Jared Catholique-Bruyere hopes he never wakes up from his dream season.
The Fort Frances judo competitor added to his incredible winning streak this past weekend in Toronto, going 4-0 to claim the gold medal in the 81 kg-plus category at the junior provincial championships.
Catholique-Bruyere has been unstoppable since losing at the junior nationals last August. In the past eight months, he has gone undefeated, including wins at the St. Boniface Open in Winnipeg, the Ontario Open in Toronto and the Canada Winter Games qualifier in Ajax.
He then swept the competition, finishing his three matches in just over two and a half minutes combined, to capture gold in the 81 kg-plus category to go along with a silver in the team event at the Winter Games in Bathurst-Campbellton, N.B. Last month, he also won the Selkirk Open in Manitoba.
Having already qualified for the nationals last November, Catholique-Bruyere used the provincials to establish himself as the top seed in his weight class heading into the junior nationals in Toronto July 5-7.
He began the round robin tournament with a victory over Rabih Kassis of Ottawa, securing a legal choke on his opponent to force him into submission.
A familiar face greeted Catholique-Bruyere in the second round, as he took on Mike Grunberg of Ajax, whom he defeated to win the Winter Games qualifier in Grunberg’s own hometown.
It was more of the same this time around, as Catholique-Bruyere picked up a pinfall victory against Grunberg.
Next up was Maciek Zausz from Mississauga, whom Catholique-Bruyere disposed of via an Ippon throw involving him tossing his opponent to the floor by his leg.
He went back to the leg throw maneuver to subdue Nedjo Sarenac of Kitchener in his final match to clinch first place.
Next up for the local martial artist is the Eastern Manitoba Judo Championships in Winnipeg on May 10.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
