Six of the seven Cochrane Cowboys wrestling in the trials for Team Alberta have advanced to the second round and four of them will be wrestling each other to see who goes to Winnipeg.

Hunter Smith (80k kg), Brendan McKeage (60 kg) and Connor McNeice (65 kg) all finished on top in the first round of the trials while Connor Pointen (80 kg) and Isiah and Elijah Springer, 65 kg and 70 kg, all placed second. On May 20 in Calgary, McNeice faces Elijah Springer and Pointen faces Smith. McKeage faces Emmanuel Olapade, of the Calgary Spartans.

Team Alberta head coach Vern McNeice, who also coaches with the Cowboys, explains those finishing first in Edmonton on Apr. 22 only need to win one more match to make the team while those in second will have to win two matches. It's all part of an effort to keep the wrestlers focused on winning for Alberta in the Canada Summer Games, being held in Winnipeg, July 28 to Aug. 13.

"It keeps everybody on their toes and keeps them training really hard and focused, which is good because we're going there to try and win this thing," says McNeice.

Those finishing second would also be called upon to represent the province in Winnipeg should the number ones not able to compete. Really, though, McNeice views both those finishing first and second as part of Team Alberta.

"All of our boys qualified for Team Alberta, which is pretty exciting for us."

In the meantime, wrestlers continue to prepare for the second trials and after a brief break will be working out as part of Team Alberta.There will be several cardio and weight sessions and  the wrestlers will be on the mats five to six days a week, says McNeice.

Regardless of what happens, McNeice sees nothing but good coming from the trials.

"They're going to develop from this experience, even if they don't get into the number one spot."

Naomi Cook also competed in the trials but didn't advance.

"She had a bit of a tough go and lost her first two so she was out, but she had a fantastic year," says McNeice.

Alberta is sending 22 wrestlers in various weight classes to the Canada Games, 11 males and 11 females.

The Cowboys also have a number of camps lined up for their wrestlers in the club's off-season.

"We've got a few camps lined up so these kids are going to get a lot of exposure and they are going develop, which is great because they are a super group of kids,"