There was an historic event held at Conroe ISD’s Grand Oaks High School on Friday, October 23rd, as President Kerry Grant and Vice President Adam Chin Leung Kam of the Trinidad and Tobago Associated Wrestling Styles and Beach Wrestling Federation (TTAWSBWF) received a signed commitment from the Grand Oaks Grizzly’s Gareth Amador to be the first mat wrestler to sign with the newly formed national federation.
The federation oversees multiple wrestling, grappling, and combat styles, affiliated with United World Wrestling and related international bodies: Olympic and traditional styles, Beach Wrestling, Grappling (Gi and No-Gi), Belt Wrestling, and amateur pankration and Mixed Martial Arts. It also acts as the official national organization managing beach wrestling programs, training camps, and local/regional teams.
Gareth’s signing symbolizes the Federation and the country’s entry into mat wrestling, with the eye on Trinidad and Tobago recruiting for, and competing in future Olympic and International events.
Amador, a fifteen-year-old sophomore, has one year of wrestling experience under his belt, and that at the varsity level. In his freshman campaign, the first-year wrestler had a 15-15 record. You might ask, why Gareth Amador, and why now.
The Grand Oaks head wrestling coach, Carlos Diaz, stated “Gareth walked into our room the summer before his freshman year. He was there for our intro to wrestling camp. He picked things up very quickly, and fit right in with our upper classmen who were helping facilitate the camp. Ever since that first day, Gareth has been completely bought in, attending every practice and competition in order to improve.”
Coach Diaz went on to say, “Gareth is a natural leader, and our team undisputedly chose him to be our team captain this year. We are confident and excited to see him continue to grow and help create a legacy FOR Team Trinidad and Tobago, as well as for Grand Oaks High School Wrestling.
In response to my follow-up questions with the leaders of the TTAWSBWF, Adam Chin Leung Kam was gracious enough to get back to me with quite detailed answers on behalf of the Federation. Adam is quite a decorated participant and coach in the martial arts. He holds an 8th Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate (Roku Dan), a 1st Degree black belt in Yoshin Kan Aikido (Shodan), a Purple Belt in BJJ, and is a Certified Krav Maga Combative Instructor. Before the onset of the TTAWSBWF, Adam was the president of the Mixed Martial Arts Association of Trinidad and Tobago.
BD: How did the process of identifying and recruiting Adam for their country’s new mat team evolve?
TTAWSBWF: Our interest in Gareth did not develop overnight. We had been engaged in discussions with his support team for several months before making the decision to travel to Texas. This was particularly important because it allowed us to move beyond online conversations and meet Gareth, his family, coaches, school representatives, and the people who have been instrumental in his development. More importantly, we were able to observe firsthand his training environment, his discipline, his work ethic, and his competitive drive.
BD: Will his age and relative inexperience in the sport of wrestling hinder his involvement with Team Trinidad and Tobago?
TTAWSBWF: We fully appreciate that Gareth is only 15 years old and still has a tremendous amount of development ahead of him. We are under no illusion that competing on the international stage will be easy, nor do we expect him to become a world-class wrestler overnight. However, what stood out to us was something that cannot always be measured by medals, rankings, or current technical ability. We saw a young man whose passion, determination, and willingness to work are beyond what we typically see in athletes his age.
Talent is important, but talent without discipline, commitment, and the willingness to endure the difficult stages of development can only take an athlete so far. We believe Gareth possesses the foundation upon which something meaningful can be built.
BD: What is the plan moving forward, both short and long-term?
TTAWSBWF: From the Federation’s perspective, our responsibility is to create opportunities that may otherwise have been beyond his reach. We have an opportunity to expose Gareth to the highest levels of international wrestling, allowing him to experience firsthand the standards required to compete against the best in the world.
Sometimes, an athlete needs to see just how high the bar is before he can truly understand what it takes to reach it. Our intention is to help Gareth establish that new benchmark and then use it as the foundation upon which he can set even greater goals for himself.
Over the next three years, our objective is to work alongside Gareth’s family, coaches, and support team to progressively develop his international experience, expose him to higher levels of competition, and support his continued technical, physical, and mental development. We recognize that his day-to-day training and development will remain heavily dependent on the excellent support system he already has in Texas. Our role will be to complement that foundation by creating pathways to international competition and opportunities for growth.
BD: Do you have any last comments that you’d like to add?
TTAWSBWF: Ultimately, Gareth’s dream is to become an Olympian. We understand how ambitious that goal is, but we also believe that every Olympic journey must begin somewhere. If we can help provide Gareth with the opportunities, exposure, and international experience necessary to pursue that dream, while he continues putting in the hard work required, then we will have accomplished something meaningful.
And perhaps just as importantly, Gareth’s journey may help establish a pathway for future generations of young wrestlers from Trinidad and Tobago who share those same ambitions.
It was an inspiring day to observe and be a part of. I’m sure I will see Gareth and his team in many future wrestling matches in Texas. He’s not just the sophomore captain of the Grand Oaks Grizzlies wrestling team anymore, Gareth Amador is a proud member of the Trinidad and Tobago national team; wrestling not just for himself, and his school, but, instead for his future and his dream of becoming an Olympian.
