Kitale Wrestling Club now tops the Kenya Amateur Wrestling Association (KAWA) National League after the first leg held at Kamiti Social Hall in Nairobi on Saturday.
Speaking after the competition, Kitale head coach Winrose Alividza expressed her determination to win the league this season, saying her strategy is to widen the points gap early and make it impossible for opponents to catch up before the final leg in September.
“It’s an honour to win the national league. It’s the greatest feeling for any player or coach, and I want it. After achieving it, I also want to win with my girls in the national team as we head to Dakar for the Youth Olympics,” said Alividza, a former national and regional heavyweight champion in Africa.
Kitale Wrestling Club now leads the standings with 20 points, followed closely by Prisons Service Training College (PSTC) with 18 points. Wataalam Wrestling Club, coached by former national wrestler and 2023 Africa Beach Wrestling bronze medalist Mark Omumasaba, lies third with 17 points, while Naivasha Wrestling Club sits fourth with 14 points.
KAWA Secretary General Erick Walucho expressed satisfaction with the turnout but urged the youngsters to work harder, noting that the main focus is securing qualification slots for the Youth Olympics in Dakar in October.
A total of ten schools participated in the first leg of the National League. They included Friends School Sirende (Kitale), St. Emmanuel, Naivasha Day Secondary School, Spinners Secondary School, GK Primary School (Naivasha), Suswa Girls Secondary School, Githunguri Primary School, Ruiru Boys Secondary School, Githiga Girls Secondary School and Milimani Primary School (Naivasha).
In the School Girls 13-year-old category, Mercy Ingwesi took top honours, while Margaret Ingwesi finished second. In the Under-15 Boys category, Arnold Otieno won gold, followed by Ernest Kamunya with silver and Aggrey Omari with bronze.
In the Cadet Girls 65kg category, Janet Ingwesi emerged victorious, ahead of Jemima Wanjala in second place and Droviler Ashley in third. In the Boys 65kg category, Dan Kegode claimed gold, with teammates Calvin Nyatuka and Calvin Wangila finishing second and third, respectively.
In the Senior Men’s 57kg category, Brighton Tobessy won the title, with Samuel Mumo second and Julius Kilonzi third. Alex Meja dominated the Senior Men’s 65kg category, pushing Eugene Osale to second place, while Benson Njoroge completed the podium.
In the Senior Women’s 70kg category, Faith Wamalwa claimed victory ahead of Jane Anamboka. In the Senior Men’s 70kg category, national team veteran Kenneth Koech defeated Collins Barasa to take first place.
The Senior Men’s 79kg category saw James Omwange edge out veteran Brian Oloo for the top spot. In the 86kg Senior Men’s category, Mathayo Mahabila claimed victory, with Evans Wafula finishing second.
In the 97kg Senior Men’s category, newcomer Lucas Wafula won gold, followed by Manasseh Ngila in second and Evans Rioba in third.
The highlight of the event was the Senior Men’s 125kg category, where Joel Tukai defeated Dan Aura in a tightly contested bout to win on points. Aura settled for second place, while Dan Moseti finished third.
