Maynard makes mat history

By Morissa Lindsay

The gifted Adrian Maynard created history for Barbados as the youngest person from the English-speaking Caribbean at just 17-years-old to qualify for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games scheduled for 2023 in El Salvador.

A student of the Alleyne School, Maynard made his senior international debut and secured his qualification for the CAC Games after finishing fourth overall against some of the world’s best while competing in the 77kg Greco Roman style mat wrestling competition held November 30th to December 7th in Dominican Republic.

Coached by Yaima Payne, the impressive Maynard also qualified for the 2023 Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World Beach Games scheduled for August 5 to 15 in Bali.

This will be the second edition of the World Beach Games which is an international beach and water multi-sports event organized by ANOC.

Currently in Canada training preparing for the 2023 season, Maynard said he was extremely proud of his latest achievements.

“It feels great to be wrestling against some of the veterans in the sport and qualifying in a very good spot knowing I’ve put in the long hours to train. I am only 17 and I have a lot to learn ahead of me but it’s a humbling experience to represent Barbados at such a high level and listening to my coach put me in a better place to qualify against the stiff competition.

“I felt very proud stepping in each and every area representing my nation at an international level and placing among the more developed countries in wrestling because of the hard work and determination I have for the sport makes me feel great,” Maynard explained.

The youngest Barbadian to make his senior wrestling debut, Maynard continues to leave his mark on the international stage both as a junior and a senior competitor.

Maynard’s achievement is a testament of his commitment and determination to succeed at the highest level.

A devoted wrestler, Maynard trains on evenings at the St. Leonard’s Boys’ School under the guidance of national coach Payne who has been nominated for Coach of the Year at the 2022 Barbados Olympic Association Awards Gala and Dinner ceremony scheduled for Monday, December 19th at Hilton Hotel.

Speaking on Maynard’s performance, Payne said, “Adrian performed excellently in a senior event. For the last two years he was outstanding and not too long obtained a bronze medal at the Pan American Championships for Under-17s. He went to the World Championships and finished ninth place and was also at the Santa Marta beach games where he finished fifth. Adrian also qualified for the World Beach wrestling and now he qualified for the CAC mat wrestling. This is all very impressive.”

The teenager is currently ranked 16th in the world for Greco Roman wrestling and Barbados Wrestling Association President, Rollins Alleyne said he is elated with Maynard’s performances and thanked the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) for their continued support as well as the National Sports Council.

“Maynard told me just Sunday that wrestling is one of those sports, you either want to do it or you don’t want to do it. When you go to wrestling camps, you go all out, they stretch you in the first session. Sometimes you just feel as though you don’t want to come back around the mat. So, it is a mental thing and I commend Maynard for his continued zest and determination in the sport,” Alleyne said.

In 2023 Maynard is also expected to travel and compete in Argentina for a chance to qualify for the Pan American Championship. President Alleyne said his association are hoping to get Maynard travel and compete on the European circuit next year where competition in Greco Roman is much stronger.

The BOA President said that the teenager Maynard is a perfect example of what can be achieved in wrestling and is advocating for the sport to be thought in schools.

“I will continue to recommend that wrestling is a sport that should be in every school in Barbados for those young kids that has tons of energy, that when they go home all they want to do is sleep. This sport involves a lot of aerobic and anaerobic and when they are finished training these kids will just want to lie down for recovery.

“Even the Cuban embassy in Barbados should be pushing to have wrestling in schools where you have one or two of those coaches come over here and work in the schools with these young people because I will assure you that wrestling will bring medals to Barbados,” Alleyne explained.

Fellow Barbadian Deshon Skeete also competed at the just conclude CAC qualifiers in Dominican Republic but the 21-year-old failed to advance after finishing tenth overall. Skeete featured in the 86kg freestyle category.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb