Plank Jr. High Wrestler Earns All American Status

Most kids take winter break to kick back and relax.

Not eighth grader Kendall Elfstrum, and his decision to sign up for a wrestling competition earned him All American Status.

The Plank Jr. high student was with his family in Georgia over break and found that with his USA wrestling card he could wrestle anywhere.

So he signed up for the Dixie Nationals Wrestling Tournament, along with two others, to, as his mother Lisa Elfstrum said, "to get some mat time in, gain a little more experience and just do his best."

Elfstrum's wrestling coach at Plank, Josh Edwards, said he has only been wrestling for three years. He entered the 155 lb bracket at the Dixie Nationals and ended up beating several nationally ranked wrestlers and placed second, earning himself All American status. 

Lisa said that her son's opponent he lost to by only four points in the finals was ranked in the top 13 percent on track wrestling tournaments. Elfstrum placed first and second at the other two smaller tournaments he entered.

"The wrestling bug has bitten Kendall hard!" exclaimed Lisa in a letter to Coach Edwards, who is also a physical education teacher at Plank.

"We are all very proud of Kendall," said Edwards. "It's a great story of a great kid that works hard and decided to test himself."

Special thanks to Lisa Elfstrum and Josh Edwards for the photos and information.