Jayden Lawrence off to Glasgow for Commonwealth Games wrestling

After a dominant performance in the qualifying tournament, Elderslie wrestler Jayden Lawrence will be on a plane to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games in July.

Jayden Lawrence, of Catherine Field, wins at the Australian wrestling championships, also

After a dominant performance in the qualifying tournament, Elderslie wrestler Jayden Lawrence will be on a plane to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games in July.

Lawrence, 19, qualified for both the senior and junior wrestling teams.

After a strong qualifying performance, Lawrence is full of confidence ahead of his Commonwealth Games campaign. “I reckon I can go really well, I’ll be definitely looking to medal,” he said.

“I had a pretty successful competition where I felt like I was dominating which is a good mindset ahead of the Commonwealth Games.”

Lawrence came up against his old friend and familiar foe Jake Dornford, from South Australia, in the qualifying championships in Canberra and gave him no favours.

“We are old rivals,” Lawrence said. “It was good that we got to wrestle each other.”

The matches are comprised of two three-minute rounds.

The object is to pin your opponent on their back for a win or accumulate points and finish higher than your opponent.

Lawrence has been wrestling for 10 years and, ­despite the hard work ­involved, loves the sport.

“I took to it pretty easily. I started winning tournaments straight away and I have loved it ever since.”

Because it is a ­peripheral sport in Australia, there is not a lot of money to be made from wrestling, Lawrence said.

“Whatever you make doesn’t cover your expenses. You do it for the love of the sport.”

Lawrence has trained as a cabinet maker to earn some extra money to compete.

“It’s such a hard sport, it’s a really technical sport and you never stop training.

“I’m looking forward to the competition itself. It was pretty much my next goal.”