Press

Arctic Grit, National Stage: Team Nunavut competes at the 2025 Canada Summer Games

The 2025 Canada Summer Games have come to a close, marking the end of an unforgettable journey for this wrestling team.

Over the course of the past 36 days filled with training and competition, the athletes not only pushed themselves physically but also grew into a tight-knit, supportive wrestling family. They encouraged each other through every challenge, celebrated each other’s victories, and lifted one another up in tough moments, both on and off the mat. With open hearts and determination, every team member gave their all on the mat, living by the motto: “You don’t have to be the best, you just have to do your best.”

The strength of this team went far beyond performance. Seeing them smile, dance, or fist pump after a match, and hold their head up high-win or lose-made the coaches proud. It was an honour for us to be a part of their journey as wrestlers and future leaders of Nunavut!

We look forward to many more adventures together in the future. Thank you is not enough for Loryn, Isaiah and Haley for sharing their knowledge, experience and hearts with all of us!

Thank you to the Canada Summer Games for creating a space for youth to compete and learn alongside athletes from across the country 🇨🇦!

Grappling to establish sport and forge character

The Cambridge Bay Wrestling Club has been busy the last few months helping other Nunavut communities build their own wrestling clubs and generate opportunities for growth and leadership among young Nunavummiut.

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Nunavut wrestlers train for southern competition

Wrestling Nunavut visited seven Nunavut communities to run coaching and wrestling clinics last fall, drawing together more than 400 youth and dozens of coaches in recent months.

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Keeping 2022 gold medal legacy alive, coach leads wrestling clinics across Nunavut

Veteran coach Chris Crooks is running wrestling clinics across 10 communities in Nunavut for Inuit youth interested in the sport. Joined by champion Eekeeluak Avalak and Cambridge Bay wrestler Kiana Ekpakohak in Kugluktuk this fall, they are working to support young athletes and coaches.

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Nunavut wrestlers prepare for community clinics after Alberta camp

Coach Chris Crooks has devoted the last six years to helping the youth of Cambridge Bay and beyond learn not only to wrestle, but the skills to cope with anything life might throw at them.

“It has helped with school attendance, reducing suicidal ideation and leadership skills,” among many other benefits for school-aged children in the community, he said. “We try and use wrestling as a medium for mental health, recreation and sport.”

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Making space for youth in our communities

“We create safe spaces basically anywhere we are,” said Chris Crooks. “We actively seek out positive role models who can support and engage the youth in a healthy manner. Those involved with the youth are counselled, trained, and continually mentored to try and achieve the best possible outcome.”

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Eekeeluak Avalak is an Inuit wrestler, who this summer, became the second Nunavut athlete to win a medal at the Canada Games. He’s joined in this episode by his coach, Chris Crooks. Enjoy!

DEGREES OF SUCCESS: Cambridge Bay wrestling program builds resilience, offers supports

“Some kids who I’d never heard speak were speaking amazingly well, and there were tears in the audience. That ability to be able to talk in a large group without shame about what your life is like is huge,” said Crooks,

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Wrestling helps kids in Cambridge Bay grapple with big issues - CBC

"It showed me that I can do anything I want if I put the effort into doing it," she said. "It's more of a way of finding your body's strength and your self awareness."
-Aislyn Omilgoetok

Press

Arctic Grit, National Stage: Team Nunavut competes at the 2025 Canada Summer Games

Grappling to establish sport and forge character

The Cambridge Bay Wrestling Club has been busy the last few months helping other Nunavut communities build their own wrestling clubs and generate opportunities for growth and leadership among young Nunavummiut.

Nunavut wrestlers train for southern competition

Wrestling Nunavut visited seven Nunavut communities to run coaching and wrestling clinics last fall, drawing together more than 400 youth and dozens of coaches in recent months.

Keeping 2022 gold medal legacy alive, coach leads wrestling clinics across Nunavut

Veteran coach Chris Crooks is running wrestling clinics across 10 communities in Nunavut for Inuit youth interested in the sport. Joined by champion Eekeeluak Avalak and Cambridge Bay wrestler Kiana Ekpakohak in Kugluktuk this fall, they are working to support young athletes and coaches.

Nunavut wrestlers prepare for community clinics after Alberta camp

Coach Chris Crooks has devoted the last six years to helping the youth of Cambridge Bay and beyond learn not only to wrestle, but the skills to cope with anything life might throw at them.

“It has helped with school attendance, reducing suicidal ideation and leadership skills,” among many other benefits for school-aged children in the community, he said. “We try and use wrestling as a medium for mental health, recreation and sport.”

Making space for youth in our communities

Eekeeluak Avalak is an Inuit wrestler, who this summer, became the second Nunavut athlete to win a medal at the Canada Games. He’s joined in this episode by his coach, Chris Crooks. Enjoy!

DEGREES OF SUCCESS: Cambridge Bay wrestling program builds resilience, offers supports

“Some kids who I’d never heard speak were speaking amazingly well, and there were tears in the audience. That ability to be able to talk in a large group without shame about what your life is like is huge,” said Crooks,

Wrestling helps kids in Cambridge Bay grapple with big issues - CBC

"It showed me that I can do anything I want if I put the effort into doing it," she said. "It's more of a way of finding your body's strength and your self awareness."-Aislyn Omilgoetok

Cambridge Bay Wrestling Club

"It showed me that I can do anything I want if I put the effort into doing it," she said. "It's more of a way of finding your body's strength and your self awareness."
-Aislyn Omilgoetok