Ifugao wrestling team, an inspiration

Courtesy of Coach M. Buyucan

Ifugao grapplers all set for BP-Luzon

By Mark Victor Pasagoy

Monday, October 20, 2014

IFUGAO grapplers are keen on staging another dominant performance as they set higher goals for the upcoming 2014 Batang Pinoy-Luzon Leg slated November 11-15 at the Metro Naga Sports Complex in Naga City.

With just weeks of preparations left before the national sports contest, Hungduan based wrestlers gear up as they chase for a glorious outing in the grassroots sports competition backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.

Hungduan wrestling team coach and manager Marilyn Buyucan told Sun.Star Baguio the Hungduan Wrestling Team is all set for the Luzon qualifying leg of Batang Pinoy this year.

“We are setting to keep the children focused, we want to highlight the competition with a lot of successful performances the same as we did last year,” Buyucan said.

According to Buyucan they aim to improve last year’s finish as much as the national contest expects more competitive young athletes from the province.

“With last year’s performance I guess it will be just and right to set our goal in improving our finish this time around,” Buyucan said.
In 2013, Ifugao surprised competitors coming from the various cities and provinces of Luzon after bagging three gold and three silver medals at the close of the same competition.

She said as early as September the Ifugao province has already started to train and draw possible prospects which will be sent as entries to Batang Pinoy.

“We hope to draw more medals para na rin mas maraming makarating sa national finals next year,” Buyucan said.

Ifugao wrestlers, who qualified for the Batang Pinoy National Finals held January this year, took home three gold medals courtesy of Dan Gayuchan (32kg), Lovelyn Bandao (44kg), and Bless Napiloy (48gk), including one bronze coming from Jovi Angayon (40kg).

Recently, Ifugao has been lifting its status in the wrestling sport community directing to new heights and making its presence felt in various national competitions.

Earlier this year, the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission announced the inclusion of wrestling as a regular sport in national competitions including Batang Pinoy, Palarong Pambansa, Philippine National Games, Women Martial Arts Festival and other nationally sanctioned tournaments.

Apart from wrestling, Ifugao is also developing young athletes to compete in the weightlifting competitions.

Source: SunStar Baguio