Wanliss second after super year

Ainsley Walters, Gleaner Writer

MONTEGONIAN microweight Alrick Wanliss enjoyed his best ever year as a Busta Fighter in 2010, which made him the second qualifier for the 2010 Jamaica combined martial arts team's new season.

Wanliss was only bettered by Kenneth Edwards who amassed 47 points in the 10-man squad for the new season which will include international team matches as well as tours on the International Taekwondo Federation and International Sports Karate Association world circuits.

Qualification for the team is calculated based on points earned in performances from the previous season, locally and internationally.

Edwards amassed most points in the Busta League and international competitions, including gold medal performances in Vietnam and at the World Continental Team Championships held locally at the National Indoor Sports Centre last July.

Wanliss edged Nicholas Dussard for second by a point after a gold-medal performance at the PanAm championships in Argentina, in addition to winning all his team matches with the Busta squad.

Enviable year

Dussard, though finishing behind Edwards and Wanliss with 43 points, still had an enviable year which included winning the University of Technology's Sportsman of Year award based on his international and local achievements.

Scott Wright qualified in fourth with 27 points in his first-ever season with the combined team.

Last season, Wright became the first fighter to make the team without being an invitee after finishing in the top 10 local fighters.

In finishing fourth, Wright put up a strong challenge to Edwards for Busta Fighter of the Year, winning all his domestic tournaments barring the year-end black belt invitational.

Fifth position

Dwayne Vascianne qualified in fifth position with a comfortable 23 points after being an invitee last season, suggesting he's determined to maintain his place in the squad.

Captain Jason McKay and Montego Bay hyperweight, Shiah Shukura, tied for sixth spot with 16 points apiece.

McKay moved one spot up from the previous year, his best placing in years.

Although facing a tough season in which he had deaths in his family, he competed twice last year, winning gold at the US Open and silver at the Pan Am championships.

Shukura maintained his position by taking a bronze at the Pan Am champs.