Justin Calimlim Wins Wrestling Medal

(Montgomery Advertiser) As a member of a military family, Prattville Christian’s sophomore wrestler Justin Calimlim did most of his wrestling in Korea. It took him some time to transition from freestyle wrestling to folkstyle when he began wrestling for the Panthers, but worked out the kinks to finish 18-15 on the season. He finished fourth at 113 pounds in the Class 1A-4A South sectional last weekend and became the first PCA wrestler to qualify for the state tournament at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville today through Saturday.
“It feels great and humbling at the same time. It’s exciting,” Calimlim said. “It was difficult (to transition to a new wrestling style), and it’s still a little hard for me, but it’s been a great experience overall.”

Wrestling coach Trent Staggs moved from Indiana two years ago to help the Panthers start their wrestling program. He said Calimlim’s qualifying for the state tournament in just the program’s second year will help PCA’s wrestling program grow.  “Ecstatic would be the best word to describe it,” Staggs said. “To be able to come down here and help start the program along with the athletic director, coach (Sam) Peak, and having the opportunity to get somebody there in our second year is very instrumental to our program. It allows us to show growth and allows us to show that we can produce state caliber wrestlers.”