raise the money so that we could have enough for our space rentals for next year, so we were just thrilled to be able to host this."
The club manager said the event not only provides a rare opportunity for some of the younger wrestlers to get on the mat against competitors outside the club, but also for them to be able compete alongside their senior counterparts.
"I'm so pumped to see the little ones on the mat," she said. "Our junior and senior wrestlers have had lots of opportunities to wrestle, both at the club level and for their schools, but the tyke divisions have really only been able to wrestle within our club.
"They're just so excited for this and we recently got their singlets in, so they want to show them off with some of the skills they've learned."
Hooper said she estimates they'll see around 300 athletes compete at the event, including some that have expressed interest from out of province clubs.
The club will be fundraising through a 50/50 raffle and will also have various games set up like "Punch the Wall," where participants can punch through a Dixie cup taped to the wall to reveal a prize inside.
Spectators and athletes are encouraged to bring a food donation for the club's chosen benefactor, the Îyârhe Nakoda Food Bank Society.
The top three competitors in each weight class at the event will receive a gold, silver, or bronze medal. The deadline to register is Feb. 16.
