LJ wrestling: Austin burns in 23 seconds

There wasn't a lot of time to accumulate points, as
132-pounder Elliot Austin pinned his opponent
from Cathedral in a mere 23 seconds.
(Photos by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

Elliot Austin, a veteran of martial arts, continues to hone his wrestling skills as he pinned 132-pound opponent Jack Gemmingen of Cathedral Catholic in a brief 23 minutes Thurs., Jan. 4.

The match passed so quickly, that a media photographer present at La Jolla's dual meet at Cathedral Catholic was temporarily occupied and failed to get a single attempt at an action photo of the senior wrestler.

"I went in thinking, 'I train harder than they other guy, and my coaching is great,'" said Austin, when asked about his mental approach going in. "I was thinking, 'Win.'"

He added: "That's what I do." (Win.)

The Briton, who moved to Southern California with his family when he was younger, described his successful operation against the Don wrestler like a surgeon. He used a front headlock. Here's how he described the lead-up: "I grabbed his legs. I cradled him, and squeezed."
 

Elliot Austin (R) chats with teammate Faress Zwain (L)
after the two ignited La Jolla with back-to-back pins
against the Dons. Zwain wrestled at 138 pounds.

Later, after teammate Faress Zwain followed Austin's fall with a pin of his own at 138 pounds, and the two touched base, Elliot called out to this reporter: "Ed, I have a quote for you. 'All it takes is pure heart and determination.'" That, for the senior wrestler, is being effusive. He doesn't normally talk it up on match day.

Earlier, before weigh-in, Austin said that he plans to drop a weight class and wrestle at 128 pounds. Each weight class receives a two-pound bump during the season, allowing wrestlers to carry that extra weight. And, with the weight that he is presently carrying, the senior said, "I'll only have to go down one pound."

After a dizzying blur defeating several opponents in the prestigious El Cajon Valley Invitational Meet in December, he was named the Outstanding Wrestler in the lower weights for the tournament. Coach Kelley Delaney said he didn't remember any wrestler from La Jolla receiving such an honor in recent history.