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By Tiffany Erickson
HYDE PARK -- He is a shy and timid 10-year-old who attends Greenville Elementary, but when Brayden Anderson gets on a wrestling mat, all that timidity disappears. Since before kindergarten Anderson has been wrestling, following in the footsteps of his older brothers and uncles. This fourth grader already has 49 medals, including two state championships. In the past two weeks Brayden has placed at the state tournament and World Cup tournament where he met Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner along with placing third in freestyle. "[Meeting Gardner] was pretty cool," said Brayden. "He was a lot bigger than I thought he would be." Like Gardner, Anderson said he has wrestled across the board: freestyle, Greco and collegiate. "I like Greco the best because it's more fun," said Brayden. "It's just more challenging and there are not as many moves you can use." In Greco wrestling the legs may not be used in any way to obtain a fall, and no holds can be taken below the waist. Other rules and procedures are the same as those for freestyle wrestling, the other international amateur style. Last week at the state tournament in Orem, Brayden took third place in Greco and fourth place in freestyle. He is one of the youngest wrestlers in his Northern Alliance wrestling club, and at 80 pounds this fourth grader has won matches with seventh and eighth graders. Kayleen Anderson, Brayden's mother, said that it is not his size or weight that sets him apart because he has an average build for kids his age, but it is his determination that has brought him his box full of 49 medals. "Most kids go out there just for fun but Brayden goes out their to wrestle," said Kayleen. "He is a very determined kid and is set in doing his best. His heart is really in it." Brayden said his coaches, who he admires and looks up to, in the past and present have much to do with his success. "Ever since I started wrestling I have had great coaches," said Brayden. "I have been coached by Doug Littlefield, Dave Swenson and my coaches now [his uncles]." They have helped him develop physically as well as mentally for the sport. For many young athletes the disappointment of loss is a lot to take, but Kayleen said that if Brayden loses he takes it like an adult. "He never cries," said Kayleen. "He knows if he has lost then he lost, and then he learns from it." Brayden is an overall athlete and in spite of his successes in wrestling, when he grows up he wants to be a major league baseball player. But until then he is shooting for state wrestling titles every year. NW |
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