The Dilworth School in Auckland won the title at the recently held North Island Secondary School Wrestling Championship matches.
Hamilton Boys finished second, while the team from Kelston Boys School, where the matches were held, came third.
Sports Teacher Darryl Druitt, who organised the bouts, was gratified by the enthusiastic response, with some schools fielding as many as 30 competitors.
This kept two mats very busy for most of the day.
Strong contenders coached by blind New Zealand Champion Clinton Davies of Club Physical Team included Rutherford High School.
Current New Zealand Wrestling Champion Brahm Richards (38 kg) fought two weight categories up to 46 kg and was awarded Gold.
Teammate Matthew Downes of Mt Albert Grammar School also achieved gold in the under 54 kg category, while Massey High’s Luke Weir won gold in the under 58 kg category. Matthew’s brother, Joshua Downes also of Mt Albert Grammar, was awarded the bronze medal in the tough under 76 kg class.
Avondale College entered a team of ten for the first time, mainly due to the initiative of Physical Education Teacher Craig Miller.
Club Physical Chief Executive Paul Richards said students should be encouraged to channel their enormous energy into ‘the controlled and refereed environment of School Wresting Programmes.’
“There is a lot of debate going on currently over school bullying and the increased frequency of school assaults. Boys in particular instinctively love to tussle and test their survival skills against others.
“School Wrestling Programmes create an outlet for them and build a sense of respect, achievement and personal discipline,” he said.
Mr Richards, a black belt in Karate and Tae Kwon Do, said thousands of students in the US were involved in daily school wrestling and recommended a similar programme for schools in New Zealand.
“Installing such a vigorous, energy consuming programme will lead to calmer and more emotionally mature youth,” he said.
