Elma grads earn bronze at veteran world wrestling championships

Wrestling

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria — Elma High School graduates Kevin and Phillip Pine each earned bronze medals in freestyle in the UWW Veteran World Wrestling Championships recently in Bulgaria.

Competing in the 88-kilogram division of the 46-50-year-old age group, Kevin Pine lost in the semifinals to a Russian after having only a 15-minute break between the quarterfinal and semifinal round. He then decisioned an opponent from India in the match to determine a bronze medal.

Kevin currently lives in Nevada. His son, Josh, is one of the captains for the Grays Harbor College wrestling team.

Phillip Pine, Kevin’s brother and the Grays Harbor College wrestling coach, was leading 4-0 when he was pinned by an Iranian wrestler in the semifinals of the 105-kilogram division of the 51-60 age group. He earned the bronze with a 9-0 decision over Brian Jones of Los Angeles.

Hedj Nelson, a Grays Harbor College wrestler in 1979-80, won the gold medal in Greco-Roman and a silver in freestyle in the 62-kilogram class.