Elgin Elwais, wrestler from Pilau, didn’t compete in the 2011 Oceania Wrestling Championships due to a shoulder injury he received during training in the States. He still manages to climb coconut trees, though.
His shoulder was operated on in the States and he has a frustrating 5 months rehab to look forward to. He couldn’t compete in this year’s Oceania championships himself, but he is here in Samoa as the coach of the Pilau wrestling team.
The Pilau wrestling team won 3 gold medals in the heavy weight division and little kids division, and one bronze. Elgin says that they didn’t do so well this year, as he expected the team to win at least 2 gold medals in the Greco-Roman section, but they didn’t perform as well due to misunderstandings between coaches and players. Players were not following the instructions of the coaches and became sad when they lost. The Pilau team was the best in Oceania a couple of year’s ago, but not this year. With only 5 wrestlers in the team, maybe Pilau also needs more wrestlers.
Elgin wrestles at the Olympic Training Centre, Northern Michigan University, USA. He is the Pilau National Champion and has been an Oceania champion since he weighed 55kgs, last year.
The scholarship that Elgin received from the Northern Michigan University, USA, helps him prepare for the upcoming Olympics, where he will compete in the Greco-Roman 55kg division. He is also studying for a Sports Science degree. When he completes his study, he will probably go home to Pilau and work as a coach.
