A group of north-east wrestlers have returned home from a flagship British competition with a clutch of medals.
Club members from Oldmeldrum-based V Wresting Academy performed highly in a number of categories at the recent 2016 British Junior and Senior Wrestling Championships at Bolton’s Smithills Sports Centre. Head coach and Commonwealth bronze medallist Vio Etko claimed gold in the men’s 61k category with a further men’s gold for club member and coach Nico Cojocaru in the 74k category.
V Wrestling Academy was also well represented across the various categories in the junior competition with two further first places for 12-year-old Erin Mortimer and 11-year-old Leon Etko among the medals.
Full medal results for V Wrestling Academy were as follows:
Girls
44k – Olivia Aitken, age 10, second place
65k – Erin Mortimer, age 12, first place
Boys
33k – Liam Duncan, age 9, third place
33k – Leon Etko, age 11, first place
36k – Daniel Duncan, age 9, third place
38k – Colby Taylor, age 11, third place
Seniors
61k – Vio Etko, age 38, first place
74k – Nico Cojacaru, age 29, first place
Reflecting on the team’s success, Vio Etko, head coach, said: “These recent results are testament to the commitment and hard work of our club members. Competing at a national level is a great experience, particularly for some of our younger representatives. It is a tremendous boost for our wrestlers – on an individual and collective level – to return to Aberdeenshire with medals across so many categories.”
V Wrestling Academy is based at Etko Sports Academy in Oldmeldrum. Head coach Vio Etko is a six-time British wrestling champion and the current Commonwealth Games bronze medal holder. Earlier this year he was presented with the Coach of the Year award 2015 from Aberdeenshire Sports Council.
Further information on V Wrestling Academy’s coaching programmes is available by calling Etko Sports Academy on 01651 873876.