SEM Shilimela won the Senior Sportsman of the Year at the Namibian Wrestling Federation’s annual prize-giving function on Saturday, while André Augustyn won the Wrestler of the Year award.
Shilimela represented Namibia at the Olympic Games in London where he lost two bouts in the Under 55kg freestyle category. In his first fight he lost 3-0 to the eventual gold medallist from Russia, Dzahmal Otarsultanov, and in his second fight he lost 3-1 to Kyong Il Yang of North Korea, who went on to win a bronze medal. Shilimela was eventually ranked 15th out of 19 wrestlers in his category. Augustyn accumulated the most points in national, regional and international competitions on the Namibian Wrestling Federation’s calendar over the past year. Augustyn was the top wrestler with 400 points, with Louis van der Westhuizen coming second with 359 points and Jason Afrikaner third with 338 points. The rest of the Top Ten wrestlers of the year were as follows: Ingo Hokwana (315), Angula Shikongo (239), Dawid Hening (229), Prinsley Swartz (212), Marcelino Jaars (190), Herman Namwandi (188) and Lourens van Schalkwyk (184). The After School Centre won the Wrestling Club of the Year trophy, while their coach Luiz Forcelledo won the Wrestling Coach of the year trophy. Forcelledo also won the Coach of Champions medal after producing seven medallists at the South African Greco Roman Championships. Ben Truter won the Official of the Year trophy, Leonora Henning won the Administrator of the Year trophy and Windhoek Gymnasium won the Wrestling School of the Year trophy. Certificates were also handed out to wrestlers who excelled at national and international level throughout the year. Marcellino Jaars, Michael Thomas, Romeo Goliath, Lukas Thomas, Colin Tjikungu, Jason Afrikaner and Ingo Hokwana all won gold medals at the South African Greco Roman Championships. At the same championships, Efraim Thomas, Prinsley Swartz and Herman Namwandi won silver medals and Dawid Henning, Herman Namwandi, Lukas Thomas and Ingo Hokwana won bronze medals.At the South African Regional Championships, Christiaan Prinsloo and Reagin Eiseb won gold medals, and Vernon Vlermuis, Devin Benhard, Devin Eichab, Rikus van Staden and Mervin Eichab won silver medals. At the South African Cadet and Senior Championships, Lourens van Schalkwyk won a silver medal and André Augustyn, Jason Afrikaner and Angula Shikongo won bronze medals. The National Wrestling Championships were held earlier on Saturday where about 50 wrestlers from four clubs competed for national titles. Werner Kharuxab won the After School Centre Wrestler of the Day trophy, while Andre Augustyn won the Alte Feste Wrestler of the Day trophy and Hatani Guido the Otjiwarongo Wrestling Club Wrestler of the Day trophy. The Freestyle category winners were Jorick Muir (Under 9), Linus Katuyanda (Under 13) and Abraham Nambala (Over 13). The Greco Roman category winners were Devin Benhard (Under 11), Travolta Ngundu (Under 15) and Dawid Henning (Over 15), while Werner Kharuxab won the Best Technical trophy.–namibiasport.com.na
