The former Vikings wrestler and 2012 state runner-up took sixth place in the 152-pound division at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet National Championships in Fargo, N.D.. Elliott, a two-time Sac-Joaquin Section champ and 2011 145-pound state champ, posted an 8-3 record over three grueling days. He will continue his wrestling career at the University of Wyoming.
The former Vikings wrestler and 2012 state runner-up took sixth place in the 152-pound division at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet National Championships in Fargo, N.D.. Elliott, a two-time Sac-Joaquin Section champ and 2011 145-pound state champ, posted an 8-3 record over three grueling days. He will continue his wrestling career at the University of Wyoming.
SportStars Magazine: What were your goals or expectations for Fargo?
Jake Elliott: I have been going to Nationals since freshman year, but this year I trained harder than ever and wrestled a lot of college guys to get ready. I thought that, with the preparation and training I had, that I could win a title. But things didn’t go my way, especially the last day when I made some stupid mistakes and wore down some.
SSM: Is there anything you believe you could have done differently to bring a different result?
JE: I think that if I had just a little more time that I could have been more ready. My coach (Wyoming assistant Chris Pendleton) thought that we could have done better with just a little more time. Another week of hard training and working on a couple of things could have made a big difference.
SSM: Why did you choose Wyoming to wrestle collegiately?
JE: I got a lot of interest from Oklahoma State and considered going there, but I really liked the coaching staff at Wyoming. They have a lot of successful former national champions and All-Americas that wrestled at Oklahoma State, and they are all-around good coaches and good guys. If I’m going to grind out five years of wrestling in college, then I would want to grind it out with the coaches and wrestlers at Wyoming
Honorable Mention
Alta Briggs — The Folsom Sea Otters swimmer qualified for the finals of the Suburban Swim League Championship Meet in four individual events and was on 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams in the finals as well.
Nicolo Galletti — The Foothill-Pleasanton senior cracked the quarterfinals at the USGA Junior Amateur on July 16-21 in New Hampshire. He then qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship on July 23.
Hannah Suh —The recent Evergreen Valley-San Jose picked up her third NCGA/PGANC Junior Tour event of the season on July 24-25 at Poppy Hill GC. She’s sits fourth in the point standings.