A STANDOUT IN TWO SPORTS ROYAL WRESTLING CHAMPION ALSO STARS ON BASEBALL DIAMOND.Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News Eric Blackwell will work on his takedowns, reversals and headlocks in preparation for the Southern Section Division V individual wrestling championships next weekend. The Royal High of Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. senior also will take batting practice and field groundballs. Blackwell is a two-sport athlete: wrestling and baseball. ``Baseball is fun and laid back, and you get to play with a team,'' Blackwell said. ``Wrestling is more individual and so intense. It's equally fun. There's not really much in common between them, but I have respect for both.'' Blackwell is a standout in both. In wrestling, he's among the best 154- pounders in the Southern Section. He's 38-4 this season, winning his division at the Newbury Park, Upland and Estancia es·tan·cia n. A large estate or cattle ranch in Spanish America. [Spanish, room, enclosure, country estate, from Vulgar Latin *stantia, something standing, from Latin of Costa Mesa Costa Mesa (kŏs`tə mā`sə), city (1990 pop. 96,357), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific south of Santa Ana; inc. 1953. It is a transportation, residential, and light industrial center. tournaments and finishing fourth at Morro Bay. Two weeks ago, Blackwell won his second consecutive Marmonte League title. As a junior, Blackwell finished second in the Southern Section Central Div. championships and seventh at the Masters Meet to earn a berth at the state championships. In baseball, he was an All-Ventura County selection at third base as a junior. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how wrestling helps baseball, but he's fast and has a really good grip,'' Royal wrestling coach Paul Mole said. Blackwell is being recruited for wrestling by Division II San Francisco State and Division III McDaniel College, from Westminster, Md. UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX and UC Santa Barbara are interested in his baseball abilities. He says he'll likely play baseball in college. ``There's more money in baseball, unless I wind up in WWE WWE World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (formerly World Wrestling Federation) WWE Witwe (German: Widow) WWE William Webb Ellis (inventor of rugby) WWE World Wide Education WWE Well Woman Exam (World Wrestling Entertainment World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) is a publicly traded, privately controlled integrated media (focusing in television, Internet, and live events), and sports entertainment company dealing primarily in the professional wrestling industry, with major revenue sources ),'' Blackwell said. Blackwell's father, Mike, wrestled on Royal's 1978 and 1979 league- championship teams. Eric started wrestling as a 6-year-old with the Simi Valley Predators. He performed well at last year's Southern Section individual championships and Masters Meet but was eliminated at the state meet by losing his first two matches. ``Last year when I went to state, I was awestruck awe·struck also awe·strick·en adj. Full of awe. awestruck Adjective overcome or filled with awe Adj. 1. with all these guys' names in the rankings,'' Blackwell said. ``I was kind of happy to be there and kind of clipped out. This year, I want to win and beat these guys.'' Blackwell has worked extensively with Royal assistant coach Oscar Santiago, who wrestled at Purdue. ``He is just a lot stronger and more mature,'' Mole said. ``He is able to control his prematch jitters jitters 'Butterflies' Psychology An episode of nervousness or anxiety that often precedes a public event; jitters is a type of performance anxiety which may affect actors in a stage production–stage fright or soloist musicians; it may respond to anxiolytics and channel his energy and focus. He was in awe last year at the state meet. Now he wants to stay in there for a couple of matches.'' BLACKWELL PROFILE Name: Eric Blackwell. School: Royal High. Year: Senior. Sport: Wrestling. Short story: Blackwell (40-8), who won the 154-pound division at the Newbury Park, Upland and Estancia of Costa Mesa tournaments this season, will compete in the Southern Section Central Div. individual championships Friday and Saturday at Brea-Olinda High. Blackwell finished second in last year's section championships and seventh in the Masters Meet. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Royal High wrestler Eric Blackwell, top, is seeking second appearances at the Masters Meet and state championships. Joel P. Lugavere/Special to the Daily News Box: BLACKWELL PROFILE (see text) |
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