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Lower Merion wrestler Eli Zimmer is Main Line Athlete of the Week (with video)
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BAdams@mainlinemedianews.com
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A senior, Zimmer has compiled a 12-1 record on the wrestling mat this winter with six pins. He became the first Lower Merion wrestler ever to finish first at the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Tournament, and captured his second straight Radnor Holiday Tournament as well. As of Jan. 1, he has amassed a 79-34 (with 39 pins) in his Lower Merion career.
Main Line Media News (MLMN): Tell us a little about the competition you faced at the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Tournament.
Eli Zimmer: The wrestlers at Cumberland Valley were definitely top notch competitors – that area [of wrestling] is just another level. You don’t get any easy matches – all blue collar, tough kids.
MLMN: As a sophomore and junior, you mainly competed in the 189-195-pound brackets. Does moving up to the 220-pound bracket, as you have this season, present any special challenges?
Zimmer: I would definitely say it adds some challenges but they’re good challenges. The opponents are much bigger and stronger, while still being agile, tough wrestlers.
MLMN: What do you consider the strongest aspects of your wrestling?
Zimmer: Speed and agility – wrestling with such big people, I’ve found if I can keep pushing myself to get quicker, that in almost all my matches I can use that to my advantage.
MLMN: What has been the most important thing you have learned on the mat so far this season?
Zimmer: The mental side of the sport – my attitude before a match, what I’m thinking during my matches, my reaction to what’s going on in my match and after it – how I deal with the outcome and move on, win or lose. I’ve always had troubles with that early in my career.
Zimmer: Focusing on conditioning, which has hindered me in the past – putting in extra work so I can finish a match with the same energy I start it with.
MLMN: Your older brother Zeke wrestled four years for the Aces and played football, just like you. He and Lower Merion head coach Jim Perri have been your two biggest mentors. What did they teach you?
Zimmer: Zeke, who is now wrestling for Elizabethtown College, always pushed me to my breaking point to be the best wrestler I can be, always beating me up to toughen me up mentally and physically. Coach Perri has taught me how to mentally prepare for every single match – to focus and control what you can control, which is wrestling hardnose nonstop for a full match, and whatever the outcome of the match is, walk off with your head held high, knowing that you put your heart and soul into the match and left it on the mat, no regrets.
MLMN: What colleges are you looking at? What would you like to major in?
Zimmer: My No. 1 [choice] is Penn State University, I think I would like to major in secondary education or athletic training. I’m definitely interested in being a teacher and coach (hopefully for Lower Merion someday) or to be an athletic trainer.
MLMN: What are your favorite books? Favorite author?
Zimmer: My favorite books have been the Hunger Games Trilogy. My favorite author is Susan Collins.
MLMN: Do you have a favorite pump-up song you play on your iPod before each match?
Zimmer: Before matches I like to listen to Mumford and Sons. It gets me in a zone I can’t describe, it doesn’t pump me up, but it puts me in the perfect mental zone to wrestle.
Zimmer: An order of wings and a cheesesteak from Real Pizza in Narberth; unfortunately, I can only partake of this out of [wrestling] season.
(To be selected for Main Line Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his or her coach.)
Main Line Media News (MLMN): Tell us a little about the competition you faced at the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Tournament.
Eli Zimmer: The wrestlers at Cumberland Valley were definitely top notch competitors – that area [of wrestling] is just another level. You don’t get any easy matches – all blue collar, tough kids.
MLMN: As a sophomore and junior, you mainly competed in the 189-195-pound brackets. Does moving up to the 220-pound bracket, as you have this season, present any special challenges?
Zimmer: I would definitely say it adds some challenges but they’re good challenges. The opponents are much bigger and stronger, while still being agile, tough wrestlers.
MLMN: What do you consider the strongest aspects of your wrestling?
Zimmer: Speed and agility – wrestling with such big people, I’ve found if I can keep pushing myself to get quicker, that in almost all my matches I can use that to my advantage.
MLMN: What has been the most important thing you have learned on the mat so far this season?
Zimmer: The mental side of the sport – my attitude before a match, what I’m thinking during my matches, my reaction to what’s going on in my match and after it – how I deal with the outcome and move on, win or lose. I’ve always had troubles with that early in my career.
MLMN: What have you been working on most recently?
Zimmer: Focusing on conditioning, which has hindered me in the past – putting in extra work so I can finish a match with the same energy I start it with.
MLMN: Your older brother Zeke wrestled four years for the Aces and played football, just like you. He and Lower Merion head coach Jim Perri have been your two biggest mentors. What did they teach you?
Zimmer: Zeke, who is now wrestling for Elizabethtown College, always pushed me to my breaking point to be the best wrestler I can be, always beating me up to toughen me up mentally and physically. Coach Perri has taught me how to mentally prepare for every single match – to focus and control what you can control, which is wrestling hardnose nonstop for a full match, and whatever the outcome of the match is, walk off with your head held high, knowing that you put your heart and soul into the match and left it on the mat, no regrets.
MLMN: What colleges are you looking at? What would you like to major in?
Zimmer: My No. 1 [choice] is Penn State University, I think I would like to major in secondary education or athletic training. I’m definitely interested in being a teacher and coach (hopefully for Lower Merion someday) or to be an athletic trainer.
MLMN: What are your favorite books? Favorite author?
Zimmer: My favorite books have been the Hunger Games Trilogy. My favorite author is Susan Collins.
MLMN: Do you have a favorite pump-up song you play on your iPod before each match?
Zimmer: Before matches I like to listen to Mumford and Sons. It gets me in a zone I can’t describe, it doesn’t pump me up, but it puts me in the perfect mental zone to wrestle.
MLMN: What is your favorite food?
Zimmer: An order of wings and a cheesesteak from Real Pizza in Narberth; unfortunately, I can only partake of this out of [wrestling] season.
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