Last weekend, Callum McNeice struck gold at the Canada West wrestling championship and was named Canada West Male Wrestler of the Year.

His performance there has earned him a further acknowledgement from USports (previously CIS). On Feb. 14, he was named athlete of the week for the week ending Feb. 11.

The national university athletics organization was impressed with how McNeice won three of his four matches by fall in the Canada West championship and his fourth against Marcus Peterson, of the University of Alberta Golden Bears, by decision. It was the first time McNeice has beaten Peterson and he's now ranked second nationally in the 72k weight class.

Receiving the honour is rare and it's the first time for McNeice.  He says he was both surprised and honoured to be recognized.

Still, right now the focus is on the USports National Championship being hosted by Algoma University, Feb. 23-25, in Sault Ste. Marie, ON.

"That national will be tough," says McNeice. "I have a lot of tough guys in my weight. On any given day really any of five guys in that weight can win. I think I have three or four national champions to face. My goal is to win and I hope my training pays off and I get gold."

The wrestlers are broken into two pools and he has faced a couple in his pool before and sees his greatest competition coming from a Guelph university wrestler. He's tangled with him before in Greco-Roman wrestling but never in freestyle.

"The guy from Guelph will be my biggest competition for that day, but he's definitely beatable."

The discipline and dedication required for the sport are insurmountable for most. It's a complete lifestyle McNeice adopted years ago as a member of the Cochrane Cowboys and St. Timothy wrestling team. Early morning weight training is three times a week at the university plus daily two-hour practices from Monday to Friday in addition to the training he completes at home. And then, of course, there are his classes at the Haskayne School of Business.

"I leave Cochrane early in the morning at 5:20 a.m., go do weights and then go to classes. Then I go study before our two-hour practice and then practice at home."

The wrestling season is now in full stride. Before you know it he will next head to the club senior nationals

"There's not a lot of breaks. It's just go, go, go."

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Callum McNeice Canada West Male Wrestler of Year