A young Igorot wrestler is in full preparation for the upcoming wrestling competition for the 30th Manila SEA GAMES.
21 year-old Jason Baucas from Benguet is the only representative of the Philippines wrestling team to compete in the 72 kilogram Greco-Roman wrestling.
Greco-Roman (US) or Graeco-Roman (UK) wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practiced worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908.This style of wrestling forbids holds below the waist; this is the major difference from freestyle wrestling, the other form of wrestling at the Olympics. This restriction results in an emphasis on throws because a wrestler cannot use trips to take an opponent to the ground, or avoid throws by hooking or grabbing the opponent's leg.
According to United World Wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling is one of the six main forms of amateur competitive wrestling practised internationally today. The other five forms are Freestyle wrestling, Grappling/Submission wrestling, Beach wrestling, Pankration athlima, Alysh/Belt wrestling and Traditional/Folk wrestling.
Baucas had been one of the country's medal sources in the wrestling event in the ASEAN region and in Asia in the past years.
In 2016, he took home bronze medal in the 2016 Southeast Asian Junior and Cadets Wrestling Championship in Thailand and he ranked 8th at the Asian Junior 2016.
He also won bronze in the 2014 South East Asia Junior and Cadets Wrestling Championships, bronze in the 2015 SEA Senior Wrestling Championship and a gold medal in the 2015 South East Asia Junior and Cadets Wrestling Championships.
Bauces was honored for being Benguet's pride in wrestling in 2016.
This year, he is motivated to keep moving and continue training to be able to take home medal in the upcoming SEA Games.
