19/07/2026
Blue Mountain College students and Southern Spartans wrestlers Maggie Arthur and Lucas Miller, along with their coach Aron Miller, have spent the school holidays on a Wrestlers Abroad Cultural Exchange to Japan. They got to experience numerous cultural outings, lessons in a Japanese high school and lots and lots of wrestling training alongside many Japanese students, as well as being coached by the Japanese 2024 Olympic Gold medalist.
Both students returned to New Zealand on Friday and then competed in the South Island Wrestling Champs on Sunday. Lucas and Maggie both gained two gold medals each; one for their own weight class, and then both wrestled up a weight and fought hard to win those too. Both received special trophies, Maggie gained the Most Outstanding Wrestler in the U13 or U15 age groups, Lucas won the Most Scientific Wrestler from the U15 or U17 age category.
It was a remarkable finish to an unforgettable experience, with both wrestlers returning home to cap off their Japanese adventure in the best possible way.