Nanaimo's Island Top Team won the ADCC Canada Open grappling event for the second straight year. The team finished with a total of nine medals, including four golds. (Rob Biernacki).

By Dan Marshall

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VANCOUVER — Nanaimo based Island Top Team had a massive medal haul, winning the ADCC Canada Open grappling event.

The Canada Open was held at the Richmond Oval with over 80 teams from around North America.

For the second time in a row ITT took the team title with four gold medals and five silvers.

Coach Rob Biernacki said he has a lot of pride in repeating as champions especially with only two athletes returning from last year.

“Winning back to back team titles in an event like this makes a massive statement. I think it cements us as one of the top grappling programs in the country. There have now been five Canadian Open ADCC events and we are the only team to repeat as champions thus far.”

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Top team dominated the team standings with 39 total points while the second and third place teams both amassed 27.

In the adult division Zach Charbonneau won gold in his men’s beginner division while Mike Childs and Jamus O’Brien took gold in different weight classes in men’s master intermediate.

Evan Barrett, Anthony McPhail and Seth Bisson won men’s silver medals and Sarah Kolybaba won silver in her women’s master intermediate category.

There were two medals in the kids division as well with Cash Sorenson grabbing gold in the 15-17 intermediate age group and Ronin Hawley capturing a silver in the 11-12 intermediate category.

“Out of about 20 wins our athletes secured, all but six were via submission,” Biernacki said. “It really shows the diversity of talent and skill our club can offer.”

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