Lofty-Eaton is best NWF wrestler

THE Namibia Wrestling Federation (NWF) crowned Martin Lofty-Eaton as its top wrestler for 2007 at the weekend.

The federation held a year-end function for its top wrestlers and categories included the wrestler, sport achievers, wrestling club, official and administrator of the year. The promising Lofty-Eaton, who competes in the under-20 age category, has been crowned as wrestler of the year twice in a row now – the only wrestler to achieve this feat so far.His biggest achievements this year were the two bronze medals he won at the African Junior Championships in the Greco-Roman and Freestyle disciplines.He has scooped a host of other gold, silver and bronze medals at local and regional championships as well.There were three wrestlers who were crowned as Sport Achievers of the Year.They were Jason Afrikaner, Lukas Thomas and Tusnelda Swartbooi.Afrikaner and Thomas both won gold medals at the South African Championships this year.They also achieved the same feat at the South African Greco-Roman Championships.Swartbooi landed a gold medal at the Southern African Cadet and Senior Championships.The Alte Feste Wrestling Club was named the Best Club of the Year for having the most category winners.The Best Wrestling School of the year award went to the Okahandja Primary School.The school had the most registered wrestlers.Brigitta Augustyn of Alte Feste Wrestling Club was named the Administrator of the Year, while the Official of the Year award went to Nita Oberholzer from the Otjiwarongo Wrestling Gymnasium.The federation also identified its top ten wrestlers for the year – Martin Lofty-Eaton, Philip Balhao, Misha Steen, Jason Afrikaner, Lukas Thomas, Paavo Hihangwa, Sem Shilimela, Gerrit Steen, Johannes Homateni and Tromp Conradie.The federation also recognised all its champion wrestlers in the different age groups who were determined through a point system.The ones who accumulated the most points during the wrestling year in different styles were rewarded.The promising Lofty-Eaton, who competes in the under-20 age category, has been crowned as wrestler of the year twice in a row now – the only wrestler to achieve this feat so far.His biggest achievements this year were the two bronze medals he won at the African Junior Championships in the Greco-Roman and Freestyle disciplines.He has scooped a host of other gold, silver and bronze medals at local and regional championships as well.There were three wrestlers who were crowned as Sport Achievers of the Year.They were Jason Afrikaner, Lukas Thomas and Tusnelda Swartbooi.Afrikaner and Thomas both won gold medals at the South African Championships this year.They also achieved the same feat at the South African Greco-Roman Championships.Swartbooi landed a gold medal at the Southern African Cadet and Senior Championships.The Alte Feste Wrestling Club was named the Best Club of the Year for having the most category winners.The Best Wrestling School of the year award went to the Okahandja Primary School.The school had the most registered wrestlers.Brigitta Augustyn of Alte Feste Wrestling Club was named the Administrator of the Year, while the Official of the Year award went to Nita Oberholzer from the Otjiwarongo Wrestling Gymnasium.The federation also identified its top ten wrestlers for the year – Martin Lofty-Eaton, Philip Balhao, Misha Steen, Jason Afrikaner, Lukas Thomas, Paavo Hihangwa, Sem Shilimela, Gerrit Steen, Johannes Homateni and Tromp Conradie.The federation also recognised all its champion wrestlers in the different age groups who were determined through a point system.The ones who accumulated the most points during the wrestling year in different styles were rewarded.