Ward and Lorenowich win gold at Canadian Nationals Jiu-Jitsu Championship

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Southampton’s Auron Ward and Hepworth’s Landon Lorenowich won gold at the 2024 Canadian Nationals Jiu-Jitsu Championship tournament hosted at the Save Max Sports Centre in Brampton this past weekend.

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Ward, 11, was crowned Canadian Champion in the boys under thirteen white belt middleweight weight division. Making his debut a year ago, Ward secured his maiden gold medal at this year’s nationals.

“Auron is a brilliant young jiu-jitsu athlete with a wonderful future ahead of him. Following his brother Hunter being crowned at the Canadian Nationals in 2023, Auron stepped out of his brother’s shadow and became a champion in his own right,” said Abrie Kilian, Program Director at Kilian Academy.

Lorenowich, from Renzo Gracie Dubai, and training out of Kilian Academy for the summer, showcased his skill by being crowned Canadian Champion in the adult blue belt lightweight weight division, submitting all four of his opponents in record time.

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Before the adult division, the fifteen-year-old came in at fifth place in the under-21 division following several controversial referee decisions, Kilian said.

“Landon is an exceptional athlete and we are fortunate to have him train with us each year during the summer. His resolve following the disappointing manner in which his under-21 division was adjudicated only bolstered his resolve to take gold in the adult division,” Kilian said.

Owen Sound’s Carter Avis took silver at the Nationals in the boys under thirteen white belt light featherweight division.

Making his debut, Gavin Clifford from Walters Falls, earned himself a silver medal at the National Championships in the boys under thirteen white belt rooster weight division, losing only by points in the finals.

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Hunter Ward, from Southampton, secured fifth place in the boys under fourteen grey belt lightweight weight division.

Meanwhile, the Save Max Sports Centre also hosted the 2024 kids jiu-jitsu festival with Owen Sound’s Willow Wynter, 10, winning gold in the under-11 white-belt ultra-heavyweight division.

“Following a fifth place at the Ontario Open, Willow bounced back and secured herself a gold medal at the Kids Jiu-Jitsu Festival,” Kilian said.

Thirteen-year-old Melanie Woodroffe from Kemble, secured silver in the girls under thirteen white belt ultra heavyweight division.

Gordon Robbins from Tobermory, and a student at Bruce Peninsula District School, came in fourth place in the boys under nine heavyweight division white belt.

Twelve-year-old Kimberly Woodroffe from Kemble, came in fifth place in the girls under thirteen white belts medium-heavy weight division.

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