KZN wrestlers grapple to victory at SA Championships

The KZN wrestlers, including members of the Rhino Club, had to dig deep to earn medals at the SA National Championships held over two days in Johannesburg last weekend.
The KZN team comprised 40 wrestlers – 11 competing in the Greco-Roman division and 29 in the freestyle category.
With over 500 wrestlers from all over the country grappling for honour, the competition was tough but the locals dug deep and showed true grit to earn two gold medals, six silvers and nine bronze medals.
“The 2017 medal haul by the KZN team will be remembered for a long time to come,” said coach, Steven Brown. “The wise men of the mat and all the wrestling gurus agree that our secret to success is the Orange Grove No Mercy series. These vigorously contested competitions prepare our wrestlers to take on the best the rest of country can offer.”
Results
Mundell Brown bagged two gold medals in the 76-85kg division for boys under 15. He outclassed his opponents in both the Greco-Roman and freestyle divisions.
JC Botha is only 10 but he has a heart of a lion – he was unlucky to have been beaten into second place by the narrowest of regions.
Another warrior is Dawie Botha. He battled hard win bronze medals in the freestyle and Greco-Roman divisions for boys under 13, weighing 42-46kg.
JJ du Plessis, with only one year of experience, found the going tough. He took on much more experienced wrestlers to win bronze in the Greco-Roman division but had to settle for fourth place in freestyle, 63-69kg division, boys under 15.
Dillan Guelpa wrestled very well and had his chances. However, after one or two mistakes, he had to settle for a bronze medal. This nine-year-old is tipped as a star for the future.
Theuns van der Merwe found himself in a very competitive division – 27-30kg, boys under 11. Theuns was in three titanic battles and was unlucky to lose out on a gold medal and had to settle for bronze.
Ziphozonki Buthelezi is a product of the Orange Grove development project and a star of the future.
With only three months of experience, he pulled off the impossible by winning a bronze medal in the 50-54kg Greco-Roman division for boys under 15.
Leonard Kruger wrestled like a true warrior and had his moments but a lack of consistency cost him. He was placed fourth in both the Greco-Roman and freestyle divisions, 42-46kg, boys under 13 years.
T Moloi tried his best but was beaten into 10th place by more experienced opponents.
Tommie Bezuidenhoudt found the going tough. He is still under 12-years-old and had to compete in the under 13 age division for boys, 39-42kg. He was placed 9th
Njabulo Ndlovu showed guts by taking on the best but his lack of experience counted against him. He achieved 9th place.