Elgin Elwais won 1st place over all of his opponents to include Ricky Welsford of NZ who placed 2nd; Shane Parker (Aus) 3rd and Andrew Pown of NZ. In Elgin’s match against Welsford of NZ, Elgin scored the first point by taking his opponent out of match and scored 2 points on a takedown and another point to win the first period 4-0. During the second period of the match Elgin proved to be too strong and quick for his opponent as he scored the first point by attacking and driving Welsford out of the mat. Elgin then scored 1 point by ducking under his opponent and coming behind him. Welsford was able to counter Elgin’s tackle and scored 1 point, but it was Elgin who scored 1 point on Welsford on a takedown and another 2 points on a roll to win the match.
Once again Elgin proved to be too strong for his opponents. Elgin is now on his way back to the U.S. Olympic Education Training Center (USOETC) in Northern Michigan University. Elgin will return late this summer to train and assist Palau’s Wrestling Team for the Micronesian Games. Afterwards, Elgin will also take part in the upcoming World Championships this year.
Our wrestlers had lots of competitions especially considering this was Ismael and Rengiil’s first time to compete. This year was very tough since the Oceania Championships was also an Olympic Qualifier and for Australia and New Zealand they arrived with approximately 20 to 30 wrestlers because the Oceania was also their Commonwealth Qualifying event. American Samoa brought 20 wrestlers as well so competitions were fierce and much more competitive this year.
Other winners of the competition areas follows;GRECO ROMAN STYLE COMPETITIONS Youth / Greco Roman (Youth Olympic Qualification) 58kg weight division, Joshua Andrew (NZ) won Gold over Ismael Aguon who won silver medal. Aguon defeated Valentini Taua of American Samoa who placed 3rd. For the 85kg weight division, Alex Cummings (Aus) won 1st place, Nataniel Tuamoheloa (A. Samoa) won 2nd and Rengiil Ueki 3rd place for Palau; Cadet / Greco Roman, 58kg weight class, Ismael Falig Aguon won silver medal over Junior Anitelea of Samoa, but it was Ubanaba Tobire of Solomon Islands who won the Gold Medal. Then on the 69kg weight class, Radley Umang placed 3rd with Guam winning 1st place and Samoa 2nd place. Junior / Greco Roman, 69 kg weight class, Radley Umang defeated Lopi Taufaase of Samoa. Radley won silver medal after losing to Jake Bensted of Australia who won first place. As for the 84kg weight division, Rengiil Ueki placed 3rd after Alex Cumming of Australia (2nd place) and Faisal Attayee of New Zealand who won 1st places. Senior / Greco Roman, 60kg weight division, Elgin Elwais won the Gold Medal over Ricky Welsford (NZ) and Frazad Tarash (Aus). During the match against Welsford of NZ Elgin won the first period by throwing his opponent three times in the air. Elgin attempted a tackle on the second period but Welford replied by scoring 3 point on Elgin. He then countered by escaping and scoring 1 point. Elgin came in later to throw his opponent with a throw to win and end the match. Senior / Greco Roman, Franson Gibbons defeated Samoa in the 66kg category but lost to Merhdad Tarash (Aus) who won the Gold by defeating Andrew Pown (NZ).
FREESTYLE COMPETITONS, On April 8, 2010 in which the competition started that 9:00 am, Youth / Freestyle (Youth Olympic Qualification) began with the 63 kg category were Harris Fazlic (Aus) who won 1st place over Toe Seumanutafa (Samoa). Toe won 2nd place over Ismael Falig Aguon who placed 3rd. In the 100 kg weight division, Manu Sualevai of American Samoa won 1st place over Rengiil Ueki of Palau.
Cadet / Freestyle, in the 58kg weight division, Ismael Aguon competed but did not place in the top three.In the 69kg weight division, Jake Bensted of Australia won first place, Radley Umang placed second and in third place was Lopi Taufaase of Samoa. Rengiil Ueki was injured in the match. Junior / Freestyle, for the 60kg weight class, Haris Fazlic of Australia won the Gold medal, Ricky Welsford of NZ silver and Ismael Falig Aguon of Palau bronze. Then on the 66kg weight class Merhad Tarash of Australia won 1st place over Jake Bensted of Australia and Radley Umang who placed 3rd. Radley did very well after defeating Ah-Loon Fiso of American Samoa, Jordan Mellars of NZ and Caleb Scanlan of American Samoa. 10 wrestlers that competed in the 84kg weight division where Ali Harmouch of Australia won 1st place over Alex Cumming of Australia, while Faisal Attayee of New Zealand took 3rd place winner. Rengiil Ueki placed 9th and wasn’t able to continue due to an elbow injury. Senior / Freestyle,
The 2010 Oceania Championships was held in Apia, Samoa from April 7-9, 2010. Attending the competitions this year were American Samoa, Australia, Guam, FSM, New Zealand, Palau, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Solomons and Samoa. During the first day of competitions there were over 120 matches for the Greco Roman event and about the same for Freestyle on the second day. Representing Palau were Elgin Elwais, Franson Gibbons, Radley Umang, Ismael Falig Aguon, Rengiil Ueki, Ismael Aguon Sr. (Referee) and John Tarkong Jr., Team leader. The 2010 Oceania Championships was also an Olympic Qualifier for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games and Beach Wrestling for Cadets, Juniors and Seniors Male and Female weight divisions were also held.
In other related news, prior to the start of the Oceania Championships Palau’s wrestlers attended the training camp and Coaching Clinic. FILA Instructor Ivan Ivanov conducted the Coaching Clinic and Training Camp in Samoa. There were a total of 13 coaches and among those who were certified by FILA included Franson Gibbons and Ismael Aguon Sr. The course was intense over the past week as the training was held from April 01 -06, 2010. Palau is also proud to have Ismael Aguon Sr. as our new International Referee for Palau. Aguon attended the trip as a parent and took part in the coaching and referee clinic. Palau now has 2 international referees and officials which also include Tarkong
Although our team is young, they are talented future wrestlers, reiterated Tarkong. He is very proud of their accomplishments and plans to return and continue training hard for the upcoming Micronesian Games. Wrestling team would like to thank their main corporate sponsor WCTC and other sponsors to include Johnson Toribiong, M. Soon Seob Ha of HANPA, Palau Pacific Resort, PNOC, families, Mindszenty High School and other supporters.
