Leading Olympic Wrestling athletes from throughout the North Island converged in Henderson for a weekend of nearly non-stop grappling. The tough training camp was held over two days for the sportsmen to battle it out for a place representing New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games.

The coaches present were watching carefully for sportsmanship, athleticism, winning skills and fitness. Lead by Kevin McLaughlan of Rangiora each coach was able to share his winning strategies to compete with the strong overseas contingents.

Wrestling stronger than rugby

Kevin told the group that between six and ten nations in the world competed in Rugby; representing up to ten million players. Whereas wrestling had a following of 80 million registered athletes over one hundred and sixty nations – There are over 20,000 coaches in USA alone!

The former Japanese Olympian present, Coach Koji Hirabayshi challenged the wrestlers. “New Zealand, with such a small country has the number one rugby team. Why not you now for wrestling?”

Kevin McLaughlan went on to display what he said was the ‘pick of my advice to you for the international circuit’. That was to understand an opponent’s reaction to your action. That is, you as the competitor cause an opponent to react in a certain defensive way, then within a split second be able to take advantage of his probable move, gain a point or pin him. Plan quickly several moves ahead.’

Final decisions for the Commonwealth Games have not been made and each wrestler’s performance overseas over the coming weeks will help determine this. This weekend NZ Champion Clinton Hall, who is also blind, will travel to Samoa to compete in the Oceana Championships along with Daniel Gravatt (pictured sparing together), New Zealand’s 2008 under 66kg Champion.