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Canada girls and South African boys take team titles at Commonwealth Youth Championships

Josip Mrkoci Commonwealth Amateur Wrestling Assoc.
08/16/2006

The inagural Commonwealth Youth Wrestling Championships was recently held in Scotland for male and female wrestlers ( 16-18 years of age) on July 15 -16, 2006 at the famous Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena in the city of Glasgow. Teams that competed were from Canada, England, Malta, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.

The Commonwealth Youth Wrestling event was sanctioned by FILA (world wrestling governing body) , Commonwealth Games Federation and the Commonwealth Amateur Wrestling Association.

A number of representatives of the International and National sports governing bodies were present at the 2006 Commonwealth Youth Wrestling Championships. Representing FILA was FILA delegate, Mr. John Dawson of Canada, representing Commonwealth Games Federation was it's Secretary - Ms. Louise Martin. Representing the Commonwealth Amateur Wrestling Association was Josip Mrkoci - Chairman, of the Executive Committee and Mr. Sandy McNeil - member of the Executive Committee & a member of British Amateur Wrestling Association. Representing British Wrestling Association was it's president Mr. Malcom Morley and representing Scottish Wrestling Association was Mr. Michael Cavanagh.

The Scottish Wrestling Association hosting this event chose Kelvin Hall Sports Arena for this competition as it is the premier location for sporting events in Glasgow. Kelvin Hall is located right across from the equally famous Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and is walking distance to Glasgow University. In addition to the Scottish Wrestling Association and the Organizing Committee, the Commonwealth Youth Wrestling event's major supporters were Glasgow city Council (Candidate city for 2014 Commonwealth Games) and The Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland.

It was unfortunate that the British High Commission did not issue Visas to a number of African teams which would have had 11 nations competing at the the inagural Commonwealth Youth Championships. Nigeria, with a strong tradition in wrestling (national sport) and a highly competative wrestling team (female - African champions) within the Commonwealth was also refused visas for the Commonwealth competition. India, a Commonwealth power in Wrestling did not show, although they did send an e-mail to the Organizing Committee stating that they would take part.

The Wrestling competition for the team trophy was a contest between the two top teams, a team from South Africa and a team from Canada ( majority from Ontario). In the hunt for the girls Commonwealth Youth Wrestling team trophy, the Canadian team won the Team title with 5 - GOLD and 4 - Silver medals. South African girls placed second with 4 - GOLD and 2 - Silver medals. The home team, Scotland placed third with 1 - Bronze medal at 52kg ( Vicky Kirk ).

The Canadian Gold medalists were - 46kg. - Jade Parsons (Ont.), 49kg. - Tessa Gallinger (Ont.), 52kg. - Diana Ford (Ont.), 60kg. - Heide Erdle (N.B.) and 70kg. - Emmalee English (Ont.). Of the Ontario girls team, the dominant competitor was Jade Parsons. She also won a gold medal at the second wrestling competition, the Scottish International Tournament called " Braveheart Youth Wrestling Championships" on July 21 at the Univeristy of Strathclyde Sports Center in Glasgow.

The majority of the Canadian wrestling team members were from the province of Ontario. Also a number of wrestlers competing for Canada were from the province of New Brunswick. Heide Erdle (60gk) of New Brunswick also won both competitions and had an outstanding performance. Although, the Canadian girls won the the Team title, the title for the best female wrestler of the 2006 Commonwealth Youth Championships went to South African wrestler - ZUMICKE GERINGEL ( 56kg).

In the men's Commonwealth Youth Wrestling Championships, the South African team dominated the competition. Without a doubt it was a great surprise to the Canadian and other Commonwealth teams that the South African wrestlers won 8 out of 10 weight classes and the Team title.

The South African Gold medalist were - 42kg - Adolf Khuzwayo, 46kg - Pierre Botha, 50kg - Rainor Els, 54kg - Pieter van Schyff, 63kg - Pieter Pienaar, 69kg - Rassie Erasmus, 76kg - Kurt Botha, 85kg - Martin van Staden. Of the South African men's team the outstanding wrestler was Pieter van Schyff (54kg).

Canada placed second as a team and England placed third. Canada's sole gold medalist was Vince Cormier (N.B.) at 58kg. The other gold medal was won by England's 100kg wrestler - Buster Clayden. Vince Cormier was one of the outstanding wrestlers at the Commonwealth Championships and he also won the Braveheart Youth Tournament. For his open and total wrestling style in each match, VINCE CORMIER (58kg) was selected as the best male wrestler of the 2006 Commonwealth Youth Wrestling Championships.

Louise Martin, the President of The Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland & Secretary of the Commonwealth Games Federation was present at the Commonwealth Youth wrestling finals and gave out the medals to the winners.

Following the Commonwealth Youth Championships a Commonwealth wrestling training camp was held from July 17-20 with clinician - GIA SISSAOURI , 2001 World Champion and Pan-Am Games and Commonwealth Games gold medalist. The wrestling camp was attended by all of the Commonwealth wrestling teams as a preparation for the " Braveheart Youth Wrestling Championships" on July 21-22.

The city of Glasgow played host to all of the wrestlers, coaches, officials, team leaders and organizing committee at a formal banquet held at the Glasgow City Hall. Bailie - Margaret McCafferty, JP was the host representing the Glasgow City Council. The interior of the city hall is completely made out of marlbe, and it is one the grandest buildings in Glasgow. On the occassion of the formal banquet by the city of Glasgow the Commonwealth team trophies were given and the best wrestler awards for male and female categories were announced.

The first Commonwealth Youth Championships did not have as many teams as expected , but what it lacked in numbers it made up in quality of wrestling on the mat. Many officials were suprised how good the South African wrestling team was. It is believed that at this age bracket the wrestling teams from the Commonwealth are more competitive.

The next Commonwealth Youth Wrestling Championships in two years will indeed be interesting to watch with the added participation of India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Will South Africa and Canada be able to defend their Team titles ?

Commonwealth Amateur Wrestling Association - WEB SITE .....
http://groups.msn.com/CommonwealthWrestling

COMMONWEALTH YOUTH WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Glasgow, SCOTLAND, July 15-16, 2006

Female

40kg.
1. - Bramilda Leeaw - South Africa

43kg.
1. - Michelle Hoogkgk - South Africa
2. - Juanita Haywood - South Africa
3. - Jasmine Scobie - Canada

46kg.
1. - Jade Parsons - Canada
2. - Krista Betts - Canada
3. - Zara D' Abbadie - South Africa

49kg.
1. - Tessa Gallinger - Canada
2. - Emile Guitard - Canada

52kg.
1. - Diana Ford - Canada
2. - Blaire Brown - Canada
3. - Vicky Kirk - Scotland

56kg.
1. - Zumicke Geringel - South Africa
2. - Samantha Trundle - Canada
3. - Carly Wright - Canada

60kg.
1. - Heide Erdle - Canada
2. - Alexis Kilroy - Canada
3. - Chanell Engelbrecht - South Africa

65kg.
1. - Desire Smith - South Africa
2. - Melinda Marias - South Africa
3. - Laura Steffler - Canada

70kg.
1. - Emmalee English - Canada

Best Female Wrestler Award : 56kg. - Zumicke Geringel - South Africa

FEMALE TEAM TROPHY : was won by - CANADA

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TRAINING CAMP: U.S. World Teams continue preparations for Guangzhou

Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
08/09/2006

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The wrestling room at the United States Olympic Training Center may be the busiest practice room on the planet over the next month as the U.S. World Teams for men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman hold training camps.

As many as six practices a day will be held on some days as the three teams continue preparations for the World Championships on Sept. 26-Oct. 2 in Guangzhou, China.

The U.S. World Greco-Roman team is taking part in a joint training camp with a number of other countries in Brasov, Romania, from Aug. 8-17. The team will compete in a tournament there on Aug. 19-20. The Greco-Roman team will then hold a World Team training camp at the Olympic Training Center from Aug. 24-Sept. 2. The Greco-Roman team held a training camp last month in Colorado Springs.

The men’s freestyle team held a training camp late last month in Fargo, N.D. The camp was held in conjunction with the Cadet and Junior Nationals. The freestyle team will hold World Team camps at the U.S. Olympic Training Center from Aug. 15-25 and from Sept. 1-8.

The women’s freestyle team will hold World Team camps in Colorado Springs from Aug. 14-25 and from Sept. 2-13. In between camps, Clarissa Chun and Mary Kelly will meet Aug. 30 in a special wrestle-off at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. to determine the final spot on the Women’s World Team. They will meet in a best-of-3 series at the Olympic Training Center.

Chun won the U.S. Nationals, but was unable to compete at the U.S. World Team Trials because of an injury. Chun was permitted to wrestle-off at a later date by virtue of winning the U.S. Nationals. Kelly won the World Team Trials on June 30.

TENTATIVE UNITED STATES WORLD TEAM TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULES

MEN’S FREESTYLE

AUG. 15-25
Aug. 15 - 9:30-11 a.m. – Practice (wrestling room). 1-2:30 p.m. – National Team meeting (Gold Room). 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice.
Aug. 16 - 9:30-11 a.m. – Practice. 3:30-4:30 p.m. – National Team Photos (Sports Center II, Room 102). 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice.
Aug. 17 - Day off.
Aug. 18 - 9:30-11 a.m. – Practice. 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. – World Team interviews (Silver Room). 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice.
Aug. 19 - 9-10 a.m. – Conditioning run for National Team athletes. 9:30-11 a.m. – Practice. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. – National Team evaluation/interviews. 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice. 4:45-5:15 p.m. – World Team sauna (Sports Center II). 5:30-6 p.m. – National Team sauna (Sports Center II).
Aug. 20 - Day off.
Aug. 21 - 9-10 a.m. – World Team 84kg, 96 kg, 120 kg weight training (Sports Center II). 9 a.m.-4 p.m. – Individual training World Team (Sports Center II). 9:30-11 a.m. – Practice. 2-4 p.m. – World Team 55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg weight training (Sports Center II). 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice.
Aug. 22 - 9:30-11 a.m. – Practice. Noon-4 p.m. – National team evaluations/interviews. 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice.
Aug. 23 - 9-10 a.m. – Conditioning run.
Aug. 24 - Noon-1 p.m. – USADA National Team meeting. 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice.
Aug. 25 - 9:30-11 a.m. – Practice. 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice.

SEPT. 1-8
Training camp schedule to be determined

GRECO-ROMAN

AUG. 24-SEPT. 2
Aug. 24 - 8-9:30 a.m. – Practice (wrestling room). Noon – USADA Meeting. 3-4:30 p.m. – Practice.
Aug. 25 - 8-9:30 a.m. – Practice. 3-4:30 p.m. – Practice.
Aug. 26 - 8:30-10 a.m. - Practice.
Aug. 27 - Day off.
Aug. 28 - 9-9:45 a.m. – National Team Photos (Sports Center II, Room 102). 9:30-11 a.m. – Practice. 11 a.m. – Media brief with World Team. 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice.
Aug. 29 - 9:30-11 a.m. – Practice. 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice.
Aug. 30 - 8:30-10 a.m. – Weight room. 4:30-6 p.m. – Sauna.
Aug. 31 - 9:30-11 a.m. – Practice. 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice.
Sept. 1 - 9:30-11 a.m. – Practice. 4:30-6 p.m. – Practice.
Sept. 2 - 9:30 a.m. – Outside Game.

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE

AUG. 14-25
Aug. 14 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice (wrestling room). 6-7:30 p.m. – Weight lifting.
Aug. 15 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 3-4:30 p.m. – Sports psychology meeting. 6-7:30 – Weight lifting.
Aug. 16 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 4:30-5:30 p.m. – National Team Photos (Sports Center II, Room 102). 6-7:30 p.m. – Weight lifting.
Aug. 17 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Weight lifting.
Aug. 18 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 1-2 p.m. – Coaches meeting. 6-7:30 p.m. – Practice.
Aug. 19 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. TBA (p.m.) – Body Bar promo with athletes.
Aug. 20 - Day off.
Aug. 21 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Weight lifting.
Aug. 22 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Weight lifting.
Aug. 23 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Weight lifting.
Aug. 24 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Weight lifting.
Aug. 25 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice.

SEPT. 2-13
Sept. 2 - 7:30-8:30 p.m. – Camp expectation meeting.
Sept. 3 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Practice.
Sept. 4 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Weight lifting.
Sept. 5 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Practice. 8-9 p.m. – Cold plunge/warm plunge.
Sept. 6 - 6-7:30 p.m. – Weight lifting.
Sept. 7 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Open room.
Sept. 8 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice (four matches). 6-7:30 p.m. – Practice (two matches).
Sept. 9 - 10 a.m.-noon – Game. 12:30-1 p.m. – Massage (coaches). 3-4 p.m. – Massage.
Sept. 10 - Day off.
Sept. 11 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Weight lifting.
Sept. 12 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Practice.
Sept. 13 - 10 a.m.-noon – Practice. 6-7:30 p.m. – Weight lifting.

All schedules are subject to change

2006 U.S. WORLD WRESTLING TEAMS

FREESTYLE
55 kg/121 lbs.
Sammie Henson, Flintstone, Ga. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Donny Pritzlaff, Northport, N.Y. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
National Team Coach: Kevin Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo.
World Team coaches: Mike Duroe, Iowa City, Iowa; Lou Rosselli, Edinboro, Pa.

GRECO-ROMAN
55 kg121 lbs.
Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Joe Warren, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Harry Lester, Akron, Ohio (USOEC/Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs.
T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Jacob Clark, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
National Team Coach: Steve Fraser, Colorado Springs, Colo.
World Team coaches: Andy Seras, Sandy Hook, Conn.; Shawn Sheldon, West Palm Beach, Fla.

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) or Mary Kelly, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
51 kg/112 lbs.
Patricia Miranda, New Haven, Conn. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
59 kg/130 lbs.
Erin Tomeo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.5 lbs.
Sara McMann, Iowa City, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
National Team Coach: Terry Steiner, Colorado Springs, Colo.
World Team coaches: Joe Corso, Metairie, La.; Bill Scherr, Glenview, Ill.