The Tuks wrestlers gave as good as they got over the weekend during the South African Trials in Secunda with eight wrestlers being victorious.

However, it can’t be helped to think that the South African Wrestling Federation might have erred with their qualification criteria for the national trials as in quite a few weight categories there were no contestants. It is rumoured that they had the smallest turnout in a long time.

It is a pity especially considering the purpose of the trials was to see which wrestlers are good enough to represent South Africa at international tournaments. 

The Tuks wrestler, Edrich Nortje, impressed with how he managed to keep his wits about him competing in the senior under-65kg category. There were only three contestants. All of them won one fight and lost one. Nortje was declared the eventual winner due to having won one if his fights with a pinfall. That is holding your opponent’s shoulders to the mat for a three count. It was the highest scoring victory.

He also won the junior under-65kg category without having to fight anyone.

For the Matthew Bartlett (Tuks) it had been a case of all kitted out with nobody to wrestle in the junior as well senior under-74kg categories. 

Kirwin Boshoff (cadet), Rubin Janse van Rensburg (cadet), Arno van Zijl (cadet) are the other Tuks wrestlers who were victorious.  Heini Kilian (juniors) and Leon Myburgh (cadets) placed second in their respective categories.