James Mancini scored big at the 2002 Cadet/Juvenile National Wrestling Championships, held in Fredericton from April 4 to 6, 2002. Mancini, 17, won the gold medal in the 58-kilogram juvenile category. He also won a bronze medal in the 58-kilogram Greco-Roman category. As an added honour, James was named as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament in the juvenile category.

His wrestling career has skyrocketed since the start of his tutelage under Vanier wrestling "guru" Victor Zilberman, who coached two other Vanier students to national titles. (See the links at the bottom of this page.) Click here for an article that appeared in The West Island Chronicle of April 17, 2002. Congratulations, James! We at Vanier are proud of your extraordinary accomplishments.

UPDATE! On June 19th, 2002, James was named Amateur Athlete Of the Week by the Montreal Gazette. Click here for the article that appeared in the Gazette of that day.

NEW UPDATE! On December 11th, 2002, we received word that James, along with fellow Vanier wrestler Tim Wadsworth, had won first place in their respective weight divisions at the Quebec Open. (more to come...)