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Bernard qualifies for Brazil

Surrey wrestler on national team
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Isaac Bernard of Guildford Park tries to pin an opponent at the B.C. High School Wrestling championships. Bernard will wrestle for Canada at the Pan American championships.

He didn’t win the tournament, but Surrey wrestler Isaac Bernard came away from the Junior National Championships with the biggest prize.

The Grade 11 student from Guildford Park Secondary placed third in the 55 kg. class, and earned one of two places on the national team at the Pan American Championships in Sao Paolo, Brazil July 1-3.

Bernard challenged silver medalist Jean-Francois Godin of the University of New Brunswick for the second berth on the national team, a challenge permitted as he had not wrestled Godin during the tournament. Bernard won the challenge to earn the national team position.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for a high school athlete competing against (university) wrestlers who train year round with varsity clubs,” said Guildford Park wrestling coach Mark McRae. “Isaac is still just a part time wrestler who hasn’t even come close to tapping into his potential.”