20-year-old Darragh Love and 15-year-old Naoise McManus have been successfully selected for the GB Freestyle Wrestling squad following trials in Manchester last weekend.

The gruelling process involved formal fitness testing assessed by staff from the University of Salford, followed by wrestling drills on the mat closely observed by the GB performance pathway coaches.

Darragh has competed previously on Team GB in the U20 category, most recently qualifying through to the Europeans in early July.

He will compete at U23 for the team in the coming season.

This was a first formal invite to the trials for Naoise who proved herself a force to be reckoned with leading to successful selection to compete for Team GB at U17 this coming year.

Tomás Gormley (U20) was also invited to the trials after demonstrating hard work and dedication over the last year.

He continues to improve his game and will no doubt be returning to trial again next year. 

A huge achievement for Erne Wrestling Club which now has two athletes on the GB National Squad.

Huge thanks to the club’s Head Coach Bruce Irwin and Coach Alex Edgar for all their hard work, and of course thanks also to the NI Team and their Head Coach Stuart Baker who have been invaluable in getting these athletes to this elite level.