NINGEN Karate's Scott Wright and Sidekick Taekwondo's Kevin McDowell are among three new qualifiers awaiting the nod from their respective masters, to join the Jamaica combined martial arts team for the 2010 season.

Wright and McDowell were scouted in previous years as potential combined team fighters but academics and a modelling career, respectively, ruled out both until this season when they racked up points, internationally and locally, to gain qualification.

Points for the 2010 Busta Fighters combined team season were tabulated and invitations dispatched following the final local martial arts tournament last Saturday's McKay Invitational and Junior Open at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology.

Combined team captain Jason McKay said whereas the points spoke for themselves, he could not confirm the team for 2010.

"Providing the instructors agree to allow their students to represent the combined team, I am really excited about the current squad," McKay said.

"I am particularly pleased to finally have Wright qualify. I wanted him on the squad from he was 16. It would be nice to finally have him."

qualified

McDowell qualified as the first of two invitees after a significant late-season thrust, getting five points after a silver at the Battle of the Bell in Philadelphia.

The other invitee, Sean Barnes of Zendo Karate, earned the final bonus spot after winning the heavyweight title at the Seido Open in June.

As opposed to previous years, the 2010 combined team season starts next January instead of December, with four super-consistent fighters selecting themselves from as early as July with stellar individual performances at the United States Open in Orlando.

Unlike some of their teammates, microweight Alrick Wanliss, lightweight Nicholas Dussard, heavyweight Kenneth Edwards and hyper-weight Shiah Shukura had no sweat as the 2009 season came to a close.

Wright, a 21-year-old who was originally selected to represent the team in 2005 but opted out of selection due to academic commitments, announced his intentions for the 2010 season, storming to a fifth-place selection with 12 points, assuring himself a spot on the team.

However, those in the lower half of the 10-man rankings had to battle in tournaments, locally and internationally, to make the cut.

Among those who had to come up with strong late performance, or held on dearly to points earned earlier in the season, were foundation team members such as captain McKay, Bruce McFarlane, vice-captain Arthur Barrows and veteran Shaun Cummings.

sixth spot

Barrows earned 10 points early in the year and, despite not being able to earn another in the last eight months, held on to sixth spot.

Illness and the subsequent death of McKay's father caused him to miss virtually the entire season. With no discretion applied to selection, McKay had to attack post-season tournaments in search of points. The team captain's late flurry in away tournaments earned him eight points, putting him seventh, the same spot from which he qualified last season.

Former Seido Karate world champion McFarlane, inactive for almost the entire season, proved his class on the overseas circuit, winning the heavyweight division in Philadelphia to grab seven points and sixth spot.