Sarnia to Host 2026 Ontario Senior Open & Youth Wrestling Festival

Some of the province’s best wrestlers will be taking to the mats in Sarnia next month at one of Ontario’s most prestigious wrestling events. The Sarnia Bluewater Wrestling Club and Lambton Lions Wrestling Club have been selected by the Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association (OAWA) to host the 2026 Ontario Senior Open and Youth Wrestling Festival.

Scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026, the one-day event will feature the top senior aged wrestlers in Ontario along with hundreds of future stars in the Tyke, Novice, and Kids divisions. 

 “This region has always produced exceptional athletes, and with Lambton College now investing in wrestling, we are seeing new interest from colleges across Ontario. That type of growth strengthens every part of our athlete pathway. Hosting the 2026 Ontario Championships in Sarnia allows us to showcase high-performance athletes while inspiring the next generation. We are truly grateful to Lambton College and the Sarnia Bluewater Wrestling Club for their leadership and commitment to advancing wrestling in our province.”   

- David Tremblay, High Performance Manager, Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association

Most senior level athletes are university, college, or post-varsity athletes who will be competing for carding points towards a training stipend. Those athletes will be preparing for the Senior National Championships and World Championships qualifiers May 28-30 in Montreal.

“This is a great opportunity for the Lambton Lions Wrestling Club to compete in their home gym in front of a huge crowd,” said Kyle Bershatsky, Coach, Lambton Lions Wrestling Club. “These student-athletes have worked hard all season and I’m looking forward to them getting the opportunity to compete on the provincial stage.”

The event will begin with competition in the youngest age group and progress to the senior championships. Matches will take place in Lambton College’s Cestar Group Athletics & Fitness Complex, one of the leading athletics facilities in the Ontario College system.

“One of the biggest reasons we built the Cestar Group Athletics & Fitness Complex is so we could welcome our community to campus for premier athletics events like this one,” said Rob Kardas, President & CEO, Lambton College. “I can’t wait to see our gymnasium come alive with some of the best wrestling in Ontario.”

“The Sarnia Bluewater Wrestling Club is pleased to be co-hosting these provincial championships with Lambton College to bring our top senior level athletes and aspiring youth athletes to Sarnia,” said John Burke, Coach, Sarnia Bluewater Wrestling Club. “We hope to use this great event to highlight the quality wrestling happening in our area.”

For more information, visit sarniawrestling.ca .

For media inquiries or more information, contact:

John Burke
Head Coach Sarnia Bluewater Wrestling Club
519 466-7403
john.burke966@gmail.com