NEWLY crowned Senior National Champion Brett Hawthorn is among the seven wrestlers selected to represent Wales in this year’s Commonwealth Games.
Soon-to-be freshman at one of America’s most renowned wrestling colleges, the 19-year-old from Wrexham has been offered a scholarship to Campbellsville in Kentucky after an impressive run of success at senior level wrestling – even though he is still technically a junior until the age of 21.
Hearing the news on his selection Hawthorn said: “I’m chuffed to bits to have been
selected; it’s a dream come true!
“I can’t wait to compete for Wales out in India where wrestling is treated as a national sport.
“I’m hoping I can challenge for a medal because I’ve been national junior champion for the last six years and now I’ve won the national senior title.
“Wrestling is such a big sport in India and I’m expecting India to provide the toughest opposition – but Canada and the African nations will also pose a big
threat.
“The wrestling squad is due to fly out on September 28 and my first match takes place on October 6, before the team fly back on October 14.”
Bradford-born Brett’s father Jimmy is a three-time World Champion and now a coach, and younger brother Tommy is also a wrestler.
Competing for 11 years, Brett is a bright prospect for Wales after being recently selected to wrestle for Team GB in both the European and World Championships.
He will be joined in Delhi by experienced 23-year-old Craig Pilling who was named British Senior Wrestling Champion in 2006, Wrexham-based 17-year-old Kiran Manu, and the current Welsh number one Damion Arzu from Newtown.
Doing it for the girls will be history-making Non Evans from Llanelli who will go down in the record books for being the first female to compete at the Commonwealth Games in three different sports.
The 35-year-old previously starred in weightlifting and judo at the 2002 Games in Manchester, and to top it all off has recently been named in the Wales squad for
next month’s Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Evans said: “It’s a little piece of history for me and I’m very proud of that achievement. I’ve won two silver medals in the past in judo so hopefully the next
step for me is gold in Delhi.”
Also selected is 23-year-old Kate Rennie from Cardiff and Bridgend’s Sarah Connolly, who have both made the transition from successful judo players to
Commonwealth Games bound wrestlers.
Husband and wife coaching team Alan and Sue Jones are both from Llanfyllin near Welshpool.
Welsh Wrestling National and Commonwealth coaches, Alan and Sue said: “We will make history for Wales twice with the first Welsh wrestling team taking part and it will be the first time for women’s wrestling in the Games. As wrestling is a tough physical demanding sport and one of the major sports in India. We are proud and passionate to fly the flag for Wales and have high hopes for the team going to India.”
Team Wales’ Chef de Mission Chris Jenkins said: “Delhi will see Wales field its first ever wrestling squad at a Commonwealth Games so we’re really excited to welcome them into the Team Wales fold. Wrestling is our eighth team to be announced and momentum is really starting to build; we’re really excited to get out
there and start performing.”