Wrestlers shine in Tunisia

Alberton Wrestling Club’s Edward Lessing and Shaun De Kock recently represented SA in the continental championships.

The pair left for Tunisia in North Africa on May 14 to compete in their respective weight classes for continental championships and did well.

Their triumph in a recent wrestling tournament saw them qualify for the African Championships, where Lessing took third place, bagging a bronze medal in the 86kg senior division.

De Kock said he achieved fifth place overall and gained valuable experience. He told the Alberton Record he now understood the level of competition in the international arena.

“It was an eye-opener on how strong the North African countries’ wrestlers are and how competitive the weight divisions are. The people in Tunisia were hospitable and friendly. The city was less developed than expected, but the hotel and sports facilities were excellent. It was an amazing experience as a first-time participant in Africa,” he explained.

The duo are no strangers to wrestling. De Kock started the sport aged four, while Lessing began at nine to increase his chances of becoming a professional rugby player.

Lessing is one of the senior national wrestlers in SA and has many accolades.

He has won 14 SA championships and represented SA in several countries. He has won over 200 medals and counting.

De Kock has also been on many tours and has won SA Championships more than once. He will compete in the SA Freestyle Champs on June 24 in Cape Town.