Former York Lions wrestler Alexandria Town added another accomplishment to her already stacked resume on Friday as she claimed the gold medal at the Senior U23 World Wrestling Championship in Bucharest, Romania.
 
The first-place finish was Canada's first-ever gold medal at the U23 World Championships. Town, of Scarborough, Ont., became world champion at 57 kg, winning all four of her matches decisively.
 
"I was putting in the all the work to get here," said Town. "It means a lot to get this victory, for me, for Canada, for my hometown, and for my club."
 
Town, who is currently an assistant coach with the Lions after graduating last year, defeated Japan's Akie Hanai in the gold medal bout 7-4. She took a strong 6-0 lead early in the match by scoring on a takedown and two gut-wrenches.
 
In the semifinals, Town had to get through 2014 Senior World Champion and 2015 silver medallist Tserenchimed Sukhee of Mongolia. Town dominated the match winning 15-3. She was also unstoppable earlier in the tournament, making quick work of her first two opponents Tamara Dollak of Hungary and Alyona Kolesnik of Azerbaijan, beating them both by a score of 10-0. 
 
"This win reaffirms everything I knew on the inside," said Town. "My coach always tells me I can beat anybody, and now I really believe it. It's crazy, just a few days ago was a year since I first wrestled outside of Canada. For it to end here is amazing, what a journey.""
 
The gold medal caps off a memorable year for Town. The 23-year-old burst onto the international scene with a bronze medal at the Pan American Championships in May, a silver at the World University Championships in September, and a twelfth-place finish at the Senior World Championships in October.
 
Town spent four years with the Lions and is the most decorated women's wrestler in York program history. She competed in three seasons after an injury wiped out her third year, and won three OUA medals (two silvers, one bronze) and two U SPORTS medals (one silver, one bronze) while becoming York's first women's wrestling all-star and all-Canadian. She was also one of the most engaged student-athletes at York and was honoured for her efforts with a prestigious Lions Legacy Award at the conclusion of the 2017-18 school year.