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Sports correspondent & historian with |
A Western Bay of Plenty sporting identity has been elected to his sports top volunteer administrative position.
Mount Maunganui Academy of Wrestling founder, Mark Grayling, has recently been selected as the New Zealand Olympic Wrestling Union president.
Modern Olympic-style wrestling consists of two separate disciplines. Greco-Roman wrestling is a style based upon the ancient sport; while freestyle wrestling allows the competitors to use their legs and hold opponents above or below the waist.
Both disciplines are contested on a circular combat area with a bout consisting of two three-minute periods. Victory is secured, by either pinning an opponent’s two shoulders to the mat or by accumulating the most points by way of takedowns and reversal moves.
Amateur wrestling made its Olympic debut at the 1904 St Louis Games. A century later women’s freestyle wrestling debuted at the 2004 Athens Games.
The NZ Olympic Wrestling Union website states: “Mark Grayling brings decades of experience as a wrestler, coach, and leader in the sport, with a career that spans grassroots development through to the Olympics”.
Grayling discovered wrestling at 14 years, joining the Katikati Wrestling Club established by legendary Kiwi wrestling figure Andy Roche in 1983.
Three years later Grayling embarked on his first international wrestling trip to the United States, Canada and Hawaii, which lit his fire for the sport.
At just 19 years of age, Grayling was appointed a NZ coach at the Oceania age-group championships held in Auckland.
In 2006, Grayling founded the Mount Maunganui Academy of Wrestling, a club that has become a powerhouse in NZ wrestling.
Under his leadership, his club has dominated the recent national stage, earning overall Champion Club at the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 NZOWU National Championships.
Grayling’s coaching resume is amongst the most prestigious in NZ wrestling history. First appointed National Coach in 2009, he has since coached Kiwi wrestlers across all five Olympic continents.
He has served as NZ head coach at three senior world championships as well as the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games added two bronze medals to the present NZ list of three gold, nine silver, and 17 bronze medals.
Tayla Ford made NZ Olympic style wrestling history, in winning bronze in the Women’s 58kg freestyle division, with Sam Belkin earning third place in the men’s 97kg freestyle division.
In 2016, Grayling made his Olympic coaching debut at Rio de Janeiro.
Recognition of his outstanding leadership and results saw Grayling named NZ Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
Grayling could be said to be following in the footsteps of his Katikati Wrestling club coach, Andy Roche.
Roche travelled a pathway of elite athlete in participating at the 1974 Commonwealth Games, and NZ Wrestling coach at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
A decade ago, Roche, was President of the NZ Olympic Wrestling Union.
“With his election as president, Mark Grayling brings a unique blend of on-the-mat experience, international expertise, and proven leadership.
“His vision is set to guide NZ wrestling into a new era, building on a lifetime dedicated to the sport.”
– Source NZOWU website.