WREST: Wallace dominating opponents at early age
(Photo courtesy of Billy Wallace)
Blane Wallace may only be nine years old, but the skills the Beckville Sunset Elementary student is learning at an early age will not only help him against the competitors he's battling in tournaments but in other facets of his life as well.
Wallace, who is a third grader and the son of Billy and Emilie Wallace, trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at D-Rocks Gym in Marshall with Coach Derrick 'D-Rock' Krantz and also wrestles with the Henderson Wrestling Club under the direction of Joe Cloutier.
The 75-pound boy who lives in Clayton began boxing two years ago, added wrestling to his list of competition skills in November of last year and Jiu-Jitsu at the beginning of this year, according to his father.
But Blane has become a fast learner. He placed second at both the State Greco and State Freestyle tournaments in the 70-75 pound Intermediate Division on May 21-22 in Arlington. He won his matches by early stoppage for points or by pinning his opponents.
Blane's only loss in Greco was easily avenged in his first match in Freestyle when he dominated the same opponent with his takedowns to end each round early with high points.
On May 14 he placed first in Freestyle and took top honors in Greco as well, dominating all his opponents.
Blane captured top honors at the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) in the 70-80 pound intermediate division on May 15 in Dallas when he shot in for a takedown, mounted his opponent and went for a hold called the mounted triangle. His opponent rolled and Blane adjusted to submit him with an inverted triangle.
Billy Wallace, a highway patrolman, said Blane's involvement in the sports has helped him tremendously in other facets of his life and competitiveness.
"He really loves it," Billy said of his son's involvement in the competition. "I didn't know kids could start wrestling at an earlier age or I would have gotten into it before.
"And what's interesting is that he doesn't have a real aggressive personality, but he's got the best temperament for it. He's laid back. But he's smart and he things about what he has to do. When he's competing is when he becomes aggressive.
"And by competing it helps his confidence and has helped him in football tremendously because his balance and coordination has gotten so much better. He played defensive end and because of his balance his opponents couldn't block him at all."
Billy said his son will only get better the more he competes. He added that Blane is excited, not only about his skills improving, but about the way his muscles are developing as he continues to work toward his goals.
"I'm very proud of him and glad that he likes it," Billy said. "I enjoy it to because this gives us a chance to work together and I encourage him as he continues to improve."
This story will appear in the Panola Watchman.