DATE: Feb. 21 , 2008
Tyler student wrestles way to top:
-----------------------------------
We have a young wrestling star in the district. Austin Rudsinski, a second-grader at Tyler School, recently took first place at the Bantam State Wrestling meet at Bloom Trail High School in Chicago Heights. MORE
He may only be 8 years old, but Austin Rudsinski is already a state champion.
The second-grader at Tyler School in New Lenox recently took first place at the Bantam State Wrestling meet at Bloom Trail High School in Chicago Heights. He is the first Bantam State Champion that the Lincoln-Way Wrestling Club has had in its history.
“He’s got a great work ethic,” said Lincoln-Way Wrestling Club Coach Jim Schloegel, who wasn’t surprised to see the 43-pound wrestler bring home the state championship trophy.
“Every partner (he wrestles with in practice) is bigger than him,” said Schloegel, explaining how Austin is one of the Club’s smaller wrestlers and forced to practice on students who weigh 15 to 20 pounds more than him.
The disadvantage at wrestling practice becomes an advantage at competitions where Austin, who’s used to wrestling bigger, stronger students, has a chance to test his skills on athletes his own size. He’s often stronger than his opponents, said Schloegel, because of the practice sessions with more formidable athletes.
“It builds up his strength,” he added of the practice sessions.
Austin’s parents, Dean and Kim Rudsinski, introduced the young wrestling star to the sport three years ago when he was in kindergarten. They thought it would be a good outlet for Austin’s energy.
“Austin is a very little, squirmy, aggressive kid,” said Kim. “We thought (wrestling) would be good for him.
Their hunch was right.
“He tried it out and liked it,” she said.
The second-grader now practices three days a week at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox. Each practice session lasts about two hours.If practice happens to be cancelled, Austin has a tendency to improvise by practicing on his brothers, 10-year-old Zachary (a fourth-grader at Bentley School) and 5-year-old Mitchell. But don’t worry. The boys can hold their own. All three belong to the Lincoln-Way Wrestling Club and took a first place at a Plainfield tournament earlier this year.
“They’re wrestling here all the time,” said Kim. “I have to tell them, `Save it for the mat.’ ”
Austin wasn’t the only NLSD 122 student to place at the wrestling tournament. Other winners included:
Spencer Pointe 2nd grader Ben Emery, who placed 8th
Tyler 3rd grader Ryan Gillooley, who placed 6th
Tyler 1st grader Kevin Gillooley, who placed 5th
Nelson Prairie 2nd grader Michael Lynch, who placed 7th
Tyler 3rd grader Jack Burica, who placed 8th
Spencer Pointe 2nd grader Justin Thorpe, who placed 4th
Tyler 2nd grader Colin Dominski, who placed 2nd
Haines 3rd grader Tanner Lorenz, who placed 7th
Spencer Pointe 2nd grader Rian Nealon, who placed 4th
Nelson Prairie 2nd grader Hannah Montalvo, who placed 5th
Haines 2nd grader Danny Bianchi, who placed 8th
Spencer Pointe 3rd grader Trent Furlong, who placed 5th
As a team, the group placed 5th at the competition.