Surrey wrestlers Uday Billen and Natalie Wojciechowsk have earned their place on Team Canada for the prestigious U17 World Championships. Set in Athens from July 28 to August 3, the international tournament gathers top young talent from around the world—and Surrey’s rising athletes are ready for the challenge.
Organized by Wrestling Canada Lutte, the 12-member team will compete against elite grapplers from across the globe. “This is a thrilling opportunity for these athletes to grow and measure themselves against world-class talent,” said Chris Woodcroft, Wrestling Canada Lutte’s high-performance director. “They’ve worked hard to get here, and we believe in them.”
Among the athletes, 15-year-old Uday Billen will compete in the 110-kg category. He earned silver at the U17 Pan-American Championships in Brazil this June. Alongside him is 17-year-old Natalie Wojciechowsk, who will take to the mat in the 61-kg division.
Both athletes train out of Surrey and are now preparing to face their fiercest opponents yet. Seven of the Canadian male athletes earned medals at the Pan-Ams—four of them silvers. That same momentum now powers the team as they head into the world arena.
The athletes will be joined by Canadian coaches and staff to support them through the championship week. The tournament will be streamed live on UWW+, and updates will be shared on uww.org.
Stay tuned to SurreySpeak for more updates on Surrey’s sports stars.
Catch every slam, pin, and win right here.
