Austin Holland

A Lehigh Acres youngster, a fourth grade student at Sunshine Elementary School, is Number 1 in the State of Florida in his weight and class in wrestling competition.

And he has a handsome trophy – plaque to prove it and he’s a proud boy and he loves wrestling. Not the showy entertainment fake stuff you see on TV, but real wrestling where it takes muscles and brains to put your opponent down.

The wrestling champ is Austin Holland and his parents are Michael and Jessica Holland of Lehigh. He has an older brother who loves competition wrestling, too, and a little seven-year-old sister. Mom Jessica says she doesn’t think wrestling will interest her daughter.

But girls wrestling with boys is not uncommon and Jessica says they can often beat the boys. Of course, they must weigh in at the required weight and be in the age class.

Young Austin says he has loved wrestling ever since he was in the second grade.

Young wrestling champ: Austin Holland, 10, is shown with his king-sized trophy-plaque naming him top in his class in recent state competition. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Mom wonders if this isn’t a case of where genes really come in to play.

“His dad loved wrestling and got his share of awards, so it’s like the boys have followed in his footsteps. And it’s good because at home they get time to practice with dad who shows them some different techniques.

“I beat my dad a couple of times, Austin said. His mom smiled and said he was right, but winked and noted that Dad may be letting him win.

Wrestling is not a part of elementary school physical education programs. But once kids enter high school, they can become members of a wrestling team.

In Austin’s case, he belongs to the Riverdale Youth Wrestling Club and has for three years been attending sessions there. And Mom and Dad are always there to show their support.

To win the big trophy, about half the size of young wrestler, he had to win different competitions. Just like in any sport, those winnings add up and in Austin’s case, enough to win the big title in his class recently when the club competed with other clubs on the state level.

When asked why he enjoyed wrestling so much, Austin said he thinks he enjoys the competition of the match.

The young wrestling champ is 64 pounds and competes the the 65-pound classification and also the age category of 10.

“He’s really passionate about wrestling,” his mom said proudly as they were being interviewed at Sunshine Elementary School.

“It’s that genes thing, I think,” his mother said.

Austin knows that if he sticks with it, and gets good marks throughout his school years, that he could earn a scholarship or two fully paid four-year college programs.

She said his dad was good enough in wrestling when he was in high school that he was offered to different college scholarships.

Jessica is a stay-at-home mom. Her husband, Michael is a superintendent with Naples Concrete Co.

Austin knows all the wrestling terms, strange to the ears of those who don’t follow wrestling and he knows a lot of maneuvers to earn points, and in the end that is what counts.

“If you get someone pinned in a certain position,” you get points. “There are other positions, too, that you get points,” Austin said.

And when you pin your opponent in an accepted hold, you win the match if the points all add up to the most earned.

Austin said the Riverdale club was the idea of Kris Hayward who had coached Keith Evans who is now the main coach at the Riverdale club.

“It’s really a popular club with a lot of kids all different ages competing,” his mother said.

“It’s a good clean sport and Austin is really doing great in his age and classification and we are very proud of him,” his mother said.

“One thing for sure is his passion for wrestling. It’s called folks style wrestling.”

The goal is simple, to pin the opponent. The kids all wear protective gear for their heads and their knees with pads. As for head gear, they wear a strapped head protector. From time to time, the coaches and referees check for “cauliflowers,” a term used if their skin becomes irritated.

“That’s the whole reason for checking their ears especially,” his mother said.

Dad and Austin always go over the maneuvers at home and they practice a lot on mats.

There’s little doubt that anyone is going to turn Austin around and change his mind about wrestling.

“I love wrestling. It’s fun,” he said.

Competition resumes in the fall. Duing the next few months, those who belong to the Riverdale club will spent time in practice.

And Austin says he can’t wait until next year and win again. His mother said he would be around 75 pounds and in the fifth grade at school so that will put in that competing position.

“He’s a real natural at it. It’s his life,” his mother smiled.

“We are planning on taking Austin to more national tournaments this coming wrestling season which begins this fall. The national tournaments that we are planning on attending are as far away as Nevada, Oklahoma, Virginia, Ohio, Georgia and Tennessee,” Austin’s mom said.

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FACT BOX

The “I Own Florida” series consist of 6 tournaments (which also include the AAU state title) at which the wrestler must place first at each tournament in their own weight class/age division. Austin won the “I Own Florida” title and also his first state AAU title.

In 2008 he placed second in AAU states

In 2008 placed third in USA states

In 2009 placed second in AAU states he was one match away from wining the I own Florida title

2009 placed third in USA states

2009 placed first in the Seahorse Open which was held at Coral Gables

2009 placed first in the Sunshine State Championship which was held in Lakeland

2010 won his first “I Own Florida” title

2010 placed first in AAU state championship

2010 placed second at the Games of Rome which is a national tournament held in Orlando

2010 placed second in the USA Elementary national championship tournament held in Orlando

2010 placed first in the Seahorse Open again

Earlier in the year he was ranked number two in the Future Olympians of America.

Austin has a record of 124 wins, 73 pins, 30 loses

Austin has placed 1st (gold) in 26 tournaments, placed 2nd (silver) in 9, placed 3rd (bronze) in 5.

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