Ruiter Wrestling has once again been crowned the best club on the West Rand after winning this year’s Central Gauteng Club Championships. The competition, which is the biggest derby in West Rand wrestling, was held at the Witpoortjie Recreational Centre on 17 September. Many clubs, among them the Danie Van Zyl, Eagles, West Rand and Fochville Wrestling Clubs, vied to be the best in the West.
Ruiter Wrestling had a perfect scorecard, with every one of their 45 wrestlers winning a medal. These included 25 golds, 13 silvers and seven bronzes.
The club is no stranger to winning the championships, as they had walked off as victors for more than 10 consecutive years, from 2001 to 2014, before relinquishing the title last year. Now that the club has taken back the championship, its head coach, Dean van Zyl, is more than just proud of his wrestlers. He said their feat proves Ruiter Wrestling club is number one on the West Rand.
“I am proud of each wrestler who worked hard on the mat to help the club become the champion. We’ve been building up to the tournament for the whole year,” he said.
Coach Dean added that blood, sweat and tears go into preparing for the championships.
“We do a lot of research on our competition throughout the year and make sure we are prepared for each match.
Seeing the young beginner wrestlers who started earlier this year progressing into serious competitors is great,” he said.
Ruiter Wrestling will now be taking the confidence they gained from their victory to the upcoming South African Championships, which will be held in Pretoria from 29 September to 1 October.
Coach Dean has high expectations of the wrestlers participating in Pretoria – including walking off with at least 10 gold medals.
“All the wrestlers competing are medal contenders so I am confident we will do well. I know the wrestlers will put everything I have taught them into action during the competition. I always tell the wrestlers to stay respectful and humble whether they win or lose,” he said.
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