IT'S BRAIN OVER BRAWN FREHN TAKES MENTAL APPROACH TO MAT.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Steve Frehn is a scholar who stands out in a sport known for brute strength and agility.

A two-time Golden League wrestling champion for Highland High, Frehn, a junior, is strong enough to overpower most opponents. But more often than not, he simply outsmarts them.

And despite wrestling's stereotype of being a purely physical sport, Frehn is a valedictorian candidate who is in the school's advanced-level international baccalaureate program. He's interested in a mechanical engineering career and enjoys the mental aspect of wrestling.

``I guess that's one of the reasons wrestling appeals to me, because it's a real technical sport,'' Frehn said. ``If you talk to any really super-good wrestler, they'll tell you technique is the most important aspect of it.''

If his performance is any indication, Frehn isn't far from being tabbed ``super-good'' himself. Frehn is 37-3 with 21 pins and 81-18 with 44 pins in his career. On Saturday, he went 4-0 to help Highland win its second consecutive Southern Section Div. VI title.

Frehn is among 14 Highland wrestlers, including a school-record eight league champions, who will compete at the Southern Section Inland Division championships at Ayala High of Chino Hills on Friday and Saturday.

``I like to build things,'' he said. ``There's not a direct correlation (with wrestling), but you have to figure out a way to break the guy down. You've got to figure out a way to beat his technique. It's kind of like working through a problem in anything, figuring out a way to build something.''

Frehn, considered a strong candidate to medal at the Southern Section individuals and perhaps advance to Masters according to Highland coach Mike Young, has been an impact wrestler since his freshman year, when he dominated on junior varsity and placed fifth in the league's individual varsity championships.

He won the league title as a sophomore despite having an appendectomy that forced him to be inactive for three months before the school year began.

Frehn's no-nonsense approach and quiet intensity has earned him the respect of his teammates.

``He does it on the mat,'' teammate Kyle Burnett said. ``The kid just works his heart out every day. He brings so much intensity to the (wrestling) room. Guys in the room will be like `I don't want to wrestle Steve today, he's tearing everybody up. He lives up to his nickname, `Champ.' ''

But Highland's ``Champ'' is as low-key as he is successful.

``Steve's just like quiet fire, he explodes on people,'' Young said. ``He's excellent but not flashy. He's like the workingman's type of wrestler. He goes out there and takes people down and takes control of matches.''

Frehn attributes his success in academics and wrestling to his willingness to work for everything he gets.

``I just try really hard,'' he said. ``Work ethic is something you can adapt to different areas of your life. It's just a matter of wanting to use your talent and not put anything to waste.''

Gideon Rubin, [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

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(color) Highland High wrestler Steve Frehn proves intelligence is just as important as strength in wrestling.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer