Sports

Five-Year-Old Wrestles His Way To Responsibility

According to this Whiz Kid's mom, his accomplishments in sports have taught him valuable life lessons

Name: Nathaniel Beylon

Age: 5

Grade: Kindergarten

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Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: Nate is a flag football player, advancing quickly in karate, and won fourth place in the 44 pound wrestling division this year. According to his mom, Leslie, “ The 4th place was a huge accomplishment for Nate.  He learned at 5 that it takes a lot of hard work to get to your goal.  Nate would practice at home by doing push ups and sit ups. In my experience, not to many 5 year olds are willing to work as hard as he did to achieve a winning season.  Now that wrestling is over he is focusing his attention on Shido-Kan of Mahwah Karate where he is working hard not only in the dojo, but again at home.  He has a hula hoop that we hold up where he kicks through so he learns to kick the right way. He also practices his "kata's", punches, and blocks.  I like to think Nate is an extraordinary kid not only in sports, but he does all this while doing well in school and helping around the Fardale firehouse where I volunteer.

Patch: You are involved in football, wrestling, and karate. Which sport do you like best? Why? 

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Nate: All of them, because they are really cool, very fun. And my "daddy" got to help me."

Patch: Who do you look up to? 

Nate: "Darrel Revis.  He plays for the Jets.  I love him.  He's the best player. I'm going to play for the Jets when I get big."

Patch: What have you learned from working so hard at all of the sports you play? 

Nate: "A lot of stuff. Working hard got me to win and get a medal. I even pinned a kid in wrestling. That was really cool.  I'm going to get a new belt in karate soon too!"  

Patch: What are your goals in the sports you play?  

Nate: "I want to be on the Jets and be the best player in the whole wide world.  I want to be a coach of wrestling, and I want to be a black belt in karate."

Patch: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?  

Nate: "That I have secret wrestling moves that they might be surprised about.  I learned a lot.  I know how to drive a quad."

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