A small contingent from the Featherston Wrestling Club came up with an impressive medal haul at the North Island championships held in the Coromandel town of Katikati.
Gold medal winners were Adam Saunders and Bradley Legge while Corey Wilkinson Dylan Chatfield picked up silver medals and Quentin McKenna and Teina Hullena bronze medals.
Saunders, who competed in the boys 14 to 16yrs under 54kg division, maintained his excellent strike rate in his grade. His clean sweep indicated he was right on track for the national championships in August.
Also fighting in the boys 14yrs to 14ys group but in the 97kg division was Bradley Legge. In what was only his second tourney he pinned both his opponents inside the first round and deservedly took first placing as a consequence.
Corey Wilkinson contested the boys 10 to 13yrs under-32kg division and while the 10-year-old was up against some much older opponents his superb technique saw him not only hold his own but actually place second.
Dylan Chatfield and Quentin McKenna were in the 10yrs to 13yrs under-48kg class and they finished second and third respectively. Strangely, Chatfield was actually undefeated, but because of the FILA points scoring system being used was placed second despite beating the boy who was awarded first place. Teina Hullena, fighting in the 14yrs to 16yrs under 69kg grade, did well to finish the tournament. After partially dislocating his shoulder in his first bout he showed courage to continue and eventually took out third placing behind the New Zealand secondary schools champion and another national representative who had just returned home after six weeks of wrestling in the United States.
Not amongst the medals but still giving a good account of himself in the most competitive division at the championships, the 17yrs to 21yrs under-66kg class, was Daniell Phillips..Given this was his first tournament in five years and he has just turned 17yrs he was always likely to face an uphill battle but he responded so well that if he can drop his weight for the nationals he could be a serious contender there.
Also travelling with the Featherston side were FILA referee Wayne Thurston, who organised the trip, coach Grant Parker and team manager Mandy Phillips.Team members were quick to pay tribute to their help and also to Lion Foundation whose funding assistance was invaluable in actually getting them to Katikati.
Wrestlers bring home the gold
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