Aspin's gold medal wrestling boost

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33455, 9 February 1974, Page 4

Aspin's gold medal wrestling boost

(By

J. O. COFFEY)

To those dedicated to spreading the message of amateur wrestling throughout New Zealand’s high schools, the gold medal triumph of David Aspin during the Commonwealth Games should be regarded as a strong platform from which to seek recognition. Other sports have discovered that success in international competition has offered a welcome path to acceptance, and the dedication and skills displayed by Aspin can now be offered as examples of wrestling’s worth to the youth of New Zealand. The stigma of profes-

sionalism and the difficulty in providing qualified coaches during normal school sports periods have restricted progress in the past. But now that wrestling has the opportunitv to share in the over-all radiance of the Games the chance should not be wasted. Unfortunately, television authorities were apparently not so keen, or were too committed, to give the amateur wrestlers any semblance of equal coverage to that afforded the grotesque grapplers who present their comical contortions to latenight Saturday viewers. The camera crews were not alone in being caught napping by Aspin’s sudden completion of his gold medal campaign, however. His final bout—against Taras Hryb, a highly-rated Canadian, who had performed well in Pan-Ameri-can company—was a late addition to the programme of the penultimate wrestling session and a lack of notice from officials led to Aspin’s title becoming assured in a half-empty Town Hall auditorium. Those who had remained received an unexpected bonus indeed when Aspin took a fall from Hryb. after only 2min 34sec of the first round. The roar of encouragement that had become quite familiar to those attending the track and field and swimming events at Queen Elizabeth II Park was reproduced in miniature. but no less enthusiastically on an individual basis, as Aspin gradually forced Hryb's .shoulders to the mat. It had taken 24 years for wrestling to regain Commonwealth Games gold at the expense of the traditionally powerful Indians and the emerging Canadians. Aspin, though, was quick to realise that there are many rungs still to be climbed before New Zealand earns a prominent wrestling ranking. He said that the leaving behind of the days of poverty that were typified by the unsatisfactory, and even painful, old canvas mats placed New Zealand in a similar position to

that of Canada a decade ago, Aspin considered this minor advance to be significant, but felt that much greater depth was needed to progress further. Before the Games it. was generally agreed that New Zealand’s squad was better prepared than any of its predecessors, and such claims were supported when Gordon Mackay and Gary Knight added bronze medals to the gold that Aspin won. The visit to this country by the noted United States coach. Dr Dale Thomas, last year was obviously of marked benefit in developing the talents of the national squad. The value of the training camp at Hobsonville and final trials at Rotorua were readily acknowledged by Aspin in reflecting on his win. There is very little chance, however, of New Zealand ever being able to find sufficient state support, facilities and completely dedicated wrestlers to tilt at world supremacy. But Aspin proved during the Games that there is a place for New Zealand in the top echelon of Commonwealth competition and it is this target which should draw the combined attention of administrators and participants.