LJ wrestling: Feldman

Kraig Feldman (left), with Head Coach
Kellen Delaney. Feldman, a science
teacher, is the new middleweight
wrestling coach.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Kraig Feldman, a veteran of 10 years of classroom teaching and a new faculty member this year at La Jolla High, where he will oversee the middleweight Viking wrestlers, says he hopes the wrestlers benefit from "building relationships and being part of the program."

He explained that "middleweight" will cover grapplers from, approximately, 140 to 170 pounds.

Feldman, introduced to parents at the annual preseason family potluck Nov. 9, teaches Biology and Marine Science. The 5'6" coach fits the part, exhibiting a powerful build, with well-toned biceps and a commanding presence.

Modest when a reporter noted he wrestled for Rutgers, a Division 1 school, he said, "It wasn't (that strong). We (Rutgers) just had our first two national champions this year."

Married eight years to his wife Justyna, a teacher at a German-language children's school near San Diego State University, Feldman wrestled his freshman year of college at Rutgers in 2002-2003. Then, in grad school five years later, he wrestled at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. His Master's is in Secondary Education.

He also played soccer in high school at Central Bucks East High, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Doylestown is a suburb of Philadelphia in eastern PA.

Feldman wrestled at 171 pounds as a prep, 174 pounds in college.

Interestingly, his wife lived in Germany as a child, so she is a native speaker of Deutsch.