Ridgeway’s Lily Taras wins gold at Ontario wrestling championship

A 4-3 decision in the championship bout at the Peterborough Memorial Centre secured Lily Taras the 2026 Ontario high school wrestling title in the girls 44-kilogram division. The Grade 11 student from Ridgeway defeated Ontario’s top-ranked wrestler at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships last week after two days of competition.

The victory delivered Lakeshore Catholic High School its first provincial wrestling champion in more than 15 years and capped Taras’s third straight appearance at the OFSAA tournament. The provincial event brings together qualifying wrestlers from high schools across Ontario.

Taras qualified for the championship after winning gold at the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association tournament earlier in the season. That result placed her second in the province behind Kendra MacTaggart of Saunders Secondary School in London, whom Taras faced in the final championship match.

“It was one versus two in the final, which, as a tournament, that’s what you sort of hope for,” John Casasanta, director of athletics at Lakeshore Catholic High School, told Fort Erie Radio.

Casasanta attended the championship in Peterborough with Taras but passed his coach’s credential to her father so he could stand beside her at mat side in the arena.

“We haven’t had an OFSAA champion in wrestling since, I believe, 2010, so it’s pretty cool to have anybody who can go to OFSAA and compete at a high level, and especially win the gold medal,” said Casasanta.

Lakeshore only sent three wrestlers to the competition this season. Wrestling programs across the province range from small teams to schools with large rosters and full coaching staffs like London. Competitors in the same division can face opponents several years older or younger.

“Think about all the high school students in Ontario and for you to walk away as the top in Ontario, it’s pretty special,” said Casasanta.

Taras trains primarily with Brock Wrestling Club athletes in St. Catharines. Lakeshore Catholic does not run a full wrestling program, so students train through regional clubs and partner schools while representing Lakeshore in competition.

A coaching arrangement with Blessed Trinity Secondary School allows Taras to compete under that program’s umbrella while continuing to represent her own school.

“Wrestlers seem to take care of each other, it’s a great community,” said Casasanta.

Taras comes from a family with a long record in provincial school sport competition. Her brother Daniel Taras won an OFSAA bronze medal in wrestling for Lakeshore in 2025, while another brother also competed at the provincial tournament. Her sister earned an OFSAA medal in gymnastics.

Teachers and students at Lakeshore recognized the result with a school announcement the following morning. Taras also presented the medal to coaches and teammates at Brock Wrestling Club after returning from the tournament.

“She’s a very focused young woman who goes after what she wants,” said Casasanta.

Taras opened the match with a 2-0 lead in the first round before MacTaggart tied the score. A late scoring move restored Taras’s lead at 4-2 late in the bout.

Officials reviewed a late sequence after MacTaggart appeared to score two points. The review reduced the score to one point, leaving Taras ahead 4-3 as time expired.

Earlier rounds at the tournament placed Taras in strong position entering the final day. On the opening day she recorded three victories with scores of 6-3, 10-0 and 8-0.

The semifinal match ended with a 12-1 victory over Taysia Morningstar of Great Lakes Christian Secondary School, sending Taras to the championship bout.

As a Grade 9 student Taras finished in the top five in the province, followed by a fourth-place finish last year.

The championship concluded the Ontario high school wrestling season. Taras remains eligible for another OFSAA appearance next year as a senior.

Stay Informed

Events, offers, contests, and breaking news, all delivered straight to your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Subscribe