Number Two in the STATE!
Well…as I head out to the last wrestling meet of the season (Marshwood, a six-state all New England tournament in Portland, Maine), I thought I should get caught up and share LAST week’s results: Eli placed second in his weight class –that’s all the kids in middle school wrestling in Class B schools (I think they “class” them by size, as larger schools would have a larger bunch of students and theoretically be tougher?). The kid who beat him–Nate Boucher– is a two-time State Champ (and came in second last year in a 12-11 loss in the finals!), and is number 3 in all New England. I’ll add that the “middle” weight classes are the most competitive ones, with MANY really good young athletes. Camden-Rockport had six boys in the finals, three of whom placed in the medals: Eli, Chris Weiss (both got seconds) and Taylor Crosby (fourth). Well done to them and to the entire team.
We are SO proud of him: Eli set himself a goal, he worked hard, he achieved it when he won Regionals and made it to States, and exceeded it by not only placing, but placing second!
Plus, he thinks now that he knows how Boucher wrestles, he can beat him if he wrestles smart. Alas and fortunately, Boucher is an 8th grader, so they won’t meet again until high school.
The finals were closer than the 0 (Eli) – 6 (Boucher) score indicated as they started the third period. There was a lot of back and forth… oh… in Middle school the kids wrestle three periods: 2 minutes, 1 minute, 1 minute. By the end of four minutes, they are totally exhausted it is so intense.
The third period opened with Eli looking grim but determined. He had prevented a State Champion from pinning him for two full rounds, and was ready to go for it.
Eli said that Boucher seemed a bit stunned that Eli was able to get the reversal, but Boucher’s then 4-point lead was too much for Eli to make up in the final fifteen seconds. Final score: Boucher 6, Eli 2. Well done to both wrestlers! Eli, we are so proud of your determination, drive, courtesy, athletics and academics. Way to go kiddo!
April 2nd, 2011 at 3:31 pm
waiting to hear the results of this weekend’s tournament. geez…..i feel like he’s my kid!