A 9-Year-Old Wrestling Champ Following In His Dad's Footsteps

When he was younger, Anthony Peterson, 47, of Barnegat, played football and wrestled, but his athletic career came to an end with a serious injury in high school.

"I busted my whole arm open, and I did it playing football," said Peterson, giving his 9-year-old son a look.

Peterson's son, Dean Peterson, the middle child of four, had been dreaming about playing football, even while having a great time rolling around on the wrestling mats.

"I wanted to follow in my dad's footsteps," he said. "Mostly, I like to win. I like to pin kids on the mat."

Dean, a bright and articulate child who answers questions with a frankness and ease of a young kid, but with an intelligence of someone much older, started wrestling when he was 6.

"My first match, I pinned the kid," he said. "I liked it."

When Dean went to a practice a few nights later to the Barnegat Rec Center at the Barnegat High School, and had a great time, his dad said.

Now the boy keeps winning trophy after trophy, while also pursuing his other athletic interests , such as baseball, and maintaining straight As at school.

Recently, Dean found out he had made it to the 2012 World All-Star Team, which was a big thrill.

Last month Dean won the Reno World Championship in Nevada and took first place in USAW-NJ State Championships for the third time in a row. Earlier, Dean came in second at the Tulsa Nationals in Oklahoma and first in Tulsa Kickoff Classic. He won third place at another national event in Wildwood, New Jersey.

He's going to have to take a little break from wrestling, though.

At the last championship he injured his wrist during the match, getting a spiral fracture on his left hand, which the doctor insisted on putting the boy's entire arm in a cast, Dean's dad said.

"I didn't want that cast on," Dean said. "It didn't even hurt."

"The doctor said, 'Normally I'd put a splint on this, but after talking to your son, I'd better put that whole cast up," Anthony Peterson said, adding that the injury is expected to heal over the summer, so Dean could get back into action.

"I'm very proud of him," said Dean's mother, Tracey Peterson, 42.

"And you're really scared," Dean added.

"Yes, I get really nervous," Tracey Peterson admitted, adding that she'd had to come to peace with the fact that wrestling seems to be part of Peterson family lifestyle.

The family's oldest child, Charlie, 12, wrestles for the Brackman Middle School, and the younger one, Jack, 6, is considering it.

"He'll do it if and when he's ready," Anthony Peterson said.

The family also has a girl, Shea, who is 3.

Family tradition or not, however, Anthony Peterson said it's important for the family that the kids are involved in something they love for their own pleasure.

His son seemed to agree.

"What makes an athlete great is their determination and their heart," he said.