ELI WINS STATES–first CRMS State Champion since 2003!
AND you better believe I am shouting as loud as I can! We are so immensely proud of Eli…. there was a lot of pressure on him to do well this season (mostly from himself but so many others believed he could be a champ, too), and he was strong physically, mentally, and emotionally! Eli won the Pine Tree Wrestling League State Championships, 138-lb. weight class today with an undefeated season! Eli is the first kid since 2003 (when Eli was in kindergarten) to win a State title from the Camden-Rockport Middle School (Oliver Bradeen in 2003 was the last–he went on to be a three-time runner up to State Champion in high school, too).
Here is a YouTube video of Eli’s Championship match. Camden-Rockport coaches Paul and True are just to the right of the screen, the Bath team coaches are just to the left of the screen. Eli is in red, the Bath boy is Justin Johnson, in blue. (If you want to see it full screen click in the lower right of the embedded video to enlarge; press Escape to return to exit full screen mode). FYI…at about 5 minutes in, you’ll see a break in the action. The Bath kid tried a move, but Eli held him tight; when the Bath boy went down, he got squeezed and it hurt, so they took a medical time out. Fortunately, he was OK. Then after they resume wrestling you’ll hear me say “come on that was 7 seconds”–the scoring table forgot to re-start the clock! The refs realized they had been wrestling enough time, so moved the clock forward to 2 seconds left, the match re-started, then Eli got the win officially, score 9-1, which is considered a “Major Decision” (i.e. by a big margin).
With forfeits and exhibition matches (4 of those, two with 145-lb kids, two with 131), Eli finishes his season at 34-0! WOW! I am totally impressed, and especially at the comments of the other adults. After his first match, the REFEREE complimented him on his takedown. During the course of the day and after Eli won, other coaches congratulated Paul (dad and Asst. Coach) and True (coach) on how good a wrestler he is, and how nice a kid he is, too! Can you tell I am absolutely popping with pride?
MAJOR THANKS to Paul for the incredible amount of time he has given to CRMS over the past seven seasons, first with Joshua and now with Eli, and the time and devotion to honing Eli’s physical abilities and mental outlook, to True Bragg (coach) for what he has given not just to Eli but to the team over the years he has been coach, and to Eli’s practice partners and the other coaches from the area who have helped Eli. We are so blessed to live in a wrestling hotbed that, more than anything, is a welcoming (to us folks from away!), warm, caring community that takes care of and celebrates its own.
Here are some photos of the championship match:
Thanks to the teammates who were able to attend today. We’ll see everyone we hope at the end-of-season potluck on Wednesday at the school. WOOOHOOOOOHOOOOOO!
CONGRATULATIONS ELI!
March 31st, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Hip Hip Hooooray! Congrats to Eli and his parents who make it possible!
March 31st, 2012 at 10:18 pm
And who’s a proud Mum? Congratulations Eli. Dorothy.
March 31st, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Loved seeing in the video just how good Eli is. Lou and I used to go to high school and college wrestling matches when we lived in Ithaca and your video really took me back! Super finish to a super season for Eli. Congrats all around!
April 1st, 2012 at 6:44 am
Congratulations!
April 1st, 2012 at 7:29 am
Congratulations from Canada to Eli and the entire family for this win. A job well done!!
April 1st, 2012 at 10:38 am
WoW, Yayhhhhh, Hurray etc etc. And Sarah – grab a bit of attention for you and your husband – without you, this would never happened 🙂 – of course you are proud!!!
Tell Eli I think he is pretty amazing 😀
April 1st, 2012 at 10:39 am
How wonderful and exciting! Congratulations to Eli and to his proud parents.
April 1st, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Congratulations, Eli,to you and your family and coaches. What an acomplishment!
April 2nd, 2012 at 11:35 am
Woo-hoo! Congratulations Eli! Truly awesome!
D~~~~
April 2nd, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Congratulations to Eli!!!!! I know how proud of him you are.
Here’s to many more championships.