By Jeff D'Andrea

Crusaders alumni Adrian and Munro stop in before Olympic trials

Dec 1, 2015 | 7:36 PM

Adrian Bruce sauntered around the Carlton wrestling gym with a pleased look on his face Tuesday just as the school’s wrestling team started some drills.

“This room smells a whole lot better than it did 30 years ago,” said Bruce.

Back 29 years ago to be exact, apparently when a lot less cleaning products and air fresheners were used between practices in the room, Adrian rolled around in that room on his way to becoming a national champion as a member of the Carlton Crusaders.

Now the head coach of the University of Winnipeg Wesmen wrestling team, Adrian returned to his roots on Tuesday. He brought along his Wesmen wrestlers for a stop in Carlton as they travel enroute to Strathcona County, Alberta Dec. 4-6 for the 2015 Canadian Wrestling Team Trials to see who will participate in the Olympics.

On his team is fellow Carlton Crusaders alumnus Brock Munro, who is in his fourth year with the Wesmen. Munro already has a silver medal under his belt in tournament play this year, after a seventh overall finish in his weight class last year.

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Bruce believes that Munro’s presence and the success he’s had at a competitive level could be inspirational for the current Crusaders wrestling team.

“As soon as you take one of their own and put them back in that environment, there’s that realization that ‘that could be me,’” said Bruce. “You can see these kids as you’re talking, you see their reactions when they’re nodding—they get it.

“When I look at these kids, I think back to my time here and I was no different than they are. For me at that time at in my life to think ahead 30 years, I’d never think I’d be here as a coach of a University program, taking a group of athletes to the Olympic trials. It’s pretty special.”

Of course, if the Crusaders want some inspiration they don’t have to look far. A larger than life-sized picture of Munro picture is plastered on the wall of the Crusaders gym. Every time Crusaders coach Kevin LaVallee goes through a practice with his team, Munro is always up there.

“I think it’s a thing to know that Carlton was there to support me,” said Munro. “I wouldn’t be where I am now without Mr. LaVallee and this program and this school. It’s exciting and it’s honourable to have that.”

One thing that Munro noticed besides his picture of the new mats were all of the kids that were there and ready to listen.

“When I started in 2008-09 wrestling here at Carlton, there was maybe six of us,” said Munro. “Now, there’s over 15-plus kids in there so it’s very exciting.”

Munro started in the 72-kg weight class last year and his increasing commitment to the sport has been a steady growth.

“I think it’s been a big change, it’s been night-and-day,” said Munro. “I put in the effort all summer, I didn’t work a job. I wrestled every day and lifted weights every day. It’s been a big difference so far. It’s a big change.”

Also attending the trials on the weekend from the Wesmen are Emily Kessler, Taylor Follensbee and Kyle Nguyen.

Eden McPherson, who’s also from Prince Albert, is also on the Wesmen wrestling team in her first year.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea